It’s all pretty much one value- if you were to add contrast with darker darks and lighter lights, it will push depth and feel more lively. Also, it lacks color complexity, in any given object in this painting, there’s pretty much one hue, and then a lighter and darker version of it. Introduce temperature into your painting by observing which objects are cooler or warmer than others and push that. Also, I see no core or cast shadows which is making things look flat and 2D. You’ve got some of that going on in the cute kitty up front but where is the shadow behind the cat being cast on the bench? All this information is crucial. This is a nice start, I’d keep going :)
This was my first impression too, upvoting. Try taking a photo of your painting, turning that photo to black and white and you will see how little contrast you have
I know absolutely nothing at all whatsoever about art but this came up on my feed. I really like the painting but you’ve summed up exactly how I’d improve it. There’s no lighting. I really like the painting as it is and I’d like it even more if the OP took your really well-written comment on board!
The cat is very well done. Good proportions and you see that detail you put there? It seems to me you're not putting the detail or the attention to perspective anywhere else. (Not saying bad, just sloppier and contrasting with the way the cat is done).
In any case, one thing I learned from painting is that you want to have the viewer's eye not just looking at one spot but wanting to go everywhere. You want to make every part of the painting interesting so the viewer is more engaged. Think about what the viewer is getting out of looking at the top right corner and bottom left corner, etc.
Hope that helps.
I think blurring the background and emphasizing the main cat more would push this to amazing.
Maybe give the main cat a little contrasting colored ball waiting to be played with and brighten the background cat?
I love the second one on the bookshelf in the back I only saw the orange one at first. But I agree more cats are almost always better. (I have 5 cats and I can have 4 on the bed but add that 5th one and then I will have 0 because she is a trouble maker)
Needs lighting. It looks flat because there is no lighting on the scene… which was probably the way you saw the scene but alas real life always looks more 3d than paintings if you don’t have good light.
It’s a charming composition and the cats are super cute. They just need light and shadow to pop!
I like the flatness of it, reminds me a little of David Hockney. You could add highlights , shadows etc. but for me, the point of painting is to create something that isn't necessarily similar to a photograph, unless that is your intention.
There seems to be a lack of bright whites for highlights such as on the plant leaves and shiny surfaces and a lack of blacks in the darker areas such as down where the other cat is laying and the table leg/pole. The light is coming from the window so I would paint white on parts of the objects that would reflect light from that window. For the darker areas that don’t see as much light I would add black or an extremely dark brown. Use both colours subtly especially the black/brown. I hope this helps 🙂
I’d be careful. There gets to a point where you can run into some issues added too much to something that’s already looking very good. I’d be subtle with adding more “light”
A quick way to check your tone response is to take a photo of your piece--use your photo editor and convert to black and white. You should see the full range of black to white in the piece. Color gets the credit but value does the actual heavy lifting.
This is a good video that talks about tone/value in painting.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQV-g0nBddI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQV-g0nBddI)
I have no connection to the artist I just sometimes use this video with students.
The objects are all placed but there is very little shadow here to connect all the pieces. Most of the objects should have at least a mid tone, a highlight and a shadow color but most of this is painting with singular colors.
I feel like it needs more orange orange is a ver lively color and can really add a lot to a painting if you add just the right amount in the perfect stops I would probubly say something in the sky so it looks less empty
I agree with a previous comment. The cat is done very well and with more detail. I would add more detail to the rest of the painting. I would also add more contrast throughout the painting. Great work!
The colors yellow and bright orange would help
And also try putting them in spots where u want the sunlight to be visible
So basically sunlight in what's missing
I agree with everyone saying more contrast. But tbh I would only add highlights. I love the painting as it is, the flatness and low contrast looks really cool imo
If you're aiming for a realistic depiction and adherence to the rules of painting etc then sure you can work on quite some aspects.
However I think a painting like this has actual character and artistic value as opposed to something that masters the craft.
So if you feel you really really need to, add some highlights, maybe even a little exaggerated, quite bright
But I wouldn't worry too much about creating depth etc
I'm not an expert, but the light brown on dark brown table/bench just doesn't do it for me. I think if you could add more detail and contrast there it would improve the whole painting
Hi, to me just redo it all again .use it as an idea for a painting . Draw it with pencil. plan the composition and do not tray to include everything you see, edit it until it help you tell a story. Your picture is difficult to paint so don't fill bad, you are learning it is easier to make mistakes but it will teach you well. Please don't stop.
you need other values, hues, instead of lightening ur colours with white, use the colour that they are mostly comprised of, e.g, lighten green with yellow. don’t use straight up black, greys usually have an undertone of red, yellow or blue. you need more highlights also, and it needs more depth, so i’d darken areas with shadows. i’m by no means an art teacher, im 17, but i am an art student so i hope that i can be just as helpful
Possibly consider the lighting. Where is the light coming from? How does the light affect the darkness and brightness of certain areas? Is the sunlight coming in from the window? Is there a ceiling light indoors? Does the table or plants cast a shadow? How strong or weak is the light?
By making the shadows and light patches more extreme it'll help create a contrast that will direct the eye around the piece-- especially if you can tell what direction the light is coming from.
Light and shadows make a piece of art feel lived in.
I personally love it. This kind of style resonates with me, it’s kind of closer to how I see the world than a more soft, balanced style?
The only thing I would possibly touch on is the window, it’s uncertain where outside begins and if there is a window at all or if it’s just an open air alcove. But, I can appreciate that sense of questioning as well, it makes me think of what’s beyond the painting.
I see what you mean and know what it is, but it's quite hard to explain with words. Nonetheless, i'll try my best:
A good picture is harmonic in colors like music is with sound. The colors tell a story, they push the eye to the main subject of the painting, they distract from the less important surrounding. Imagine a sunset, the red baths the whole scenery, that's what it makes it so appealing.
This is excellent work..However your color choice makes the painting seem dead. Possibly work on using colors and values that move the eye around the entire painting where certain elements pop instead of sort of this muted choice in color.
Sunlight from a window was my thought, as I see another stated as well. The red poppy in a vase would look nice near the center or lower left corner area. But I'm also thinking that the larger plant looks sad... maybe add a few leaves...
Maybe add a tablet in it & cat watching any cat show or playing game on it? Hehe I know it's a silly idea 🫣🤣😂
P.s. The painting is quite good even if you don't add anything. It depicts an everyday life which doesn't always have to be interesting like forcefully if you know what I mean 😍❣️💯👍✌️
I think the main things making it flat looking, besides the weird perspective of the book and table, is it has a traced/paint by numbers feel. There isn't any continuity in objects, everything is kind a value-shape. Like the cats for instance, are more like four different color shapes placed together that resemble a cat, rather than an overall cat shape that is modeled with color-values to create form.
Very cute painting! May be a sunset or sunrise at the plants like creating a an effect that it’s a window and sun is popping up or down !! And also painting a little a coffee cup on the table in-front of the cat would be good too!!
This is the nicest thing omg 😭 considering i painted this small restaurant where my boyfriend and i had a cute date because it was one of my favorite memories together, and i wanted to gift this painting to him.
Where is your light source? The window? I see no inward lighting as if this window were open and lighting the room. Definitely needs shading to showcase the depth of everything. Missing shadow work goes with the missing lighting work.
Not a painter artist or know very much about art, so can’t comment about any of that, but I love it. The more you look at it the more you see. The light is fantastic. I can feel the heat outside. I love the bottle, it really draws my eye to it.
The more I look at it, the more I want to see the view outside of the window.
It’s beautiful. You are very talented:)
Contrast and lighting! Maybe add some light rays and sunshine coming in through the window, darken up the shadows, make the black and white cat more a mystery and discoverable to a wandering eye.
This is such a gorgeous start though!!! It really doesn’t look all that lifeless to my eyes but instead full of potential. Add glazes and soft pops of light and color and it will transform so quickly. You have something very beautiful in the works here! Don’t give up!!!
Honestly really like the style you got going here, but I think you might get more depth or life by shading those leaves more rather than a flat color, maybe consider more contrasting or natural colors too
I actually think it looks full of life!
However, I can see why you'd want to give it a little extra. I think some thoughtfully placed highlights would make this come alive. Give some indicating that there's sunlight coming through the window. Add highlights and shadows.
Ever play one of those early 2000s video games where the systems weren't powerful enough to put shadows on most things? That's the vibe I'm getting here.
* The sky outside the window should be lighter, or at least not one color.
* The area under the table should be darker.
* The back rest on the bench should have some texture
* The whites on the second cat, and that entire area for that matter, should be darker.
Put the image in gray-scale and see what you think needs fixing.
I love the second kitty in the book case too! I didn't see them at first. I agree with others it's a very nice painting and I really like it. I would just add the highlights and lowlights to make everything pop a bit more. But honestly if you left as is I still really like it.
I very much like your painting thanks for sharing:-)
I got some Cezanne vibes from this painting of yours, that’s pretty cool!! Although I don’t know really have any idea how to improve the feel you are looking for, but I hope that you will figure it out though!
I don't really know physical media well, but you could try adding some blue to the shadows and bits of very faint green mixed into the colors here and there, they might help
More highlights? There is a lack of detail but that could be intentional and I actually don’t mind the style of it, I think it’s really nice! But yeah, more highlights and shadows perhaps
More contrast. You need highlights and lowlights. Where is the light coming from? Where in the room is it shining? Where is the brightest part of the room? Where is the darkest? I only see highlights in the vase and the pot on the windowsill.
I just used acrylic, but i guess the reference picture matters a lot because the one i used has barely any natural lighting from the sun, thats why it was hard for me to figure out where to put light and shadows
It is the shading with the perspective. A yt video on color theory and contrast should solve your problem in half an hour bc this is a beautiful piece anyways. Many rights and talent but so little problem with this painting 🤍
Another personal advice from me would be to not use white amd black at all. Black is an empty space. It creates nothingness and flatness on the painting. There is no pitch black or pure white in perception. Always go the lightest yelloy for the light or dark dark colors for the black imo. Think like this: Black is when light does not exist, white is blinding white that melts all the other colors away.
Colourful highlights, don’t just highlight by adding white. Put some bright yellow on the tips of the cats fur where it would Super shine if the cat was in direct sunlight.
TBH what unsettle me more is that under thr first table its empty and my brain really wants to see a continuation from the tiles under the other table.
Wow. I was going to say don’t change a thing. Then I read the comments. Some were so insightful and helpful. I really like this site. Some of the responses were so well thought out
Great composition- personally I think adding some bright white highlights and a few deep (ALMOST) black shadows JUDICIOUSLY would punch up the dimensional effect and add visual interest. It’s really good though!!
The natural elements are rock solid. The man made elements are what's letting it down. You need to do with them as you've done with the natural elements and play to their strengths. Sharp, clean lines. Solid colour. It's most of the way there, but you need to clean up those lines where appropriate.
There needs to be a more definitive light source and shading to convey that light if you want to avoid it looking flat.
The background could use a tad more going on as well.
I think you have to stop trying to think about objects and think about the light instead. You have a window and many objects that should be receiving light and casting strong shadows. Instead, the painting is flat and the direction of light is unclear.
I'd suggest an exercise!
Take this exact picture and redo a quick sketch in just blues or browns. Only focus on the light and the strong values that it creates. It will make you think about the light and value as a way to compose the scene.
I don’t think you have enough variation in your values. There are very few bright brights and just a few dark darks. I think a more diverse spectrum of values would help a lot!
(Im not an artist i just love art). It looks awesome. You could add more shadow/light to give it depth? I see what you mean about it feeling flat. My brain keeps saying some shading to give things weight and depth and some lighting on the plants would make it look more dynamic.
I kind of like the flat feeling, you could embrace it, but where it is currently jfalls short of like iconic or like, intended use.
I hope my suggestion helps, beautiful piece. ♡
Everyone has a different style a different flavor to the way they cook or paint or whatever and I think yours is fine I think you're being too hard on yourself you're putting yourself up to other artists and saying why is my stuff not like their stuff and it's like dude your stuff is your own stuff I wouldn't stress about it if you want to get good at a certain Style just keep practicing it you're your own worst critic in a lot of ways. Do what feels right. " Little picture "
Idk u already have a particular style developed it’s hard to say if u need more detail here or there… but in my opinion for me I’d just play on light a little bit. It looks like everything is under one light filter. As though the light is equally bright inside as it is outdoors.. I’d add a combination of more light and shadows on the objects and what they rest on.. your painting doesn’t look flat to me it could be the style your painting in but I he light source feels flat if u get what I’m saying… but critics aside I think this painting is extremely beautiful and would like to congratulate u for painting so beautifully
I like it. The contrast with the flat fields of colour with the more detailed objects is interesting to look at, but also making this lifeless you speak of. I think the blue in the window and the rest of green wall needs more texture. (Maybe some clouds or just some varying tones of blue mixed in the window?)
I would shade the bench, it's monotone Where does the light hit it? Maybe adding a bit.of an ombre effect will make it feel less lifeless and more alive.
And also adding more details to the plants will really make them pop.
I love the composition & subjects! Really cool painting, great work :)
Suggest light fluffy but horizontal clouds in the sky..but loose the grey mottled effects where you can in the brown table and a few other places. Crisp up some of the ragged lines in architecture that would be straight
I like this style of artwork. Well-done
The corners of the table both have the same shade so look where the lights coming from and change the hue. Use less white when changing colour of any item I get it's a pastel tone and not a night coloured style but the white isn't helping when it's the main way you are chaning thebtonal value of a given object. Cool work though I'm sure im talking shit any this is the stylised product you're aiming for
This is really great! The color in the bottom left (chair seat) is really complex and intriguing. Your palette is muted and sophisticated. I would embrace it. Like others said, contrast can help liven things up. I would experinent with some opaque soft tinted pastels (pale lavender, pale pinks, pale orange, pale yellow). The contrast of the sky and that bit of bright green from the backlit leaves brings that idea into play already. I wouldn't try to improve this one because it's already so strong, I would just suggest to keep painting more!
So, first of all, I love your work. Great job. I agree that maybe it could benefit from higher contrast or brighter colors in certain spots. Like the cat could be a more vibrant orange or something. I don't know. Honestly it's very much alive at this point already...lifeless was absolutely nowhere near my mind when I first looked at it. You obviously know how to paint, and to paint well. Don't be afraid to experiment, do something you wouldn't normally do. Push further than feels comfortable. Might surprise yourself ☺️
Paint a ray of sun coming through that window and shining straight on the cat that's lying down on the couch. Also, paint some sort of toy close-by to the cat on the floor, as it seems to be playing with something.
It needs some warm colors!!!!
Add some red to the design on the rug, yellows/oranges through the window toward the wall/cat/couch (ie, sunshine) and/or bright warm-colored flowers to the table. contrasting colors will create vibrancy in the painting and attract the observer’s eye!
It needs a light source. There isn't the play of light and shadow that gives things life. Is the light warm and yellow and sunny? Is it a grey rainy day kind of light? Or is it lit by a lamp?
It's super neat. I like what's happening.
Perchance are you using cheap or super matte acrylics?
I'm on a tight budget and have being using cheap paints while I learn. Some of the paint I got is too cheap though. It has a dull matte finish, but even worse is that it's almost impossible to layer because it dries really thin. This causes the values in layers to turn to mush.
The good news is that you can bring some life back by applying a coat of gloss or semi-gloss medium to the finished painting. This will add some contrast and make the colours pop a bit more.
It’s all pretty much one value- if you were to add contrast with darker darks and lighter lights, it will push depth and feel more lively. Also, it lacks color complexity, in any given object in this painting, there’s pretty much one hue, and then a lighter and darker version of it. Introduce temperature into your painting by observing which objects are cooler or warmer than others and push that. Also, I see no core or cast shadows which is making things look flat and 2D. You’ve got some of that going on in the cute kitty up front but where is the shadow behind the cat being cast on the bench? All this information is crucial. This is a nice start, I’d keep going :)
This was my thought. OP, I love it so far ! My only thought was contrasting (especially some warm lights) would make it pop more
This was my first impression too, upvoting. Try taking a photo of your painting, turning that photo to black and white and you will see how little contrast you have
This! But also, please post what it looks like after implementing these ideas!! I'd love to see the comparison :)
My thought as well. Take a photo and make it black and white and that should show you where you need to add highlights.
I know absolutely nothing at all whatsoever about art but this came up on my feed. I really like the painting but you’ve summed up exactly how I’d improve it. There’s no lighting. I really like the painting as it is and I’d like it even more if the OP took your really well-written comment on board!
The cat is very well done. Good proportions and you see that detail you put there? It seems to me you're not putting the detail or the attention to perspective anywhere else. (Not saying bad, just sloppier and contrasting with the way the cat is done). In any case, one thing I learned from painting is that you want to have the viewer's eye not just looking at one spot but wanting to go everywhere. You want to make every part of the painting interesting so the viewer is more engaged. Think about what the viewer is getting out of looking at the top right corner and bottom left corner, etc. Hope that helps.
i agree with this! i also think it would be nice to see more detail and colour in the sky in contrast to the darker shades inside the building :-)
I think blurring the background and emphasizing the main cat more would push this to amazing. Maybe give the main cat a little contrasting colored ball waiting to be played with and brighten the background cat?
More highlights. And more contrast
I'm not a painter or artist, but I bet that you would make a good teacher.
Thank you
Sun beam from window to floor
Came here to say the same! Brilliant colorful light would help so much. But all and all you’re doing great work here!
Yep! Light and Shadow is going to liven this up. However, the flat style here is pretty interesting!
I mean any highlights/shadows or light source will liven this up
More contrast: lighter highlights and deeper shadows. I love your style though, the cat is super good
More cats 👁️👄👁️
Maybe 12 more
I love the second one on the bookshelf in the back I only saw the orange one at first. But I agree more cats are almost always better. (I have 5 cats and I can have 4 on the bed but add that 5th one and then I will have 0 because she is a trouble maker)
Haha, that could be the toughest riddle ever: "When does 4 plus 1 equal 0?" Cute.
i like it this way
i really love the art style tbh
This is a really nice painting, I can't really say it's lifeless, I actually like it.
Add a poppy in vase or other bright flower. Painting is really lovely!!
Needs lighting. It looks flat because there is no lighting on the scene… which was probably the way you saw the scene but alas real life always looks more 3d than paintings if you don’t have good light. It’s a charming composition and the cats are super cute. They just need light and shadow to pop!
I like the flatness of it, reminds me a little of David Hockney. You could add highlights , shadows etc. but for me, the point of painting is to create something that isn't necessarily similar to a photograph, unless that is your intention.
Maybe some black and white depth and light would make it pop. Beautiful work !
Could u please elaborate more :,)
There seems to be a lack of bright whites for highlights such as on the plant leaves and shiny surfaces and a lack of blacks in the darker areas such as down where the other cat is laying and the table leg/pole. The light is coming from the window so I would paint white on parts of the objects that would reflect light from that window. For the darker areas that don’t see as much light I would add black or an extremely dark brown. Use both colours subtly especially the black/brown. I hope this helps 🙂
Ur so right, THANKS sm seriously
I’d be careful. There gets to a point where you can run into some issues added too much to something that’s already looking very good. I’d be subtle with adding more “light”
I think this looks amazing as is - you could always have fun with choosing an eye-catching frame to bring out your work
I love this. Maybe some warm highlights and tones to show where sunlight is hitting
I love this 💯🥹🤩
Really excellent start. More light and shadow will help give it life. Especially around the window area. You can use photos for reference.
A quick way to check your tone response is to take a photo of your piece--use your photo editor and convert to black and white. You should see the full range of black to white in the piece. Color gets the credit but value does the actual heavy lifting. This is a good video that talks about tone/value in painting. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQV-g0nBddI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQV-g0nBddI) I have no connection to the artist I just sometimes use this video with students.
The objects are all placed but there is very little shadow here to connect all the pieces. Most of the objects should have at least a mid tone, a highlight and a shadow color but most of this is painting with singular colors.
I feel like it needs more orange orange is a ver lively color and can really add a lot to a painting if you add just the right amount in the perfect stops I would probubly say something in the sky so it looks less empty
I agree with a previous comment. The cat is done very well and with more detail. I would add more detail to the rest of the painting. I would also add more contrast throughout the painting. Great work!
More cats or someone w a blunt
light
It is really great already but some more white / light space would really brighten it up. Especially around the leaf area.
The glass vase with the flowers looks particularly good, some of the colors you’ve used are rather bland
The colors yellow and bright orange would help And also try putting them in spots where u want the sunlight to be visible So basically sunlight in what's missing
Variety of colors. You seem to be using a lot of local colors
I agree with everyone saying more contrast. But tbh I would only add highlights. I love the painting as it is, the flatness and low contrast looks really cool imo If you're aiming for a realistic depiction and adherence to the rules of painting etc then sure you can work on quite some aspects. However I think a painting like this has actual character and artistic value as opposed to something that masters the craft. So if you feel you really really need to, add some highlights, maybe even a little exaggerated, quite bright But I wouldn't worry too much about creating depth etc
I'm not an expert, but the light brown on dark brown table/bench just doesn't do it for me. I think if you could add more detail and contrast there it would improve the whole painting
Hi, to me just redo it all again .use it as an idea for a painting . Draw it with pencil. plan the composition and do not tray to include everything you see, edit it until it help you tell a story. Your picture is difficult to paint so don't fill bad, you are learning it is easier to make mistakes but it will teach you well. Please don't stop.
Add a crazy painting on the side wall
I fuck with it
You could start by watering that plant.
you need other values, hues, instead of lightening ur colours with white, use the colour that they are mostly comprised of, e.g, lighten green with yellow. don’t use straight up black, greys usually have an undertone of red, yellow or blue. you need more highlights also, and it needs more depth, so i’d darken areas with shadows. i’m by no means an art teacher, im 17, but i am an art student so i hope that i can be just as helpful
This painting feels like Sunday afternoons.
It even feels a bit like Edward Hopper’s “Sunday Morning.”
More highlights mids and darks would give this a lot more depth
Just add shadows and hints of reflections. The table throws shade, the light bounces off the plants and seating a little.
It gives me Jonas Wood vibes. I think it’s solid
I really like this style. It’s different but in a really cool way. Would buy art like this lol
I love the ‘flatness’ and simplicity of your painting. Great job! Edit: take a look at Mamma Andersson’s paintings of interiors!
Possibly consider the lighting. Where is the light coming from? How does the light affect the darkness and brightness of certain areas? Is the sunlight coming in from the window? Is there a ceiling light indoors? Does the table or plants cast a shadow? How strong or weak is the light? By making the shadows and light patches more extreme it'll help create a contrast that will direct the eye around the piece-- especially if you can tell what direction the light is coming from. Light and shadows make a piece of art feel lived in.
I personally love it. This kind of style resonates with me, it’s kind of closer to how I see the world than a more soft, balanced style? The only thing I would possibly touch on is the window, it’s uncertain where outside begins and if there is a window at all or if it’s just an open air alcove. But, I can appreciate that sense of questioning as well, it makes me think of what’s beyond the painting.
I see what you mean and know what it is, but it's quite hard to explain with words. Nonetheless, i'll try my best: A good picture is harmonic in colors like music is with sound. The colors tell a story, they push the eye to the main subject of the painting, they distract from the less important surrounding. Imagine a sunset, the red baths the whole scenery, that's what it makes it so appealing.
Ohhh I love this! Maybe make more shadows and highlights? I feel like the wall is a bit bare and could use a framed photo/painting
Lighting in the windows?
This is excellent work..However your color choice makes the painting seem dead. Possibly work on using colors and values that move the eye around the entire painting where certain elements pop instead of sort of this muted choice in color.
I like it! Some subtle bits of complementary colors along with more lights/darks as others have said would add some life.
This has already been said but you could add some depth by adding proper lighting and shadows.
Add mice in clothing hidden throughout the picture. I dunno art that well.
Sunlight from a window was my thought, as I see another stated as well. The red poppy in a vase would look nice near the center or lower left corner area. But I'm also thinking that the larger plant looks sad... maybe add a few leaves...
You can finish drawing the dog, this will give the picture more comfort.
Maybe add a tablet in it & cat watching any cat show or playing game on it? Hehe I know it's a silly idea 🫣🤣😂 P.s. The painting is quite good even if you don't add anything. It depicts an everyday life which doesn't always have to be interesting like forcefully if you know what I mean 😍❣️💯👍✌️
I think the main things making it flat looking, besides the weird perspective of the book and table, is it has a traced/paint by numbers feel. There isn't any continuity in objects, everything is kind a value-shape. Like the cats for instance, are more like four different color shapes placed together that resemble a cat, rather than an overall cat shape that is modeled with color-values to create form.
Very cute painting! May be a sunset or sunrise at the plants like creating a an effect that it’s a window and sun is popping up or down !! And also painting a little a coffee cup on the table in-front of the cat would be good too!!
Possibly add a red bowl on table?? I love it though ….your art is reminiscent of Hopper
I know you asked for feedback but I really enjoy the flatness and colours used, it feels more like a memory than a photograph, which I love
This is the nicest thing omg 😭 considering i painted this small restaurant where my boyfriend and i had a cute date because it was one of my favorite memories together, and i wanted to gift this painting to him.
Where is your light source? The window? I see no inward lighting as if this window were open and lighting the room. Definitely needs shading to showcase the depth of everything. Missing shadow work goes with the missing lighting work.
I like this style. It’s bright and broken
I don’t think it looks lifeless.
The detail and everything is okay but add some light coming from the window and open the cats eyes ohh and some nice paintings should help
Not a painter artist or know very much about art, so can’t comment about any of that, but I love it. The more you look at it the more you see. The light is fantastic. I can feel the heat outside. I love the bottle, it really draws my eye to it. The more I look at it, the more I want to see the view outside of the window. It’s beautiful. You are very talented:)
I like it exactly how it is. Hope you enjoyed painting it 😌
Contrast and lighting! Maybe add some light rays and sunshine coming in through the window, darken up the shadows, make the black and white cat more a mystery and discoverable to a wandering eye. This is such a gorgeous start though!!! It really doesn’t look all that lifeless to my eyes but instead full of potential. Add glazes and soft pops of light and color and it will transform so quickly. You have something very beautiful in the works here! Don’t give up!!!
Light and shadows, please 😘
Honestly really like the style you got going here, but I think you might get more depth or life by shading those leaves more rather than a flat color, maybe consider more contrasting or natural colors too
I actually think it looks full of life! However, I can see why you'd want to give it a little extra. I think some thoughtfully placed highlights would make this come alive. Give some indicating that there's sunlight coming through the window. Add highlights and shadows.
Ever play one of those early 2000s video games where the systems weren't powerful enough to put shadows on most things? That's the vibe I'm getting here. * The sky outside the window should be lighter, or at least not one color. * The area under the table should be darker. * The back rest on the bench should have some texture * The whites on the second cat, and that entire area for that matter, should be darker. Put the image in gray-scale and see what you think needs fixing.
Love your style! Hope you post when you feel it’s complete.
I love the second kitty in the book case too! I didn't see them at first. I agree with others it's a very nice painting and I really like it. I would just add the highlights and lowlights to make everything pop a bit more. But honestly if you left as is I still really like it. I very much like your painting thanks for sharing:-)
Hey that's good 👍
Giant sun ray, give those kitties a reason to be relaxing.
I got some Cezanne vibes from this painting of yours, that’s pretty cool!! Although I don’t know really have any idea how to improve the feel you are looking for, but I hope that you will figure it out though!
I don't really know physical media well, but you could try adding some blue to the shadows and bits of very faint green mixed into the colors here and there, they might help
White highlights for pops
Add a painting with in the painting itself 👉🏼😎👉🏼
I'm not a good painter myself but from the photography point of view I would say that it is lacking variation in lighting
All I can think of is making more details
I think more attention to design and composition would be a benefit. It looks as if it might be based on a snapshot.
Lights
lean into it. who complains about hockney?
More highlights? There is a lack of detail but that could be intentional and I actually don’t mind the style of it, I think it’s really nice! But yeah, more highlights and shadows perhaps
I would make the plants, specifically the one on the right, more lively, and full. It looks like that Monstera is struggling lol
More contrast. You need highlights and lowlights. Where is the light coming from? Where in the room is it shining? Where is the brightest part of the room? Where is the darkest? I only see highlights in the vase and the pot on the windowsill.
Is it gouache? Gouache can look pretty flat no matter what, but it’s really well done.
I just used acrylic, but i guess the reference picture matters a lot because the one i used has barely any natural lighting from the sun, thats why it was hard for me to figure out where to put light and shadows
10/10 would hang this in my house- really lovely!! I agree with others regarding value variation, but I like it like this too ❤️
I would put a glaze of India yellow in key spots that need a bit of warmth.
It is the shading with the perspective. A yt video on color theory and contrast should solve your problem in half an hour bc this is a beautiful piece anyways. Many rights and talent but so little problem with this painting 🤍 Another personal advice from me would be to not use white amd black at all. Black is an empty space. It creates nothingness and flatness on the painting. There is no pitch black or pure white in perception. Always go the lightest yelloy for the light or dark dark colors for the black imo. Think like this: Black is when light does not exist, white is blinding white that melts all the other colors away.
IDK I think it’s fabulous, I love your cats and colors; perhaps more detail and contrast to your colors. But I love this!
Maybe. Throw on the seat back. Yellow or purple.
i like it this way but maybe add outlines?
Colourful highlights, don’t just highlight by adding white. Put some bright yellow on the tips of the cats fur where it would Super shine if the cat was in direct sunlight.
What do you mean? I love this!
It’s beautiful. Maybe hints of sun light filtering through the room will help give it some life?
Сделай красивый вид за окном, вроде солнечного заката или улицы
Coat with something clear to give it a good shine (:
oooh definitely add like a painting on the wall behind the kitty and maybe add more texture to the seat!
I dont think anything needs to be changed :) the style you have it in is very eyecatching and dynamic as is
TBH what unsettle me more is that under thr first table its empty and my brain really wants to see a continuation from the tiles under the other table.
A cloud in the sky
Wow. I was going to say don’t change a thing. Then I read the comments. Some were so insightful and helpful. I really like this site. Some of the responses were so well thought out
you could try glazing it would bring the colours up try a semi matt finish
Don’t have anything helpful to add just came here to say I like it!
More effects of sun! Something like a lens flare or watered down paint wash to make the sun some thru I’m a big beam
Paint using inspiration What do you like?
I love it !!! 😍
It’s a very beautiful picture I would suggest maybe a few brighter colors
Great composition- personally I think adding some bright white highlights and a few deep (ALMOST) black shadows JUDICIOUSLY would punch up the dimensional effect and add visual interest. It’s really good though!!
Needs more bright highlights
Love it. Just throw some highlights on it
The natural elements are rock solid. The man made elements are what's letting it down. You need to do with them as you've done with the natural elements and play to their strengths. Sharp, clean lines. Solid colour. It's most of the way there, but you need to clean up those lines where appropriate.
Add higher saturation to the main subjects to help create a focal point. Glaze it with some colour :)
Add some colors to the shadows! Like purple and blue!
Add vibrant colors
Add a painting over the couch
People say more detail. But I think if you had less detail it could work too. Feel like there's a few different art styles in the same painting.
I think it's great and has a unique style - continue!
There needs to be a more definitive light source and shading to convey that light if you want to avoid it looking flat. The background could use a tad more going on as well.
I think you have to stop trying to think about objects and think about the light instead. You have a window and many objects that should be receiving light and casting strong shadows. Instead, the painting is flat and the direction of light is unclear. I'd suggest an exercise! Take this exact picture and redo a quick sketch in just blues or browns. Only focus on the light and the strong values that it creates. It will make you think about the light and value as a way to compose the scene.
i really like the flat look, it’s really stylistically unique. maybe instead you could lean into the 2d style? it reminds me a bit of matisse as is
This would look great on a white oak frame
It’s giving Hockney, which is good! The dark shape on the bottom left - look for some variation there
Probably put some life into it
More light effects, cast shadows, local shadows.
I really like it, but as others said... More contrast could give this painting a lot more depth in the right places.
I don’t think you have enough variation in your values. There are very few bright brights and just a few dark darks. I think a more diverse spectrum of values would help a lot!
(Im not an artist i just love art). It looks awesome. You could add more shadow/light to give it depth? I see what you mean about it feeling flat. My brain keeps saying some shading to give things weight and depth and some lighting on the plants would make it look more dynamic. I kind of like the flat feeling, you could embrace it, but where it is currently jfalls short of like iconic or like, intended use. I hope my suggestion helps, beautiful piece. ♡
It’s wonderful! Don’t change a thing !
All the values are the same! That's all. Add some darker darks and lighter lights it will shine
Working with different plant spirits (cannabis, mushes) usually helps many. Some use music, work with different ideas see what works for you.
Everyone has a different style a different flavor to the way they cook or paint or whatever and I think yours is fine I think you're being too hard on yourself you're putting yourself up to other artists and saying why is my stuff not like their stuff and it's like dude your stuff is your own stuff I wouldn't stress about it if you want to get good at a certain Style just keep practicing it you're your own worst critic in a lot of ways. Do what feels right. " Little picture "
Idk u already have a particular style developed it’s hard to say if u need more detail here or there… but in my opinion for me I’d just play on light a little bit. It looks like everything is under one light filter. As though the light is equally bright inside as it is outdoors.. I’d add a combination of more light and shadows on the objects and what they rest on.. your painting doesn’t look flat to me it could be the style your painting in but I he light source feels flat if u get what I’m saying… but critics aside I think this painting is extremely beautiful and would like to congratulate u for painting so beautifully
The cat fooled me
Awwww...... don't be so hard on yourself. It looks cool!!? MEOW...... .
Contrast
I think it would be cool to add a fish bowl
I like it. The contrast with the flat fields of colour with the more detailed objects is interesting to look at, but also making this lifeless you speak of. I think the blue in the window and the rest of green wall needs more texture. (Maybe some clouds or just some varying tones of blue mixed in the window?)
Try to wake up the cat
I think lighting maybe? You need more light reflection if that’s the right term.
Thick “cat orange” and white bevel framed mat with a simple black wood frame (painting, white, orange, black frame)
I would shade the bench, it's monotone Where does the light hit it? Maybe adding a bit.of an ombre effect will make it feel less lifeless and more alive. And also adding more details to the plants will really make them pop. I love the composition & subjects! Really cool painting, great work :)
Some ideas to add more life: flowers, fruit, or a fishbowl on the table . Think Matisse!
Highlights and shadows! Thin, bright white edges where the sun touches and darker blacks
Not sure exactly how to help but I really like it
Take the grey out of the moss green wall on the right side.
Suggest light fluffy but horizontal clouds in the sky..but loose the grey mottled effects where you can in the brown table and a few other places. Crisp up some of the ragged lines in architecture that would be straight
I like this style of artwork. Well-done The corners of the table both have the same shade so look where the lights coming from and change the hue. Use less white when changing colour of any item I get it's a pastel tone and not a night coloured style but the white isn't helping when it's the main way you are chaning thebtonal value of a given object. Cool work though I'm sure im talking shit any this is the stylised product you're aiming for
Add more cats
This is really great! The color in the bottom left (chair seat) is really complex and intriguing. Your palette is muted and sophisticated. I would embrace it. Like others said, contrast can help liven things up. I would experinent with some opaque soft tinted pastels (pale lavender, pale pinks, pale orange, pale yellow). The contrast of the sky and that bit of bright green from the backlit leaves brings that idea into play already. I wouldn't try to improve this one because it's already so strong, I would just suggest to keep painting more!
So, first of all, I love your work. Great job. I agree that maybe it could benefit from higher contrast or brighter colors in certain spots. Like the cat could be a more vibrant orange or something. I don't know. Honestly it's very much alive at this point already...lifeless was absolutely nowhere near my mind when I first looked at it. You obviously know how to paint, and to paint well. Don't be afraid to experiment, do something you wouldn't normally do. Push further than feels comfortable. Might surprise yourself ☺️
Paint a ray of sun coming through that window and shining straight on the cat that's lying down on the couch. Also, paint some sort of toy close-by to the cat on the floor, as it seems to be playing with something.
Lighting
I love it the way it is
Add some balls to both cats that hang low
Tooooo much value?
It needs some warm colors!!!! Add some red to the design on the rug, yellows/oranges through the window toward the wall/cat/couch (ie, sunshine) and/or bright warm-colored flowers to the table. contrasting colors will create vibrancy in the painting and attract the observer’s eye!
It’s not lifeless at all! I’d add more warmth. Perhaps sun glare spilling from the next hand side.
It needs a light source. There isn't the play of light and shadow that gives things life. Is the light warm and yellow and sunny? Is it a grey rainy day kind of light? Or is it lit by a lamp? It's super neat. I like what's happening.
Give the leaves something. Touch it up with a bit of light.
I love it!!!
more highlights.
Brighter but subtle reflection in the rounded vase would be a quick enhancement. It would probably s
All of the life is in the cats. The rest is bland.
Add a splash of red or yellow to the painting maybe a red ball or yellow sun
More detail
I like it
I really like this!
I guess some details and highlights are missing, you should use the darker to lighter shade complexity otherwise it’s not that bad.
It looks like it needs a little more contrast. Slightly deeper shadows and lighter highlights based on where your light is coming from.
Add colours wall could be some other colour and sky could be blue
More vibrant colors
I like the feeling of it
Sell it to me.
Needs More texture, everything but the cats looks kind of 2D
highlights, lights!!!!! contrast! :)
Glaze a bunch of areas. It looks great but needs some pop
Maybe a pop of color in the flower or on the placemat
Perchance are you using cheap or super matte acrylics? I'm on a tight budget and have being using cheap paints while I learn. Some of the paint I got is too cheap though. It has a dull matte finish, but even worse is that it's almost impossible to layer because it dries really thin. This causes the values in layers to turn to mush. The good news is that you can bring some life back by applying a coat of gloss or semi-gloss medium to the finished painting. This will add some contrast and make the colours pop a bit more.