Critique Corner: Gloria Arehartaka

By Andrea Melione
This article originally appeared in ArtTrader Magazine, Fall 2009 Issue 8

Welcome to Critique Corner! In this issue we have two acrylic paintings from Gloria Arehartaka. She is fairly new to acrylic painting and so is seeking general rather than specific advice.

Let’s start with High Plains Drifters, which is 6 by 8 inches. First of all, it has a very effective composition. The mountain range is just above the center and this helps to give a sense of distance and depth. In the rendering of the painting, the deer themselves add a great touch to the mood and to the composition. However, the deer would look more sophisticated if a photo reference were used (not copied, but as a reference to deer anatomy). The deer in the herd are also facing the same way. Most deer do not face the same direction unless running, and from the current rendering of the herd it is not possibly to determine their activity. The rendering of the mountains and sky has a lovely, soft, painterly quality, and I especially like how the area where the meadow meets the mountains is painted as it has a hazy quality, much like one would see in nature.

The color composition is lovely as well; there are just a few things that could make it more effective. We should first note that the main color composition is green/yellow/purple. There are other colors present, but those three are the ones that stand out. Greens (made from a mixture of yellow and blue) are very important in landscape. Sometimes, all greens seem the same, but there are many varieties from light to dark and with varying temperature: cool green (which contains more blue than yellow) to warm green (which contains more yellow than blue). In Gloria’s painting of the meadow, there is an under coat of red-brown paint. The effect of red-brown on the green is that it causes the green to look neutral and muddy. A more effective under color would be muted yellow or a warmer yellow-brown. Adding more yellow to the green would be especially effective because it would create a greater connection with the yellow warmth of the sky; which is painted with mostly yellow and pink.

The second painting, Appalachian Winter, is also 6 by 8 inches. Again, the composition is well thought out. The eye is lead from the building and waterwheel around the paintings. Like the first painting, the only areas that need to be more effective are the choice of some colors and the rendering.

The main color composition here is white, brown, gray and blue. The extra colors are green and a light orange. Orange is a very tricky color to work into snow scenes. Orange mixed with blue creates a muddy neutral, which can lessen the effect of bright sunlight on snow. An alternative color choice would be a very light, almost white yellow to pick out spots where the sun hits. There is also perhaps too much gray. An alternative for the gray could be a blue or blue-gray with some subtle purple in the snow ruts.

The rendering in this painting is good. However, more detail could be added to the waterwheel, and boards or slats could be added to the barn. The fencing is nice and subtle, as is the water conduit leading water to the wheel. Any more detail in those areas would only make them compete with the wheel itself and the barn—this was a good choice. Please continue with your acrylic painting, Gloria! You’re on your way with a great start!

If you are interested in getting your artwork critiqued, please write to me! I am happy to critique any type of artwork (ATCs, paintings, large works) in any medium (drawn, mixed-media, fiber, etc.). Please submit only art that is original to you (not inspired by another artist), and please let me know if you have any specific areas or questions for me to address. I’m looking forward to seeing your art!