Torre del Oro - Sevilla

[Grapes]

This painting is an oil painting on wood. Size is: 55x35 cm. The tower's name is: "Torre del Oro" and it stands next to the Guadalquivir river.

The story goes that back in old days it was covered by gold so from there comes the name (gold engl. = oro spanish). I wonder where the gold has gone

I finished this long ago but I'm wishing return to touch some areas and sky with different color etc. and just fix things more.
I had real trouble getting the tower standing straight. I don't like sharp lines that I have everywhere, though, I was able to loose some sharp lines since the earlier version.
I've been thinking if the people walking on the walkway are too small but if I compare to the photograph (the 2nd pic) they actually are quite small. Also, some viewers don't understand the bush line on the left side of the walkway and they ask me: are they trees? maybe bushes? and if they are bushes why are they so large! Well, they are huge bushes, size of tall trees. Nowadays they have cut the bushes away and there are palm trees instead.

 

[Donna T]

Grapes, what a stunningly beautiful painting! I am in awe of how you used that photo to make such a gorgeous work of art! You made the sky more interesting with the clouds you added, which draw our eye up to the top of the tower after we have explored the ground. You made the pink blossoms prettier than the photo as well and they contrast so nicely with the greens. I would be afraid to mess with the lines of the tower - you'd end up re-doing all of it to make the colors match. It's very old and we expect it to have settled and lean a tiny bit. I think the trees on the left look like trees because the people are so tiny. Maybe if you made them a little less regular, as in have one big one spill out over the walkway a little they might read more as trees. Or you could make one a different shape on top, maybe tall and skinny? You could possibly lighten the value of the most distant trees to push them way back. But really, this is a knockout just as it is and I'd be very careful of losing what you have. Could you try any changes in something like Photoshop first?

 

[Grapes]

Thanks so much, Donna!

The sky in Seville is normally without clouds unless there's a storm or something. Like you see in the photo. It's just sun shine all the time. For that reason I hesitated to add clouds but it's more interesting with them in than just plain blue, isn't it.

I used several photos for this painting. I only could quickly find this reference so I posted it. I often also stop looking at the ref and paint looking at the painting only but in the end I check if I've gotten completely wrong.

You have excellent idea of breaking the tree/bush line (on the left side of the walkway) so that it isn't all same size and shape. That line needs to be fixed! One gets so blind when looking at it for too long.

It's ages I've used Photoshop so l might find other way to try things out. Maybe quick oil sketches? What I actually often do is when dry l paint over and if it's not working I just wipe out with a drop of turpentine or oil can work fine, too, if the painting has plenty of oil already.

It was nice to read your thoughts. Thank you!

 

[Joy]

Grapes, I saw this earlier, but was unable to comment until now. My first thought was that is one of my favorite (if not the best) painting you have ever posted. Donna T really gave such wonderful advice that I would not be able to give, as I know nothing about oils and can only comment on color and composition. I would be afraid of ruing it to play with it too much, as I over work my paintings. Maybe try to use a wee bit of the pink color elsewhere on the painting, like on the tower, so the pink blossoms and the street light don't draw your eye down and attention away from the tower. But I would really say that is done and be very happy with it.

 

[Enyaw]

… very good take on old classic romance. It is extremely well done.

 

[Grapes]

Joy and Wayne, thank you so much!

It's possible to ruin it by trying to fix some parts. But that's only temporary. When it comes to oils ruined paintings can be fixed, only that it can take time and patience.
If you ruin one part and the painting underneath is wet then you wait all to dry well and pass over with razor blade or sandpaper if you wish rough surface. If the paint won't stick when you paint over an other layer you just pass the surface with turpentine and continue painting. Of course, all that is lot of work. But fun!

The pink color is excellent idea. I have very little of that color in this painting.
Thanks Joy!

 

[snoball]

Amazing work on this one! Pure excellence!

 

[Grapes]

Thanks, Sno!