"Discovered"

Is Less More?

Richard Schmid once stated that it takes two people to do a painting, one to paint and the other to rap you on the knuckles when its time to stop.

 As Humans, we have this wonderful ability to finish a visual story from 'hints'. It seems that the more finished the less interest for the mind. I did this painting a couple of years ago. I came across some pictures I took of the progress from white canvas to finished. This helps me try to get a sense of transformation. Its easy to think that if I keep tightening and stating that I am improving. Sometimes it works, but usually something is lost. I like the aspens and background in the finished painting, but looking back I enjoy the 'feeling' of the first picture with the painting somewhere in the middle. There is a softness and nice light that I managed to compromise. If only someone was there with a ruler. Looking back (I'm glad I took pics) I would work the background like the finished painting and left the foreground and deer looser.