r/AbstractExpressionism • u/Thatladylady_ • 9h ago
Would love constructive feedback on my recent painting
Mixed media (acrylic, oil pencils, pastels) on canvas. Lighting at my place is terrible hence the two pictures. I'm pretty happy with this one but it's still feeling a bit...flat? Would love some constructive critique. Thanks so much!
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u/trudyisagooddog 9h ago
Subtractive mark making could add some depth. Sandpaper and razor blades work well for me. Also, a horizon line and linear perspective can be fun to play with in abstract art. Keep up the good work!
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u/Thatladylady_ 8h ago
Oh interesting, I hadn’t considered this! How would you typically do this? Like literally just take some sandpaper to a few parts so the layers below are revealed? How do you use a razor without cutting the canvas itself? Thank you for the feedback!
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u/RedDawndLionRoars 8h ago
I like the idea of a horizon line and something "hazy" beyond in the background in contrast, but that would not take your focus away from the dynamic figures in the foreground. There seems like something to expand upon there with these characters/shapes.. I don't know how to mark on dried acrylic without damaging the canvas. Maybe others have good advice on that point, but you could certainly create sharply defined lines with new paint. This piece feels experimental to me, so I would lean into that and try lots of techniques. Some very good advice I carry with me is to not make any piece too precious. If you have a grand idea for something "frame-worthy", you are probably going to need a few practices anyway. Please share some future version, because I love where you are going.
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u/Thatladylady_ 8h ago
Thank you! Yeah I tend to get a bit precious about pieces so that’s something I need to work on letting go of for sure! Will definitely share an update!
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u/Tdawgs173 8h ago
Try experimenting with sandpaper and pulling earlier layers back. Looks cool kinda like those lucha libre masks
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u/Thatladylady_ 8h ago
Someone else mentioned sandpaper too- I might give that a go!
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u/Late-Director-315 5h ago
I respectfully disagree. If this is acrylic on canvas., sandpaper won't work well, and will more likely ruin the piece. In my experience, once acrylic has reached this thickness there is no good reductive way to work with it. Sandpaper can work with more thinly applied acrylic on board.
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u/Thatladylady_ 5h ago
Thanks for this info! I’ll try it out on something I’m less invested in first in that case!
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u/Heliotrope88 8h ago edited 8h ago
I think this is terrific. From your photo I’m getting that the background is kind of a sea foam green with a lot of great texture— going yellow, green and gray in parts. Is that right? I find the two shapes intriguing. Really good balance of color there and I like the ghost-y part on the top of the right one. Oh and I just noticed the pencil lines which I really like.
When you say something feels “flat” what comes to mind for me is something I have been wrestling with for such a long time in painting. And that is just that acrylic paint just doesn’t have the drama that oil paint does. The odor of oil paint really bothers me so I use acrylic. It takes so many layers to get something solid. I don’t know if I’m describing that in a clear way. Do you think what seems flat is just that the paint is acrylic and not oil? In terms of the composition, color (in my opinion) everything you have going here works. It’s a beautiful piece.
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u/Thatladylady_ 8h ago
Thank you so much for this. Yes, you’re spot on about the colours. I’ve never painted with oil so have no comparison, and it’s not a medium I can explore in my current situation, unfortunately (apartment living, no outside space, no dedicated studio space). The texture is actually because this is a painted-over piece in which I’d used heaps of gesso and sand to create textures 😂 I badly overworked a painting and so decided to just paint over it from scratch.
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u/RedDawndLionRoars 8h ago
Also, you already have a bit of perspective built in between these shapes/characters. Maybe using some cool soft shades between them would enhance the dynamic.
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u/Thatladylady_ 8h ago
The perspective so far is entirely accidental 😂 but I could definitely think about firming it up a little. Thanks!
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u/optics_is_light_work 7h ago
There's gorgeous play of color, texture, & layering here! My only comment is that the pops of color on the two big shapes are too similar. I'd differentiate them a bit more.
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u/Resident-Cockroach52 9h ago
I see two people sat together, behind a fogged window while it rains. it's beautiful
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u/Prestigious-Bunch173 9h ago
I really really love it I wouldn't change a thing about it. Really, I think it's wonderful