Composition/Perspective help Landscape

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

I need you opinions please. This is the sketched up idea of what I want to do. Because my idea wasn't set up in the field, I had to combine some elements together and position them. My idea as shown from Version 1 of the combined photographs. Version 2 has a slightly different perspective on the horse float.

Please note: I am not adding the horses you see in Version 1.

Problem: Horse float in Version 1 photo (My idea) does not look quite right. It is either too small or too big, and from what I have been told, the perspective is wrong which is why it doesn't look like its working.

So I have since tried adding the horse float with a slightly different perspective to Version 2. This to me seems to work better? (Minus the fence paling).

What are your thoughts on making this work? (Note: in My idea the barrel on the bottom right quadrant has been rubbed out and I am not placing it there, and I am not adding the horses).

My idea:

My idea with added elements in sketch:

Version 1:

Version 2:

OR is this going to be a case of, its not going to work because the photos were taken at different eye levels, give up on the horse float and put horses there instead? (Which I dont want to do).

belle2 · Joined: 21 Jan 2010 Posts: 189 Location: Newcastle

I don't know about the horse float. I would make the barrels slightly larger as they are further in the front and you will need to draw them in perspective.

The Pook · Joined: 01 Feb 2007 Posts: 2904 Location: Tasmania

The horse float is too big and too far out from the tree. Look at its size in relation to that of the horses that are under the tree. They are almost up to the level of the leaves hanging down. If the float were in the same position, it would be well up into the foliage. Where you have it at the moment, however, in version 2, the bottom of the float is too far from the tree. It is leaning in towards the tree. Although it looks better in the sketch.

Bur, can I ask why you want a painting of a horse float? It's not a very interesting subject in itself.

thecatsgrin · Joined: 18 Apr 2009 Posts: 2181 Location: Gippsland

The horse float I could see better placed next to a barn... in all the pictures, it just seems a bit 'Jarring' and out of place....
I hate critisizing, but ... have to agree with the other comments....
If you are sure you want to include it... maybe try putting it somewhere else....

The sketch looks better than the photo shop editions...

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

pugwash · Joined: 04 Jul 2007 Posts: 1380 Location: Perth

Oil drums like those, in a field with horses, are probably used to make jumps.
How about putting a pole across two barrels and using them as a lead into the picture?

Boris01 · Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 228 Location: Western Australia

and make the horses into unicorns

(sorry for being unhelpful)

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

Good one Boris01 Very Happy

I thought about a pole over the barrels too Pugwash. For which image do you mean? My original sketch or one of the recent photos of my inspiration?

AvG · Joined: 17 Sep 2005 Posts: 1912

You may not find this helpful but....if you are struggling with what you want to do and how to do it before you even start you may find it turns out to be quite the chore. Personally I find if I start out with this lack of clarity I can never get a decent painting out of it.

You don't seem quite ready to move on this and to me I think the images are not compelling enough to carry a painting just yet.

I would suggest doing a whole lot of thumbnail sketches trying to capture the idea(s) you are wanting to represent. Don't critique too hard at first just sketch away changing elements, introducing new ones, experimenting with the format etc.etc. Once you have done that for a while you may find a composition / scene that you are more connected to or you may decide to abandon the idea for now...in which case you have a bunch of ideas on your journal you could always return to later.

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

Its been over two months since I posted and even longer before I even posted for help and I am so procrastinating.... Evil or Very Mad

I just need to 'do-it' and see how I go...

Stay tuned

AvG · Joined: 17 Sep 2005 Posts: 1912

Why don't you just do something else instead?

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

I have been. I've been working on my other paintings....getting to the end of the line. I am sure of how I am going to do it and confident now that it will turn out how I want...and if not, then I will put horses in instead. Now, finding the time to start it Laughing

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

Hey Amanda, in reply to an earlier post, I did do some thumbnail sketches. They seem to help.

Well I started it. So, I tried adding in the horse float at this stage before the actual horse, and the outline just didn't look right. So I opted to go with just the horse and maybe will add in some barels under the tree. I have just blocked the horse in at this stage (and you can see the outline of the shadow). Do you think the size is too small? Opinions before I go any further with detail.