[Schellamo]

There is a probably alot that could be improved on these pics, the lighting was less than ideal (heavily backlit by the window) and the reflector I was using didn't make much difference, but I didn't want to use my flash. Anyway, see what you think.
This is my other sister,

[Zig]

Hi Schell; I do like the idea of exposing for the painting and letting the artist be the silhouette: seeing as form is important here, then mono is ideal. As regards aperture, my personal preference would be f16 or f22, so as to include the "accoutrements" that relate to the painter(as you've done) but with them all in focus. The mono treatment here does draw attention to some distracting detail, which is intensified by the silhouetting...so reframing would draw the viewer into the parts you wanted him/her to be engaged with.
Give us a mo......

[Zig]

Alrightythen.
I've tried to illustrate what I mean by this: I've pared away a great deal for that minimalist feel: I've dodged the painting to give it movement whilst slashing away posts and foliage, sorta recreating the "frame"/ blank canvas motif by the resulting 2 squares of mono on the right. I've brushed out distracting highlights and intensified the interest on the both the subject and what she is doing by a tight crop. I've left in the big post so as to in some way suggest a bit more about the symbolic nature of "frames" or boundaries and the tussle an artist has trying to reduce his/her experience to a 2 dimensional one.
I suppose I'm saying, think about what you want the picture to say, then work out how to use the image you have to say or suggest it. Forgive the gratuitous liberties I've taken here..too much time on my hands today!

[Petographer]

I like what Zig has suggested. In your 2nd shot I'd like to see more of the canvas she's working on.

[Irma]

Beautiful pictures Schell,
I like a lot Zig's try with your picture, it focuses perpectly to the artist and her art...
#2 is lovely... but I think the background is a bit distracting... perhaps if you tried something similar to Zig's treatment? ...

[shuttertalk]

Nice impressions, Schell. It's great that you can capture someone participating in their craft.

Zig, I like what you've done...

[Russt]

Hi Schell,

I really like what you were going for with these shots. I like the use of natural light.

I agree with Irma that pic #2 might benefit from a tighter crop. Take out the pole on the right to near her hand, in from the left to just behind her hair so as to lose the open window.
It comes down to your own taste but I would like the shadows a bit lighter and blow the background a little RE: ZIG (opps I did say a little)

the B&W works well but I would be interested to see the colour in the picture you sister is painting in #1

[Schellamo]

Thanks guys,
I love your version Zig, I'm almost thinking that I should get it printed on a canvas, I love the way it concentrates the attention on her concentration, fantastic! And I absolutely love the texture you've created on the canvas.
I'll post a colour pic a little later for you Russt