From the Artist: This is my first attempt at abstract art; it was fun and I like the result. I photographed some of my plants from directly above and proceeded to wash in the background color and plant colors. I may have carried it a bit too far but that is the nature of my more realistic approach to my paintings.
From the Painting Guide: While it may still be a little realistic in terms of the project's objective -- the plant colors are still very "real", and the leaves easily identifiable as such -- it's definitely on the right path and a good first attempt at an abstract.
Two relatively minor changes will take it another step away from realism:
1. Take out the yellow central parts of the plants so you've left with only the leaf shapes. I'd be tempted to paint the area where the leaves come together very dark, in that purple-blue you've used. Done you can't really see what's going on other than this is where the shapes emerge from.
2. Add a bit more blue to some of the leaves to move it away from green.
Things to Consider When Looking at This Painting:
Composition: Compare the arrangement of the shapes in the top half of the painting to those in the bottom half. How the top ones go strongly and definitely off the edges, while those at the bottom taper to gentle points. It creates contrast, and interest.
From the Painting Guide: While it may still be a little realistic in terms of the project's objective -- the plant colors are still very "real", and the leaves easily identifiable as such -- it's definitely on the right path and a good first attempt at an abstract.
Two relatively minor changes will take it another step away from realism:
1. Take out the yellow central parts of the plants so you've left with only the leaf shapes. I'd be tempted to paint the area where the leaves come together very dark, in that purple-blue you've used. Done you can't really see what's going on other than this is where the shapes emerge from.
2. Add a bit more blue to some of the leaves to move it away from green.
Things to Consider When Looking at This Painting:
Composition: Compare the arrangement of the shapes in the top half of the painting to those in the bottom half. How the top ones go strongly and definitely off the edges, while those at the bottom taper to gentle points. It creates contrast, and interest.