Apotheoun (Tom Livezey at Eleven)

[Garth Herrick]

Originally Posted by Garth Herrick

I found my painting Apotheoun, was the topic of a healthy discussion elsewhere outside of this Forum, where it was in the process of being fairly and levelly critiqued. Since I didn't solicit the discussion, I was surprised to discover it midstream. It was eye opening for me and interesting to know what others really think. In fairness the feedback was offered in the spirit of a learning environment. I won't add more because it is fair to to keep the focus here on this Forum. Here in this Forum in the Unveilings section there are no critiques permitted. The exhibiting artist only gets praise, support, and encouragement where warranted, and nothing is ever said to make the artist doubt their abilities or feel discouraged. With the outside feedback I have gained some interesting insights that perhaps help me to discern the pulse of the wider viewing artist community.

Good points were raised about the validity of working from a photograph, whether figures should ever be cropped, whether the negative space is effectively designed, and whether the blue shoe really needs to be there. I am reasonably comfortable with this painting, so in my own mind I feel the way it has been painted is justified, and I am not in the position to change anything now. Here in this Forum I have gotten nothing but encouragement, which believe me, I appreciate. Only now I wonder how I would fare if this Unveilings section were actually open to critiques.

Thanks all, for the endless praise and support!

Garth

Hi Chris,

Thanks for your kind invitation to post "Apotheoun" in the Oil Critiques section. It hadn't occurred to me as an option because I reasoned this painting was beyond its completion deadline, done and in a public exhibition. I have been rewarded with a lot of good feedback between the exhibition and this Forum unveiling, and I haven't heard much to be concerned about until with surprise, I happened upon the discussion in progress about me on a different forum earlier this week. I am all for the truth being known, and I welcome anyone to speak their mind to me.

Again, my reluctance to post in the Oil Critiques section, is merely that I am not in a position to modify this painting, so following our Forum's guidelines, it might not make sense to use up Forum space to accumulate suggestions for changes that would not be executed. However, I am of an open mind and if our Forum membership has a desire to critique this painting, I am game for the mutual learning experience.

Sincerely,

Garth