Contemplating Her

Oh the things I wish to say about this work… well, if you will excuse my, now 60 hours, of insomnia effecting my clarity a bit, I feel I can get the dissection across in a worthwhile fashion.
I will work background to foreground, and begin with positives and finish with areas for improvement (RedBubbble asks us to only submit cheery comments, but an artist of your caliber has no use for such fluff alone. How to perfect if unsure of what outside eyes see wrong?)

The background, reminiscent of aged or coffee stained paper is perfect, fitting as only it could with what it frames before it. Also, the text that covers the bottom part uses a very successful form and yet is cautious not to go over the edge like so often writing on art does. Had you included writing over the entire background, the picture as a whole would have, to me, been not nearly as appealing. However, the intelligence to balance the piece with a small, off center position of writing towards the top prevents bottom-heaviness and overly stark contrast. Now, the foreground, the man of either great age, great misery, or great facial features (rare that would be) is as natural with everything else as could be hoped for. The choice of brown for the suit he wears is the only color which would stand out from and yet not deviated from the background patina. I am especially impressed with your choices of skin tone – ice blues with minimal red highlighting. Yet no magenta of note, a tactful move on your part, as the center colors of two primaries take away from both. The sketching and pose, as well as the positioning of the figure is also ideal… the elongated neck and over-grown ears give a slight gothic feel to the work, while the hands, still proportionate, maintain a reality which prevents this falling into the black-robed skeletons in underground waterways category. You do an amazing job with the shading, of features, and I love the dark patch of the neck, stark, but fitting with the other features the man displays. Finally, too often artists think a central focal point is the key, while the balance you give here is intake to the impressiveness of the piece. Again, before as behind, the weight is comfortably place, and yet unexpectedly positioned.

Now, my own, very personal opinions of what does not work as well as it could (though overall the good makes up for the bad many fold). The blue tint on the right side of the bottom, spanning from middle through the man’s jacket feels a bit arbitrary. Shadowing is in such an image necessary, however the place in which it stops above the man seems too abrupt, which gives the sad impression of a Photoshop touchup (something I use regularly and not as well as you {if it was used at all}, but which, when evident, modernizes and image which otherwise is sagacious in its appearance of age. I (and note this is just I) would have not allowed for such a rounded finish. A concave running from where the dark patch of the neck, down to just above the writing, and back up to where the shade ends at the right would better suit, or perhaps even better, a diagonal from the same neck point to same right side interception point, slightly rough to give the natural feel of real shadow and light. I doubt anyone will miss the well schooled upper-left-hand light source’s realistic shadowing… indeed, the light source could be closer to the back “wall” and thus produce such a diagonal. Secondly, a minor issue is the pink of the ear… it is appropriate to use such color there, but it is a bit too rich for my eye, and, like the shadow, stands out as slightly artificial. The upper curve of the ear could benefit from reduced brightness or saturation (just ever so slight… perhaps 15-20%). Finally, the “coffee stain” enrichment of the top right corner, again appropriate for the light point positioning you chose could be narrowly extended down more, as well as the same further along the top edge. The very light blue tin which takes it’s place above is simply not enough, and perhaps you will note that it is the same color and richness as the tint beyond the left-upper corner staining and yet without notable staining of its own. I am talking very thin, understated extension of the staining (brown) above, but at least the feeling of it be it even too transparent or light to consciously see. Finally, one more red ink drop of any size is, I feel, merited, certainly since the largest drop is on top, and the remainder are muddled with the text below. I would place a small one along the line that would connect the biggest brown dot to the left of the face to where the writing fades over the left shoulder. Obviously it should fall above the larges red droplet,, and were it mine to decide it I would position it above the two, almost parallel medium brown dots above the writing’s fade out, and the large brown dot below that I mentioned earlier, closer to the duo than the large singular, very small, and either to the slight left or right of the invisible line I also mentioned earlier between big brown and dual browns,

Beyond any of this, I find envy in my heart, and as a proud man (an artist, I suppose) this is rare indeed. You have exceptional skill, and I ok forward to more of your work in the future. Again, even with the negatives I noted, had I the money I would love a copy of this work. You have true skill… please work to perfect it into truly groundbreaking savantry.

I very much enjoyed evaluating third work. I hope I can do another of yours some time soon.

Respectfully,

(G)ordon Merrick Justice

Wow, I have never had such an informative commentary on my art. I only wish I knew how to implement all of your suggestions. The one setback to being a self taught artist is not understanding these concepts fully. But through trial and error I hope to figure all of it out.

Thanks again Gordon for taking the time to write such an impressive commentary

Cheers,
J

Well I cant give u what Gordan did but I can tell u its Awesome :D

Have just discovered your amazing talent. This is so wonderful in so many ways. Love the image, the splashes of random colour, the scribblings of calligraphy across the paper, it is simply fantastic. Love it and your style. Hope to see more.

..I like the red dot in it’s singularity above the text and the blue works well…I can’t offer any tips on improvement but can say this is fantastic.

Really stunning talented art!

I don’t need to write the deeply thoughtful dissertation of one of your admirers to say that
I too am amazed at your exceptional talent. You combine so many elements to create these astounding and arresting images. Your work is extraordinary and your titles are such a wonderful way to frame your fascinating work. You are a very gifted and impressive artist with outstanding works of art.

Really stunning work!

A truly impressive piece of art : ) J…keep up the good work! Wen

thanks for all of the inspiring comments!!

This is a great work!

Jasherlynch you have inspired me!! thanks

This is just incredible!! After reading the comment above (the longest I’ve read on RB!) I have to recommend that you don’t change this work. No offense to the gentleman above, he is clearly an admirer and very good at expressing himself…but I personally disagree with several of his suggestions to improve it…and if you went ahead and changed it, you’d be making it to his taste, not necessarily other’s.
This work as I’m seeing it is exactly how you intended it when you looked at it and said ‘I’m finished’. Being self taught should never cause you to doubt yourself!

What magnificent work you do!!! I’ll read the critiques closely too, all great information for all of us self taught artists!

amazing work. I love all your works – don’t stop working like that! All the best!

IF YOU LIKE MY STYLE OF ART AND ARE INTO THE ILLUSTRATIVE ART SCENE THEN CHECK OUT THE FIRST EPISODE OF ANALOG COLOR.

HERE IS THE LINK: JUST SCROLL DOWN A LITTLE AND YOU WILL SEE THE PLAYER

http://jasherlynch.blogspot.com/2008/02/check-out-first-episode-of-analog-color.html

PLEASE TAKE A MINUTE TO WATCH THE FIRST EPISODE OF “ANALOG COLOR”, AN ILLUSTRATIVE ART BASED MINI DOCUMENTARY SERIES.

IT IS MY FIRST IPTV SHOW PRODUCED, DIRECTED, AND EDITED BY MYSELF. IT IS A SHOW BASED ON THE ILLUSTRATIVE ART SCENE EMERGING TODAY FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. THIS FIRST EPISODE I WENT TO THE SCION SPACE GALLERY IN LA FOR THE SCRAWL COLLECTIVES “SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP” SHOW.

NEXT I SPOKE TO ERIC NAKAMURA FROM GIANT ROBOT ABOUT HE SHOP AND THE RECENT KOZYNDAN INSTALLATION.

CHECK IT OUT AND IF YOU COULD PLEASE EMBED IT ONTO YOUR MYSPACE PAGES AND BLOGS. TELL ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS TO CLICK ON IT FOR ME. THE MORE EXPOSURE IT GETS THE MORE LIKELY IT WILL GET PICKED UP FOR AN ENTIRE SEASON.

HERE IS THE LINK TO THE EMBED CODES
http://www.jack9.com/script/embed_v4.asp?id=949&url=AL_AC_ep
001s1_Scion&title=Art%20Life,%20Episode%201

ENJOY

Thanks,
J Asher lynch

Very good work I like the blends and colors

Powerful image

this is amazing – i really love it

Awesome!!

Awesome!!

I like your art, different and with sentiments

Yes, this is different – in a good way. It is striking and I love how you have used so many different mediums…it is really effective.

fantastic work

really great work

I am also a self taught artist – if you change your work, you’ll become someone else – this work is wonderful

love the mood. great work

wow. I agree with “G”. lol

Seriously though,I have no idea about the technical side of things, but I love the raw emotion, the nostalgic air, the poignancy, the colours, the amazing textures and tones… I just wish i could read teh writing. Please, What does it say???

I love it. I love your work. I will definitely be watching from now on.

well done you

sally

i lOve this!

Whoa! Incredible! Very impressive; thank you!

beautiful

I love everything about this …the silence of this work is powerful

I love it!

Excellent original work. The composition, hues and mood is perfect

That’s is just brilliant!!! I love it!!!

I like this work, it’s colors, blending in handwriting, illustrative character—everything. Great job!

so impressive, your art is incredible.

Wow, beautiful. I love this.

Wonderful work – you have encapsulated so much elegance and emotion in this piece!

Great Work!