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Pen-umbra — Speakeasy
Published: 2010-07-12 20:37:20 +0000 UTC; Views: 3959; Favourites: 63; Downloads: 62
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Description
This is a rough draft for a canvas painting I'm planning for my apartment. It'll be 8 feet wide by 2 feet tall, which is a little daunting, since I've never done a canvas painting so large.I drew this draft digitally so I could easily move people around, change colors and get a feel for the lighting. Then I'll put a grid overlay on it so I can transfer the drawing to canvas and paint it.
Please help me out by telling me exactly what you like and don't like about it! How do you like the colors, the composition? Is it too crowded or is that what you like about it? Let me know and please be constructive! If you're going to tell me you don't like something, I need to know why.
Edit July 16, 2010: I brightened up some areas to make them pop out and create a bit of flow through the piece.
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Comments: 44
This is gorgeous!! I'm studying for my African American Literature final and remembered about seeing this painting somewhere. I love how you managed to portray the atmosphere!
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Thank you! I wanted it to look warm and lively and secret.
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Hi! i really like the painting version! what program did you used? photoshop?
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Glad you like it! Yes--all photoshop!
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Did you ever finish the canvas version? It seems to have the perfect lighting for a jazz bar painting, im going to paint a similar scene, and these colours, maybe with a flash of redish brown and less detail in the figures is what im thinking of.
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I never finished the large canvas version, only a smaller one. When I get the time, I'm thinking of trying this with wood cut-outs rather than paint. But I need more power tools than what I currently have. Good luck on yours!
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Good luck with your woodcutting!
Here's a link to my own Jazz Bar painting, let me know what you think 
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very beautiful! makes me want to go out and swing all night!
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Thank you! That's definitely the feeling I was going for!
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Heh! My school is doing TMM (Millie for short), and i showed them this pic, and now we're doing our Speakeasy set brown like this! And the set is a lot like it, too!
So I just wanted to say that your ideas are making it into a Junior High Play. Whoopdie-doo!
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that is, actually, intensely flattering.
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Well, I'd ask you to come see it, but I don't want you knowing where I go to school! So I'll post some pics. Maybe.
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some of it could be lightened a little and the girl in the air almost looks like she's standing on the shoulders of the girl below her... but other than that its great! i love it!
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Great idea, it'd look awesome on the wall. I really like the warm colours, and I think they will create a very welcoming atmosphere in the room. Still, maybe you should add some more lighter tones, because it might look too dark. Other than that, I love it! I like how crowded it looks, and the flow and the energy of the picture are really something. Great work so far, I'd love to see it finished!
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Thanks very much! I'm definitely still planning to lighten it up some more. The only reason I want it a bit dark is because the paint on my walls is this really bizarre muted yellow/green. It looks fine on it's own, but most colors (especially lighter ones) look horrible on it! Makes decorating it rather a pain...
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Ooh, I see. I think I know what you mean. Well, with these tones of brown and yellow it will probably look good. But yes, it must really be a pain to decorate. :/ Haven't you thought of just painting the walls another colour?
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nah, I'm too lazy...hahah! also, apartment managers tend to get fussy about things like painting walls.
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hahaha 
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The flow of it all is very nice,especially with the black figures contrasting the lighter brown background.I really like the yellow figures too,they just fit so nicely wit the whole composition
I guess,the only thing I can really suggest here is that with a project like this,you should be ready for improvising,'cause sometimes,surprises can just pop up like that XD
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Thanks very much! I'm glad you like it. And thanks for the reminder about improvising! I painted a 120' long mural once and that definitely required a lot of improvising, even with all the math and grids I used to keep it specific.
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My online critique is that it's a little too dark (although it could be my monitor?). May want to lighten it a little, especially if it's going on a wall (dark walls make rooms look smaller). But otherwise it's brilliant!
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Thank you! Yes, I think you're right and that it's a bit too dark. I did want it a BIT dark (it is a night club after all), but it sounds like it's too dark for most people. That's a good point about dark walls making rooms smaller! My apartment is tiny to begin with... I'll have to keep that in mind
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I like it all, but there could be more definition to the stage (light brown lines or something). But that's the only thing that strikes me. This is awesome, like always!!!
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Thanks for the suggestion! I'm glad you like it!
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Thank you! I'm getting really excited to get started on the canvas painting.
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That's amazing! The energy, the coffee tones, it's so...coffee shop. I don't know how else to describe it. I imagine this hanging up the back of a cool little cafe, tucked up along the back wall with a big, comfy couch in front of it.
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Thank you! Glad you like it!
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Oh I do. It will look wonderful in your home
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I do like the crowded feel--all those people having a clandestine good time
I'm not sure about the lighting--one the one hand, it goes with the mood of secrecy, but on the other hand, the scene would look livelier if it was brighter.
Cool idea to make an almost mural-size painting in your apartment!
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Yes, I think you're right--the lighting is a bit distracting. I'm thinking of only brightening up certain people so that it helps your eyes flow through the image. Plus it'll give the effect of brightening the WHOLE image.
I have one large wall in my apartment that used to have one small picture on it. When it fell down, I decided to do something that would take up the whole space!
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a tad dark. but thats probably just my computer. otherwise i think its straight up gorgeous.
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no, i think you're right. it IS a bit dark. I'll be sure to fix that! Thanks!
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I like it, I kinda think the spotlight for the singer is a tad too dark but I think that would throw off the balance of the piece...
Maybe if she was closer to the middle then you could lighten the spotlight a tad??
I like the amount of people it has that nice crowded feel
My favorite couples are the the two in the front ((The lady in the yellow dress))
and the one that has his partner jumping ((Swinging?? still looks cool))
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oooh! I hadn't thought of putting the singer near the middle. She was always just at the edge in my mind, so I didn't bother to move her around. I'll try that out. I'll also try brightening the spotlight a bit to see how far I can go. It might even help move the composition along.
Thanks for the input!!
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