new to this great forum C&C and help needed!!!!

[leo_cesar]

Hi! I´m new to painting and to this great forum.
can you spare me some hints about stile and painting process?
thanks,
leo

this is some of my sketches made lately:

http://members.fortunecity.com/leocesar/rascunho-01.jpg
http://members.fortunecity.com/leocesar/rascunho-02.jpg
http://members.fortunecity.com/leocesar/homem.jpg http://members.fortunecity.com/leocesar/tucano-web.jpg

[Gray]

Welcome!

Just wanted to say I like the third one really much. Daring choice of colors. Keep it up

[Chromo48]

Agreed with Gray, the third ones color choice is cool. A couple of things you could do to improve are: take your time with the drawings, quickly and loosely sketch things out, then go back over it, refining the image and take your time thinking about form and shapes.

As for painting, do loads and loads of studies from life or photos.

[leo_cesar]

Thanks guys! I realize that the first two drawings have a lack of patience and the time devoted to them was scarce. The fourth one was created with photo reference and its strength relies in the bigger amount of time that was necessary to create it.

Other things that I noticed when people like some painting or drawing:

1) We tend to like pictures with more details and texture
2) We like vibrant colors and contrast
3) Harmony in the color palette
4) The composition of the subject, foreground and background
5) Volume depict by light and dark areas
6) We tend to prefer photorealism over stylized drawings
7) the message behind the picture

Am I wrong about this observations, what do you think about it?
Thanks again for the welcome!

[Chromo48]

I wouldn't be so sure about all of those things you listed. I'm not an expert on what the most popular things are in art. I would agree with you and say that the general public probably likes lots of detail and vibrant colors.

As an artist you need to know how much detail to use and when to use it, and same thing basically goes for intense colors. Neutral and soft colors are just as important as high contrast, vibrant colors. As for photorealism; I prefer stylized drawings depicted in a realistic way. For instance: your standard "Image" comic books are highly stylized, but they also have a very realistic look to them.

I wouldn't limit yourself to these observations. While they may be true to some degree, it certainly doesn't encompass the taste of the masses...in my opinion. Hope I helped some.

[leo_cesar]

You’re completely right! In art it’s really hard to predict the taste of the general public. It made me remember about Van Gogh life: he never sold any of his paintings when alive and a few centuries later one of his art was sold as a most expensive piece of art ever.

The only rule in art is: there is no rule.
I’ll let my mind flow and see what happens without any rational boundary.