should I give up painting?
 

Some of you might remember me scratching around for pics of Lightnings in reheat last Christmas. Well. Here is the finished article.
Hard, soft or indifferent, I'd be pleased for your comments

http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/LITE3.jpg

Nice picture...

well done and god bless Mr Flint

STANDTO

Would have been better with a black fin and Tigers head.

Which Sqn used COPYRIGHT as its insignia?

:)

No, don't give up, I have several pots of undercoat and non drip gloss and my doors and windows need doing............:D

Ah! Degenerating nicely! I'll be round to do the undercoat tuesday week

If you really want constructive criticism.......

The perspective doesn't look quite right. The fuselage appears a little squashed with the canopy and wheels a bit on the small side. Or am I being overly anal?
Otherwise nice pic. I can't paint for toffee.

I can't spel either, hence the edit

Cheers wasteof


See what you mean. The jpeg loses a little of the shading in translation, in my defence, but all useful points. Thanks for your time

While we are on a roll, what about this one of a 14 sqn jag?


http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/JAG3.jpg

For what its worth I think its the backgrounds that make any aviation picture, just look at drublairs work. The Jaguar is better , for the above reason.

Wish I could, but can't.... just enjoy looking, thats what I tell her indoors :)

It'd look better with a Flying Tin Opener.
Seriously, much better than the Lightning, but WTF do I know about painting? Both much better than anything I could do..
When you've finished at Jackonory's can you do my garage doors please?
TFIF

It 'll be a week saturday, Gainsey!

FWIW I much prefer the Jag picture, I tend to agree that the background maketh the portrait (on aircraft anyway).

Intrigued by the configuration you've given it, although on my crappy monitor it's possibly not as clear as it could be. Was it based on a photo?

schould I give up painting?
 

Hi STANDTO,

no, you shouldn´t give up painting. But I do also thinke: a tiger-type painting would be nice;)

Sorry if my englisch is no sooo goood...

Rgds,
Frankfurter Mädel

its from a photo I.ve had of a 14 sqn a/c for many years. Its carrying a centreline tank, sidewinders and 4X 1000lb'ers

Perhaps he was expecting trouble?

I'm starting to get the hang of this web thing. I've posted another pic onto MSN but I cant link to it. Any suggestions?

http://photos.msn.com/imageserver/im...9LoNDDnl95BQRI

Thanks.

It's just they look a bit like BLs through my squint here!

You need to do one now with overwing Winders on!

Hi STANDTO

I think you only have to compare the Lightning work with the Jag to know where you went wrong with the former.

The Lightning can best be described as 'naive art'. It appears you went awry with the proportions and perspective and things continued downhill from there. The painting lacks colour, detail, depth, contrast and shadow. Was your heart really in this painting? I suspect not. All that said, the reheat effect is very successful and conveys a real sense of heat and power.

The Jag is a different kettle of fish. The colours are bold, without being overpowering. The shadows (eg in the port engine intake) give an illusion of depth and perspective. The detail is there, without being too slavish or fussy. As has already been mentioned, the background puts the subject in its proper context. Altogether, it's a very pleasing result.

I think the lesson is, choose your subject carefully. Whilst a rear view of a lightning on the threshold might make an interesting photograph, I think only a very accomplished artist could do justice to what is a rather bland subject. Stick to the airborne stuff. A/c (particularly Lightnings) invariably look more elegant and interesting where they belong.

I hope this helps.

I always think that the Bucc makes one of the most appealing pictures when shown at low-level against a demanding background.

Tend to agree with old Scuds that airborne paintings always look better for some reason.

Cheers scud and Chris

top comments and much appreciated. The lightning actually looks better in the 'Flesh' than in the Jpeg, though I freely admit there are errors with it. Its a bit more 'Abstract' than I normally attempt. It was actually based on a lightning on a static reheat run up at Bruntingthorpe one foggy morning.

The jag was a very pleasing painting to do. The Lightning took a lot of trial and error to get it half right.

its good to know what people appreciate. Thanks for your time