The most interesting pieces of art have a focal point, contrast, and depth. Then if there is a story somehow it is even better.

These are all areas I have had to learn, even struggle with over the years.

Trying to paint some vast landscape without at least an interesting tree or mountain as the focal point always ends up flat and boring. Sometimes even just a splash of a red flower in the right place can be enough.

Dark, even black, areas make the rest stand out and the pattern of dark areas can hold a painting together.

Do something to show depth. Think foreground, mid, and distant, then put something in each. A plant or a person in the foreground, hazy mountains in the distance, makes all the difference.

This was the first semi-finished look of this sunset and ocean painting.

It really was not too bad, but not great. The sun is the focal point, there is dark on the hillside, which is in the foreground, but it was missing something. So I added breaking waves to make it clear that the ocean was right at my feet – like I was standing on that hillside. Then I highlighted the crest of a few of the waves with a bit of bright orange from the fading sun. I think it worked out quite well as it made for better composition and told a bit of a story.

This all works, regardless of the medium – even for photography. When traveling, take a break from photos of a person standing in front of something (I really don’t think people need to see 50 photos of me blocking the Eiffel Tower) and take a photo of the thing itself, find an angle where you can see some shadows, or frame it with a tree branch. Tricia and I learned long ago go that a few pics with us in them are enough, but photos of the place capture the moments much better.

A few bloggers that I follow are quite good at this.

Travels Through My Lens

Thistles and Kiwis

View From The Back

Monkeys Tale

In the Net

and there are more…