From the Artist: This painting was inspired by a photo of a photographer friend who had just returned from Cuba. This photo seemed the perfect choice for the limited colors project. I did very little mixing of colors, choosing to try and reproduce exactly what I saw in this photo. I didn't add any shadow on the wall behind the man, as there wasn't any in the photograph. Perhaps this was a mistake, but I like the simplicity of it.
From the Painting Guide: When in doubt whether or not to do a major change to a painting when I like what there is already (such as adding a shadow would be in this instance), I sometimes do a second version of the painting. That way I still have the first if I don't like it.
A faster alternative (when working with oils or acrylics) is to ensure the paint is dry, then quickly rough the change in (the shadow), step back to see what it looks like, and if you don't like the result to then wipe it off with a cloth.
Things to Consider When Looking at This Painting:
Shadow: I like the simplicity of the background; it places the viewer's attention firmly onto the figure, and don't think it needs a shadow on the wall behind it. The tones in the painting also put the focus onto the figure -- squint your eyes and you'll see how the face and arms dominate.
Given the shadows created by his forearms and hands, that is very narrow and directly below, I'd say the sun was directly overhead when the photo was taken. So if you added a shadow onto the wall, you'd need to alter the shadows on the figure and bag accordingly.
Composition:Notice the way the figure is looking out of the painting, as if there was someone heading his way about to join him. It creates a sense of a story to the painting.
Rule of Thirds: This painting is a great example of the Rule of Thirds, of how it can create a very strong composition. The figure and the line where the light and dark blues meet are both a third of the way across the painting. (The line down the front of the yellow shirt emphasizes this too.)
From the Painting Guide: When in doubt whether or not to do a major change to a painting when I like what there is already (such as adding a shadow would be in this instance), I sometimes do a second version of the painting. That way I still have the first if I don't like it.
A faster alternative (when working with oils or acrylics) is to ensure the paint is dry, then quickly rough the change in (the shadow), step back to see what it looks like, and if you don't like the result to then wipe it off with a cloth.
Things to Consider When Looking at This Painting:
Shadow: I like the simplicity of the background; it places the viewer's attention firmly onto the figure, and don't think it needs a shadow on the wall behind it. The tones in the painting also put the focus onto the figure -- squint your eyes and you'll see how the face and arms dominate.
Given the shadows created by his forearms and hands, that is very narrow and directly below, I'd say the sun was directly overhead when the photo was taken. So if you added a shadow onto the wall, you'd need to alter the shadows on the figure and bag accordingly.
Composition:Notice the way the figure is looking out of the painting, as if there was someone heading his way about to join him. It creates a sense of a story to the painting.
Rule of Thirds: This painting is a great example of the Rule of Thirds, of how it can create a very strong composition. The figure and the line where the light and dark blues meet are both a third of the way across the painting. (The line down the front of the yellow shirt emphasizes this too.)