DH2 WIP - the color study

[Russell Smith]

Originally Posted by Artist

Russell, I think your color study is in itself a great painting. I know the larger one will be great as well. My problem with doing color studies ( I may have some kind of adult ADD ) is if it comes out as well as yours has, I can never do the larger one. I have accomplished what I wanted to achieve, so I can't seem to get into the larger painting. Again, great job! Robert

Thanks so much, Robert. The nice thing about the studies is that my approach to and execution of the studies is different enough from the larger versions that once I paint the larger version it is like i am working on a new painting. My thought process is slightly different between the two as well. On the studies I am obviously working much faster and on a smaller scale. I am really just working out the color patterns at that stage. On the bigger versions, I have the study at hand to serve as a roadmap of sorts for the color patterns. My focus on the larger painting shifts and becomes detail oriented rather than pattern oriented.

Russ

[ONEALM]

Do you already have paintings in the Collection?

Taz, I expect, knowing a little about Farre's personality, that these were bought by the Gov't. They really belonged to the French government since they sent him out to do the job in the first place, but when he came to the US after the war, many of his paintings tagged along for the boat ride.

If I could drag Luther Gore into this conversation, we could start a new thread all about Farre. He's probably the best resource since he's spent years studying Farre, his work and life.

I have not participated in the AF Art program. Originally (back in the 90;s) you needed to be a member of the Society of Illustrators to contribute and the annual dues would have kept me in av-gas all year so I declined. I do not thin it's a requirement now, but I'm not sure my employed would be thrilled to hear I was going to Pamaribo, Surinam or Bakuba, Iraq to paint for a week. Besides, last time I checked, they were not using Fokker D.VII's anymore....

If I ever do that third painting in the Fequant sequence - the combat - I'll see what it takes to donate it.

Sorry for the brief commercial interruption - Now, back to Russ's original thread.....

[Barker]

Originally Posted by Russell Smith

I may tweak a couple of the figures a little more as well.

Composition -
Russ, check the guy holding the starboard outboard interplane.
Back or forward, which.
Am guessing you already looked at this.

Look at the wrinkles on the trousers of the guy forward of the aircraft, gesturing. Look at his right hand.

Look at the face of the officer on the viewer left, just behind.

Check out the guy by the building, next to port wheel...

Think about it..

Love the pilot.

Still thinking about the clouds.

You know how I feel about your stuff.

that's what I see.

However, this is generally what it will look like.

Beautiful. I like the palette.

[Russell Smith]

Originally Posted by Barker

Composition -
Russ, check the guy holding the starboard outboard interplane.
Back or forward, which.
Am guessing you already looked at this.

Look at the wrinkles on the trousers of the guy forward of the aircraft, gesturing. Look at his right hand.

Look at the face of the officer on the viewer left, just behind.

Check out the guy by the building, next to port wheel...

Think about it..

Love the pilot.

Still thinking about the clouds.

You know how I feel about your stuff.

that's what I see.


Beautiful. I like the palette.

Hey Barker. Thanks for your input and your compliments. As for your points:

Originally Posted by Barker

Russ, check the guy holding the starboard outboard interplane.
Back or forward, which.

Not sure what you're pointing to on that.My problem with him is that the color of his overalls is too close to the color of the underside of the wing. Not enough contrast between the two to bring the wingtip out to my liking. Think I'm going to change his outfit to the darker putees and leggings and lighter shirt, similar to what the guy on the other wing is wearing.

Originally Posted by Barker

Look at the wrinkles on the trousers of the guy forward of the aircraft, gesturing. Look at his right hand.

Yep, this guy is the weakest figure in the composition. I'm not really happy with him. his pose, especially the left arm, is a bit awkward.

Originally Posted by Barker

Look at the face of the officer on the viewer left, just behind.

??
do you possibly mean the pair on the right behind awkward guy? i didn't detail their faces too much in the study as they are very small on that version. they'll look much better in the big version. i'm guessing that maybe you're reffering to the fact that his face is slightly clipped? if so, good point. i'll change that.

Originally Posted by Barker

Check out the guy by the building, next to port wheel...

yep. he is a little too close to the wheel isn't he? i didn't spot that until you pointed it out. in the original drawing there was a bell tent there too. i took that out because it was distracting in regards to the nacelle.

Originally Posted by Barker

Love the pilot.

Thanks

Originally Posted by Barker

Still thinking about the clouds.

so am I


with a composition with this many elements its nice that I have time to think it over.

stay tuned.

russ

[AAC Cadet Leader]

b,
russ's color study here is 16" across, meaning the faces are about the size of pencil eraser. it's supposed to be loose and imperfect - a rough color study. you try painting a face on a pencil eraser!

russ, if you tidy this up any more, then you better quit calling it a color study and start calling it a small-sized bonafide masterpiece.











makin the rest of us look like slobs.

[Barker]

Originally Posted by Russell Smith

Hey Barker. Thanks for your input and your compliments. As for your points:



Not sure what you're pointing to on that.My problem with him is that the color of his overalls is too close to the color of the underside of the wing. Not enough contrast between the two to bring the wingtip out to my liking. Think I'm going to change his outfit to the darker putees and leggings and lighter shirt, similar to what the guy on the other wing is wearing.

compo would solve some, too.
look at-
-where his right arm and upper arm are, relative to tip
-look at LE along his left arm
-length of torso, and wing tip, which aren't the same items, but are related to each other in compo. Is torso long? Left forearm short?
I ask all this, as, - well, hell - take him off to the side and work him out to your satisfaction on a tissue and then overlay him back and move him around the wingtip until you see what you like, you know?
Old School.
If we assume the aircraft is nailed - and it is - then it's a figure problem.
Nail the fig and lay it around until it works.
You may find some of the tonal issues sort.
<crossed fingers>

Yep, this guy is the weakest figure in the composition. I'm not really happy with him. his pose, especially the left arm, is a bit awkward.

It's almost there - have same thought - try this:
It's either the hand or the arm, but they don't work together.
I like the arm gesture, so I figure it must be the hand.
I think the way he's walking is cool and natural, so it's got to be the hand.
His shoulder is a bit big....3/4 rear heads are difficult.
Bet it's the hand.
Else looks good, dya think?

i'm guessing that maybe you're reffering to the fact that his face is slightly clipped? if so, good point. i'll change that.

Yes.
You got it.

yep. he is a little too close to the wheel isn't he?

yeah..

i didn't spot that until you pointed it out. in the original drawing there was a bell tent there too. i took that out because it was distracting in regards to the nacelle.

As you say, this is a more challenging composition.
(and worth it, Russ - this will be a goodun.)

Thanks

My pleasure - and I mean it - am used to Seeing but I cannot do anything close to what you all can do. So it is a pleasure to help out with another pair of eyes.

[Barker]

Originally Posted by AAC Cadet Leader

russ, if you tidy this up any more, then you better quit calling it a color study and start calling it a small-sized bonafide masterpiece.











makin the rest of us look like slobs.

Agreed.

I limited my comments strictly to composition, as that is the Other Thing a study looks at.

Now is better than Later, as later, it won't matter how nicely anything is rendered if the eye doesn't like it.

I hope you do not misunderstand my participation - it is with the very best intention.


Or I wouldn't post here.

[AAC Cadet Leader]

Originally Posted by Barker

Agreed.

I limited my comments strictly to composition,

you did?? you define composition as the tiniest details? the definition i learned is positive/negative shapes - layout/ balance and movement of eyes around a painting - no details - "throw your vision out of focus and look at the comp" is what my profs always harped.

Now is better than Later, as later, it won't matter how nicely anything is rendered if the eye doesn't like it.

i spose so. yes, you're right, and you always have good critiques. it's just that i know that as the size of the faces and figures decrease, the hours spent perfecting the details tend to multiply. to me, it's much harder to paint in small format than in a sane size format.

russ? mike? is it not also more difficult for you guys?

I hope you do not misunderstand my participation - it is with the very best intention.

Or I wouldn't post here.

no, and`i'm glad to see you on the art threads. we need you. i was just asgonizing over the thought of russ getting any tighter with this color study.

[Barker]

Skipping lights and darks as part of compo -

If the aircraft is correct, then it's the figures.

If the figures are approximately correct, it's both their location and each of the gestures.

If the gestures (and you can from that, get anatomy) don't feel right, it's the anatomy.

that's all.

Composition is moving things around.
Study is fine-tuning towards finish.
Above is a thought process.

I understand size.

[cfgray]

Russ,
First of all - it is beautiful...
Taking matters left to right - the grouping at the far left anchors the tail, superb.
The starboard strut holder has two issues, I think - his placement fore and aft and the color of his shirt.
Ditto Barker's observation about the aviator - he's in there - and about the fellow in the background by the port wheel - needs to move to the right.
Kneeling fellow's fine as are the two officers to the right.
Regarding the "walking" figure - his wrist and forearm may be too weak which is accentuated by the fact that his hand coincides with the roofline. Also, we want to see the right hand and a bit of the right arm, I think. He might also want to be a little bit to the left of where he's positioned.
With respect to the sky, the light line of cloud just to the right of the nacelle's nose and just above the patch of blue above the roofline bothers me. I think that area will open up and settle back if that highlight is suppressed or eliminated.
Thanks for giving me the chance to embarrass myself, Russ - what a beauty this is and will be.
Best,
cfgray