after you have critiqued

The next step after you have critiqued your paintings (excerpt from Elizabeth Mowry workshop, see Saturday's post for the first part)
Then the choices are:
*Is it possible to make alterations on the painting without overworking?
*Knowing that by making changes, the painting will be overworked, but you are will to sacrifice it in order to learn.
*You decide not to alter the current painting but will keep in mind how you would prefer to do a similar subject in the future.
Okay. So you have made a painting that looks exactly like what you were looking at......

Now ask, but could it be better? Could it say more? How?
FORMAT-Is this the best one for this kind of subject?
SPACING- Could I vary or improve the spacing between components?
DETAILS- Are there distracting areas that compromise the main idea?
HORIZON LINE PLACEMENT- Better higher or lower? Did I give the most important idea the space it needs?
COLOR- Am I really happy with the color palette?
Are the colors dull or boring? Or garishly causing tension?
MAIN IDEA- Is the idea clear or are there several ideas competing?
LINE- Is there an elegance and grace of line within the painting?
EDGES - Should some of the edges be softened? (or more defined?)
CENTER OF INTEREST- The center of interest reads stronger when the contrast, purest color and important details are in that area.
Are some of the areas of the painting obviously overworked?
Is the technique generally consistent throughout the painting?

how to critique your own paintings

Recently my  good painting friend, Christine, was fortunate to take a rare workshop from Elizabeth Mowry. The next day she and I shared a long telephone conversation about the workshop (and more.)  I am posting a small, but very important morsel about critiquing your own work.
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When we are back in the vacuum of our studios, producing painting after painting, we often struggle with critiquing our own work. It's challenging to be objective, unless you let time pass. Well here is another way for those of us who prefer not to wait a year or so for clear eyes. I plan to use it often.

1. Set up five recent paintings. Study them carefully.

2.Put them in order beginning with your favorite to your least favorite.

3. What are the qualities that you really like in your favorite painting? Why?

4.What are some things you do not like about your least favorite painting?

5. What in each of the others could you alter so that it would have more of the qualities that are in the one you like best? What can you do specifically to numbers 2,3,4, and 5 to make them better?

It is important that you go through the whole process and thoughtfully answer all the questions out loud.  Next I will post what the choices are after you have done your assessment.

I have been working glazing 4 paintings here is one that has a few layers much more to go.

PS Thanks Christine!!!!!