Artist Spotlite – John Zoerb

June Smith on Thu, 22nd Jan 2009 4:57 pm 



right now – I am sitting here in a canadian ‘white-out’ storm – and this place really looks appealling

The lady walking the dog gives a very peaceful feeling to your painting

very nice colors
june

Jayne Cummins on Thu, 22nd Jan 2009 6:29 pm 



Quite an intriguing piece – I looked at it for ages trying to work out what a blue wall with windows in was doing in the middle of a garden. I like the way the pathway leads into the picture with the woman in the distance but would question the use of pale blue here?
Also I can see a lot of bare gesso in the picture – I find it a good idea to base the board or canvas all over with a colour first, eliminating bare patches. I assess the overall colour of the icture – if there is a lot of water then I will do a pale blue. If it is warm and autumn colours then a yellow or orange are good.
Hope this is helpful.
Jayne

Ingrid on Thu, 22nd Jan 2009 11:00 pm 



Hi John,

I walked my dog this morning on a snow covered beach along Lake Michigan here in Chicago……my dog’s choice, not mine! He really needed to go for a run, even if it was in the snow!

After looking at your painting, I would much rather be walking my dog down that pathway in your painting.

While squinting at your work, I do like the feeling that we are looking down on this scene from above, perhaps from a hill. I do like the shapes of your houses in and around the foliage. There are a few things I would like to add.

That brown shape on the left side of the painting seems to distract me. I am not sure what it is, but the perspective does not seem to be correct as it is going back into the distance. It should get smaller as it recedes, and instead it is getting wider. The value is also quite dark, and it makes the pathway seem light and flat. One suggestion would be to add some of the other colors of your painting into that pathway. It almost looks like water.

As I squint down at your painting, those windows in that far right building are REALLY STEALING THE SHOW!!!!! They are rectangular shapes that are dark, surrounded by white frames and they are screaming at us! By having those windows not so dark against the contrasting white frames, much less attention will be directed their way.

The white fence seems to be out of place, and this may be because those green foliage shapes are not taking any bites out of that fence! By having some of those grasses come up and take bites out of that fence shape, and by adding some color to that fence so that it is not so white, it will be coordinated into the rest of the painting.

I do like the shape of that blue house in the painting, BUT those windows are a bit off perspectively speaking. At that angle we would not see that much of the window. Maybe even lighten them a bit so that they are not so dark.

Before you begin to paint, ask yourself: WHAT IS MY INTENT? When you answer this question, it becomes clear what you want to emphasize in your painting. Also by doing a quick value sketch before you begin to paint, it will help you to design your painting and plan WHERE you want us to look a “little longer” in your work. I am torn, in your painting between the woman walking her dog and those windows in the upper right corner. I would have placed the person walking the dog about where the farthest green bush is along the walkway, and made them a bit larger.

This painting has a charm about it that I like. Keep practicing, keep painting, and thank you for sharing your work with us!

Ingrid

Chris on Fri, 23rd Jan 2009 12:57 pm 



I really loved the textures and style in the first half of the painting. Did you paint the other half as it is really quite different!

Valerie Sasaki on Fri, 23rd Jan 2009 1:41 pm 



I like it. It is serene and calm. Your colors are great. Is it a actual place, or in your imagination? Not that it matters. But being from California, I have seen houses built on hills like this one. Charming.

Lynn Marlowe on Sat, 24th Jan 2009 11:25 pm 



Nice picture. Have never used acrylics on gesso. Was it difficult?

Warroya on Mon, 26th Jan 2009 2:39 pm 



I really enjoyed your painting it reminds me of folk art fun and full of color and movement. I personally liked the fact that it was not totally in perspective. It gives the painting a charming look to it.
The only thing that I would have altered is the brown area on the left side of the canvas.This is where a little artistic license would do nicely even if the original subject didn’t have anything there I would perhaps put in some interesting cobble or brick look. But then again like Ingrid this is only my opinion and without changing it your painting is still quite wonderful.

Warroya’s last blog post..Go Back and Pick Up Your Keys

Warroya on Mon, 26th Jan 2009 2:39 pm 



PS I really love your signiture

Warroya’s last blog post..Go Back and Pick Up Your Keys

John on Wed, 28th Jan 2009 12:36 am 



Lynn, acrylics go on gesso really well. When I paint on a wood product I always use it. You don’t have to but the wood color will show up through some colors. Give it a try I think you will like it.

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