Watercolor warbler

[Cheryl Slechta]

I had saved this image of a warbler (yellow-rumped I believe) for Asian week. I used Fractalius first, then layered a texture to give the background some texture, then a light splash of DAP Watercolor (masked the bird back in). And then moved my chop all over the canvas until it landed there.
Thanks for looking. Comments and suggestions appreciated.

[Nancy Bell]

Cheryl, this is beautifully rendered. The bkgd is fabulous with those subtle changes of color and the lines. It sets off the Warbler (yes, it is a Yellow-rumped) perfectly. Chop looks good to me. You and I seem to agonize over the chop placement. Maybe if we listen to Asian music while we create we could "feel" our way to the proper place .

[Cheryl Slechta]

Thanks, Nancy. I think I'll try the Asian music - I can't quite get the flow of the chop. I look like I'm handling a Ouija board when I'm moving it around. Maybe the music will inspire me

Cheryl, this is beautifully rendered. The bkgd is fabulous with those subtle changes of color and the lines. It sets off the Warbler (yes, it is a Yellow-rumped) perfectly. Chop looks good to me. You and I seem to agonize over the chop placement. Maybe if we listen to Asian music while we create we could "feel" our way to the proper place .

[Mitch Carucci]

I love the flow of the soft colors in the background, setting off the sharper lines of the warbler.. Perfect for the oriental theme.

[John Storjohann]

Cheryl, I really like your treatment of this image; soft, pastel colors with "pen strokes" adding definition and detail...the background is gorgeous. For me...and I have NO idea why I'm venturing into this water...I'd mover the chop up a smidge and to the left a smidge...and that is based on NOTHING but my own intuition. In other words...look to someone that knows more about chops than I do!

[Judy Howle]

What a gorgeous background you created Cheryl! Nice work on the effects on the warbler and I love it's pose. Chop looks good to me!

[Dan Brown]

Beautiful work, Cheryl! I agree with John on moving the chop a tiny bit but it is working as is also. You could reduce it's size a bit. You could also chop the upper left corner with a smaller chop. This piece has a nice balance on it's own. I think that your strong background pattern, the perch angle and the birds gaze make for a balanced comp and the chop is less significant in it's effect on the piece.

This chop placement thing is a tough technique to put into words. As John mentioned, it is kind of intuitive? For me, it has to do with where my eye travels within the piece and where it lands. If you look at the comp and your eye is bouncing back and forth, you may not have balance. When I have that situation, the chop can usually anchor the whole piece and allow me to see it as one subject? I guess that after 12 years of attempting to place chops, I have developed a feel for it! With my paintings, I usually consult my instructor before chopping, as it is very permanent! So, she has taught me something over the years!

[Maureen Allen]

Very nice, Cheryl. I particularly like the background you've created.

I think I'm chop challenged

[Andrew McLachlan]

Hi Cheryl, very nicely done!!! I love the background, the bird and the treatment. Lovely!

[denise ippolito]

Cheryl, I like the background. Great use of the DAP filter. The pose, perch and head angle are nice also. Your custom chop is well thought out. Dan makes a lot of good points regarding the placement of the chop.

[Anita Bower]

Nice work. Simple image. Lovely background. Your processing creates lovely, brushwork look. I like the pose of the bird and the composition. Very successful image.