When I finish a painting, I take it back to the studio and critique it. Does it need something more? Should I try to touch it up?
It can be dangerous to fiddle with a painting. Often you only make it worse with additional brush strokes. Besides, you lose the spontaneity of the fresh painting. But sometimes it can be helpful to make improvements. In this case, I brought my plein air painting (below) to the group critique with my teacher Eric Wiegardt. He said that I had a split area of dominance and suggested that I darken the sky and the shed on the left side of the painting in order to bring the eye to the barn on the right. Compare this with the improved painting (above) and see what you think.
I’m scrolling back and forth, back and forth. I can’t tell you exactly why, but I like the second version better. I think the suggestions you received make a difference for me. It’s a hard choice.
Thanks for all of the lessons in art through your blog, but also at the lunch and dinner table daily. You give me lots to think about.
I think the darkness in the 1st brings out the color somehow. Very nice both of them.