Solving Design Issues - Barn

Mesilla Valley Barn

6x8in oil on canvas panel $135.

Purchase HERE

Artist Note.

Painting on location is 

valuable as a way to 

record the colors and shapes,

but rarely do you get a really

good composition in your sight-line. 

Taking photos with the 

zoom can help, but even then I find I may 

like part of the pic, but not all 

of it. Here is a 

simple but excellent

way to help focus on getting 

an improved design.

First, divide your surface

(any shape) in half 

horizontally and vertically.

You now have four quarters.

The idea is not to have any of the 

quarters match,  meaning - 

too similar in value

 or color pattern

Below are the four quarters

from my landscape above. 

You can see when split 

this way they are all 

completely different. 

Or in Julie parlance...

No matchy matchy!

This is top left...

Top right

this is lower left

lower right.

The painting below by a fellow 

guild member is a good example 

of a plein air painting which

has captured the place really well

-it looked exactly like this -

but, look at the horizontal

bands of similar

shapes and colors. 

Also 

an uninteresting rectangle

exists right in the center.

Lets see if the design 

can be improved.

I took a piece of glass and 

placed it over the painting.

I did a quick line down 

and across the center.

Before

I didn't touch the sky or mountains

but started the changes 

just below them.

Notice how I broke up the 

three similar bush shapes, 

top left, by placing a lighter 

 ground color 

weaving in and out across 

the horizon

Next I  lowered the bottom 

of the green bushes 

near mid center, 

bringing them closer.

Then I placed a stronger value 

of  the front weeds to continue

the strong angle. 

Remember the whole 

purpose is to make 

each quarter a different

pattern of light and dark, or color

than each of the others.
BUT STILL LINKING AS A WHOLE.

after changes

piece of glass showing 

each quarter with the different

marks.

I was taught this at Art School 

in England as part of a course

on Alternation,

but I have not seen or read about

it being used anywhere else. 

I do not know why. 

It is simple and effective

Easy to try this method with an older 

painting you have not been quite 

satisfied with.
Do I use it all the time?
Nope!
But it sure comes in handy when
trying to figure out a way to improve
a painting.
Hope you try it.