Beautifully rendered and wonderful leaves Helene! There are a couple of areas on the leaves I would add more dark shadow tones for contrast and to emphasize which leaves are closer and which are further back. For example, with the leaf on the upper side of the branch, three leaves in from the right, the lower part of the leaf, below the crossing leaf should be more in shadow. With the cluster of leaves on the left end the leaves look like they are getting the same amount of light. The leaf in the middle that we see a side view of – I would expect more of a shadow cast by the leaf to it’s left leaving only a small highlight at the top of the leaf. I would also darken the lower area of the leaf to it’s right. In fact, I would look at the lower ends of all the leaves for opportunities to darken them there. I am confused by the view of the leaf on the right end of the leaf cluster. The bottom is very squared off and that is emphasized by the whitish vein. I think it would help to at least tone down that vein (it seems like that would have some shadow toning there). Concerning the composition, I feel like you need something to the right of the enlarged view. The image and colors are very delicate and they will probably look more so once you create more contrast with the leaves on the branch. It could be text or another branch coming down at an angle or a single leaf on a diagonal. A view of the flower by itself might not have enough weight to it. What do you think?
Hi Doug, Thanks for your detailed comments. I understand the confusion. I drew this in nature and then from a photo and because the light was sunlight it came from the top left and it was very bright. I think that adding the name of the plant (indigenous Hawaiian, Beach Naupaka) is a thought though my writing is not great.
I started in March 2023, continued this March by darkening the leaves and adding the blow-up of the flowering parts.
Beautifully rendered and wonderful leaves Helene! There are a couple of areas on the leaves I would add more dark shadow tones for contrast and to emphasize which leaves are closer and which are further back. For example, with the leaf on the upper side of the branch, three leaves in from the right, the lower part of the leaf, below the crossing leaf should be more in shadow. With the cluster of leaves on the left end the leaves look like they are getting the same amount of light. The leaf in the middle that we see a side view of – I would expect more of a shadow cast by the leaf to it’s left leaving only a small highlight at the top of the leaf. I would also darken the lower area of the leaf to it’s right. In fact, I would look at the lower ends of all the leaves for opportunities to darken them there. I am confused by the view of the leaf on the right end of the leaf cluster. The bottom is very squared off and that is emphasized by the whitish vein. I think it would help to at least tone down that vein (it seems like that would have some shadow toning there). Concerning the composition, I feel like you need something to the right of the enlarged view. The image and colors are very delicate and they will probably look more so once you create more contrast with the leaves on the branch. It could be text or another branch coming down at an angle or a single leaf on a diagonal. A view of the flower by itself might not have enough weight to it. What do you think?
Hi Doug, Thanks for your detailed comments. I understand the confusion. I drew this in nature and then from a photo and because the light was sunlight it came from the top left and it was very bright. I think that adding the name of the plant (indigenous Hawaiian, Beach Naupaka) is a thought though my writing is not great.