Child playing quietly
 

This painting is ready to be finished. I am afraid the swing ropes may be too strong. Any thoughts, critisisms, and advice on any part will be greatly appreciated. Thanks. I will post the photo too. Jane

Photo of child
 

This is the photograph. Thanks for looking.

Greetings Jane,

I share some of your misgivings about the ropes. In the photo I don't see the near rope, and the back rope is much less prominent; partly due to the tree at nearly the same angle. In the painting the ropes are very dominant and divide the canvas into two sections. I love what you're doing with the boy and the bubbles and feel that the ropes cut in between them and bisect the centers of interest. At the same time I can understand why you want to suggest the swing as an element of quiet play. You could eliminate the ropes entirely, as the boy's posture isn't obviously dependent on the support of the swing. With that nice, diffuse background the ropes seem to intersect the flow of the composition.

By the way, what is the size of the painting and the ground?

Charming!
 

You've caught a lovely childhood moment! I agree that you have over-emphasized the swing ropes: they appear much thicker than the ropes in your reference photo. Even without seeing the reference photo, the ropes appear to be out of place. I would thin them down and soften the sharp detail, or else, as John Z suggests, simply eliminate them altogether. They do not appear necessary to your charming narrative.

That's a very beautiful painting.

Only watch out for the size of the ear and hands, the position of the eyebrow, the distance between his eyebrows and his bangs, the size and inclination of his neck and the position of his back.

A few touch ups might resolve, but if you decide not to change anything, that will be beautiful anyway.

I suggest you to turn both the painting and the photograph upside down and check the likeness. It will be easier to check the values too.

My immediate reaction is: get rid of the ropes! I would eliminate everything in a painting that is not necessary to have it make sense, or that does not contribute to what you are saying. Otherwise, aside from the minor corrections in proportion that have already been pointed out, I think it has strength and beauty.

Oops - did anyone notice that they're critiquing a painting posted 6 years ago?

Wow!

I can only remember it in the new posts...