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I need your help. I am working on this fountain for a client and am now at that scary stage of deciding how much further to go. Does the sculpture need a background, context, etc.? Or should I leave it as is? I'm reluctant to do more, but want your opinion (yeah, that means you). Should I stop or keep going and if I do keep going, where should I go?
Oh, and I just noticed that the bow is missing its string...this might be a nice place to start.
18 comments:
Well, it's looking good. Maybe just the soft suggestion of greenery in the background? Easier said than done, I know, but it would "ground" the fountain, in my opinion.
i'm tempted to say to leave it w/o too much background as that would detract from the actual fountain. by "grounding" it in background scenery, then you seem to create the imaginary setting for the fountain. that may limit the client in the end, as the client may not have that setting for the fountain but was thinking of something different for it. as it is now, i could imagine that fountain here or there much easier than if it had more background detail.
but that's just me!
I think it looks great. Unless the background can add to the meaning, or help ground the piece I wouldn't bother. I also would leave the bowstring out. It is visually implied and that works.
If you do everything in gray, then the background must be very light, or very dark so that the statue will stand out. If it is very dark it may cut your composition in half, which isn't usually a good idea. So go very light, I think the shadows so far would support a strong source.
My two cents tend to compound with interest, sorry.
:)=
Lovely as is. But if you just want to try some color, print out the picture of the fountain on regular printer paper and try coloring some of the background ... maybe this will help you make the decision.
I really like it. I don't think you should add a background, but I like what Nancy said about printing it out and playing around with it. I also don't think you should add any color, I like that it is gray like a fountain, and if you put color in the background, I think that will compete with what you already have.
just my TCW.
I think less is better. I wouldn't try doing the background on your original (I did a portrait and added a background that I didn't like, so I am a little skiddish).
Make a copy (as others have said)and play around with it. I like it as is. Maybe play around with matting?
I haven't been around to see what you have been doing lately. Very good!
Ladyariel
Before I read the other comments, my thoughts were, "I like it as it is" (e.g. less is more--like seastartrue said). It's a sweet, well-done piece as you have it now. My other thought was that you could scan it and play with the background, etc., to see if you want to take it further. I see nancy mentioned making a copy of it and then playing around with it. Either way. If you scan it, you could virtually take the piece further and print out the results. I don't like parting with originals. Guess that says something about how long I've been doing my work commercially (and on the computer)!
It kind of depends on what the client is doing with it...
Not knowing that, I'd say add the string and stop while you're ahead! : )
I too would recommend to stop here (after the string). It's beautiful as it is! Could you ask the client, wether he likes a background or not?
Personally, because of the intricate nature of the fountain itself, i believe it's best left as is. It really jumps out of the page -- and you put enough "ground" for it to stand on. It's beautiful, by the way.
I'd agree with most of the other comments, and would not add a background. It really is lovely and your handwrting (signature) kills me!
Suzanne, I would go with the others...print a copy to play with a background, but don't tie the client to one and I'm voting for the implied bowstring, it gives the fountain age.
Lovely work, thank you for sharing it with us!
Blessings!
I really love this "spot" quality because the edges are so interesting. My thought is that if you add a background, your composition will turn into something square or rectangle, as opposed to the great triangle shape you have now. I'd say, if you want to add anything (which is sounds like you don't feel done with it), then maybe a base or some other point extending out of the bottom of the image to keep your dynamic edges. I love it though! Cheers :)
Looks perfect to me. No need for a string I think and anything else might detract from the overall image. Great art/blog btw!
Stop. It looks great! Needs no background.
Wholey moley! I didn't know I had so many people to turn to for advice! Do you all give relationship advice as well? :) Thank you so, so much. It is almost a unanimous vote that I keep the painting as is. Whew! Thank you. I also really appreciate the advice on printing a copy to practice on. I had never thought about this before (duh!) and think I'll give it a try too.
I just wanted to say that it's really beautiful. As someone who tends to overwork things, it's easy for me to say stop to someone else. I think the shadow grounds it just fine. If you felt that you had to add background, maybe just a small line to indicate a horizon would be ok, but I don't think it's necessary. Is this a fountain you're designing for a client or is it a portrait of a fountain they already have?
I think that it looks great as it is. Additions could dilute the freshness of your sketch. Excellent work.
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