My paintings always become my enemies... PIP

novella1186

FI's sister has been asking me to do a huge painting for her (to hang on a giant bare wall in her house) for a long time. So for Christmas, I decided to go get two huge canvases and surprise her with a painting. All she has said is that she wants something "kind of abstract, but not too abstract." Hm... 

Well, they recently bought a sailboat and love being on the lake, so I thought I had the perfect idea and I went at it. I was making great progress and really loved what was happening (I don't always like the stuff I paint and then I start over) until it got down to the details. My original plan was to do an "abstract" sailboat on a lake. But I don't really paint in abstract and I got stuck on what to do. The first photo of the dark blue lake is the painting for FI's sister, but the sailboat thing in the corner has since been painted over because it looked too cartoony to me and I hated it. 

I actually really like how the sky turned out (there's a little more color variation than the photo shows) so I don't want to change it. And for the most part I like the lake. But now I'm stuck with this big boring blank sky and a big boring blank lake, which makes one huge super plain boring painting. I have to put something else there. But what? Ugh! 

Do I do something weird with lines or something? (The second picture is a painting I did for myself that FI's sister loves and was apparently trying to acquire, but there's no way I'm giving that sucker up. It took me an insane amount of hours and days and weeks to paint that because it is also a huge canvas and my hands shake so doing all the tiny lines was quite a challenge). But since she loves that one so much, should I do some kind of crazy design like that on the lake for her painting? 

Exhibit three is a knock-off Dali painting with my dogs that I did as a joke one day last winter when we were snowed in and I was bored. FI's sister also really loves that one. She talks about it every single time she comes to our house. But this is not abstract. This is surrealism. So... should I do something kind of off the wall like that? Maybe some kind of cool sea monster? I don't know. 

I know this is a totally subjective thing, and you guys can't "tell" me what to paint. But usually it just takes one comment from one person to spark an idea in my head and then I'll know which direction to go. So anything you say could be exactly what I need. Please, suggestions, ideas, criticism, anything! 

TIA!!!

TLDR: What the hell do I do with this big blank boring lake painting? 

ETF: words and title and to cover my signature in the third painting. Sorry, I'm a mess this morning. 

RebeccaFlower

I'm swooning over your sisters two canvasses, so you can mail them to me if she doesn't like them. Plus, she'll be thrilled that you made something for her. I think you should trust your gut because you are clearly very talented and it sounds like sister is all over the place with her tastes. 

dcbride86

You are enormously talented!!!  I can't even imagine having a talent like that!

novella1186

Aw thank you, guys! But the creative part of my brain has quit working  

Maggie0829

I know you thought it looked too cartoony but I liked the sailboat.  You have a great natural scene and then the sailboat was a subtle nod to their newly purchased sailboat.

I really don't think adding an abstract element will really go with what you have already done.  Then you will have two different themes fighting against each other.

And I could picture a small (like 3) subtle flock of seagulls up in the left hand side of the painting.

novella1186

Maggie0829 said:

I know you thought it looked too cartoony but I liked the sailboat.  You have a great natural scene and then the sailboat was a subtle nod to their newly purchased sailboat.

I really don't think adding an abstract element will really go with what you have already done.  Then you will have two different themes fighting against each other.

And I could picture a small (like 3) subtle flock of seagulls up in the left hand side of the painting.

You're right... it could turn into a big mess if I suddenly go abstract with just the bottom of it :S 

Hm.... 

esstee33

What about adding some clouds that echo the swirling pattern in your second picture? 

I don't really think it needs anything, though. 

Also, these are fucking incredible!

novella1186

esstee33 said:

What about adding some clouds that echo the swirling pattern in your second picture? 

I don't really think it needs anything, though. 

Also, these are fucking incredible!

Thank you! I keep thinking I need to add something because now that sailboat is gone, and this canvases are really big. So it's like a giant blue blank. 

VulgarGirl

I'd honestly leave the first one as is. I find it really soothing when I look at it, and I love the second one.

levioosa

I had "PAINT A KRAKEN" all planned out to post in my head before you even asked about sea monsters.  So, yeah. A kraken.  It's what's missing.  Obviously.  

On a more serious note, you are very talented, and I think those are all great.  

PowerDoc

I think a sea monster would add a lot of fun actually, like a Kraken or something. As it stands compositionally, your horizon is so centered that you lose any detail you put strictly above or below, so adding a larger element that cuts across the horizon line (like a creature for instance) to the left piece would help immensely.  Hope that helps or at least makes sense! Good luck!

novella1186

levioosa said:

I had "PAINT A KRAKEN" all planned out to post in my head before you even asked about sea monsters.  So, yeah. A kraken.  It's what's missing.  Obviously.  

On a more serious note, you are very talented, and I think those are all great.  

PowerDoc said:

I think a sea monster would add a lot of fun actually, like a Kraken or something. As it stands compositionally, your horizon is so centered that you lose any detail you put strictly above or below, so adding a larger element that cuts across the horizon line (like a creature for instance) to the left piece would help immensely.  Hope that helps or at least makes sense! Good luck!

Omg I love you both. Genius. I'm gonna work on some sketches but that might be the answer I've been trying to figure out for weeks!!! Ha! 

And thank you! 

ETA: and YES! You're absolutely right, I need to cut across the horizon line. I hadn't even thought of that. Thank you thank you thank you! 

sarawifenow

I love all of the paintings! I also think that adding something more abstract to the first one may be too much.

 

I can't believe how talented you are! You should open an Etsy shop!

novella1186

sarawifenow said:

I love all of the paintings! I also think that adding something more abstract to the first one may be too much.

 

I can't believe how talented you are! You should open an Etsy shop!

SIB

Thank you!  

anemone137.defunct635825918192908843

These are lovely! 
No matter the question, a Kracken is almost always the answer.  But if you're still looking for other ideas... you could always add a dock (with or without sailboat(s)) or tall grasses in the foreground. 
I also like the idea of a steampunk-ish Zeppelin in that gorgeous sky.

theartistformerlyknownas

It sounds like maybe she doesn't know what the difference is between abstract and surrealism and she probably meant surrealism. So... SEA MONSTER!

novella1186

Ah! You guys always have the greatest ideas for everything! I knew you'd all kill my creative block! I'm so excited to go home and work on it now!!! 

loro929

I'm glad you busted out of your creativity block. Your work is really amazing. You have a truly great talent!

novella1186

loro929 said:

I'm glad you busted out of your creativity block. Your work is really amazing. You have a truly great talent!

Thank you!  

raissyrais

Release the kraken!!!!!

Those are very nice Novella. You're quite talented! I like the second one most I haven't painted in a while, maybe it's time. You're inspiring me!

novella1186

raissyrais said:

Release the kraken!!!!!

Those are very nice Novella. You're quite talented! I like the second one most I haven't painted in a while, maybe it's time. You're inspiring me!

SIB

That is awesome! And thank you for the compliment! 

Inkdancer

You are incredibly talented. I would totally buy your work to put in my house!

climbingsingle

Holy shit, girl. You are crazy talented! I fucking love these paintings! 

cupcait927

No suggestions because I have zero creative bones in my body, but I just wanted to tell you that I'm obsessed with the second painting. Love the detail and the ships!

novella1186

Wow... thanks guys! These compliments are totally making me smile! 

HaileyDancingbear

The painting is gorgeous.  But since you asked for it, here's a critique- It needs a bit more dimension as far as the colors go. Other than that spot of yellow, it's entirely shades of blue and green.  That might be why you're not entirely satisfied with it.  On both sides of the ocean where the shadows are is the first place you should start adding color-  (correct me if I'm wrong because it could just be the photo) It looks like you took the blue you used for the ocean and added black.  A rule of thumb I picked up when I went to that art school is that you should avoid mixing black into your colors, and instead add a contrasting color- so I'd suggest adding red to the blue you're using instead. That way instead of just being a darker shade of the blue, you use a deep violet- the tones of red against the tones of blue will also help to create depth, so you may not even have to go as dark to create the same illusion.  The purple will also go well with the little touches of purple on the landscape.  

Also, I really love the splash of yellow on the corner, and I think you should keep going with that- part of being able to go abstract is that you can be really ballsy with the colors you put in the sky, and you could add in shades of orange, red, purple etc.  in the same style as that splash of yellow.  Especially on the left side- I think another reason you may not be satisfied with it is that all of the action seems to be toward the right; try looking at the two canvasses individually.  Think in terms of "if this single canvas was alone, would I like it?" even if they're meant to be hung together, both panels should be interesting pieces on their own.  The right canvas needs a bit more work to make it as engaging as the left.  Definitely put the Kraken on the left side (And consider using it as a way to add a new color into the mix- maybe red?)

ETA: I wrote right when I meant left.  

novella1186

HaileyDancingbear said:

The painting is gorgeous.  But since you asked for it, here's a critique- It needs a bit more dimension as far as the colors go. Other than that spot of yellow, it's entirely shades of blue and green.  That might be why you're not entirely satisfied with it.  On both sides of the ocean where the shadows are is the first place you should start adding color-  (correct me if I'm wrong because it could just be the photo) It looks like you took the blue you used for the ocean and added black.  A rule of thumb I picked up when I went to that art school is that you should avoid mixing black into your colors, and instead add a contrasting color- so I'd suggest adding red to the blue you're using instead. That way instead of just being a darker shade of the blue, you use a deep violet- the tones of red against the tones of blue will also help to create depth, so you may not even have to go as dark to create the same illusion.  The purple will also go well with the little touches of purple on the landscape.  

Also, I really love the splash of yellow on the corner, and I think you should keep going with that- part of being able to go abstract is that you can be really ballsy with the colors you put in the sky, and you could add in shades of orange, red, purple etc.  in the same style as that splash of yellow.  Especially on the left side- I think another reason you may not be satisfied with it is that all of the action seems to be toward the right; try looking at the two canvasses individually.  Think in terms of "if this single canvas was alone, would I like it?" even if they're meant to be hung together, both panels should be interesting pieces on their own.  The right canvas needs a bit more work to make it as engaging as the left.  Definitely put the Kraken on the right side (And consider using it as a way to add a new color into the mix- maybe red?)

To the bolded, I actually never heard of that before (I have pretty much no real training so there's A LOT of important stuff like that I'm sure I don't know) but that sounds amazing. I'm definitely going to use that when I re-do the lake part and I'm really excited to see how it works out! I love that idea so much! 

You have a ton of good advice that I was not even aware of, so thank you! So so so much: thank you! You totally just improved my painting skills! 

HaileyDancingbear

novella1186 said:

HaileyDancingbear said:

The painting is gorgeous.  But since you asked for it, here's a critique- It needs a bit more dimension as far as the colors go. Other than that spot of yellow, it's entirely shades of blue and green.  That might be why you're not entirely satisfied with it.  On both sides of the ocean where the shadows are is the first place you should start adding color-  (correct me if I'm wrong because it could just be the photo) It looks like you took the blue you used for the ocean and added black.  A rule of thumb I picked up when I went to that art school is that you should avoid mixing black into your colors, and instead add a contrasting color- so I'd suggest adding red to the blue you're using instead. That way instead of just being a darker shade of the blue, you use a deep violet- the tones of red against the tones of blue will also help to create depth, so you may not even have to go as dark to create the same illusion.  The purple will also go well with the little touches of purple on the landscape.  

Also, I really love the splash of yellow on the corner, and I think you should keep going with that- part of being able to go abstract is that you can be really ballsy with the colors you put in the sky, and you could add in shades of orange, red, purple etc.  in the same style as that splash of yellow.  Especially on the left side- I think another reason you may not be satisfied with it is that all of the action seems to be toward the right; try looking at the two canvasses individually.  Think in terms of "if this single canvas was alone, would I like it?" even if they're meant to be hung together, both panels should be interesting pieces on their own.  The right canvas needs a bit more work to make it as engaging as the left.  Definitely put the Kraken on the right side (And consider using it as a way to add a new color into the mix- maybe red?)

To the bolded, I actually never heard of that before (I have pretty much no real training so there's A LOT of important stuff like that I'm sure I don't know) but that sounds amazing. I'm definitely going to use that when I re-do the lake part and I'm really excited to see how it works out! I love that idea so much! 

You have a ton of good advice that I was not even aware of, so thank you! So so so much: thank you! You totally just improved my painting skills! 

I'm glad I helped!  I haven't had much real training, but I did one year at an art school where I took painting, drawing, and sculpture classes.  Being first year I didn't get to do anything too advanced, but I did get a lot of practice and a pretty good knowledge of the basics of those subjects.  But the most important thing I learned was how to give and accept a good critique, which, in my opinion, is way better for improving your artwork than any lesson or book, as long as you can accept constructive criticism.

I can tell that while you're great now, you're only going to get better as you go on because you're good at accepting criticism.  When I was in school, the students were pretty much in two categories- those who took criticism well, and those who flipped out at any small criticism.  The first group ended up with amazing work, while the second group just kept producing the same stuff over and over.  

novella1186

HaileyDancingbear said:

novella1186 said:

HaileyDancingbear said:

The painting is gorgeous.  But since you asked for it, here's a critique- It needs a bit more dimension as far as the colors go. Other than that spot of yellow, it's entirely shades of blue and green.  That might be why you're not entirely satisfied with it.  On both sides of the ocean where the shadows are is the first place you should start adding color-  (correct me if I'm wrong because it could just be the photo) It looks like you took the blue you used for the ocean and added black.  A rule of thumb I picked up when I went to that art school is that you should avoid mixing black into your colors, and instead add a contrasting color- so I'd suggest adding red to the blue you're using instead. That way instead of just being a darker shade of the blue, you use a deep violet- the tones of red against the tones of blue will also help to create depth, so you may not even have to go as dark to create the same illusion.  The purple will also go well with the little touches of purple on the landscape.  

Also, I really love the splash of yellow on the corner, and I think you should keep going with that- part of being able to go abstract is that you can be really ballsy with the colors you put in the sky, and you could add in shades of orange, red, purple etc.  in the same style as that splash of yellow.  Especially on the left side- I think another reason you may not be satisfied with it is that all of the action seems to be toward the right; try looking at the two canvasses individually.  Think in terms of "if this single canvas was alone, would I like it?" even if they're meant to be hung together, both panels should be interesting pieces on their own.  The right canvas needs a bit more work to make it as engaging as the left.  Definitely put the Kraken on the right side (And consider using it as a way to add a new color into the mix- maybe red?)

To the bolded, I actually never heard of that before (I have pretty much no real training so there's A LOT of important stuff like that I'm sure I don't know) but that sounds amazing. I'm definitely going to use that when I re-do the lake part and I'm really excited to see how it works out! I love that idea so much! 

You have a ton of good advice that I was not even aware of, so thank you! So so so much: thank you! You totally just improved my painting skills! 

I'm glad I helped!  I haven't had much real training, but I did one year at an art school where I took painting, drawing, and sculpture classes.  Being first year I didn't get to do anything too advanced, but I did get a lot of practice and a pretty good knowledge of the basics of those subjects.  But the most important thing I learned was how to give and accept a good critique, which, in my opinion, is way better for improving your artwork than any lesson or book, as long as you can accept constructive criticism.

I can tell that while you're great now, you're only going to get better as you go on because you're good at accepting criticism.  When I was in school, the students were pretty much in two categories- those who took criticism well, and those who flipped out at any small criticism.  The first group ended up with amazing work, while the second group just kept producing the same stuff over and over.  

I know exactly what you mean. My writing classes in college were all based on being critiqued by your peers and by the professor, and I was always really excited to get criticism because that's the best way to see your weaknesses and try to fix them. And just like you said, the students who couldn't handle criticism were the worst writers by the end of the program. 

I didn't even see what you said as criticism, though, I just saw it as super helpful advice and I'm excited to learn new stuff! 

Teddy917

You could add some ducks/geese/swans/some sort of bird.

ashley8918

I see that you have already received some great ideas, so I'm just here to say that I fucking LOOOOVE the ones of the dogs. God, H would love if i did something like that. Of course, I can't really paint. I'm pretty much a pens and pencils only kind of gal.