Position:Home>Visual Arts> What do you think of my paintings ?

Hi!. I have to answer this because I disagree with Drew!. I completely disagree with him!.

This is EXACTLY where you should be just starting out painting!. That is, looking hard at something in front of you and trying to figure out how to translate that into a painting, and doing it over and over and over!. Learning to paint directly from life, directly from perception will open the whole world of art to you!. Not that it is the ONLY way, but it is, in my opinion, one of the best ways, if not THE best way!.

Your paintings show a kind of patience, determination and true curiosity that will take you further than any flashy "creativity" ever will!. Being "original" is not something that one sits down and decides to do: It is something that simply comes after a lot of hard work and a lot of paintings that teaches you how to see and paint, how to go from the subject, to the eye, to the hand, to the canvas!. It's an incredibly complex and mysterious process and it's hard enough without trying to "be creative!."

True creativity comes out of a kind of deep exploration and that is what I see you beginning to do in these pictures!. Yes, they have some of the awkwardness that someone new to painting is naturally going to have!. But that's the kind of authenticity that you want to see in a student's work!.

Your work has a beautiful sense of line and a clear delicate quality!. What I think they most lack right now is something that people who've been painting for decades still struggle with -- unity!. In places the objects feel separated from each other, almost cut out or superimposed!. What would help, I think, would be forcing yourself to move from foreground to background more often, rather than finishing a whole object and then moving to what's next to!. Maybe your teacher's talked about that!? It usually comes up in beginning painting classes!.

But even with that problem, you do manage to have a good feel for the negative spaces!. They are not just blank, but part of the image!. The space through the handle of the thermos, for example, in the grey painting, though it may not be entirely accurate to the object behind it, has a real presence that makes that thermos come alive!.

I'm going on a bit because I feel really strongly about this!. If you continue to focus on the process of looking and painting, rather than making a cool painting, you will be in a world that someone like Drew doesn't even know about!. Not to insult him, but there is no substitution for struggling through these paintings, trying to figure out how the hell you translate what you see onto the canvas!. And beginning with stillifes is FINE!. More than fine!

also, I'll add that the idea of "being recognized" is an absolutely ridiculous thing for a 14 year old -- or anyone who's just starting painting -- to be thinking about!. Really, that can be death for any artist!. This is about a search for some kind of truth, whatever that means to you, not celebrity!. No artist can make good work if they are thinking "am I going to be recognized!." For Pete's sake!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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You have to try something new because if you keep painting still lifes like that then you won't be recognized!.

I'd say you were good unfortunetly that's how most of the art looked like throughout school for me when I saw everyone's stuff!.

I see a picture with what appears to be a cut open vegetable but it has no texture or seeds!.

If your course is forcing you to create still life scenes all the time then you'll be limited so I encourage trying something you absolutely love since the pictures you have painted are medeocure!.

I'm just being completely honest, I've taken so many art classes in highschool and middle school and I've seen alot of paintings by both students and famous artists!.!. You're decent but if you were to make a studio full of them I doubt you'd get much attention!.

I'm big on imagination and creativity so I apologize if I seem too critical, The paintings remind me of "paint by color" which is usually never a good first impression!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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Great work and keep it up!. As a former instructor, Academy of Art University in San Francisco I can honestly say we had many students enter at your level and eventually achieve very good things!. If this is what you want to do you need to practice till you hand falls off!. And yes, this is exactly where you need to begin!. Learn all you can about the foundations of art!. Proportion, rhythm, composition, value, chroma or color intensity (when painting) and so forth!. You have a good beginning to a possible great journey that can be a career if you'd like it to be!. I'm doing fine at it myself!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

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You're talented for your age, but they're pretty standard paintings!. When I was your age in school the art was around the same caliber!. Not to demean you, because you are good, if its something you love you should take classes and you could be great!Www@QuestionHome@Com

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Both are very good!. You should be proud and thankful for your craft!. Keep painting and creating beautiful works!. Take Care!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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sweetness ur awesomeWww@QuestionHome@Com

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