Beginner's - ArtTrader Magazine

Art TRADER
m a g a z i n e
Critique Corner!
D
-47-
With Andrea Melione
Welcome back to Critique Corner, where readers can submit their artwork for a friendly and helpful
evaluation. Email us at ArtTrader Mag (andrea@arttradermag.com) if you’d like your work to be
critiqued!
First is a card by Nora Lundquist. She writes, “I know it’s not working, I just can’t figure out why.” This
is a common problem: The artist likes what they have done for the most part, but can’t determine why
the whole piece isn’t coming together. It is obvious from looking at the card that effort was taken in
the various techniques: the embossing; the selection of the image stamp image, and metal charm,: the
beadwork: and the painted details of the border. All of which obviously took some time, as the colors
coordinate very well!
However, this is a good example of the artist focusing a lot on the selection of materials used, and
applying the materials, but less attention to how those materials will work together. Nora has made a
good first step thinking about how it all can work together in terms of color, but you should also think
about how they will work together in terms of texture, placement, and how they will work with the
background; meaning the card/canvas/fabric used as the surface to which everything is applied.
The first thing that strikes me about this card
is the background: It appears to be either
a white or cream cardstock. There is little
tonal (dark/light) or color variation going on.
When creating a mixed media card, it’s a
great idea to create a background first. Use
paints, scrapbook paper, tissue paper, melted
crayon etc. to create a background to place
your visual elements on. This will help your
elements and images to look grounded, part
of the background, rather than just lying on
top of it. Nora’s images have no connection
to their background.
In a card that is completed like this, however,
one could take watercolors and color the
embossed stamp and surrounding areas.
This card is also a good example of tangents. The fairy image is right next to the embossed moon and
the wing is touching it. To achieve a sense of depth, the fairy wing could overlap the moon, to indicate
that the fairy is closer.