and the reason was this: [attachmentid=3329]

It is a "painting" I did at my niece's request who liked my other boat painting. She will be leaving soon for France for a three year course and wished to take something with her.

This is a view of one of our three so called old cities... meaning that the landscape has remained relatively unchanged for the past six or seven centuries. In the foreground are two types of traditional boats. To the right is the luzzu - the large fishing boat which was the subject of my Joanie drawing - and in the centre is the dghajsa (pronounced dah-y-sah) which is a smaller and lighter passenger boat. Till about 30 years ago these boats dotted our harbour ferrying British Navy men from ship to shore. Nowadays there are far fewer of them. They have become a touristy thing although they are also rowed competitively three times a year in national regattas.

Technically there are things I like about it and things that could be improved. For instance I like it that I was able to replicate the authentic colour of our limestone buildings and the rosy terracotta of the church domes. The water itself I know could have been better rendered.

However this is most definitely my first totally original composition. I did use references but only in so far as they helped me with the detail. It took me about three days (and some nights! ) to complete. BTW, it is Prismacolors on Stonhenge paper 12x9.

My desire is to produce something nice... but the reason I post here is to learn and improve. So, all comments and critique will not only be welcomed but greatly appreciated.

Thank you for looking.

Rose -- i think it is absolutley fantastic. i love the colors and the compostion and think it all works well. you have done a wonderful, wonderful job. it is really beautiful.
Lori

I love the colours.
Paulette

Very good reason Rose .. its a beautiful piece of art

Very nice, Rose. Especially for your first composition. The buildings look as if they are done in watercolor. I see the problem with the water though. It's just a matter of practice and trial and error. The reflections in the water of the buildings looks good but the ones nearer the viewer around the boats is off.There is no reflection of the man in the water. The luzzu's reflection is too bright, it should be toned down. There is another problem I see with the reflection in front of the small boat. It looks as if there is a line from the front of the boat right across the page. (this is because you stopped the building reflection right at the front of the small boat-its called kissing) The reflection should be brought out further to the front of the picture or receded back further. Here's a link that might help you with the water and the reflections.

http://painting.about.com/od/watercolourpa...dyW_Reflect.htm

Here's another on composition:

http://www.goshen.edu/art/ed/Compose.htm

Don't fret over it not being perfect though, your niece will love it............it has the luzzu in it and that makes it so colorful and beautiful. She will be honored that it came from you.

Keep practicing and possibly doing the same picture again and again until you are happy with it. A lot of artists do just that.

Thank you all for your comments and most especially thank you Joanie for your critique.

I did have quite a few problems with the water and the reflections. Basically they were two. The reflection of the buildings does in fact end where it does. It continues for a little bit at the bottom left because of the tower on the building there but the rest of the building is lower. The reflection of the church does not even reach that far since it lies further in from the shoreline. The other problem was that whereas the luzzu is tied up and the water surrounding it is calm as it is in the rest of the space, the smaller boat is moving so the reflection could not be the same.. at most it could be only a shadow.

I see all your points though. To start with I should have placed the moving boat either further in or further out.

That said, and the drawing itself permitting (since a good part of it is now burnished) I could try to fix some of the problems. I think the reflection of the luzzu can be lightened, the shadow of the man added and perhaps I could try to add at least some building reflection further out. I'll have to deal with that tomorrow though since I am rather tired today.

BTW - thank you very much for those links too... they have been added to my collection.

I want to learn to paint like that! The water is just so well done, reflecting colors!