I've "Thunk and Thunk" and I thunk it's the water. Maybe needs to shrink a bit and go down a layer??/ Look who you are askin...yikes

 

 

Faerilee, you can come out of hiding now!!  LOL!!! I think you are right about the birds, Also I noticed that I have the sun going down behind the mountians  but I have the tree shadow, facing the mountians. should be on the other side............ This does give me an idea tho.... What do you both think about a contest along this line.... like "Whats Wrong With This Picture" type thing??  Ollie

My father does this to me all the time with his woodcarving. I give him an honest opinion, because that is what he wants. I didn't take art as a major in H.S. for nothin', hehehe.

 

Water: looks like a beach, not a river.

 

Frame: the inner ones are hard, the outer is soft. They clash.

 

Birds: ditto to what Faerilee said.

 

Shadow: you picked up on the sun and shadow. But the tree is the only thing that has a shadow. The lion and rock should also have a shadow. Especially since you can see the light side of the lion faces the sun.

 

The further back things are, the softer they are. The detail should not show up. And you don't really need the reeds in the front.

 

Contest? How about just a place to get honest opinions. If you don't want 'em, don't put something there.

 

Ain't ya glad I showed up? You can ban me now.

Mom2, I love your answers!!  I was really busy reading your answer and then scrolling up to the pic, and you are so right!! See, I knew something was wrong!! I think the pic itself is a good idea, but yes, it could be improved (lots)!

Mom2, this is why I posted this pic, I am not afraid of critisism, I want my stuff to look good, and if I feel that there is something wrong, and I dont see it, I will ask.  SOOO glad you are here!!!   Ollie

The shadow should be on the other side of the tree cuz the sun is going down,  I think the river needs a  a definite river bank of some kind and I agree about the birds,   too.   Yep....I'm a critic not an artist....di

How about a little more vegetation along the riverbank..there's my two cents.   Peengwin

A huge thank you to everyone who replied to this thread. I thought alot about what everyone said and have come to the conclusion......What was I thinking!!!  LOL!! I think Mom2 has a great idea about the honest opinion board, Like she said "If you dont want to know... Dont ask.'... btw Mom2 I live by that rule in real life!! I am reworking this pic and when I am done I will ask again.  Thank you!  Ollie