Stormy #42

[MurrayG]

Hi folks, I'm posting this as a muse piece. I mean, I have been exploring tonalism, but this doesn't fit in my view, but I learnt heaps from this work. It was meant to be a scale up from my small work. But, after I started, grandkids, Flu and any number of things turned this into a two week plus effort. It is definitely approaching Paintbosses warning of overworking etc.
It took at least 5 tries of working on to "complete". Normally I accept this, but, in a way I can see about 4 painting styles in this! Ah well. In a way, even that was a learning, "do or don't do".
It's gouache on the sized side of a NOT WC paper, 300gm, 30x22cm. Note, I will not use the sized side again, yuk.
I was hoping to add figures on the beach but I think I will save that for another effort with fewer stop starts. Stylistically, to me it's "ok", but could've done better. It's a Max Smart, "missed it by that much" effort.

 

[Donna T]

It's a good thing you didn't give up on this one, Murray. It's really nice! There's a lot of drama in the turbulent sky and crashing waves. I hope you don't mind but I cropped it to put more focus on the main event. I wonder if just a hint of the beach is all that's needed. It's just a suggestion - you know better than me what you want to say with this painting.

 

[MurrayG]

It's a good thing you didn't give up on this one, Murray. It's really nice! There's a lot of drama in the turbulent sky and crashing waves. I hope you don't mind but I cropped it to put more focus on the main event. I wonder if just a hint of the beach is all that's needed. It's just a suggestion - you know better than me what you want to say with this painting.

View attachment 46855

Hi Donna, no problems, I had a whole different aim when starting, people etc hence the beach. But your suggestion is great. Thank you for thinking and commenting, the only way I'm gonna learn....
Your suggestion is spot on, thanks.

 

[Donna T]

I’m glad you weren’t offended. I never want to step on any toes. I might have cropped too much off the beach - the horizon is nearer the center now. You could crop off the sky and feature all of the beach … so many options. It’s great seeing how many different subjects you’ve been doing!

 

[PaintBoss]

First hit to the eyes is it’s a wonderful painting, so don’t worry about that Murray. And without telling us, we would never know that it took a lot of attempts. It does not look overworked.
I am on a tiny little phone here and I did not see Donna’s post looking at your work, and I was already cropping out the foreground. It is competing with a wonderful action in the rest of the painting. I think it is a stronger compositional piece without foreground that is a bit busy. I think Donna’s crop is strong. I think it would be great having a little more sand in foreground, no plants. I edited the best I could to show you. It would probably be really lovely even with a longer stretch of sand, leading the eye in, but my editing abilities cannot make that look believable to show you. Anyways, all options are lovely. Part of being an artist is figuring out what to keep, what to change and what to get rid of. And you can have a very nice scene. It’s just it can be made even that much stronger by editing out a little bit.

 

[MurrayG]

First hit to the eyes is it’s a wonderful painting, so don’t worry about that Murray. And without telling us, we would never know that it took a lot of attempts. It does not look overworked.
I am on a tiny little phone here and I did not see Donna’s post looking at your work, and I was already cropping out the foreground. It is competing with a wonderful action in the rest of the painting. I think it is a stronger compositional piece without foreground that is a bit busy. I think Donna’s crop is strong. I think it would be great having a little more sand in foreground, no plants. I edited the best I could to show you. It would probably be really lovely even with a longer stretch of sand, leading the eye in, but my editing abilities cannot make that look believable to show you. Anyways, all options are lovely. Part of being an artist is figuring out what to keep, what to change and what to get rid of. And you can have a very nice scene. It’s just it can be made even that much stronger by editing out a little bit.
View attachment 46859

Thanks so much Paintboss. I do agree about the beach depth. I got caught going from one idea to a new one...... Anyway, your observations are super helpful. Thanks again.

 

[Sanlynn]

Beautiful painting, Murray. I like the crop to enhance the main event.

 

[MurrayG]

Beautiful painting, Murray. I like the crop to enhance the main event.

Thanks so much, I think I agree

 

[PaintBoss]

Thanks so much Paintboss. I do agree about the beach depth. I got caught going from one idea to a new one...... Anyway, your observations are super helpful. Thanks again.

Thanks Murray. It is a very lovely piece.

 

[pcj]

First hit to the eyes is it’s a wonderful painting, so don’t worry about that Murray. And without telling us, we would never know that it took a lot of attempts. It does not look overworked.
I am on a tiny little phone here and I did not see Donna’s post looking at your work, and I was already cropping out the foreground. It is competing with a wonderful action in the rest of the painting. I think it is a stronger compositional piece without foreground that is a bit busy. I think Donna’s crop is strong. I think it would be great having a little more sand in foreground, no plants. I edited the best I could to show you. It would probably be really lovely even with a longer stretch of sand, leading the eye in, but my editing abilities cannot make that look believable to show you. Anyways, all options are lovely. Part of being an artist is figuring out what to keep, what to change and what to get rid of. And you can have a very nice scene. It’s just it can be made even that much stronger by editing out a little bit.
View attachment 46859

Oops, I meant to put the 'love' icon on Murrays first post - sorry .
Although I do like the crop !