ellisjune21
Jun 5, 20232 min
I finished my latest large oil painting in the Mill River PEI series. It is 24x36 inches on stretched canvas. However, I haven't signed it yet as I am still not 100% sure it is complete. I'll decide in a few weeks. What do you think?
There are at least two tricky aspects to any painting. The first is getting started, and the second is knowing when to stop.
The painting is done when you can answer the following questions:
- When it feels right
- Are the things you add making the painting better or worse
- Is your subject recognizable
- Try the mirror test - It is a curious thing, but if you hold your painting up to a mirror and see it in reverse, all sorts of things that you didn’t notice before pop out at you. It is like getting a fresh pair of eyes. Proportions seem to appear slightly different and I think putting a bit of distance between you and the painting is also accountable for this fresh view offered by the mirror.
Even without the mirror, standing well back from the painting gives you a renewed perspective from which to assess the progress you are making with your painting.
- Take a photo - this is similar to the mirror test. Seeing the painting through the lens of the camera tends to focus your attention in a different way.
- Walk away - take a break from it for a few days.
Do you have a trick that you use? Let me know.
If you have a question on another topic, please send me an email and I would be more than happy to help.juneellisartist@gmail.com
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Talk to you soon. June