This is a very interesting bit of work, here. It took me a moment to go back and double check the Deviation Category.

Photomanipulation? I felt, at first, as though this were a painting.

Is he drowning? Is he coming up from the depths to snatch away your soul?

There are a few things I'd like you to consider in the future;

Don't overpower your images with too many effects. While this image screams 'Spirit of a Serial Killer' to me, it also says (Though, perhaps a little more subtly) 'I am still an amateur'. I'm sure you're wondering why.

Well, your texture is inconsistent.

The saturation of the colour is uneven, drawing the attention away from your subject. Your intention was to drag away souls, but instead, you're now dragging away the focus of the picture.

Unfolding the attention of your viewers; forcing them to see the entire image, that is- is a hard thing to do. Most of us start in the middle with a large subject and lead outward with smaller words; adverbs, nouns, verbs and pronouns. That's right, I'm using English to describe art.

When you see the sentance "The beautiful woman drew an ugly but very large picture, while sitting on a bench" What do you see mentally? Which part of that do you see first?

The subject, of course. "The Beautiful Woman" on "A Bench".

It's the same goal here. Unfourtunatly, I found my attention pulled in a circle from the inconsistent brightness and saturdation of the texture.

But, all in all, I do like the image. It might not be 'original', but it is fresh and pleasing to look at. At least, so pleasing as a souless creature can be.

Keep it up! I see real potential!

First of all thank you very much for the critique, it's really hard to come by around here.

Well, to be perfectly honest, I really was messing around with textures and effects. I loved the stock photo so much that I just had to mess with it.

I am still an amateur I won't deny that looking at some of the other artwork in the same category. (actually, it's a woman in the picture. I have used her stock before for other pieces)

I can defiantly see why you would day the saturation is uneven, I think at the time I was looking to highlight her face and to make the viewer look into her eyes. Which apparently makes it look uneven.

I understand the practice of getting the viewer to see the entire image, but I think in my attempt to create depth with the darker underside to high-lite the womans face and eyes I made it uneven.

During this time I was still figuring out how to create lighting useing stock photos as well, so I might have gone over board with it.

Thanks again for the critique, I really do appreciate it.

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Isn't it strange how very little we come across on this art site? And how many people take it completely offensively if you're 100% honest with them.

I'm sure that you'll continue to improve, you definitly have the talent for it.

Yes, it really is. But you can find some clubs that will give you a critique, but it really should be common practice and not a feature you get by paying for a subscription.

Thank you very much for the lovely comments.

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