[christar999]

Hello esteemed Sijun artists.
My name is Chris Shepard, I am an amateur artist and I was wondering if you could help me to improve an oil painting I am working on?
I have called it "Dream Pool".
NOTES:
Lighting:
I tried to place the lightsource in/on the same point as one of the vanishing points in/on the horizon line behind the building. I thought this would simplify things. So shadows should follow the perspective lines behind the building on the horizon line (for the most part, I am assuming that there would be some reflective light from the walls on the left striking the walls on the right).
Color Scheme:
As you can see it is a basic orange/blue complimenatry color scheme. I was thinking about adding more colors, like some drippy green algae on the walls, and some more brownish earthy hues to the ground hues and other small patches of colors here and there to add variety.
Textures:
I was going to add a "brick wall" texture to the walls, and keep it in perspective using the vanishing points.
Also, I was going to add a sandy, pebblely, pock marked, ground texture, or moonscape-like texture for the ground.
Furthermore, I was going to add "water ripples" to the pool emanating from the face-fountains, and "splashing" where the water is first entering the canals from the face-fountains.
Figure/Faces:
I planned on making the anatomy of the figure more realistic using real-life reference, and smoothing the tonal transitions on the figure and faces more.
Composition:
The composition seems pretty well balanced in my opinion. I have tried flipping the image and it is possible that the composition could be heavier on the right side due to the faces, so maybe I should add another face or something else to the left side?
Also, I was told that the area where the lightsource emanates looks like it could be a wall, and that I should do something to show that is a vast open space in the distance like I intended. Maybe some clouds? Or a smaller network of canals disappearing to the vanishing point in that empty space on the upper left hand corner?
Final Note:
The area in the upper right portion of the image was not meant to be bright in the painting, it was reflected light from my living room caught by the camera off the glossy surface of the canvas.
Also, the picture of this painting is a little out of skew, because I didn't photograph it with a tripod in a perfectly "square" orientation, so yes, you can see part of a wall behind the canvas of the oil painting, and it is not supposed to be part of the painting.
Right now my camera batterires are charging, and I will attempt to take one last photograph of this image with perfect lighting and in an absolutely "square" position so that nothing is off kilter.
Also, I definitely want the water pouring from the faces to look like water and not tongues, so I will definitely use reference to try and make it look more realistic.
Thanks much for your help and interest.
Chris.

[crigg]

that lightsource is very strong, so im estimating that there would be stronger/more defined shadows on the ground as well as in the water in front of the man, also there would be yellow light/ yellow material reflected in the water color is really transferable, it will normally effect anything around it. its hard working with that color of light and blue water because blue+yellow= green But its possible...

[christar999]

Thanks! thank you so much for your input crigg! I have been waiting so long for someone to say something about this so thanks! Plus i think your absolutely right, and have already made a few things "green" in this image as a result of of the challenging color choice of yellow and blue! so yeah, i will get right on those suggestions of yours.
Meanwhile, if anyone else has a thought about this pic, please post it!
Thanks!
Chris.

[Nilwort]

I like the setting of this painting a lot. I'm still learning too and since this is an actual painting, I'm hesitant to give out advice. But as crigg said, the blue is very blue. Water is reflective, especially since the pool looks still (rough water is less reflective). I'd expect to see more of the surrounding environment's color represented in the water, maybe some reflections of the walls/ceiling if there is one.

Maybe some more defined shadows, less saturated colors (if you want), and some texture details to the surfaces...but be careful since this is a real painting (no ctrl-z but you can learn a lot).

Keep at it. It looks like it's going along well (pun intended).

[christar999]

Thanks Nilwort!
I have recievd quite a bit of critique on this image in another forum, and from what there telling me, I am going to have to make some major revisions on the vertical portions of the walls, as they are apparently a little too distorted and need to be straightened.
You noted this is a natural media painting and so I can't just copy and paste the walls back in another position, or use the "back button", so I have a lot of tricky work ahead of me.
Your absolutely right about the colors in the water, and I am definitely going to address that problem next time I work on this painting.
Thanks for your comments and if you have anymore please don't hesitate to add them. I appreciate all comments from everyone!
Sincerely, Chris.