"Sunbathing" by Cristina Marsi

I just love this one. It is truly awesome. You should do more of this kind of paintings/pictures.. Really you should. *snuggles*

Cristina Marsi replies: "Thank you, a bit hard to paint small details, since i used a spatula instead of brushes, but anyway its a style i want to try more..."

WOW - this is excellent Cristina!!! - I love your use of texture in painting!....i have tried similar use of spatulas instead of brushes when using acrylics, but i tend to end up with a bit of a gloopy mess!! lol

Cristina Marsi replies: "Thank you; Claire Yup, I tend to mess up everything as well, I guess the trick is to wait for colour to dry, but at that point you dont have a smooth surface anymore and strokes tend to move by themselves in random directions... lol! I just try to get the best of what spatulas decided to draw "

I just love the colours in this picture!
You have really managed to create a underwater feeling.
*hugs Morild*

Long addendum to previous comment, sorry:
Each person defines art / illustration differently, and it's a blurred line! I define illustration as representative, realistic drawing/painting. I use the word "art" for work that captures a mood and feeling, and suggests it to the viewer, leaving *them* to fill in the precise details. Each viewer superimposes their own stuff onto the artwork, so each person has a different experience.
In "illustration" you hand the viewer a scene to look at. Although it also conveys feelings and emotions, you're dictating everything more precisely. In good illustration the viewer sees exactly what you intended- no more or less.
And the final thing.... I actually do think this is better than the other stuff of yours that I've seen! But that's a different story!!! *chuckle* There's more sense of "being there". The object in the picture isn't physically separate from the surroundings. There's a sense of depth (Foreground/background) that's very close to real-life snorkelling. There are no hard-to-perfect items (faces&hands), so nothing spoils the suspension of disbelief. D

This is very impressive for an early painting attempt!
Nice. REALLY nice! I haven't seen *all* of your work, but this really stands out as closer to "art" than "illustraion". (That's not a compliment in&of itself: both have their place. They're simply different things.)
If you continue in this style of painting, you should experiment with oils and see what you think. Oil painting is a more drawn-out affair, with different frustrations, but I'd say it'd be right up your alley.
Keep up the good work!

Wow,so vibrant! Truly beautiful!

Cristina Marsi replies: "Thank you very much!"

Interesting style! Good hues... Another nice work!

Cristina Marsi replies: "Thank you. It is the kind of luck you sometimes have when experimenting a new medium. I did a lot of work in acrylics after this one, but never mamaged to achieve so much with so little effort "

A beautiful picture! Real nice work with the sunlight and colours. Love her floating hair..;D

Well hello cristina i hope u are proud of this piece of work especailly because the colours are wonderful and i love the shadows and the blues also i love the way u have blended the colours together its awesome and lately ive been drawing and i cant quit get the right shading i need your advice im not sure if i should put my work on elfwood all my friends say its good but still im unsure about it ive done 3 pieces of art and my favorite is a horse i did it took 3 days to finish it and well im finishing my 4 one im just doing the back ground and im unsure wat colours to use its a dalmation dog and i was thinking of using black or grey for the back ground. could you give me some advice plz.

Cristina Marsi replies: "Hi Shadow Girl, thanks for all your enthousiastic comments If you like to draw, I think you should put your work on Elfwood. There are every level of artists here, from beginners to professionals, so no one is expecting from you more than you can give. Besides Elfwood is a great way to receive feedback that will help you to improve. Just be sure you read carefully the rules, to avoid bitter disappointment. And just draw, draw and draw! With constance and patience you can reach the moon and beyond "

w0w its like w0w..........i hate you..... just kidding,but really w0w!