Barrel Racer. (Watercolor horse) would love feedback or crits!

Whitney Simms

I would love help to finish this piece. It is a commission and I really want to make sure that I am giving the best that I can do. Your eyes may see things that I just can't. Once you're so close to a piece its all a blur! I do plan on darkening the pencil outlines. Kinda like I did in the one of my ballerina daughter.

It's watercolors, so please remember editing can only go darker. Basically, does it pop enough? I don't want to deliver a "weak watercolor." On the other had I do like fresh clean watercolors as well. I don't mind hearing "future feedback." Or things I can do better next time. But be a little gentle with those because I am still using this one and charging her for it. She's a big follower of my work, so I do feel like she knows me well enough to know what she is getting. That being said, I want to make sure I deliver!

Thanks for your help guys!

demotlj

I love it and am super envious of your watercolor abilities

Eli

@whitney-simms Whitney, Wow! Wonderful movement and intensity. I like how it's soft but powerful and strong at the same time.

Chip Valecek

WOW what an amazing piece!

Whitney Simms

@demotlj @Chip-Valecek @Eli thanks guys! It’s always so stressful to charge people for paintings! I’m having a hard time with volume and lightsource these days. The shirt in the reference picture was completely black. I just couldn’t figure out how to sculpt the body! One day. Glad my weaknesses didn’t wreck the painting.

Thanks for your kind words! If you see anything as far as shadows or areas I can darken let me know!

Miss.Beans

Woo! I love the movement in the piece! The background in grey is perfect! I love the piece, and since you asked, the only thing I would be tempted to do is add a bit more contrast. That's my personal opinion though. I would concentrate adding a bit more contrast in the area you want people's attention to go to.

It is a lovely piece! Watercolours are my fav.

Whitney Simms

@miss-beans good call! Not exactly sure where I want the views eye to go. But the entire piece all has equal amount of intensity. Like the faces and the feet hold your same attention.

Whitney Simms

bad lighting for the photo...
here is the final image. Fingers crossed she likes it. Delivering it tomorrow.

Whitney Simms

Delivery went well. She seemed to like it.

DLArmantrout

@whitney-simms This watercolor looks beautiful, I like how you made the rider's face stand out more in the final version.

Whitney Simms

@dlarmantrout thank you so much! I had a hard time figuring out the white hat and how to make it pop. And I tend to get really muddy on skin tones and overdo it.

Nyrryl Cadiz

@whitney-simms your watercolor skills are amazing. You really captured the character’s motion in your piece. It looks very dynamic. Great job.

Eli

@whitney-simms Beautiful, Whitney!!

Whitney Simms

@nyrrylcadiz wow, thank you!

Thanks @Eli !

Jon Anderson

This is a nice piece! I realize it's found it's new home and hopefully the owner really does enjoy it and you think she did. For future reference (and I have NO idea how to do this in watercolor) as I see the post it seems that it's lacking either some area of saturation around the main focal point or lacking warm colors in the same area. I could be wrong but even the brown tones in the horse feel cool (maybe that was intentional). I can't decide which it is but hopefully that feedback can help on some future piece you work on. I'm a complete rookie in watercolor and I'll be the first to admit I can't match the level of skill you put into this one. Color me impressed!