Azure Fields, 24 x 36, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2020
SOLD - private collection
This is another Fix-It from my archives. Although the painting (and changes) are several years old, it illustrates a huge lesson about landscapes that I encounter again and again...
BEFORE
AFTER
CHANGES:
Problem 1 - The horizon line split the top of the painting from the bottom of the painting (I'm referring to the sharp edge and high contrast where ground plane met the upright plane. The ground plane looked like a skating rink, am I right?)
Fix 1 - Muted/darkened the color of the ground plane which eliminated the high contrast.
Fix 2 - Softened the static, hard edge with grasses and flowers that break the horizontal line.
OBSERVATIONS:
To establish depth in a painting, we have several devices in our toolbox: 1) overlapping layers (indicates front and back), 2) scale shift (elements get smaller as they recede), 3) muting color (color gets more dull and cooler as it recedes), 4) eliminating contrast (values weaken as they recede.) Eliminating that sharp line at the horizon allowed everything to settle in. Ahhh... what relief!!! :)
Such small changes make a big difference!
ReplyDeleteSuch subtle changes are amazing. you are amazing. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. I will think about this of course. Love it.
ReplyDeleteXOXOXOXOXOXO Barbara
Thank you, All!!! Love hearing from you!!!
ReplyDelete