Comp--The Muse

[Lahree]

Well, uh, the patch didn't work. Although I practiced numerous times on other paper, my patch ended up being a distaster. So, (deep sigh here) I am going to re-draw The Muse. Not right away, I will work on something else first. But I thought it was a really cool idea, so I want to go to the trouble of re-drawing it. So, this is a chance to ask opinions on comp or changes I could make to the next version to make it even better. Attached is the drawing (which is now ruined) :( Any suggestions for improvement? Anything that could be better? Better placed? I am nto really happy with my paint blob. I am wondering about changing it to paint smears--like an oil painter makes when he mixes. I have attached some ideas. What do y'all think? You won't hurt my feelings at all with any suggestions. trust me. I WANT opinions/critiques.

[Hezzy]

Lahree,
I saw your post in the cafe and came to take a look. I love this piece and am sad to hear that you have to redo it. I am usually the last person to comment on comp so I am afraid that I don't have much to offer. I do however like the idea of changing your paintblob. Right now it kinda reminds me of a fall leaf (maple?). I you need and paint blob references I have a ton of them (I have been working in oils again) and would be more than happy to mix you up some!

Sorry I could not be of more help.

[Lahree]

Hooray!! :squeezes Hezzy tight:: You LOOKED! THANK YOU!

I would LOVE paint blob references! Paint blobs with yellows, reds, and oranges (well, basically colors from her hair) would be GREATLY appreciated!!

I don't like my paint blob. I am also thinking of not having much wood, if at all, showing. More paint, less wood.

Thanks for looking and COMMENTING!!! :D :D

[Brenda]

hi, lori... I've looked, too but time constraints have kept me from replying. My youngest daughter's bathroom remodel... it is consuming our lives at the moment.

I LOVE the muse. You asked for opinions and of course I have a couple. Yes, less wood, a different blob and I'd like to see the crackles on her face be finer. I love the crackles but they are a bit too hard and thick. I'm thinking more like this:

[Lahree]

hi, lori... I've looked, too but time constraints have kept me from replying. My youngest daughter's bathroom remodel... it is consuming our lives at the moment.

I LOVE the muse. You asked for opinions and of course I have a couple. Yes, less wood, a different blob and I'd like to see the crackles on her face be finer. I love the crackles but they are a bit too hard and thick. I'm thinking more like this:

Oh, cool, Brenda! I need feedback! Thanks!

What do you think? Paint splashes, paint smears or mixed paint? What if there was no wood showing and only paint? That might be cool!

[Greg]

I like the wood grain showing. The crackly's look good, but almost appear to be in to predictable a pattern. Maybe smaller would be better on them. Can that much paint come out of a fairly small brush? Maybe a brush that has a little bit larger bristles. I may be wrong on the last part.

The hair is just fantastic!! From the direction to the hues.

[Hezzy]

Lahree,
I will even throw in a great big gloopy brush with the paint. I won't be able to do it until tonight though. Cub scout pack meeting... why do they always schedule them on my anniversary? Oh well we celebrated last Saturday so all is well.

[Lahree]

LOL, Greg! I don't know what will look good either! I need to "play" with the image! :D

That would be just peach, Hezzy! Take your time. I'm not tearing into this right away anyway. I am giving myself some time and distance from it right now. I'm mad at it! :annoyed:

[Denise]

Hi Lori!

I love everything about the hair. I love the frame. I love the colors you've used. Change the blob? yes, I agree. Do the cracles a bit different? Yes, I agree. Less wood would be good (say that 5 times fast!). I am troubled by the ear...I can't actually put into words what's bothering me, if it's size, placement, shading, angle....I'm not sure. It's probably just me though since no one else has mentioned it.

Funny, this never came up the last couple of days when I hit new posts or I would have responded right away. I didn't know it was here.:)

[Lahree]

Hi Lori!

I love everything about the hair. I love the frame. I love the colors you've used. Change the blob? yes, I agree. Do the cracles a bit different? Yes, I agree. Less wood would be good (say that 5 times fast!). I am troubled by the ear...I can't actually put into words what's bothering me, if it's size, placement, shading, angle....I'm not sure. It's probably just me though since no one else has mentioned it.

Funny, this never came up the last couple of days when I hit new posts or I would have responded right away. I didn't know it was here.:)

Thank, Denise! You know, I think there is something about the ear that is not quite right. It could be that parts of it were erased approximately a zillion-billion times. It could look wonky because the ear lobe is partly obliterated by cracks and parts aren't. And it might be that it sits at a different angle that the frame and so it may make it look wonky because of that. I am not overly proud how the ear looks overall. It will be something that I can and will do better in the next drawing. I thank you for your insight on that. I thought it was off and I am glad someone else saw that too. You know, sometimes when you are the creator, it is hard to figure out what is off and then someone with fresh eyes can spot it right away.

And I never did like my blob............. :D

[Bill C]

Hi Lori,

I'm wondering about cooling down the wood bg to create more depth?

[Bill C]

OK, so I had to play with it some, LOL. I cooled down the wood. I'll be interested in how you do the paint blob, remember it's part of the comp. I would want the "swirls" in the paint to direct my eye toward the ear, not out of the painting. The hair is also an important part of your comp, play with shadow and highlites to lead the eye around. I adjusted some of the values, just messing around.

[Lahree]

Thanks, Bill! When you added those highlights in the blob, it really illustrated how the eye would be lead to the ear. WOW! Just a little bit made such a big difference! Amazing! I am so glad that I am finally getting responses to this thread, 'cause I really need the help!! THANK YOU!!!

And you know, Denise, looking at that ear again, I can see it is tilted too much toward an upward angle and also the shadowing at the bottom edge of the flesh makes it look like that is where her jaw line starts and therefore it makes her ear look huge. THANKS FOR SAYING SOMETHING!

[Denise]

And you know, Denise, looking at that ear again, I can see it is tilted too much toward an upward angle and also the shadowing at the bottom edge of the flesh makes it look like that is where her jaw line starts and therefore it makes her ear look huge. THANKS FOR SAYING SOMETHING!

Ya know, the more I looked at it (assuming the shadow line was the jaw) I thought "Wow! The is one big-honkin' ear!";) and yeah, that angle was another problem, too. You're welcome! I am never very sure of what I "see" in other people's art...most of the time I don't say anything, then when someone says what I saw I talk to my monitor and let it know that "yeah, I saw that";) :D

Your re-do is gonna be amazing, Lori:D

[Bob Ebdon]

Its a shame you have to re-do Lori, but what a great chance to tweak it andimprove it. I honestly don't think it needs a lot though, and Bills ideas seem great to me.

[Lahree]

Its a shame you have to re-do Lori, but what a great chance to tweak it andimprove it. I honestly don't think it needs a lot though, and Bills ideas seem great to me.

Thanks, Bob! With the tweaks and such I am going to do, it will almost be like doing a new drawing--I keep telling myself that so that I have enthusiasm for it instead of drudgery.

And Denise, I do think it's the shadowing that is making the ear appear so huge. I think if I change the angle of the ear just a bit and do a better job on the shading, it won't look so large, as it is the correct size of ear according to the reference pic.

[Denise]

And Denise, I do think it's the shadowing that is making the ear appear so huge. I think if I change the angle of the ear just a bit and do a better job on the shading, it won't look so large, as it is the correct size of ear according to the reference pic.

sounds like an easy fix! how long do you think you'll lay it aside before the re-do? (translation= how long are you gonna make us wait? ;) )

[Katydid]

Lori - try rounding out the blob somewhat...no little points, more "bloby", and more shading under it. (i have not seen the reference so you may be on mark - in that case ignore me)

[Lahree]

sounds like an easy fix! how long do you think you'll lay it aside before the re-do? (translation= how long are you gonna make us wait? ;) )

Well, I am working on another one right now and then I expect that'll take me right up until the holiday card exchange name and then I'll do that one and THEN I'll do The Muse again. Sigh. :)

[Lahree]

Lori - try rounding out the blob somewhat...no little points, more "bloby", and more shading under it. (i have not seen the reference so you may be on mark - in that case ignore me)

More "bloby." I like it! :D :p But, remember--"we" are also considering "splashy" and "hatchy" and "mixy" and "swirly" for possible paint choices. :D

[bmac]

Lori, Sorry I've been out of town, so I couldn't respond. I like the more 'blobby' idea for the paint and the 'splashy'. As for the ear, I don't see whats wrong with it. I guess because i look at the ear seperately from the red hair. I just look at is as a surreal ear in the frame. Does that make sense? Can you, or do you want to post a pic of the original after the patch messup?
I still like the collage idea. ;) :p

[Brenda]

Beth, I see that ear as surreal, too but... I think the problem for me might be the lighting. The head has the light source coming from behind but the ear is very bright, as if there is a light shining directly onto it. If it were lit the same as the head, then it would be much darker with light edges. And I think that's perhaps the reason it looks like it is attached incorrectly.

I *like* what Bill did to the wood and the paint blob. Speaking of the paint blob, shouldn't the paint would be more uneven with high and low spots. And the mix would be more swirly... or least that's how mine looks... swirly.

[Lahree]

Thanks, Beth and Brenda! :D The ear is supposed to look surreal, but also look as if it belongs to that head of hair. Does that make sense? It's surreal because although it is the right size and shape to belong to the head, it's going to be crackled and hopefully in r/l, the poor girl wouldn't have a crackle face. It's supposed to give the idea (this is how I am interpreting it when I came up with the idea) is that the artist's muse, is losing her ability to inspire him anymore. She is becoming useless to him for whatever reason. Could it be age (hence the cracks) or are the cracks representing a crack in her beauty/virtue/personality? Deep, huh?

In the ref photo, the ear is practically lit like a Chrristmas tree! :p The light source in the ref has the light coming from behind and the edge is really lit so bright it looks like it on fire and the front is really dark. That's why I poked holes in it. I'd get it too dark and then erase, then it would be too dark in SOME places and I'd have to try to erase, then I'd go back in and try to fix it, then it would be too SOMETHING and then I'd go back in and erase and then..............well, you get the idea here. Sigh.

And you are right, Brenda. The blob should have had lighter edges and been more siwrly. Unfortunately, that was one of the things that darn digital picture would never show! The lighter edges and deeper pockets. It always looked flat! Sigh. That's why I have got to go back to the drawing board! :annoyed:

[Katydid]

I think maybe the ear is bothering you because you know that it ruined you 1st painting.

I "Googled" (oh oh that sounds bad) the photographer and found a pix close to yours…. different, only in the paint blob/swirly was replaced by a keyboard. I think you fairly well nailed the look of that photo anyway.

Don’t let that @#% ear psych you out. Just put it in its place :D

[Lahree]

I think maybe the ear is bothering you because you know that it ruined you 1st painting.

I "Googled" (oh oh that sounds bad) the photographer and found a pix close to yours…. different, only in the paint blob/swirly was replaced by a keyboard. I think you fairly well nailed the look of that photo anyway.

Don’t let that @#% ear psych you out. Just put it in its place :D

Yes, that photo is the what I am using as the reference--only changing it to fit my style. I paid for the rights to draw it, but wanted to change it with my ideas on board.

I will have a a stern talk with the ear--just hope it doesn't go in one ear and out the other!! :D :D
(oh, come on! Now THAT was funny!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!)

[bmac]

:p Ok, how much time have you been spending on this ear? It sounds like its getting to you! ha :p

[Katydid]

Yes, that photo is the what I am using as the reference--only changing it to fit my style. I paid for the rights to draw it, but wanted to change it with my ideas on board.

I will have a a stern talk with the ear--just hope it doesn't go in one ear and out the other!! :D :D
(oh, come on! Now THAT was funny!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!)

darn i should have said - go pin her ear back - that would have been funny :D :D :D

[Lahree]

darn i should have said - go pin her ear back - that would have been funny :D :D :D

Yeah, you should of--I would have been all ears!!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

[Brenda]

How funny. I read this entirely different. It's supposed to give the idea (this is how I am interpreting it when I came up with the idea) is that the artist's muse, is losing her ability to inspire him anymore. She is becoming useless to him for whatever reason.
I thought this was all about your sensory loss. Even though you don't hear very well, your inner creative voice is loud and clear. The bright paint is your creative voice. The bright and focused ear is you listening to it. The cracked and broken face represents the outer "broken" ear. And for some strange reason, I always associate red hair with you. ;)

I just went all kinds of strange directions with this, didn't I. :p

[marilyn h]

Why couldn't you paint a pearl earing on the ear to make it stand out and also cover up your mistake. I would almost put a real earring in her ear for three demensional look.

[Lahree]

How funny. I read this entirely different.
I thought this was all about your sensory loss. Even though you don't hear very well, your inner creative voice is loud and clear. The bright paint is your creative voice. The bright and focused ear is you listening to it. The cracked and broken face represents the outer "broken" ear. And for some strange reason, I always associate red hair with you. ;)

I just went all kinds of strange directions with this, didn't I. :p

Wow! Now THAT'S deep! I like your interpretation better. I'm just going to steal yours. Thanks for providing it so I didn't have to think of it! I REALLY love it!! :D :angel:

[Lahree]

Why couldn't you paint a pearl earing on the ear to make it stand out and also cover up your mistake. I would almost put a real earring in her ear for three demensional look.

Unfortunately, the boo-bos are not where an earring would hang. They are mainly where the hairline starts around the ear and back towards the ear. And iside the ear. In fact, the earlobe is one of the very tiny places that didn't receive a boo-boo. :(

[Arlene]

i like what bill did and agree with brenda about the crackle. I'd also bring some fo the green from the frame into the paintbrush and touches even in the hair.

[Lahree]

i like what bill did and agree with brenda about the crackle. I'd also bring some fo the green from the frame into the paintbrush and touches even in the hair.

Thanks, Arlene, for looking. The green in the frame appears greenish in the pics because the color of the dig pic is always off. It is brass colored. Done with mostly metallic pencils. :)

[Meisie]

I never remember to check this forum when I fly through ST! Now lookw hat I missed :(
Have you started on it again? I thought it wonderful!

Meisie

[oozoo]

I absolutely LOVE this picture and I think you can save it if you think creatively:

You said the biggest boo-boo's are around the hairline and ear? Have you thought about adding an extra deminsion by perhaps glueing on a hair-ribbon, head-band sort of thing? You could go even further by glueing in a few pieces of broken glass, and other assorted items. A lock of hair?

Whatever you do, PLEASE don't abandon this one!!!

[glo]

I just read this thread, I forgert to look here. Someone here mentions to cool down the wood a bit. How about changing it to marble? Just a thought, I would like the look of flowing marble viens to reflect the flow of the hair instead of the wood grain. Just a thought.
Gloria

[Lahree]

I just read this thread, I forgert to look here. Someone here mentions to cool down the wood a bit. How about changing it to marble? Just a thought, I would like the look of flowing marble viens to reflect the flow of the hair instead of the wood grain. Just a thought.
Gloria

Good thought! I'll sure keep it in mind. :)