Well, at least I had fun with this one!!!! I know, I know! the colours are all wrong. The background is too warm and far too busy but boy was I enjoying myself with this one. My son looked at it and said instantly... "the colours are too bright in the background but has a great feel, almost abstract, but I like it mum!" Well, I think he is right and apart from it being far to busy it looks gaudy in real life. In order for the subject to be prominent, the B/G colours need to be cool. Cool colours help recede the B/G and bring the subject to the fore.
On looking at it again, it could always be a rhino running from a fire, couldn't it? What say you? I would love your honest constructive criticism on this one please! Oh, and by the way, it's painted on a huge piece of paper, bigger than my comfort zone and is quite dominant in my studio!!! Ha ha!
40 x 56 cm
16 comments:
I think you're saying you don't like this one but I love it! I like that the rhino is appearing out of the abstracted and warm background, and don't find it too busy or too similar at all. I like that light-struck side that brings him out toward us. I'd say well done and will be checking to see what others say.
Rhonda, Thank you so much!!!
I do enjoy it but something is bugging me and can't place it! Glad you feel it acceptable to have the warmth in the background. And also excited now to see what the others say!!! Mwah!
Debbie, he is awesome, and isn't it HOT where you live, nothing wrong with the environment showing that. If you still don't know what is bugging you about it, could it be his ears? Aren't rhino ears tiny (I know compared to his enormous size they still are)? I looked, and looked but can't see anything else that might bug you. Maybe you need to put a little bird on his back; don't they pick off bugs for them? LOL
I love it!
Carol, Bless you!!! Yes, It is hot here so I could get away with the warm colours I guess. The ears, hmmmm maybe, I did paint this without a preliminary sketch, so they could be a little large, but they do have reasonably sized ears. An Ox-pecker sounds like a great idea, yes, they pick the ticks off them! Will go back and see what I can do! Thanks for the feedback Carol, much appreciated!
Love it!
I like it very much as it is. Somehow the contrast between him and the background color makes him appear especially powerful and fast moving. I love the variations in the background and your use of salt.
Thank you so much Claudia!
Melissa, so glad to see you popped in, I appreciate your valuable feedback and kind words. Thank you!
Actually I LOVE this!!! To me, it looks like he is surrounded by dry african prickles and shrubs - as though he is appearing from beyond the bushes and about to charge! And those beautiful colours give it the african heat it needs. Personally, it's one of my favourites and I PROMISE you I am being perfectly honest :0)
I'm glad I found your blog..very interesting and unique!! Beautiful sketches!!
Honestly, I LOVE the background. I think it really contributes to the energy and strength of this guy. Rules, schmules, I say they are meant to be broken. :) Really nice work Debbie. One of my faves.
Ma chère Debbie, ton rhinocéros me plaît... Etrangement, il m'apparaît comme un animal rempli de douceur, semblable à une mère aimante. Il est attendrissant et cependant quoique tu en dis concernant sa pseudo-pâleur, je trouve qu'il se détache parfaitement du fond que tu as travaillé d'une façon harmonieuse... J'aimerais être une de ces petites mouches qui viennent tourner autour de lui, mais... Je ne le piquerai pas, moi!
Dans mes peintures à venir il faudrait que j'y intègre un de ses petits frères!
Bisous
Sandra, you say the loveliest things, thank you! I'm thrilled that the colours appeal to you. I feel honoured that it's your favourite so far!
Lovely to see you here Hilda, welcome and thank you!
That's the spirit Crystal!!! I have put a mount around it and it look better already! Thanks for the boost!
My dear Marine, thank you for your wonderful feedback, I always look forward to reading your comments. Yes, they are gentle animals if unprovoked. I wanted to create interesting colours around him as the rhino is so unexciting and felt that the background would enhance him somewhat. As for a rhino in your paintings... I look forward to seeing him sharing a page with his friends.
To my non French speaking friends, I'd like to share with you Martines post.....
Dear Debbie, your rhinoceros pleases me... Mysteriously, it appears to me as an animal filled with softness, similar to a loving mother. It is affecting and however though you say about it concerning his pseudo-paleness, I find that he breaks loose perfectly from the bottom that you worked in a harmonious manner... I would like to be one of these small flies who come to turn around him, but... I shall not prick it, me!
In my painting to come it would be necessary that I insert into it one of his small brothers!
Well, forget about the theory (cool colours in the background) this one works! The colours are great, I love the texture of the background, could be bush, could be fire, could be anything one wishes to imagine, and the rhino is just part of it all: I like the way it doesn't stand out too much; it IS part of nature, part of this texture and light. Great job!
Hi Cathy... you are so right in so many ways..... I'm actually accepting this painting more and more! Thanks for stopping by... I love your watercolours, your African figures remind me a lot of Hazel Soan who I admire so much!
hi debbie ...forget the rules glad he has started to grow on you follow your instinct . ... good luck with your "rhino campaign" and your plans for an exhibition ...i've looked at it a few times the only thing that catches my eye is the very warm area which is only in the top right hand side of the rhino .
sorry debbie lhs on the screen
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