Crimson Daggers — Art forum

Hey guys,

what do you think about these compositions?

Topic for this piece will be: Tobacco Trade in times of the East India Company.

What I thought of is some slaves are carrying big crates full of cigars from a warehouse onto a ship in the background
while the masters in their british uniforms sit around and laugh or drink or rest or one slave is showing them the quality in the foreground.

I made these 4 sketches. What do you think, do you know how to make better compositions or any suggestions?

[attachment=86157]

Out of these 4, I like the top right

1 and 3 don't have foreground, it lacks a real focus as everything has the same scale.
2 and 4 work way better, but 4 is more interesting as the two rich guys are having a good time.

Masters in the foreground, enjoying life/wealth and taking a major part of the composition while a slave is working in the background, taking a minor part of the composition, almost invisible, blended in his surrounding.
It creates a contrast in the composition and in their social status, it's clever.

Can you see big flaws in this? perspectical or other? What do you think about this sketch?


[attachment=88533]