i, too, have done realism just to see if i could. the black isn't too black; it's the balance = how the bee seems too small, is what bothers me. it's just big enough to see that it's a bee but the actual size of it seems too small for that much dark space.
I have finished this painting recently. It was painted from photograph of the white lilium from my garden taken last summer. I tried to be as close to realism or even photorealism. Would appreciate any comments and critique.