Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Linda Young - "Gettin'figgy with it!"


Title: Three little figs on broadway
Medium: Watercolor on paper
Size: 8 3/4" x 12 7/8"


Title: "Gettin'figgy with it!"
Artist: Linda Young
Medium: Pastel
Size: 10" x 12"
Artist's blog: http://lindayoungwatercolors.blogspot.com/
Artist's web site: http://lindayoungwatercolors.com/

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Very beautiful painting. Almost seems like there are three people and one person on the left is drawing away from the other two. :-)

Unknown said...

Thank you, anonymous. Yes, I see that also. I should have paid more attention to that when I drew it and didn't realize it until it was finished. However, I like your concept of "drawing away". This was my first attempt to paint with pastels.

Lela Stankovic said...

I have never tried pastels, although like you Linda I have them sitting and waiting for the right moment. Hence my comments will be in general.

The fig color matching is great as well as wooden table color. Shadows, reflected lights and highlights - all nicely portrayed and distinguishable. To me that is the most important. You definitely have an “artistic eye”.

What looks a little strange is composition. When I looked at the table surface it reminded me on the rough see, a few waves here a few there. I don’t know if this was purposely composed that way, or simply edges and shadows needed refinement. Here, with this placement of the figs, the edge of the table probably can’t be left out since prospective suffers and doesn’t look convincing. What do you think?

Angela Sullivan said...

Linda, How delightful to see your work. I love the shapes and softness of the figs. I can't even imagine being able to accomplish this with pastels. I have never even picked up one. Maybe I should.
What I would like to see is a few brighter highlights and I agree with Lela about the shadows. The shadow of the largest fig seems to stop short.
Thanks for allowing us to look at and critique your art. I did look at your website and found it very pleasing. I love your watercolors.

Unknown said...

I totally didn't even see the edge of the table when I painted it. I only saw that edge when I repainted it again in watercolor. I was so "in to" getting the figs coloring and table color correct with the pastels, I missed it. I agree, highlighting is needed and the largest fig isn't casting a long enough shadow. The roughness in the coloring of the table top was intentional; I didn't have the proper tool to smooth things out. Thanks for the critique, which is always welcome.

Byannick said...

Very good first pastel.
I think the rough shadow on the table help to guide the eye toward the big fig. Perhaps you can had some dark brown on the left to read it less roughness and more shadow.

Claire Beadon Carnell said...

Both of these are terrific, Linda. I like the rich pink-purples you achieved in the pastel!

Unknown said...

Thank you, all. Byannick...I will try your suggestion about adding the dark brown. I just got back from Mt. Gretna Outdoor art show; I'd try out the suggestions now if I weren't so tired.

Paula said...

They both are great paintings of figs. I would like to see more highlights and shadows to really give them more depth and feel.