From the Artist: I haven't picked up a paintbrush in over 10 years, but was inspired to begin again by your website ... I enjoyed the process but found myself losing confidence and steam once the apples were completed. I have trouble with painting fabric, and found creating 'folds' to be difficult. Also, I didn't know how to deal with the background behind the fabric. There was such a small space I almost wanted to ignore it, but felt too much blue would 'swallow' the apples."
From the Painting Guide:I'm delighted to hear that the Painting section of About.com inspired you to pick up your paintbrushes again! The apples are magnificently realistic, it really does feel as if you could pick one up. It does bug me, however, that the left apple has been chopped off; because they're so photorealistic I would've like to see end of stalk (this may just be the way the photo was cropped).
I don't think it would be a problem if background were completely blue because the apples are so dominant and they make such a striking contrast to the blue background. On the apples themselves you've taken the color of the fabric into the shadow, but you don't seem to have done the same with the shadows in the fabric; there's the potential for red in the shadow on the fabric close to the apples.
Take another look at the highlight you've got on the very edge of the fabric fold in front of the left apple. Bring it down a bit so that it's on the peak of the fold, not on the "top" as we're looking at it, ie slightly below that edge.
If you've got the time, do a grayscale sketch of the fabric to check your tonal values (or take a photo and convert it to grayscale in a computer drawing program). This'll help reveal why a piece of fabric is looking flat is certain areas.
As you enjoyed the painting process, but got intimidated by the fabric, try painting the same apples in a different environment, an off-white china bowl on a wooden table, for example. This'll give you the confidence that your painting is okay and show you that what you need to do is develop your painting of fabric. I'd suggest tackling this head-on, by painting just a small piece of folded fabric, or perhaps a shirt, without other elements that you could consider "easier" to distract you.
Comment from the Painting Forum: Joy says: I am in awe. They are so perfect, I'm wondering if they are painted or photos. I love them. Not having picked up a brush in 10 years she certainly is a talented lady.
From the Painting Guide:I'm delighted to hear that the Painting section of About.com inspired you to pick up your paintbrushes again! The apples are magnificently realistic, it really does feel as if you could pick one up. It does bug me, however, that the left apple has been chopped off; because they're so photorealistic I would've like to see end of stalk (this may just be the way the photo was cropped).
I don't think it would be a problem if background were completely blue because the apples are so dominant and they make such a striking contrast to the blue background. On the apples themselves you've taken the color of the fabric into the shadow, but you don't seem to have done the same with the shadows in the fabric; there's the potential for red in the shadow on the fabric close to the apples.
Take another look at the highlight you've got on the very edge of the fabric fold in front of the left apple. Bring it down a bit so that it's on the peak of the fold, not on the "top" as we're looking at it, ie slightly below that edge.
If you've got the time, do a grayscale sketch of the fabric to check your tonal values (or take a photo and convert it to grayscale in a computer drawing program). This'll help reveal why a piece of fabric is looking flat is certain areas.
As you enjoyed the painting process, but got intimidated by the fabric, try painting the same apples in a different environment, an off-white china bowl on a wooden table, for example. This'll give you the confidence that your painting is okay and show you that what you need to do is develop your painting of fabric. I'd suggest tackling this head-on, by painting just a small piece of folded fabric, or perhaps a shirt, without other elements that you could consider "easier" to distract you.
Comment from the Painting Forum: Joy says: I am in awe. They are so perfect, I'm wondering if they are painted or photos. I love them. Not having picked up a brush in 10 years she certainly is a talented lady.