I’ve been thinking back to assignment 1 quite a bit and to the feedback. Diana asked me to think about what the subject was and if it was the objects and the tablecloth to try darkening the background to make them stand out. I found on reflection that those aren’t the subject but I did want to have a look at what effect it would have anyway. Really I would have needed to have done that with a darker wash before putting the charcoal on top so that not being possible at this juncture I darkened it on photoshop instead and brightened the foreground:
It does really change the feeling of the picture so it’s quite interesting to try out but did reinforce for me that the subject wasn’t the objects themselves but the mesh of contrasting patterns that they and the fabrics make together. I think I’d be more inclined to go the other way – strip back some of the hatching and flatten the image even more so that the patterns are stronger and pop and clash even more! Ultimately though I’m happy with the picture, I’ve liked it more and more each time I look at it which is the opposite of what usually happens for me.
Flora OCA drawing 1 