Can I get some contructive criticism on my painting please?

Question: Can I get some contructive criticism on my painting please!?

Last year when I was doing Advanced Higher Art I painted a skull - which was bought by the school - however, someone has taken the painting so a year later I've been asked to do another one!.!.

Here's the link to the original painting - http://img384!.imageshack!.us/my!.php!?image!.!.!.

When I painted this I didn't realise the school wanted to buy it, so I didn't put it a great deal of effort!. Now I have the chance to try it again, and I really want to improve it to leave a better impression of me at the school!

Can anyone provide any constructive criticism!? I don't want people telling me it's rubbish and not explaining how I can make it better!.

Thanks!Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

Getting your art stolen is one of the biggest compliments you can get, (crime for art)! I think that your painting is really very good, but your choice of the black background, limits your level of achievement!. The context is important for the viewer!. If you want this to be a study that's great!. If you want it to be a exceptional painting then take it one step further, by placing it somewhere like in a laboratory or something!. I think your depth of space can be enhanced by regulating the use of bright whites and medium darks in the recessed sections of the piece!. Really good though congrats on the thievery of your work!. Jail time is a high price to pay for art!Www@QuestionHome@Com

the shapes a lil off but its realy good very origonal i like it keep up the good workWww@QuestionHome@Com

It's very good!. If I had any criticism at all it would be don't be afraid to have your colors and shades really pop!. lights and darks can add something to this piece!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

thats sooo good
i would LOVE if i could paint lik that

great jobWww@QuestionHome@Com

Overall, I think it's a well done painting!. I like the face of the scull, it looks very metallic like and it very three dimensional!. One your mind starts to wonder to the back of the head the image starts to flatten a little bit!. (althought i'm not sure if that was done intenisonally) The background is pretty bland, if you want the focus to be on the skull, try enlarging it so it fills more of the page (it's okay if you have some of it run off the the picture plane)!. I really like the colors you used in the teeth, but they weren't used anywhere else, perhaps try and incorporate them just a little into the rest of the skull and/or background!.Hope I helped a little! GOOD LUCK!Www@QuestionHome@Com

i agree, make it pop a lil more, the colors are very bland but you should be able to pump them up!. good luck!Www@QuestionHome@Com

Wow that is overall really good!. and if that didn't have a great deal of effort in it then the next is gonna be awesome!! lol, but yeah i think it just needs to kind of look a bit more 3D if you could do that cos like the background makes it look abit flat so if you had the back ground white then shaded the bottom so it kind of looks like its sitting on a peice of paper, but if you dont like it all you have to do is colour the rest in black, siiimpleee =] hope i helped!Www@QuestionHome@Com

I would simplify things more next time!. Its good to remember that not everything has to be in detail!.
Draw the viewers eye in, but dont overwhelm!.
Choose 1 or 2 areas and make those the most detailed parts in your painting, your "Focal Points" or "Areas of Interest"!. Minimize detail in the rest of the painting!.
Keep going!! =) Good start!Www@QuestionHome@Com

I would add more color!. Like blue!. I don't like it!. It scares me!. Not my cup of tea!. But it's a great piece of art!. Blue in side the eye sockets!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Wow! Looks really life like!. How long have you been doing that!? Good job!Www@QuestionHome@Com

omfg!.!.!. did u really paint that!? its amazing!.!.!. theres notting bad about it!.Www@QuestionHome@Com