"By the Bow" #1 & #2

I often enjoy taking an older painting that has been hanging around 

the studio for a while and see what can be done with it. 

In this case i felt the original was rather flat. 

The yellow house had no dimension. 

The grass was in need of improvement. 

Also i felt there was not enough contrast everywhere 

and the cows did not stand out like i thought they should. 

So! What to do? 

I started on the house and turned it a bit. The joy of acrylic. 

I then worked on the trees and created more dark values 

with the sky and water peeking through in spots.

I felt the bottom right corner was too large a space on it's own. 

I tried a boat but ended up with the road. 

And the road led to the far right building becoming a garage. 

Finally, i worked on the shadows and the grass. 

I think it works a lot better and i learned a lot doing this. 

As always there are many ways a painting can be re-worked. 

By doing this i am able to determine how i am progressing as an artist. 

In a few months if the painting is still here there may be further changes. 

I have come to realize that a painting is never really finished. 

We just need to know when to leave it alone. 

Merry Christmas everyone and God bless. 

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