Critique #2

“Pals”

By: Sue McDonagh

The painting “Pals” by Sue McDonagh depicts two young children playing on a beach. This is one of the many paintings that Sue McDonagh has painted of children enjoying themselves at a beach.

The emphasis of “Pals” is the two children playing on the beach. The way that the children are positioned gives the viewer a sense of wonder. The viewer may think, what are the children doing that is not shown in the painting? The highlight of the painting is the two children, but the pastel colors of the water attract the viewer’s eye also. The colors create a calming sense to the painting when looking at it. Other colors that do this are the bright pigments of the children’s clothing. The form of the rocks are an odd shape almost questioning the viewer whether they are waves. The realism of the children playing on a beach may remind the viewer of a time in their own life when they may have spent time on a beach.

A mother takes her child and their friend to the beach one day. The mother lets the children wander along the seashore. “What adventure will the children find themselves today?” the mother questions. The children run off gallantly ready for anything they find. They stop along the water where they find themselves a nice area to play. The children play, enjoying the freedom of their friendship.

Critique #1

"Friends"
By: Mary Crittenden

The painting “Friends” by Mary Crittenden depicts three young boys sitting on a hillside talking. Mary had a hard time painting from the photo she was portraying so she used boys to model for her. Mary decided to paint this picture because she saw a story within the boys. She saw the true meaning of friendship. Mary was drawn to the painting because she feels today people are too busy to spend time with friends they love. This painting showed the boys in a time where television and name brand clothing didn’t exist and that they still could be with each other.

The emphasis of “Friends” is the three boys and their friendship. You can tell that they are talking to each other. The foreground of the painting is the boys sitting on the grass. There is a plein air perspective to the painting. The contrast of light and dark is shown through the grass the boys are sitting on and the hill in front of them. The warm colors of the hill, trees, and houses give the painting a nice feeling.

The three boys got home one afternoon from a day at school. They boys retreat to their favorite spot to hang out over looking their houses. They love to spend time with each other especially in an environment as pretty as the hill. The leaves on that fall afternoon makes them relaxed. What better way to spend time with ones you take pleasure in then in the beautiful outdoors.

My concept

For my concept, I think I want to do the concept of friendship. I could do friendship between a friend, mother, children, etc.