Composition question.

MikeDerby

Is this boring?  Is it too symmetrical?  I like the colors but I have not put brush to canvas even tho' I took the picture 6 months ago.  The yellow box is how I thought I might crop it, or something close.  I was careful to capture northern light and it happens to be at a time of year when the sun was completely opposite the room where the photo was taken at that time of day.  It is interesting to note, as I look at it now, that the wall behind the objects is actually a very light blue.  What do you think?

[Deleted User]

The user and all related content has been deleted.

BOB73

If YOU think it is; it is, whether others think so or not. For ME I would move the brown objects completely to the left, lose the left candle holder, group white and colored pottery together so they pick up a little of the brown group and the brown gets a little highlight and reflection from the white, let more of the candle holder on the right show and crop it a narrower and taller to get some of the lighter colored flowers in the frame. Also, there's not much difference in height between the taller, middle and shorter objects. You could put something tall in one or more of the vessels. I would also have a little higher perspective to get more of that beautiful marble top. Otherwise I wouldn't change a thing.

MikeDerby

@Kingston @tim_gier @BOB73  Thank you all for your help.  I had a suspicion!  The more i looked at it the less i wanted to do it.  I really want to do something with the pottery tho'.  Its all local craft.

Richard_P

Why not have the pottery on its side with the openings facing the viewer at different angles. It doesn't all have to be so organised!

some

What Kingston said...I counted six 2's...

MikeDerby

I am laughing at myself a little bit over this.  But its all in fun right?  Here are some new pics with some of the suggestions and a few of my own.

dencal

Mike

A single source sidelight would improve all of these compositions by adding a flow of light and shadow.

Denis

MikeDerby

@dencal You have such a good eye!  There is a north window just to the right of the subject but i forgot and left a light on twenty feet to the left.

oilpainter1950

Study some still life paintings by Jeff Legg or other painters and take special note of their composition.

Richard_P

That does look like a nice composition Kingston

MikeDerby

Thanks to everyone.  My wife says have too many items.  I will work on this some more and get back to you.

BOB73

Any of those arrangements would be a good exercise. Mind the light like Denis said. Once you've started your drawing things will fall into place and might inspire you to make further changes.

Summer

MikeDerby said:

                                                My wife says have too many items.

It depends upon your objectives.  If you are doing studies of these items you could add even more.  If you added more, you'd have to really go all out as the above image suggests.  If you are after an uncluttered type of esthetic, I think that the above comments by other members apply.  Have you thought of painting three paintings instead of one, selecting three or four objects for each painting? The image that I have posted here is a photo realistic painting by Daniel K. Tennant and this composition is tame compared to some of his other works--in terms of quantity of items in a single composition.  Just saying.   Summer

tassieguy

Summer, I agree that you can make it cluttered and still make a great painting. I mean look at some of Cezanne's best still life's.

BTW, I had never heard of Daniel K.Tennant and the image you posted prompted me to look him up. I am amazed at the incredible effects he is able to achieve with gouache.

Summer

Here is Daniel's website: http://www.danielktennant.com/artwork/photorealism/galleries.html  The more garish paintings were actually commissions of heirlooms belonging to his patrons.  Other heirloom arrangements on his site are quite nice.  Amazon is selling one of his books for one penny and the price of postage which details every step of his studio methods which I found to be intriguing.  Some better images of his paintings can only be found in this little book.  It was a real pleasure to read.  Highly recommend it.  Photorealistic Painting by Daniel K. Tennant, Walter Foster publishing.   

MikeDerby

Thanks to all of you for your help and encouragement.  I have never attempted a still life and unlike the human face, which is never wrong or bad, i can see myself spending a lot of time painting something that is just silly.  I have thrown away a lot of canvas and i am tired of it.  I would much rather talk it over and do something a little better from the git-go.  You all are the perfect support group.
I love Tennant.
I hope you all have a nice Thanksgiving.  I think it is the one universal unsullied export we can offer the world and have no one object, aside from maybe jazz.

MikeDerby

Still life with cat.  A little cutesy for me but my wife and daughter would love it.  It is totally happenstance.  Not contrived at all.  Any takers?   

oilpainter1950

I love cats, so I like it a lot.

tassieguy

I think it works as a composition. I like it because it looks natural and not contrived. And I just love the muted colours and soft value transitions. I hope you paint this one.

Richard_P

As a composition it's fine, and certainly interesting. The only thing that would cause me to hesitate is that the photo quality isn't great. I don't suppose you managed to take a better one?

MikeDerby

@oilpainter1950 @tassieguy @Richard_P  Thank you for the feedback.  I was worried the muted colors stole some interest.  But the poor quality of the iPad photo, which my wife had about 5 seconds to capture before the cat ran off, seems to me to lend itself to abstraction.  It actually looks a little abstract itself.  I think i will put this one on the list.

BOB73

I'd love to see a painting of this. I think it is a good composition and since your family likes it you wont have to through it away! I think the vase will be a challenge too. Good luck.