Only clouds, 081115

9x12, I wasn't able to thinking clearly on site, I am thinking do I need the little tree in the painting?

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Comment by Manneherrin on August 15, 2015 at 6:07: I really depends on you. If you want a tree to be the focal point or a specific cloud. IF you want a tree to be focal point I say play it up. If you want a cloud to be your focal point I would play that up. Whatever you choose will be beautiful!

Comment by Susan Burke on August 15, 2015 at 5:49: Beautiful skyscape! I think you do need the little tree; but I think the straight line of the land it's on stops the eye from going up to the sky, maybe if you subdue that or had the water lead you back to the far off land in the distance?

Comment by Laura Xu on August 15, 2015 at 4:12: Thank you so very much Ann, Jon, Thomas for your thoughtful comments! I really appreciate it. I agree with you all. The painting is more about clouds, it is not my intention to put the tree in focal spot and then thought it may balance with the big tree on the right side. Given the small tree on the sweet spot, I feel it compete with clouds some. Or, like Thomas said make the little tree more interesting to be real Focal Point. Composition is always challenge to me.

Comment by Thomas Ruckstuhl on August 14, 2015 at 20:45: Nice work Laua. I think there is often an inherent contradiction of trying to find the most interesting composition and authentically communicating the feeling of the place. Sometimes it all falls into place but it seems impractical to go out there with this goal. For my personal taste how things are painted is often much more important than overall design. The small tree is an important shape in your painting catching the eye. As it is the focal point this tree needs to be painted in the best possible way. The trees on the right look better to me.

Comment by Jon Main on August 14, 2015 at 19:56: Yeah, the design does sort of worry me a bit somehow - dunno really

Comment by Ann Turner on August 14, 2015 at 17:35: The sky is beautiful and nice use of value variations in the water. Not sure about the composition, some artists stay away from dark shapes of trees on the edges of a painting that appear to be cut in half. Just a little thought for another time.