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Keithspangle β Mermaid
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Published: 2012-09-30 15:02:42 +0000 UTC; Views: 597; Favourites: 14; Downloads: 19
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Description
Oil on canvas 18" X 24"This is a study in oils for a larger size canvas. I wanted to put this up and get some feedback.
I intend to try out different ideas on this ...like placing the mermaid and architecture in dusk shadows. I will post the results as well
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Comments: 47
Some weeks ago I saw a photo of two girls kissing each other in a way that for me should have a mature content warning, but it hasn't it. Now I see this beautiful piece of art, that in my opinion no need a mature warning. It's so artistic and magic.
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Thank you for the compliment and the Watch!
I am often amused by the notion that mere sight of a bare breast will bring calamity and disaster down upon us all.
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I adore it. It's so good to see this side of you back again.
I have nothing remotely useful to say, other than that.
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In general I like it, but have a few comments.
1) Punch up the contrast. The whole picture is in a very narrow tonal range that tends to wash it out. Pick up the highlights in the wet parts of her skin and tail, deepen the shadows for those parts that are in shadow. Assume that you have a second light coming from directly behind your shoulder - that's what I see in the shadows of the mermaid against the stature and on the statue's base.
2) The moon here also needs to be punched up - it's reflecting sunlight, after all. This also means that there should be a bit of a halo around the edges of her hair where the moonlight is brightening it, an thin edge of moonlight along her arm and harder shadows where neither light source reaches.
3) While I understand the composition of the moon as a framing element, having it actually "rising" so that half of it is at the water's edge might strengthen the composition somewhat.
Keep at it, though. It's a nice piece.
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Thank you. I decided to try placing the mermaid and architecture in dusk-shadow while leaving the moon as it is. This will soften the contrast on the mermaid, but will, I hope, add a bit of pleasant atmosphere to the scene.
I like the idea of dipping the moon to sea level....I think it would work better, though, if I changed the layout to a horizontal rather than vertical format. I did a similar job on a piece called Siren (in my gallery)
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Oh! 
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I am doing ok, all things considered. I have already started changing the painting over to a dusk-lit scene. It will be a few days to post the reults, unless the results are a total flop.
How have you been?
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I do not expect total flops from you 
I have been waiting for a mermaid scene since we've been talking about it.
That's probably why I slipped into a mermaid mood too 
I have a nasty cold and am overworked - so nothing has changed ...
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I have a model now...we are trying to get the dancing nymph pose for the other idea we discussed.(a water sprite dancing on a pond's surface as a guitarist plays from an old dock)
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Oh good. Yes, I remember this idea. Actually, I tried to draw something but messed it up.
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I have what I think is the basic pose down...I just need to draw it up and have her re do the pose. I still do not have a lot of time for art, unfortunately
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That sounds like a good start.
Life usually eclipses time for art.
But, at least, you are working on something.
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I hope it continues. Life may eclipse art, but art is one of the things that makes life bearable
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That is true. Keep on living it every moment as short it may be
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Men usually don't listen to me ...
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What? I didn't quite catch that. Let me turn the television down
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Oh, yes, this definitely a symptom
What's on TV?
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Now? The news I think.
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Gosh, who needs soaps when there are actual news?
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I think soaps are closer to reality sometimes...I mean, who cares about a slaughter in far off Syria when Joanne is considering whether or not to cheat on Mark? Most news these days is presented as entertainment first, information second these days. Perhaps they should change the format to something more like soaps...with the dramatic music and scenes where Joanne says to Mark "Darling, I can't possibly consider having sex until Mitt Rommney makes a clear statement on his approach to tax policy"
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I slept on that ... and still ... who the ... is Joanne? 
You're making a good point about "entertainment".
We have the same trend here too. News depend on the network, and for some the death of a celebrity is more important than the death of three volonteers in Afghanistan.
Nowadays even documentaries on animals are presented like horror shows.
I think we shouldn't be surprised when our kids don't know our politicians.
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I was just watching a CNN interview with Cary Elwes(Princess Bride's 25th anniversary). It was embarrassing...the poor guy was trying to promote MercyCorps, a charity organization while the hosts were fawning and making cute remarks. The one clip from the movie that they showed was one where Cary Elwes' character was lying on a slab, doing nothing.
If I were Cary Elwes I'd sue
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Yeah, that sounds exactly like the world that we're living in.
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Yeah...I enjoy my rants. I was particularly annoyed because I like Cary Elwes and I liked the Princess Bride (and Lady Jane, and Robin Hood, Men in Tights). I sat through God-knows-how-many commercials hoping to hear him talk about his movie roles...silly me.
I am now wondering if there is some way to sell commercial space to advertisers on my paintings
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I know what you mean. This has happened to me too.
Sometimes you just don't get what you expect. Very disappointing.
I especially hate all the time you spend actually watching commercials because you don't want to miss the next non-commercial chapter.
Selling commercial space on paintings might be very contemporary, but it is also very ugly (is there something like artistic prostitution?).
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Yes, I believe there is something like art prostitution: like having to paint flattering portraits of appalling people just to be able to buy paint and brushes...of cranking out what is basically the same old painting over and over because market analysis shows that it's what the buying public wants.
Maybe I should do some "Product Placement" like in the movies where the lead actor is seen sucking down a particular brand of beer, or the lead actress is seen applying a certain brand perfume.
My mermaid could be seen with a cell phone in her left hand.
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I think this is a question of perception of art.
When you have to paint flattering portraits of unflattering sujets to be able to buy your equipment, the perception of passion gets easily lost, because art is a job then. Job and passion/living a passion not always go well together.
This is probably why we (the untalented public) often stick to the image painted by Carl Spitzweg (although his sujet is a poet, this still reflects a very general image). Until today our parents encourage us to "learn something real".
If you were doing photomanipulations, you could easily create a version with cell phone and one without.
Maybe you create a new surrealistic style!
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Perhaps I could do manipulations of famous paintings updated to reflect current commercial realities. Madonna as a Madonna and child with a container (prominently displayed) of modern diapers
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You might become the new DalΓ!
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I recall from the 80's a book called Art Afterpieces that covered similar ground. I think it is still available.
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Mona Lisa with hair rollers
I've seen that it is available used (one hardcover copy was more than 200 $).
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I can't wait to see your progress on this! I really like the idea of the dusk lighting
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I have already started changing it. I should have something showable in a few days...unless it's a total dud
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Oh it's a pleasure to see your work again !
I love this painting. Maybe the moon could be more luminous ? To add contrast ?
The water is so well done. Water is difficult i tried recently to do it.
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When the paint dries, I am going to try placing the foreground in shadow...like you were looking at the scene just after sunset...this should make the moon look much brighter!.
Water is very difficult to paint...I still don't think I have it right! But thank you!
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Oh yes time in traditional art is very different than with photoshop. Very interesting
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In some ways it is better that you have to wait. This allows you to think about what you are going to do next, then gives you time to change your mind and consider other ideas
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Yes i understand. In the other hand, it's more difficult in case of error no ?
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Yes. It becomes a problem sometimes when you become so afraid of the error that you are not willing to try out an idea
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It's been a while since you uploaded something (and my english is still horrible, sorry^^'). That looks great, especially the building, your paintings are so realistic. Only one thing... I am sorry but I am a bit irritated about the lightsource... there is the moon from behind but the light seems to come from another direction. But I am quite sure you have reasons for this, maybe you can explain it to me (I am always a bit unsure about the whole lighting theme)? ^^'
Apart from that I love the picture and I am looking forward to see the larger version.
And I hope you had a nice birthday^^
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The light source in this case was supposed to be the sun rising or setting opposite the moon. So the sun is behind the viewer.
Maybe if I eliminated the reflections on the water from the moon? I was also thinking of placing the mermaid and building in shadow...kind of dusk lighting. This would add more reds to the scene.
Thank you for your comments!
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Oh, I see. Well, yes, some dusk light would really make it more obvious and maybe it would give an aditional bit more atmosphere to this beautiful scene.
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I will try it...the whole reason for doing this smaller version is to be able to play with it: see what works and what does not, before I commit to a large (and expensive) canvas. I agree. I think having the scene after sunset would add a lot of atmosphere to the work
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