I would love to get your thoughts on these raw photos, and which one (if any) you think is the best arrangement, with best composition potential. Lighting, and color are also considerations of course. I say "potential" because the aspect ratio has not been cropped to account for the canvas/surface aspect ratio. And the cropping can very-much change the composition a bit... but the core arrangement still has to work I believe. These are straight off the camera at this point.
This is meant to be a "still life self-portrait" -- with the particular intent in this case, of using what one has on them to encapsulate a point in time of that person. You can read more about this on my other threadhttp://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/show...74#post8805774
With these, I basically only used what I had on me, jeans, shirt, watch, wallet, etc. - and in the case of the cup... I was holding it, so I bent the rules a bit to allow that.
Now, of course there's the possibility that they all suck, and none of them are good. So if you feel that way, that's okay 
With that, here are the choices
1a
1b
2a
2b
2c
2d
2e
2f
2g
2h
This has been very challenging for me. I had no idea how difficult it would be to come up with a great composition to use as the basis of my next painting. I'm not accustomed to working in this manor, so I'm a bit out of my element
1a
I like the first one and the last one. 1a & 2h
1A
Honestly, they all seem a bit cluttered to me.
A couple of new ones:
3a
3c
between those two, 3a
Thanks Rogue.
In the feedback I've received so far... most people are picking 3c. While I don't mind it, I personally am drawn more to 3a... mainly because of the simplicity and the drapery. I love painting that kind of stuff, and I feel that drapery would look great painted in oils. Not to mention that the balance seems better compositionally.
From the couple of people who picked 3a, one is also a designer. So, while the "general public" is drawn to 3c (probably because they like the colour range with the red and bronze)... it seems that the more "trained eye" is picking 3a.
I dunno Always seems to come down to "general townie folk" like one thing, peers like another. I always side with ME and what I like in these cases... which is usually on the side of the "peers"
PS: Checked out your blog... some nice work in there. Especially the product shots... I now have a new appreciation for those (after trying to stage a still-life)
im with 3a. I would assume most people say 3c because it has more stuff...in general theyre brains all fired up with, "wow, a candle, and a mug thing, and some brushes - more stuff = better than the other boring one"....but in realty, the first will be a more powerful oil imo
lol, indeed... couldn't have said it better
Originally posted by: BOBBYLOVEVILLE im with 3a. I would assume most people say 3c because it has more stuff...in general theyre brains all fired up with, "wow, a candle, and a mug thing, and some brushes - more stuff = better than the other boring one"....but in realty, the first will be a more powerful oil imo
3a
Just don't paint it like it's exposed. Put lots more depth in the brushes rather than having them look kind of blown out.
Yeah, exactly. One of my only issues with 3a is the overly-strong lighting on the brushes... would prefer something more like 3c for the brushes
Yes, I was judging based on composition only. The assumption being you would adjust lighting/texture/etc. in painting.
Thanks for the compliment too. Still life can be challenging. Light control is paramount. Even very simple still lives can be challenging (often the more simple, the more difficult, since flaws are not as easily hidden by other elements).