Thank you for your report!
We have received your report and it is currently under investigation by a forum moderator.
Leave it or lose it!
Welcome to the forum.
Here you can discuss all things art with like-minded artists, join regular painting challenges, ask questions, buy and sell art materials and much more.
Make sure you sign in or register to join the discussions.
Hang on Studio Wall
This is a Studio member-only feature!
Join our Studio membership and save your favourite Painters Online content, from gallery artwork to step-by-step guides, to your own online mood boards. Create your go-to place for inspiration and learning. Plus, members can also enjoy a range of exciting features including monthly art videos and a digital magazine library.
If you are already a Studio member, simply login to your account.
Not a Studio member? Why not try our free 30-day trial - no commitment, no credit card required
Message
Posted
Hi all. I'm new to this website and to painting. I was looking forward to painting my first work, in oils, on a large canvas (76cm x 71cm) but seem to be stuck with this in the way that writers suffer from writers block! I can't decide whether to put some hints of colour in the blue areas, or just leave it alone. Maybe I'm phased by the canvas. I've completed smaller work without this issue. 
Posted
That’s quite a size for your first oil painting.
I’m not sure what the painting is about so difficult to advise you about how to proceed. If I’m honest, it looks like the first stage and needs to be continued..
But, whatever the subject, you need to have it planned out before starting to add paint! That can be in the form of small sketches, coloured thumbnails and so on, otherwise you have no direction and basically flying blind! planning a painting is just as important as completing it!
There’s lots of ideas and help available on the tips & techniques page on this website.
Posted
Welcome Fiona, and well done for being brave enough to post this.....we've all been there believe me!
I generally put the canvas away for a few days and then have another look, it's amazing how often you can see what it needs when you come back to it. Big pictures are intimidating but in the end you've got to show it who is the boss!
Posted
I'm with the others, well done for posting this - and with Alan: you generally need to have a plan, whether your painting be big or small. The lack of one may show rather more on a bigger canvas, but I think it's always obvious when we've just winged it; the only time I did that was around 45 years ago, when I was - we must be frank - drunk. The result was as near as I've ever got to an abstract: except - it wasn't even that.
On a canvas of this size, you need a step back and a think - a think about what you'd like to paint on it, rather than necessarily struggling on in the hope that something resolves itself: it might - that can happen; but it's more likely that it won't. Your line across the canvas could be a shore - especially with a bit of variation - straight lines are rare in nature, if a natural painting is what you're after; you could develop that by encroaching on the blue to indicate more coastline, a few rocks. But make a few drawings before you go on; see what should work in a composition of similar proportions - fancy a tree or two? Palm trees dripping over the water? A couple of boats? Distant dolphins, grasses on the shore, clouds and reflections of clouds - there's a lot of choices open to you, but you do need a plan of campaign.
Posted
Hi Fiona. If I'm working on something realistic, I plan ahead as Alan advised. If I'm being more abstract I often start without a clear objective and if a plan doesn't pop into my head I'll photograph what I've done and try ideas out in Photoshop. I don't know if you have a similar program available to you. I find it very helpful. No need to try to produce a finished article, really rough works fine.
Posted
Welcome Fiona, there is lots of great stuff on the tips and techniques and also on the community videos. I always find lots of useful exercises and information there. That is a very big canvas you have started with. I did take a look at it upside down as Robert suggested to you and for me, I did like the lighter area at the top of the painting. It reminded me of a land mass with the darker reflections falling on water. Of course it could be something totally different, it's just what it reminded me of. I looked at your other abstract work and liked it very much. I wish you luck with it, whatever you decide.
Posted
Welcome Fiona, there is lots of great stuff on the tips and techniques and also on the community videos. I always find lots of useful exercises and information there. That is a very big canvas you have started with. I did take a look at it upside down as Robert suggested to you and for me, I did like the lighter area at the top of the painting. It reminded me of a land mass with the darker reflections falling on water. Of course it could be something totally different, it's just what it reminded me of. I looked at your other abstract work and liked it very much. I wish you luck with it, whatever you decide.Thanks for your kind words. I would have replied sooner but had no internet for three days! The painting is developing and I may show it once I'm happy and finished with it. You have a very distinctive style in your work - I love it.