In Progress oil painting - crits appreciated.

[maldrin]

A piece I'm currently painting, and feeling a little uncertain about:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v193/maldrin/CA_Sketchbook/branchmanagerprogress3.jpg

it's to be called "Branch Manager" my intention is to make it a companion piece to a piece that I did called "Corporate Zombie" (below). I mention that just because I want to make sure I keep the look and feel mostly the same. Both will have a white border and a black background and need to look kind of like the "executive photos" often seen in corporate headquarters.

Any and all crits are extremely welcomed, but since some areas are still unpainted, it may be hard to offer much. The main aspect I'm uncomfortable with and am seeking help with is highlights and shadows - I'm trying to make it look like a yellowish light (i.e. stinky office fluorescents) is coming from pretty high on the left side. I want warmish highlights and cool shadows on a grey-brown (i.e. dead) tree. As I've started it, I'm not sure I'm giving that appearance, but I can't determine what to change, if anything.

The shirt also looks way too creamy - I wanted a dingy white shirt that was lit with warm yellow light, but I'm not sure that is coming across either. Fortunately the shirt is just an underpaint at this point, so hopefully it'll be much better soon.

Also, the masking tape will be removed in the end and there will be a white border (again, like a photo, see below).

Thanks for looking, and any tips, advice, paint over, etc is wholeheartedly appreciated.

Thanks much!

Maldrin

the "corporate zombie" image I referred to earlier:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v193/maldrin/misc2/art/corporatezombie_ingallery.jpg

[Corel Painter Master]

I think you painted the second very well. Do you have any photo reference? It could help you a lot. Trying to figure out where the light source and shadow is very tough (think of it as sphere if that help). You could use Yellow Orcher and white for highlight. If you want something cool for shadow, you could add a little bit of blue.

[maldrin]

CPM: Thanks for the comment, man. I do have many photo refs of trees, (and of me in a suit) but the layout of the tree is from my head. Thanks for the tip of thinking of a sphere - I'll try that. I've used Zinc Yellow and white for the highlights, but Yellow Ocher might be better. I soften the Zinc some with Naples, but it still comes off looking really creamy as you can see in the photo. I used French Ultramarine and grey for the shadows, so hopefully in the photo they show a bluish tint. I hope the shadow color and the highlight color match appropriately. I'm not sure if I should have laid in shadows first, let them dry, then lay in mid tones & then highlights. There seem to be different schools of thought.

Any other crits or comments?

Thanks again, CPM!

Maldrin

[maldrin]

I'm getting nearly done with this now, and I thought I'd throw it up here for another round of critiques before I put the last few coats on it and called it done. I still need to finish the coat, darken the shadows on the shirt, add highlights to the tie, and add shadows to the branches on the right side. What I'm looking for is ANY feedback on anything you think I'm doing horribly wrong here. Preferably before all the paint dries. ;)

Or, if you think I'm on the right track, I'd be glad to know that, as well.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v193/maldrin/CA_Sketchbook/branchmanagerprogress4.jpg

Sorry the photo quality isn't better, I just couldn't get it to turn out right.

Best,

David

[GriNGo]

I think you should complete the other arm. & give more texture effects to the tree itself. very good idea man (the painting!)! hope it turns our well!

later,
GRiNGoLoCo

[maldrin]

Sticking a fork in it and calling it done. If you see something damn ugly and hideous or just plain wrong, give me a shout, please. :)

the white border is artificial, but looks better than the masking tape, and is at least similar to the white border it will have when I pull all the tape off.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v193/maldrin/CA_Sketchbook/branchmanager_final.jpg

thanks,

maldrin