Shaded Pond

It's refreshing to see and comment on traditional artwork. I haven't painted in oils in many years now but I still have a fond relation to the medium.

First of all I must say that the reflection in pond itself is magnificient and very beautiful. A very cool choice of image. I think I see some reflections in the canvas here and there, but that actually enhances the effect a bit. <img src="e.deviantart.net/emoticons/s/s…" width="15" height="15" alt="" title=" (Smile)" /> You have really nailed the colouration of the trees in the reflection. I have not so much critique on this, as as set of suggestions and observations.

I guess you have done this off the picture reference, but It does concern me a bit that the water does not reflect the patch of sky we see at the top. It's probably correct due to the transparency of water, but it's not an effect I would have expected if I'd been planning this from imagination.
Since the light seems to be coming from the top right, it's also correct that the sky beyond would not be particularly bright. I would nevertheless recommend some artistic freedom there - the patch of sky looks a bit dull considering how much light you have below. The patch could be made brighter. If you were willing to deviate from the refrence and ad-libbed some distant mountans in there too, you could make if further interesting since you could have the sun hit them on the side. As it is, the top part of the image looks more glum than needed whereas the middle and lower part is lit with spectacular lighting.

May I ask through which kind of foilage the sun filters down in order to produce those bright patches on the water's surface? Whereas bright sunlight might indeed bypass the effects of individual leaves, the patches maybe seem a bit smooth to look at, one would imagine some structure from the foilage would be detected, especially since the pond is truly mirror-flat.

Those are just minor things to consider though, it's the great reflection and the lighting overall that makes this picture. Good job! You are really improving here.
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Griatch