Three light sources

[Sharon Knettell]

Steven, you're right. I believe the most important thing in figurative art is that it has to be instantly read (read "understood").

I like the blue of the late afternoon sky contrasted to the warmth of the candlelit face. But it doesn't make sense pictorially. Hanna, I'm sorry, there are too many problems to make this really work. If you make the window black you lose the reasons for the lovely blues that make the color composition work. You also do not have the proper reference to change the picture from day to night. Never make up your own lighting or change it from the reference.

Do not change the colors or the garments afterwards. They should have been dealt with from the initial color plan. Your model should have been wearing them or you should have chosen a complementary background. Make sure your material answers all the problems of theme, clarity, color and composition or don't proceed.

You have two fighting themes here. Use this as a learning experience and go on to the next.

Look at Vermeer and Caravaggio for ideas on lighting.