All About Trading - ArtTrader Magazine

Art TRADER
m a g a z i n e
This next card has a lot of potential; the color scheme has
already been established (purple, green and neutrals) and
the placement of the elements (text, boy, window, skull)
is fairly solid. The elements, however, are competing for
the eye’s attention, rather than working together to create
a cohesive whole. This can be fixed by lessening the
dominance of the green window, and bringing the boy
visually ‘forward’.
In order to do this, the window needs to be ‘pushed’ into
the background. This can be done in a variety of ways:
1) Distress the image using fine sandpaper and apply a
light wash of walnut ink or darker-colored distressing ink.
2) Apply gesso mixed with a little brown paint, just to
the window area, to make the bright green color appear
less saturated, and more subtle; then re-create the brown
punchinello ‘circle’ texture over the area, to blend it with
the background. The window will still be visible, but it won’t
compete with the boy any longer.
3) To bring the boy ‘forward’, outline the figure using
metallic pens or any light-colored acrylic paint, or give the
figure a ‘shadow’ by painting the area around the outlines
a darker color, like a deep purple, or green.
I hope this critique has been helpful to our readers. Thanks
Kati, for starting off this column!
Here are some Critique Corner submission guidelines to keep in mind when
choosing work for critique:
* Don’t submit your masterpiece! Submit something you already feel you’re having trouble with.
This way you will not feel your Best-Work-Ever is being ripped into.
* Copyright Issues: When submitting a collage, make sure the images you have used have
expired copyright protection. Dover Publications has a wide range of image collections that are
copyright free.
* Don’t take anything personally: Remember, the person doing the critique is working from his or
her own perspective, and it’s okay if you don’t agree with them.
* Just Ask! Feel free to ask several questions when you submit your piece. Let us know what
areas you’d like some specific help with! Email us at art@arttradermag.com
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Kati Barrett