Artist: Michael Saunders
Title: Glass, Flowers and Peaches
Medium: Oil (water soluble)
Dimensions: 16 x 20
Support: Canvas
Comments from the Artist: I began taking drawing lessons last winter and began painting classes early last Summer. My teacher first focussed on black and white and then color mixing before letting us paint in color. This painting is my second color painting I’ve finished to date. The subject was set up and photographed by me. I’d appreciate any feedback to help me with my next projects. I value all of your opinions. Thanks…Michael
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June Smith on Thu, 18th Dec 2008 4:26 pm
Michael
I love your glassworks
I can’t get that yet – I am relativiely new to painting as well
very nice
June
carolyn Bishop on Thu, 18th Dec 2008 6:29 pm
This is very rich … the flowers look like they are dancing!
Valerie Sasaki on Thu, 18th Dec 2008 7:21 pm
You have talent, the bottles are great. Your shadows and light look wonderful. I love the bright beautiful colors. For your second painting in color this is awesome.
Soroya on Thu, 18th Dec 2008 8:13 pm
I say ditto the glass was the thing that really impressed me in the painting. I also would love to achieve the effect.
Thanks God bless, Soroya
Soroya’s last blog post..WHEN ONE DOOR CLOSES…
Jayne Cummins on Fri, 19th Dec 2008 1:30 am
HI Michael
Definitely stick with painting – I think your vases and book are great. I wasn’t keen on the background colour – it doesn’t show the subject to best advantage.
You asked for some feedback to help you – well I think you need more contrast, you have stuck to middle ground for depth of colour with no real highlights or dark areas. This would greatly enhance your work. Have a look at some Folk Art books to help you with your flowers, Jo Sonja has put out some excellent teaching material on flowers. The peaches in the front should be brighter and clearer.
Really study flowers and see how much contrast they have. Jayne
Rachel on Fri, 19th Dec 2008 4:17 am
Lovely simplistic work. easy on the eye and smooth choice of hue. subject is expressed gloriously. well done. Love to see more of your work. I am a proffessional accomplished australian artist and we may be able to exchange ideas. Cheers for 2009
Ingrid on Fri, 26th Dec 2008 12:33 am
Hi Michael,
I am just back from a trip to Peru, trekking down the Amazon, chasing Morpho Blue butterflies and walking the treetop canopy in the rain forest, hiking Machu Pichu, trekking the ancient Inca Trail, exploring the ruins of Cusco and Pisac, and taking in the sights of Lima. I therefore have been absent from this sight!
KUDOS to you and your teacher for having you work in black and white, and then do color mixing, before attempting to paint a painting in color! This is why your painting holds together so well!
I like you style, very simply stated and to the point! I like how you have handled the color in your painting. I actually like the orange background and think that it works nicely with the glass vases. It is grayed down enough as not to interfere with the colors of the vases.
One area I would change is the stem of the flower in the green vase. It seems a bit too prominent near the bottom for being behind the glass. Just blur and soften those edges a bit.
I like the shadows of the glass vases, but I feel that the shadows of the peaches are too dark and heavy.
Keep painting, as you are on the right track! Thank you for sharing with us!
Ingrid
Michael on Sat, 27th Dec 2008 3:02 pm
Hello, thanks to all of you who commented on my painting. I appreciate them all.
To Jayne, thanks for the advice and encouragement. I will take your advice and research more on flowers. Your candid approach is very welcomed. I really strugged with the book!
To Ingrid, welcome back from what sounds like an awesome trip to Peru. I really appreciated your advice and agree with your points for where I can improve. Ingrid, my teacher is the best. I think the two of you should meet. She believes anyone can paint if given the right tools combined with sufficient motivation. I’m 45, married with 3 kids and somehow can find a bit of time to develop my skills. I owe this to my teacher, who is a wonderful painter herself. Take care and thanks again.
Ingrid on Sat, 27th Dec 2008 4:42 pm
Hi Michael,
Yes, the trip was exhausting but rewarding at the same time, leaving me filled with wonderful images to paint! Can’t wait to get to the studio!
I would LOVE to meet your teacher. I always tell my students that WHEN you have all of those tools in your back pocket to draw from when you paint, that is when you have the FREEDOM to express yourself! Your teacher sounds like a person after my own heart!
All the BEST to you!
Ingrid
gwen on Wed, 7th Oct 2009 2:51 am
hi love your picture i also use water soluble oil though my teacher does not think its as good as the tradisinal oil paint but i have no choice living in a small bunglow i cannot have spirt to work with i think your glass color’s are amazing i have not tryed glass yet,i dont think i am getting the hole of your picture as i cannot see a book i would have left more space at the top of the picture,keep painting you have a talent enjoiy.
Fabrizio Van Marciano on Sat, 5th Dec 2009 5:07 pm
I’ve only just started using water based oil paints and find them quiet challenging for some reason after many years of using conventional oil paints. But fantastic painting I must say and thanks for sharing it with us.