[rdgraffix]

Ok, I think this one is almost done, but I wanted to get some external feedback before I finish up. It's amazing how many problems you're blind to, but others can se so easily. I guess when you've been staring at something for a while you just get accustomed to it and don't see all it's faults.

Anyway, what do you think about this? What is working and what isn't, and most importantly, what could I do to improve it?

[Anthony]

Let's see...compositionally we just fall right off the page. So that might desire a bit of work. The whole composition's sort of a downward verticle arc. The rendering's nice-that's paint right? If it is, bravo, that's very nicely done. The subject is a little...hackneyed. Granted there are a million Madonnas out there, so it's not a condemnation, just commenting, since I saw about 50 of these back in High School(that or a girl's eye with a little tear-*so sweet*). Anywho, keep it up!

[Ian Jones]

Hi Rowan.

I'am 'Collosimo', from before the forum went down the drain... I'm using my real name this time.

Anyways, I like it. It conveys the meaning clearly, and is aesthetically appealing too.

I like the textural quality, and colour and lighting.

Only one crit: Be careful of the proximity of the jagged border, to the black sharp edges. You have much more space on the right than on the left atm. I can see that you have tried to balance this a bit, but I think it needs a little more consideration.

The juggle between sharp texture (right) and the softer blend (left) of the border seems to aid in the unbalance there aswell.

Hope that helps.

[rdgraffix]

OK, thank you for your replies - lots of things to think about.

Anthony - Thanks for your critique. Firstly, while I'd love to take credit for rendering this, it's actually created from some of my photography. I've started to dabble a bit more with photo-manip lately as I find it lets me convey what I want to say quicker and easier. I've also been messing with making my digital art look more traditional, so I can see where the confusion arises.

The subject matter is fairly well trod, I must admit. I usually don't worry about wether my subjects are clich� or groundbreaking though, and just create whatever I'm inspired to - at least in a spontaneous piece like this.

As for the composition, you are meant to follow the fall of the petals, but composition has always been one of my weaker points and something I'd really like to improve. Can you give me any suggestions of better composition so I can see where I could improve?

Ian - Good to see you again. I think you may be right, it's a bit left-heavy. I like the contrast between the sharp and soft borders on the left and right though - it seems to give it a little something that a consistant border doesn't.

[the_monkey]

i disagree with anthony, i dont find the composition to fall off the page at all, the swirls in the background bring our eye back upwards and into the picture. its quite lovley. although the subject may be cliche, this one pulls it off quite nicely.

[Gothic Gerbil]

I rather like it, the only problem I find compositionally is that my eye gets locked onto the petal at the very bottom and just has nowhere to go. I agree with the_monkey somewhat that the swirls could pull the eye back up, but it just isn't quite doing it here for me. Nice colour scheme too.