Kafka-esque

**Deselect** · February 2nd, 2006, 08:06 PM

This is a house-warming present for a dear friends' barren walls.
11"x14", Acrylics.
Not sure about it -- I keep wanting to go back and add. Acrylics really make it hard to blend well... I'm not sure if it's quite done yet, but I may just leave it as all the same.

Kafka-esque:

Feel free to critique 'til I cry.

EDIT: Am I the only one not seeing a number of my own images, here on CA? I used the same image insertion code and even the button as I did in my sketchbook and they seem to appear and disappear at times. They constantly work okay on my own site, though. Odd.

**Wulvz** · February 2nd, 2006, 10:27 PM

Yeah, I can't see anything.

Going directly to the image seems to work though.

As for the art, I don't have much to critique. I like the style and the draftmanship looks strong.

[edit]

Now the link isn't working. Strange...

[edit2]

In Opera, clicking on the hyperlink brings up a 404, but pressing return in the address box will bring up the image. The image won't show up at all in IE. Very strange...

**Texahol** · February 2nd, 2006, 10:52 PM

Don't use hyphens, they suck.

**Deselect** · February 2nd, 2006, 11:13 PM

Yeah, I tried changing the hyphens, didnt matter. And hyphens should not be the issue. I use Linux and Windows and they both handle it well, and I also know that Macs do, also.

**Wulvz** · February 2nd, 2006, 11:43 PM

No, hyphens are fine to use, regardless of what OS is running the server. Are you SURE you host allows hotlinking? Your host may have some measures set up to prevent hotlinking, which may explain the 404s and other oddities.

[edit]

Okay, I took a look at your sketchbook, which doesn't seem to be having problems. Other possibilities could be that the permissions are screwed up for that one image, or the image itself may be a bad JPEG. Since I'm getting 401 forbiddens I'd look into the file permissions first.

**Deselect** · February 3rd, 2006, 12:43 AM

Sorry for my last message. It didn't make much sense. I am overtired...

Anyway, yes, I work in multiple OS's. The server is Linux. File permissions for my sketchbook folder are the same across the board, so that is not it. The only difference is that the paintings are .jpg's (ugh) and not .png's (yay!).

Also, there is 100% no wierd hotlinking prevention methods implemented with my hosting server as it is something that my friends own and run (we are so elite).

So I am still completely baffled and at the moment refraining from posting more images here until I can solve this oddity. Unfortunate, I was really hyped to finally post.

**inspector Lee** · February 3rd, 2006, 12:50 AM

I'm on a Mac using Opera and I had to use Wulvs suggestion to see the image (got the 404 error before hitting return in address bar)

**Deselect** · February 3rd, 2006, 01:07 AM

Lee: It seems very strange. One thing I noticed was that sometimes the images show up if I hit the back button on the browser after refreshing. Strange...

Anyone wanna critique it if they get a chance to see it?

Edit: Isolated and solved the issue. Image links now work. Thank you very much for all of your help. Care to critique?

Cheers!

**Nygaard** · February 3rd, 2006, 02:38 AM

You're using several different contrasts to do the same thing, I think? You've got complementary colours, temperature, quality, broken lines/perspective and a white outline to shear the main figure out of the background. Throws the image in your face. Striking without being too confusing. The dark block on top has a very different quality from the area below the figure. Gives it a "heavy" feel, though the merging of the white outline and the lower white background might be interfering a bit with this effect. The expression of the face on the back of the bug is very good, and detailed, making the background strokes more noticeably rough. What stands out the most to me, on a closer look, is the fleshy quality of the creature's carapace over the more buggy look of the legs. Gives it a rather disturbing touch.

**Deselect** · February 3rd, 2006, 09:57 AM

Thank you for the comments.
So do you suggest I alter the image? It was hard to make out your critique as I am not sure if and where suggestions to alter began or ended.

**Nygaard** · February 6th, 2006, 07:37 AM

Originally Posted by Deselect

Thank you for the comments.
So do you suggest I alter the image? It was hard to make out your critique as I am not sure if and where suggestions to alter began or ended.

My apologies for the rambling.

I was thinking that there's a limited repertoire of effects available, and you've used up a good part of them for one or two purposes. A bit of tweaking might give a more balanced picture, if that's what you want. But it looks great as it is, don't doubt that for a moment!

**Deselect** · February 6th, 2006, 09:38 AM

Nygaard: Thank you very much. I didn't mind the rambling -- most of it seemed good, anyway. I am glad the effect worked favourably in your opinion. The painting has been presented to the new owner... I wasn't going so much for realism with this piece; I wanted more a piece that was revolting or disgusting.
I wish I had concentrated more on making it so, but the effect turned out well enough.

**BMunchausen** · February 6th, 2006, 02:12 PM

Pretty good technique. The image utterly creeps me out though and I for one wouldn't want it hanging in MY home!

I'm an acrylic painter - if you want it to blend better, just buy some acrylic retarder (hardy har) to extend drying time. I've used it for years and it works really well. I've had people tell me they think my paintings are oil.

**Deselect** · February 6th, 2006, 03:42 PM

BMunchausen: Thanks for the info. I have some acrylic medium as well as retarder, but being my first attempt at a decent acrylic piece I didnt even think of using the retarder (I did use the medium for glazing areas).
And as for the reaction, I am glad. It doesn't look as grotesque as I wanted, but I tried to make up for it with mixed techniques... My next piece will definetly have some improvements for sure, as this was my first.

That or I will just stick with oils. Ha!