"Betta Queen" by Amanda Anne Martin

No comments! But this is so beautiful. I love these fishes.

Amanda Anne Martin replies: "I am so glad you saw this one! I don’t know why it hasn’t gotten any comments either. This Painting was among the very first images I posted here at Elfwood. I really love this one, and is very special to me. I worked on this painting off and on for two years.

Thank you oh so much for your comment, and I am honored to love it so.

Just because you are the only person to comment, I would love to Mail you a print. If you are interested, send me a private email, to my Yahoo account, with your full address, and I will send it! *hugs*"

I think this is gorgeous, the betta’s are beautiful and the proportions of the woman are fantastic....actually I think his might be my favoite piece in your gallery....keep up the good work ^_^

Amanda Anne Martin replies: "Thank you so very much for giving this piece attention!"

I love this one, it might be my favourite of all your gallery. My mediums are mostly drawing and painting, so a piece on a flat surface compells me more. But the vibrancy of the colours bring her and the fishies to life.

The colours, the water effect. I can never get good water effect (perhaps due to the fact I haven’t re-tried doing water since I discovered I sucked at it, when I was fourteen).

As for her proportions, like the previous commenter mentioned, they are very good, while my drawings, albeit seemingly well-proportioned, still have this cartoony, childish, unrealistic feel. This is not to say I dislike my art, I suppose it’s the style I have, but for comparison’s sake, your people are much more realistic than mine. I also enjoy the fact she’s not anorexic-looking, and has a full figure. I cannot get my characters to look fuller, I don’t know why, they sort of look like pubescent people, the lot of them, and I wouldn’t want people to think I was disrespecting bigger people if I did a horrendous rendition of a chubby woman (some artists draw so pretty and feminine large women, I envy them).

Enough with the huge comment that’s telling all about my life. I like this a lot, and the first artist who commented is really lucky.

Amanda Anne Martin replies: "I think I must have struggled with this piece for years! I am a full-figured women myself, and was aghast at the total utter lack of more "natural looking female figures in the modern Art world, so I feel as though I must remedy this situation by painting all my women more realistically.

Painting water has always been hard for me as well. I still try to get better. Ya know...That first commenter never Emailed me! It is too bad! *sighs* oh well.

Thank you so much for all your wonderfully thoughtful and gentle critiques! I am very, very thankful!"

I really like this picture.It is sensual without being sleazy.I love the colors.Most of the time I leave my pictures black and white because I am afraid to ruin them by coloring them. Keep up the great work!

Amanda Anne Martin replies: "Oh, Thank you so very much! That was the impression I was hoping for. beauty comes in all shapes, and sizes!"

You have hit the nail on the head. The "Boobs and Biceps" thing that has gone on in the Fantasy /Comics genre doesn’t help us gals much.
I always have to shake my head why they would put a guy in full armor but have the girl fighting next to him clad in virtually nothing. Um, don’t you think she needs protection too?

Full Figured women were always seen as the paragons of beauty in the Rennaissance. You have captured the essence of that beautifully with your own twist. The fishes are gorgeous and the vibrant colurs are so lovely! A great step into drawing people, I think.
Just to let you know, I’m the other way; I’m short and small . So I do know what you mean about not "fitting" the mold,just from a different angle.