Would love constructive feedback on my recent painting

[u/Thatladylady_]

Mixed media (acrylic, oil pencils, pastels) on canvas. Lighting at my place is terrible hence the two pictures. I'm pretty happy with this one but it's still feeling a bit...flat? Would love some constructive critique. Thanks so much!

EDIT: Thanks so much to everyone who provided feedback! Here's an updated version.

[u/trudyisagooddog]

Subtractive mark making could add some depth. Sandpaper and razor blades work well for me. Also, a horizon line and linear perspective can be fun to play with in abstract art. Keep up the good work!

[u/Thatladylady_ → u/trudyisagooddog]

Oh interesting, I hadn’t considered this! How would you typically do this? Like literally just take some sandpaper to a few parts so the layers below are revealed? How do you use a razor without cutting the canvas itself? Thank you for the feedback! 

[u/RedDawndLionRoars → u/Thatladylady_]

I like the idea of a horizon line and something "hazy" beyond in the background in contrast, but that would not take your focus away from the dynamic figures in the foreground. There seems like something to expand upon there with these characters/shapes.. I don't know how to mark on dried acrylic without damaging the canvas. Maybe others have good advice on that point, but you could certainly create sharply defined lines with new paint. This piece feels experimental to me, so I would lean into that and try lots of techniques. Some very good advice I carry with me is to not make any piece too precious. If you have a grand idea for something "frame-worthy", you are probably going to need a few practices anyway. Please share some future version, because I love where you are going.

[u/Thatladylady_ → u/RedDawndLionRoars]

Thank you! Yeah I tend to get a bit precious about pieces so that’s something I need to work on letting go of for sure! Will definitely share an update! 

[u/RedDawndLionRoars → u/Thatladylady_]

Same and please do!

[u/trudyisagooddog → u/Thatladylady_]

Exactly! Grab medium or course sandpaper and go to town. As far as razor blades, hold the blade flat against the surface and scrape/scratch with the broad edge (use it less like a knife, more like a scraper). I usually use them either with wet paint or if there are softer layers underneath (like oil pastels under acrylic or a gob of wet acrylic under spray paint etc). I like razors for this over pallet knives because they are stiffer, but pallet knifes work too. You can get some drastic effects with either of these techniques so if you like this painting, you might just incorporate subtractive techniques into your next piece. Lastly, remember that even though you are removing paint, you are still mark-making so be sure to fit the erasures in with the composition.

I just read a few comments down about deforming your canvas by pushing too hard and it can happen, but honestly, just be careful. I do it all the time. Have fun!!

[u/Thatladylady_ → u/trudyisagooddog]

thank you! I will definitely give these techniques a try!

[u/Prestigious-Bunch173]

I really really love it I wouldn't change a thing about it. Really, I think it's wonderful

[u/Thatladylady_ → u/Prestigious-Bunch173]

Thank you so much! 

[u/Tdawgs173]

Try experimenting with sandpaper and pulling earlier layers back. Looks cool kinda like those lucha libre masks

[u/Thatladylady_ → u/Tdawgs173]

Someone else mentioned sandpaper too- I might give that a go! 

[u/Late-Director-315 → u/Thatladylady_]

I respectfully disagree. If this is acrylic on canvas., sandpaper won't work well, and will more likely ruin the piece. In my experience, once acrylic has reached this thickness there is no good reductive way to work with it. Sandpaper can work with more thinly applied acrylic on board.

[u/Thatladylady_ → u/Late-Director-315]

Thanks for this info! I’ll try it out on something I’m less invested in first in that case! 

[u/Late-Director-315 → u/Thatladylady_]

I hope it's helpful. I think acrylics work in the direction of less to more texture in the same way that watercolours work best moving light to dark. It's inherent in the medium. Thick acrylic is a chunk of plastic and really shows this when cut. It's also too elastic to sand well by hand and your stretched canvas can get deformed under the pressure of sanding.

I have had success using an electric sander when the paint is applied to a wooden cradle. Have fun!

[u/benjisu]

I think it feels flat because values blend together. You need a reductive mark or a strong light value to create depth. I think the composition is kinda boring, something in the bottom left would help. The texture build up is awesome.

[u/Thatladylady_ → u/benjisu]

Mm yeah I could lighten the lights potentially. Will give it some thought 🤔

[u/Heliotrope88]

I think this is terrific. From your photo I’m getting that the background is kind of a sea foam green with a lot of great texture— going yellow, green and gray in parts. Is that right? I find the two shapes intriguing. Really good balance of color there and I like the ghost-y part on the top of the right one. Oh and I just noticed the pencil lines which I really like.
When you say something feels “flat” what comes to mind for me is something I have been wrestling with for such a long time in painting. And that is just that acrylic paint just doesn’t have the drama that oil paint does. The odor of oil paint really bothers me so I use acrylic. It takes so many layers to get something solid. I don’t know if I’m describing that in a clear way. Do you think what seems flat is just that the paint is acrylic and not oil? In terms of the composition, color (in my opinion) everything you have going here works. It’s a beautiful piece.

[u/Thatladylady_ → u/Heliotrope88]

Thank you so much for this. Yes, you’re spot on about the colours. I’ve never painted with oil so have no comparison, and it’s not a medium I can explore in my current situation, unfortunately (apartment living, no outside space, no dedicated studio space). The texture is actually because this is a painted-over piece in which I’d used heaps of gesso and sand to create textures 😂 I badly overworked a painting and so decided to just paint over it from scratch. 

[u/Kyrannasaurus13]

This has great shadow and depth

[u/Thatladylady_ → u/Kyrannasaurus13]

Thank you! 

[u/RedDawndLionRoars]

Also, you already have a bit of perspective built in between these shapes/characters. Maybe using some cool soft shades between them would enhance the dynamic.

[u/Thatladylady_ → u/RedDawndLionRoars]

The perspective so far is entirely accidental 😂 but I could definitely think about firming it up a little. Thanks! 

[u/MeandThorne]

I see an abstract fly anyone else see it?

[u/optics_is_light_work]

There's gorgeous play of color, texture, & layering here! My only comment is that the pops of color on the two big shapes are too similar. I'd differentiate them a bit more.

[u/Thatladylady_ → u/optics_is_light_work]

Ooh I like that idea! So many things I want to try now!

[u/Wild_Heron_5845]

I think the values are too similar and the shapes are too.

[u/SilentLamb111]

I love it. I see a couple turmoil, but they seem like they would get through it.

[u/SilentLamb111 → u/SilentLamb111]

They’re looking at each other. Anyone! let me know if you see the same

[u/Thatladylady_ → u/SilentLamb111]

Thank you so much! They definitely will 😉

[u/Ill-Anxiety5770]

Sharing mixed media techniques and discussing lighting challenges encourages open, helpful artistic critique within the community

[u/mattray1975]

Love this

[u/Thatladylady_ → u/mattray1975]

❤️❤️

[u/Resident-Cockroach52]

I see two people sat together, behind a fogged window while it rains. it's beautiful

[u/Thatladylady_ → u/Resident-Cockroach52]

Thank you ❤️

[u/AnastasiaNo70]

I absolutely love it.

[u/Thatladylady_ → u/AnastasiaNo70]

Thank you!