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TH0RNFIELD — Abstraction
by-nc-nd
#deepinthought #pensive #abstraction #femalefigure #moodylighting #portrait
Published: 2016-06-14 13:39:32 +0000 UTC; Views: 4618; Favourites: 230; Downloads: 0
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Description
Oil Paint on Birch PanelThe abstract area started as a compositionally and thematic contrast for the work, the strong colour playing against the soft tones of the flesh, the abstract and sometimes geometric lines in the background contrast with the curving and organic lines and shapes of the figures. It also represents a kind of visual depiction of changing emotional states. On the surface things may be perceived as serene, still, or apathetic, however, below is an undercurrent of fear, chaos, or passion.
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Comments: 38
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beautiful I fell in love with it.
I see another face on the side, in the white, at the height of the face,
intentionally or a cover of an old job?
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Reminds me of one of Jon Singer Sargeant's portraits, Madame X.
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Really impressed with this one, great spacial relationships, and I love the Magic of where the hair meets the door, I think in this instance the big reds help the painting, you know when to do things and it shows in this one.
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This is a really interesting piece, both in concept and execution. I like the composition, her pose and the general 'feel' of the image. I can see what you mean about the red being a bit distracting though, and I do feel that it does somewhat pull the focus away from her...I wonder if perhaps you could find a way of introducing the red to her somehow, maybe it would tie everything together? Personally I don't think dulling down the red is the answer because I think it looks great. Maybe there could be a red tint to the shadows? On the other hand that would unify the painting and might detract from the feel of the piece...so perhaps a touch of heightened contrast in her face would work instead? Lighten the highlighted areas a bit to make it 'pop'.
That's very vague of me, I apologise. This is a great painting though so I'm reluctant to claim I know how it can be improved upon as I'm not as skilled as you! Overall an excellent job...I hope you find the solution you're seeking
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Thanks!
I do still stand by the stylistic choices I made with the reds, but I did wonder what impression people got off it at first.
In life the red aren't quite so glowing(?), the camera seemed to have saturated them a bit too much and I can't figure out how to bring them done without the flesh going dull. There is actually a lot of the reds reflected in the shadows on the figure, bit difficult to see in the photo, I left the paint on the thin side in those areas so the underpaint of the red would peek through.
Anyway, thanks for the feedback, I do want to make more with this kind of look so any type of pointers on how I can make the work better is much appreciated
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Putting art online is such a bother - it's so hard to make it look just like the original! I hope my comment wasn't too off the mark as I do think it's a really nice painting and I quite like the style!
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Ah no it wasn't, no worries. Like I said before the more feedback the better!
I think my biggest pet peeves is that there is no standard color calibration for computer/laptop screens, photos look drastically different on nearly every screen I've look at 
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Very useful explanation of the abstract V.S. super realistic part of the work, colors etc. This is the kind of things I like to learn about. It helps me to improve my own vision and technique. As stated below, I thought it was photo manipulation at first. You're very thorough working the subtle colors and details. Great one!
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Thank you! I do find it funny how so many people think it's a photo manip 
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Such a beautiful face. She looks worried about something. I hope she's OK.
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She's okay, they have yet to send the men in white coats
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I completely agree with your IzzyMarrie comment. The composition is also very nice and her pose and expression really enhance the mood. Very skilled work, the best I have seen in a while. Great job! 🙃
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This has an incredible amount of detail in it, and is absolutely beautiful. To be honest, at first, I thought this was an incredible photo-shop, but this is all traditional, making it even more amazing. I like the low lighting of the woman and the door, and with the rusted out reds around her, forming almost like a frame and creating a small feeling of unease (as if a fire is slowly rising), it creates a very interesting, moody atmosphere. I was just going to fave this and not say anything, but I felt you deserved the compliment.
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Funny thing is I am pretty useless with photoshop!
Thank you so much for the compliment! And you nailed the mood/theme right, I wanted a feeling unease or disintegration. In contrast to the calm almost apathetic face, like someones facade crumbling and the real madness starting to show through.
I feel like that a lot!
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I do too, but that's anxiety for you! lol Also, I'm decent with Photoshop, even though I haven't used it in years (used to use it to touch up or put light touches and effects on photos). Funny thing is, for years, I haven't had that program, and so I've had to make due with Paint if I wanted to do something funny with my photos lol Also, you're welcome for the compliment. You really deserve it. I remember actually LOVING to oil paint when I was younger in high school. Now, I'm no artist (I'm more of a writer), but I have to admit, out of all the mediums I tried, oil painting was what really intrigued me. I have a sister who's 9 who is actually really incredible at drawing for her age, and she's wanting to get into oil painting eventually. Right now, she's experimenting with shading and using special graphite pencils. My mom doesn't want her oil painting so young, but since this summer, her art teacher has said she'd take her under her wing and says she actually has oil paints, my sister might be able to try that even sooner than we thought
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Yes anxiety, I call it my dark friend.
Oh my goodness Paint! We had really useless internet when I was a kid so I used to spend hours on that doing all kinds of weird stuff!
That's cool that your sister is already and artist! The younger you start the better I say. And actually most modern oil paints are made with synthetic pigments and really aren't going to harm you, the only ones she might want to stay away from (and again there very little danger unless she eats them, which I don't see happening) are the Cadmiums.
(And obviously real naples yellow or lead white are dangerous paints, but they are expensive so not many people would even have them)
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Yeah, I've had a lot of fun AND frustrations with that darn program lol Also, I'll keep that in mind, but actually, the reason my mom doesn't want her painting with oil paints is more that my mom doesn't want to deal with the hassle of possibly stained clothes or her making a mess XD (which, to be honest, shouldn't be an issue... I have to say, my sister may be young, but she is never messy with her art supplies. And besides, she does have plenty of clothing that are considered 'ruined' already from either playing outside or other things and she no longer wears them in public. That'd be perfect for when she paints. I think that may be another reason she's okay with her possibly learning oil painting from her teacher)
(yeah, we're actually poor, and right now, I'm working a lot to try and save up for my move half-way cross the country so I can go to college and have a better opportunity, and part of what I earn is actually going to help my mom and sister out since my mom's outta work. That's actually why it was VERY nice of her art teacher to offer to help her over the summer for free. She normally charges for art lessons outside class. So yeah lol No expensive paints for her, I'm afraid XD But she does have a lot of really good pencils, and last year, I bought her some pastels)
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Ah I see.
Mess, what mess? I don't get paint all over all my clothes at all, have no idea what you're talking about... 
Boy sounds like you have your hands full with moving, college and all that. 
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Well~ lol Paint and kids usually equals mess XD April's really good with her art supplies though, but she still is only 9 and so my mom's just worried she'll end up making a mess lol
Thank you! Oh man, I'll need all the luck I need XD
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