OT I need your help guys

[Arthur1947]

I entered a painting for a poster competition and need your rating, hopefully a five star, in order for my piece to win. I'd really appreciate it fellas.

Best.

ARTHUR

http://groups.imeem.com/wpeKVk-X/photo/Bd908rak/C7uFmspESFRCJ/

Here's the painting. I know, a little bizzar but that's what I do.

[eric wissing]

The bird head reminds me of someother painting. Is that a woodcock? Is that somehow related to the wheelbarrow?, There is something about a red wheelbarrow. Is the woodcock logging out? I tried to rate your painting but had to sign in or something. I like it. Eric

[Plymouthy Adams]

red headed woodpecker would have been more in line...but hell I never have understood art...

[randroid]

Arthur,

I found it lacking any cohesive theme. I'm assuming "the Shins" are some sort of musical group but I don't see any corelation between the poster and the name.

I've been addicted to Rock & Roll for nearly fifty years and like all phases of it other than Rap, and the biggest problem I have with Rap is that I don't like the word "nigger" regardless who's saying it; what I'm trying to say is that I'm fairly open minded about most everything but I don't find in the poster anything to grab my eye.

My art is in the written word; I'm a published Novelist who's first book sold surprisingly well given it's narrow market, and my next three books were pieces of **** because I started writing not what pleased me but what I thought would please everybody else. I'm in the process of making those basically good stories into something that are also fun to read, but when I first realized what was wrong with those books I was crushed. I'm not trying to crush you by any means, somewhat because I don't know you and certainly don't dislike you but mostly because I enjoy your whimsical mix of sketching (firewood), near photo-quality art (the person's body), and the almost abstract remainder of the poster.

I'm one of those weirdos who's favorite television programs are the ads. Many are crap but when push comes to shove, ad folks have between 15 and 30 seconds to get their message across and the good ones make ads you remember. I have a few pages into my books to hook my readers, ads have half a minute, and you don't have more than a few seconds to visually grab somebody strolling past it. I don't envy you your position and am certainly not going to make suggestions as to how you can improve it, but when I find myself up against that lame-ass excuse for not writing commonly known as "writer's block" I make a 180 turn in the story and generally things will explode with creativity. You obviously have a creative mind and I wish you nothing but success or I wouldn't have written this many words. Make a poster that tells a story, even if only subliminally, and the sky will be you limit.

Best to you, 'Bro, and kick some ass!

-Randy

[Arthur1947]

Randy,

Thank you for your words. I was just having fun. Poster art is usually eye candy, a quick street ad. There's not an extreme amount of story telling involved. I'm am a professional illustrator by trade and accustomed to visual narratives but specialize in mostly conceptual ones. I get a lot of work from business publications to liven up drab articles that read more like manuals than stories. There's nothing that can be said that could "crush" me. I'm an established artists and I make my living soley on my art. I posted this thread for a simple vote, not for a critique, but thank you anyways.

Here's a link to my site if you would like to find out more about what I do.

http://aegillustrations.com/index.html

Best.

ARTHUR

Arthur,

I found it lacking any cohesive theme. I'm assuming "the Shins" are some sort of musical group but I don't see any corelation between the poster and the name.

I've been addicted to Rock & Roll for nearly fifty years and like all phases of it other than Rap, and the biggest problem I have with Rap is that I don't like the word "nigger" regardless who's saying it; what I'm trying to say is that I'm fairly open minded about most everything but I don't find in the poster anything to grab my eye.

My art is in the written word; I'm a published Novelist who's first book sold surprisingly well given it's narrow market, and my next three books were pieces of **** because I started writing not what pleased me but what I thought would please everybody else. I'm in the process of making those basically good stories into something that are also fun to read, but when I first realized what was wrong with those books I was crushed. I'm not trying to crush you by any means, somewhat because I don't know you and certainly don't dislike you but mostly because I enjoy your whimsical mix of sketching (firewood), near photo-quality art (the person's body), and the almost abstract remainder of the poster.

I'm one of those weirdos who's favorite television programs are the ads. Many are crap but when push comes to shove, ad folks have between 15 and 30 seconds to get their message across and the good ones make ads you remember. I have a few pages into my books to hook my readers, ads have half a minute, and you don't have more than a few seconds to visually grab somebody strolling past it. I don't envy you your position and am certainly not going to make suggestions as to how you can improve it, but when I find myself up against that lame-ass excuse for not writing commonly known as "writer's block" I make a 180 turn in the story and generally things will explode with creativity. You obviously have a creative mind and I wish you nothing but success or I wouldn't have written this many words. Make a poster that tells a story, even if only subliminally, and the sky will be you limit.

Best to you, 'Bro, and kick some ass!

-Randy

[claybill]

well. my vote....not so hot. (the horse with the tear is excellent however!!)

i guess the structure..name at the top, figure in the middle and something black in the foreground, is a bit dated and static. and none of which is related in content..and there are no clues or doors to open for info. as a composition it is as exciting as 1-2-3, or small, medium, large..and other obvious progressions.

it does show your talents for illustration.

but dont you find that most ads nowadays are from a digital manipulation ?

rather than drawings.?

claybill

[eric wissing]

I went thru you archive. I especially like you "Lone Eagle" Lindberg. Probably would upset some. He definite a Loner. His own wife thought him cold and distant. The few ideas he got in his head outside of flying were not very sound. Your work reminds me of the sparce early 60s "modern" advertising, a certain flatness. I had about 90 years worth of National Geos at one time and I loved the ads, they say as much about us anything. keep your nose to grindstone and have plenty of bandages handy. Eric

[Arthur1947]

I think some of you guys are missing the point, which was to help me out by showing support and giving me a good rating as opposed to a critique. Perhaps this is the wrong place for this request. Sorry to bother. I'll just stick to car related stuff on this forum.

Best.

ARTHUR

[BobT-47P15]

Arthur......I think it would be helpful to know what the picture is about, what the bird with the wheelbarrow represents. (inquiring old car minds would like to know). Then with an idea of what w are talking about in the first place, maybe it would be easier to evaluate or feel that it is then a good (or not so good) piece of work. At least, that's how all this strikes me. Is "the Shins" a band or a family or.....what is it or they.????

Your art work looks perfectly good to a non expert like myself.