Goin in or goin out ...

[J. Dillon]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid59/pfaffcd002c213c20849fc82c606febbd/fc5e9e3d.jpg

Did this painting today. I'd like to paint a gaff rigger sailing but can't decide if I should depict her sailing close hauled for the cut in the fore ground or sailing out.

The scene is a fall day with brisk winds. Maybe with a reef in.

Any opinions ?

JD

[Mrleft8]

Sailing out....Broad reach.

[Leon m]

This is Janet,Leon's wife,artist in residence at our house (though I rely heavily on Leon's opinion,which is usually right on). He asked me to take a look at your painting. I really like the feeling of the motion of the wind that you captured and the rocks at lower right. With that feeling of the wind, it feels right somehow to have the boat going out, maybe about 2/3 of the way across the painting horizontally, and just down from the horizon line a bit. Nice work-did you really do that all in one day and did you paint it on location?

[Mrleft8]

Bob Ross would be proud of you! (insert Bob Ross voice) Now how 'bout a friendly little boat, headed out to sea, right about Here. Take a little vandyke brown on your sable hair brush, and just...."

[Bruce Taylor]

Hmm. Hoisting sail, heading out I think...off we go!

Of course, trying to make the cut in a headwind could add some interesting tension...you could show it missing the cut and desperately struggling to come about before being dashed to splinters on the rocks...sails luffing, the crew leaping into the boiling surf...hmmm.

[Leon m]

Bruce
LOL :D

[John B]

Fair weather clouds despite the wind speed so I'd say it looks like good day for a sail. ( what does the forecast say?)

Leaving, LOL.

[Mrleft8]

I dunno... Looks like an east wind.... Might rain by tomorrow morning....

[J. Dillon]

Janet,

I'm sorry I didn't answer your questions the other day.

Yes I did it in one afternoon but the masonite board It's only 12" X 17 ". For the most part the location is in my minds eye, but based on an actual location and the "cut" almost as narrow as depicted. For a little more drama I added the rocks and trees instead of all tall grass and rocks. Nice thing about art is that you can put any boat any where in any weather you care to paint in.

I will paint the boat on a broad reach going out as suggested by you and Doug.

The boat will be our own Forum member Norm and his gaffer the Prarie Islander. He kindly gave me the key to his site where there is enough to go on. See http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4292041387&code=4994471&mode=invite

Will get too it tomorrow as it will be a rainy day here, perfect for the job.

I'm thinking of putting a gull returning to the rocks on the right after being startled by Norm's
passing so close by. Is that making the painting too "busy" ? :confused:

JD

[Mrleft8]

Not if the gull is smoking a corn cob pipe, and wearing a fedora.... ;)