Sketch for new painting, open for advice

Hi again,

Started to sketch on a new painting, Brittish soldiers and a churchill advancing into Kleve.
If you have ideas on how to improve it please share.
Will paint it in oil as soon as the composition feels ok.
Painting live at www.Twitch.tv/slamdanc3r

 

Again! :twohearts:

Tanks in towns were "suicide" operations. Shattered debris.. Bricks, Beams, "slate etc" roofing tiles made roads impregnable.
Cloulds of choking dust for every step the infantry took. Shattered glass kept you on tenderhooks.
Let alone tanks hidden in alleys camouflaged in buildings. Gun Barrels poking ever so slightly out of windows or building holes.
Sharpshooters and Panzerfaust everywhere, the worse the damage, the more likely they were likely to be there.
Shattered (maybe bits of) bodies... Horses cows, chickens, pigeons, cats and dogs let alone human bodies / parts.
Smoke, gagging stench. Show one man retching or maybe having to have to wear a rag - better (or gas mask) to get by. :whip:

Old geezer senile events 2 Daze. Need spell check for the word AND. Sorry.

"Chilanke Bye"

 

I think it's great as it is now.

 

looks ok...maybe a couple of the soldiers looking at the roofs.....tank weathered.......

 

I was reading some interviews with Hitler Youth of the SS 12th armor in Normandy and several had comments about how green both US and British tanks were, unlike theirs that were camouflaged. You might do a bit of research on British green, it probably had a good bit of dust on it but would contrast nicely with mostly stuccoed buildings which have a kakhi-tan color. Streets may be chopped up but some cobble stone showing would give the tank a plane to sit upon.. .
You show a bit of roofing on the store front, could be terra cotta tile or slate but more likely tile....... . dusty terra cotta would add a mottled effect. Dust being thrown up by the tracts and that NW European weather to consider.

The tank is escorted by infantry but at least the tank commander might be half way out for vision but being in town he may be buttoned up.. Would they have had a whip antenna. ?

All that being said, just my old brain runnning possiblilities, your first painting of the Mark 1V in a town says you are far more caopable then any of us to make such decisions ! But thank you for offer of our observations.

Gaines

 

Thanks you all for all the great feedback, will try all the ideas and really work on how to make it feel real. Working on the sketch half the day then start with the painting all live at www.twitch.tv/slamdanc3r. Starts in maybe half an hour.

It gets to you, going over hundreds of b&w photos from the war, some of them say so much.

/Rickard

 

So here is the finale sketch.
Will start painting in an hour.

 

You have me in tears.

 

Thank you Fred, i hope the real painting turn out as well as the sketch. Starting it now.

 

I agree with Fred, my first thought was those young men, going through a ruin of a town but one filled with endless possibilities of being maimed or killed in just a moment's time. The tension they must have felt, kill or be killed reflexes taunt. I have spent 76 years and never felt a hint of what they did many times.

Richard you have added a new dimension to this great forumm, absolutely no pun intended. I could not help but think of Ron Goldstein, he was in a Churchill and wounded in one.

I appreciate your talent but most of all sharing the process with us. Really like the second sketch, it is becoming alive as we watch..

Gaines

 

I think it's a great composition as it is The only comment I would make is that when one looks at similar photographs taken in actual combat, the foot soldiers are usually closer to the tank using it for cover.

 

That is a cracking shot, KB. From Culin device to squaddies, that just says 'Normandy onwards' to a T. (60th ID in Belgium by some captions)


I do like your sketch, Slamdancer.
If you're inviting (hopefully positive) criticism; from a tank-nerd's point of view the Churchill is maybe a little 'squat'. Sort of narrow on the glacis & heavy-turreted.
Appreciate it's a sketch, and no idea what level of accuracy or style your flavour of art is finally heading for, or what relation the final piece will have to the sketch - just a passing thought.

 

Nice, looking forward to the reveal. Do you paint mostly land battles?
Might want to check out Ulithi's posts. He paints mostly ships/sea battles. He still haunts around here.

 

Thank you all once again. Von P: I will check the proportions again when i work on the painting, seems like your right. Just have to remember it once i start to paint, you get tunnel vision after a while.
Poppy: I have done both air and sea scenes. Ships not in battle thou. I think i have seen his paintings actually.
Can see other paintings i have made at www.rickardljungkvist.se but have only worked on historical paintings for a few weeks. Mostly portraits, still lifes and similar before.

/Rickard

 

If not in file behind the tank.





If the tank had to fire it's main gun, the Bren gunner on the right and the trooper out in front on the left are going to be in a world of hurt.

 

Out of salutes for the day, but yeah, that's the thought. Any point men would be well ahead of the tank, and those near it would be using it for cover. As an artistic composition, I find it balanced and pleasing, but tactically that's not how it was done if you look at at actual combat photos and footage.

 

Slipdigit: I will take a look at those engagements . Not sure yet what will be painted next. Thinking of a three picture sequence covering 10-15 seconds.
gtbblackwell: will keep your tips in mind when start coloring.

I see the point with the cover of the tank, but also guess it depends on the threat level.