New work - feedback please

Thom · Joined: 23 Feb 2009 Posts: 19 Location: Melbourne

Hi this is an oil on paper I did for my girlfriend.

What do you think?

Stefan Maguran · Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 7:58 am Post subject: Re - New work - feedback please

256 views and no opinion. I think it's great - the painting, I mean. Your girlfriend may or may not like it, but I think it's great.

Devilbiss · Joined: 06 Jul 2007 Posts: 3214

Try your next painting in this style on a canvas that has some sort of ground colour.
Some people have success using a mid toned neutral colour.
It will look more finished and the colours that you paint with wont be competing with all of that white.
I don't like it that much. to me the brush/painting knife strokes have a violent or angry gesture and as a result has an angry or violent feel to it.
It looks to me as if you started it without thinking, as if you had no preconceived idea of what you wanted to convey, and you really didn't care about the painting to start with.
This is an honest and constructive critique of this work for whatever it's worth.

Thom · Joined: 23 Feb 2009 Posts: 19 Location: Melbourne

Thanks for the feedback.
It was an early gestural work and since I have moved on to more figurative styles.
It's called 'the explosion', so the violent tone and knife strokes are intentional. I had a vague idea what I wanted to convey, but are you trying to say there is no room for spontaneous, improvised expression in art? Check out some Kandinsky and I'm going to assume you don't like Jackson Pollock then.

Stefan Maguran · Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 3:26 pm Post subject: Re - New work - feedback please

I am sure you're not talking to me, 'cause i am slightly better than Pollock in some works (it depends on the quality and quantity of the alcohol) and I do like him.

Thom · Joined: 23 Feb 2009 Posts: 19 Location: Melbourne

Hahaha, no Stephan, it was directed at devilbiss. I probably should have said.

Devilbiss · Joined: 06 Jul 2007 Posts: 3214

Steve Gray · Joined: 17 Aug 2008 Posts: 1569 Location: Geelong

Too techniquey for me... meaning the stacatto effect of the paint across the top,palette knifey effect, too designey for me.

Jodi B · Joined: 25 Aug 2007 Posts: 593 Location: Katherine

I think some of the colours look too muddy & would prefer to see more of the blue coming through

Chrissy D · Joined: 12 Jan 2006 Posts: 1053 Location: Queensland

BIRDS FEATHERS...this painting reminds me of birds feathers...i think I have a thing for birds.

I like the minimal expressive abstraction of it. Got any more like this Thom you could show us?