Perspective and composition

This is a new take on a picture I painted before. I decided to do it again and try to improve the over all view and perspective.
I'm happy with the over all view. I even like the sunset.
The clouds and trees need work.
But I'm happy with my progress.

I can only see what's wrong.

I'm working on sunsets again.
After I finished this one, my family was very encouraging. They had a lot of nice things to say.
But I look at this, and I can only see the mistakes I've made.
I've heard that it's common to feel this way.
I'm going to paint this one again, and see how much better it can be.

more mini paintings

This has been a wonderful exercise for me.
Painting an 8x10 canvas has very different challenges. I feel that it's improving my skills.
I bought a dozen little 8x10 canvases, and we'll see how things turn out.

Working on sunsets tonight

I feel like I'm on fire for painting again!
I will be working on a lot of new paintings over the next few weeks. I'm even going to try figures and faces.
Tonight it was sunsets.

Here's something new!

I've decided to paint a whole series of "studies", in 8 x 10.
It's amazing to me how different this is from painting something "big".
I'm having a great time, and I think I'm learning something important about composition.

I haven't given up!

I know it's been more than a year since I've posted.
I've had major house remodeling projects,
and some serious health issues that concerned several members of my family.
My granddaughter is now two, almost three, and she has a little brother.
But I have painted about a dozen times this year.
Lately I've been experimenting with paper that can be painted on with oils.
It's a challenge.
The paint doesn't go on the same.
But it's been fun, and the paintings don't take up as much space when I store them.
I'm excited about my painting, and I have time to paint again, so be prepared to see some new work.
I hope I will hear from many of you who are learning to paint like I am.

Here's what I did today:

It's been a year.

Wow.
This has been the greatest year of my life.
I've loved it all.
I always wanted to be an oil painter, now I am.
And a year from now, I'll be so much better, today's painting will look like kindergarten finger painting.
This past month has been a little difficult. We've been helping our kids, visiting with family, and doing family vacation.
Then I had a mini stroke, and I've been visiting doctors and doing the HORRIBLE MRI thing.
But I keep painting.
And I'll paint again soon.
I want to enter something into the State Fair. I really need to get busy to do that.
I'm also going to be taking my easel out and trying some Plein Aire Painting experiences.
I've just got to let the weather cool off a little first.
Stay tuned.

In the meantime, here's a seascape I tried today.
I really need to work at this. It's harder for me than I thought it would be.