A Work-in-progress

I meant that the oil painting will be much larger but of the same proportions, sorry :)

Gloria, I like it! I also like your idea of adding a few more cranes in the BG and adding some ground detail.

Very nice indeed - I look forward to seeing the final product!

Gloria,

I think this is a great image, the only thing that jumps out at me as not quite right is the trees in the BG. The trees from the left side to above the right side bird, don't have the sense of depth as the trees to the right of the birds. They look very 2 dimensional and seem more a cage than a tree line. The trees to the right of the birds show depth and look more natural. JMO, hope it helps. By the way, you are very talented both as an artist and a photographer. I'm glad you decided to continue pursuing both of your gifts.

Gloria, I have seen this image before and it is outstanding. I like how even with the high contrast of black and white you have softened it to give it a pleasing and restful look. Did you do the painting from a photograph or just create it? Again it is great!

Bill Stice
NPN 132
Cary, North Carolina

Bill: "Did you do the painting from a photograph or just create it? "

I shot some whooping cranes dancing a couple of years ago and used the poses for reference. I turned them from whooping cranes to Japanese cranes simply by changing the markings. Thank you!

Michael: "trees from the left side to above the right side bird, don't have the sense of depth as the trees to the right of the birds. They look very 2 dimensional and seem more a cage than a tree line. "

Excellent point and you are absolutely right. I think its because I added several skinnier "background" trees on that side. Great catch, and thank you :)

Thanks Jim! I will post the photo of the final version

You've got a great thing going here Gloria! Love the mood and pastel colors. I'm working on my paintings as well, and it's great to see that you've found a way to do both like me :)

I like it very much. The strong black markings make the cranes stand out beautifully, while the muted background adds a great sense of "being there".
Is the ground just light colored or is it covered in snow? If the latter, I would expect some prints in it, then again those may distract from the otherwise clean surrounding... not sure.

Guy

Gloria, I really don't feel qualified to critique the technicals of this painting but I can add this: It most definitely would catch my eye if it were hanging on a wall, propped on an easel, laying on a table, posted on the internet or anywhere else it might be! There is an airy, delicate lightness to it that is very appealing. It has a Japanese simplicity to it that is beautiful. You are one talented lady!

Hi Gloria,
when I saw this one my first tought was "it looks like a painting"...LOL

I'm not and expert but I think it is very beatiful...It is very harmonious

Reminds me of the things us males have to go through. Very nicely done. I'm getting a Japanese feel from this Gloria, might not be what you are after, but I can't help it :). Shading is the hardest to get right IMO and here it looks fine. I would love to see this large and hanging on a wall, beautiful and looking forward to seeing the progress, if you don't mind. The right does seem a little unbalanced.

Now what I needs to know is, did you previs.....preevissu.....pre....pre....vizzzz.....Awwww heck, did ya all see dis in ya head first :), hey I'm evil.

All the best Gloria, just keep them coming IMO.

Danny.

Reminds me of the things us males have to go through. Very nicely done. I'm getting a Japanese feel from this Gloria, might not be what you are after, but I can't help it :). Shading is the hardest to get right IMO and here it looks fine. I would love to see this large and hanging on a wall, beautiful and looking forward to seeing the progress, if you don't mind. The right does seem a little unbalanced.

Now what I needs to know is, did you previs.....preevissu.....pre....pre....vizzzz.....Awwww heck, did ya all see dis in ya head first :), hey I'm evil.

All the best Gloria, just keep them coming IMO.

Danny.

I looked at this for quite awhile Gloria, and was going to comment about the trees in the background, but then saw Michael beat me to it. Aside from being perhaps a bit too uniform, I am uneasy with the mergers to the cranes, almost like puppets hanging from strings. I do like the emphasis they bring to the vertical nature of the cranes though. The poses of the cranes are beautiful, along with your selection of color palette. It is clearly evidence of your multi-faceted talents.

I've come back more than once to this one, Gloria - I think it is wonderful!! I think adding a few cranes in the background would add a little depth (although the trees do a good job now!). I'd really like to see the finished one!!

Michael

Gloria,
This is a wonderful artistic iterpretation. The grace of the cranes and their structural lines is beautiful. I would like to see a bit more seperation from the beckground. Forget the other cranes unless you want a horizontal,these two are truely magnificent!
Jim

Gloria, I like the painting, but there is a little spacial confusion about the bird on the left. Is it slightly further away and standing on its right tip toe, or is it in the air like a dancing crane and the same distance away as the crane on the right? Having seen other types of cranes dancing I think it has probably lifted itself in the air. It is possible that the shadow under the crane is giving the wrong clue as to its spacial location. If the light was at an oblique angle, as it usually is in the winter, the shadow of the crane on the right would not be directly under it and the crane in the air would not be in direct contact with its shadow at all.

This is just nit picking about a really good composition.

Scott: "It is possible that the shadow under the crane is giving the wrong clue as to its spacial location."

Yes! Great catch - the left bird is in the air and both shadows should be on the same level horizontally. I did see that before I posted it, but didn't say anything because I wondered if anyone would notice :) Thanks.

Danny: "Awwww heck, did ya all see dis in ya head first :),"

I have about eight paintings of this bird in my head (I'm working on two others right now). If I can get a handle on some of these oil techniques and gain some momentum, I'm hoping to do a series of four or five paintings.

I also agree about the BG needing more depth, and more separation between birds and background.

Thanks everyone, I'm so glad I posted this ... now you're helping with my painting. You are all just so wonderful :)

Gloria,
I bet the finished product will really be something. I am certainly no expert in the field of art, but I think it is very elegant. The finished product would look great on a wall.

Beautiful painting,love it

When faced with art like this I am tongue-tied.
Graceful and beautiful.

Wonderful work, and congrats.

Your talent shows in your photography and now we can see why. Congratulations

Wow, if only my finished products looked half as wonderful as your "work in progress." I'm curious now to see cranes dancing in person. Thanks for sharing!

Laurie

Lovely concept and implementation. IMHO the only thing lacking is a definite choice of where the light is coming from, which would put shadows on the trunks of the trees and change the placement of the shadows under the cranes... think that would give it the dimension that everyone has commented on. Don't think you need any more cranes. I like the simplicity which focuses my attention on their dance. Would make a lovely Christmas card.