[Capt. Fred]

I'm considering doing this speedpainting fairly large in acrylic.

I'd really appreciate input on the drawing, composition. I like the colour palette and limited range of values, low contrast, and that's what I want to keep or maybe accentuate slightly. I feel the composition is getting a little crowded, but want to keep all the main elements. I'm not so keen on the machine thing on the desk. that will require some more thought from me, but your input is valued.

I'd also appreciate any input on acrylic the medium. I've used it before a litte, mostly for smaller stuff tho. Best way to keep the line-drawing as a guide for as long as possible, and so on. Thanks peeps.

speedpaint


toying with painter classic


line


edit: oh yeah, that guy in background on the left, that was supposed to be a robot.. he'll get bronze hair and ill-colour or shiney skin, minute embossed seam-lines or something.. asimov, r. daneel style, can worry about that slightly further down the line.

[spyroteknik]

can't say about acrylic (have about 50 unopened tubes, scares me), but compositionally, i think if you cropped some of the right side off it'd help immensely, the figure in the centre throws things off balance as it is, with him being the focus, and the rest trying to balance it out, if it was cropped say, halfway into the machine, it'd shift the balance of the image and flow better

[Capt. Fred]

Yeah, thanks spiro.
You could be right there.

I was thinking for balance about making the machine more of a focal point.
It would then be more crowded but not too busy I think. And would balance better.

Acrylic wise, yeah, I'll be doing that much later now. End of term this week, so next term.
I'm a four colour man (boy) myself. I am frustrated when I can't get the exact colour I want, when I'm not in control. Blue red yellow white. If I'm feeling lazy I'll use some black. Even if I'm doing an image of limited colour palette, I still have to use those four (five).

Thanks all the same. Will do another study later.

[Capt. Fred]

tryna change the balance without changing the crop or comp.

[Matthew]

hey Capt.Fred I remember this speedy and I was thinking about one thing when I saw it back when u posted it. It gets a little bit busy with the guy in front of the machine with his leg behind the table-leg, can�t really tell where his leg is going.
Anyway, I like the idea with the picture and that you are gonna make the same picture in acrylic is very cool.

I made some experiments with the composition and this one I felt worked the best and this way u have focus on the machine and also all the elements are there, composition fixation beneath--
U could also move the machine guy to the left and put the machine in the middle and the guy who is standing to the left could be put in the right. The machine placed in the middle would very much focus on the machine, just a thought.



see you and keep it up Capt.Fred
Matthew

[Summer Pudding]

Hey there Fred,

this has bags of potential. Everything's in place for a real showstopper.

I agree with Matthew about cropping the bottom of the image. It's dead space, and doesn't contribute much to the story.

I also agree with Spyro's cropping the machine suggestion. If you make the design of the remaining portion intriguing enough, you won't need the whole thing.

My main concern, is the baldy boffin. To me he seems a little stiff, even for a Victorian inventor! I don't think his interaction with the machine is very convincing. I'd suggest reposing him radically. How would he look either leaning forward, or half crouching, closely examining some part of the machine? It'd also be a chance to throw some light from the machine onto his face.

I love the posture of the bored daughter/niece by the doorway.

hope this helps mate

Pud'

[Capt. Fred]

matt, hi, thanks for stopping by.

Yes, your crop is definitely an improvement. More than once before I have had a different image with similar issue with composition and remember cropping almost the exact same portion as you have. I didn't see that solution this time, but you're right, with the table leg and his legs and blah blah, deadwood.

Having said that, I like the shape of the other crop... Strange as it sounds. I think the cropped one looks more photo-like, but also somehoww less formal. I like the more formal and less 'snapshot' look of the other shape canvas. I might have to try to keep the crop but redesign the foreground that lies out side of your crop boundaries. I think it's the framing of the door way I like, eitherway, i need to loose the deadwood legs rubbish, agreed.

Maybe I could crop it some� mmmm

pud'! Thanks for the input. I think I too feel like this pic could 'go' someplace further/better than my usual off the cuff speed mess.

I think if i repose him, which is something I will play with, then I'll want to keep his head sort of silhouetted by the light from the doorway. At the moment tho he certainly is not really doing much, and since he's fairly central, he deserves a lot more character/interest.

thanks people! this is exactly the sort of input I wanted, and is very interesting to hear. I'll be sure to show you the acrylic when I get 'round to it. Might not be for a while now����

[Spunkmeyer]

Capt. Fred- I think this is looking good. Maybe the inventor should be looking more intently at his machine. As for acrylics, I've used 'em for years-just start slappin' them on a board. They dry so fast you can just keep painting over them almost like layers in PS. You don't get that over-blended smeary look you see so often in oils.
Good luck!