Old Mill

[weirdpuckett]

Practicing . . .I really am pleased with the trees in it . .

[johnwalkeasy]

Really like the colors and the sugestion in this work. It shows a lot of freedom and happyness.

[Michael Ortega]

Beautiful colors! The sky is kinda blah...everything else is very much in your style and well done...

[artisticsha]

Very nice. The colors of the trees are vi
ant.

[oilpainter2247]

hey mike another nice look here ...................one thing i would do too this darkin up the sky corners a bit , but other then that very nice color .............i am givein you 8 stars mike how do you like that .........oooooooooooo you dont like that you say ............ok 9 .mike

[bpier]

Hey Mike. I really like the trees and the mill. The sky could use a little more to add interest but well done. Nice loose technique.
Brian

[jenn_iam]

Hello Mike - Great job! Did you paint from a picture?

I do have some observations that may help;
1) The use of contrasting colors is nice. However there is distict color and/or light level changes from trees in middle of painting to that of the subject (Mill and water) with little to know reflection or luminescence in the water or the building to suggest it was painted from life.
The Sky suggests a clear day, in fall. Which would assist in the above, to balance out the light in the overall painting and make it stand out.

2) Technique/Style: There are 3 specific painting styles being used here that I think is allowing the others above to notice the flatness in the sky. there is the sky - which is painted and blended more smoothly giving a more flat appearance in comparison to the rest of the work. The Trees are vigorous and impressionistic. And the Building and Water is sketchy, less finished. While none of the techniques are wrong, the usage of them here, makes the painting look segmented. If the techniques are indicative to your style (which is fine) can all be used throughout thus balanced. Just a suggestion. Not sure if this segmentation is also indicative to the Artists Style as well...

keep it up! Your work is great!

[sharkbarf]

See how the background is much brighter than the foreground?
My eyes are drawn away from your focal point.
Think about how it would be different if you used lighter values in the foreground.
Similarly, it's not only the value of the sky, but the chroma. I think if the blue were neutralized a bit it may work at that light value still.