From One Hill Fort to the Next (with questionable tree) by Amanda Bates

Good painting, Amanda. I think the tree, as a focal point could be moved to the right (or left). I mean one third from the side of the painting. Now it is cutting the composition in half (that of course is my opinion). I wouldn't take it away completely because it is adding more depth to the composition :) Mia

I find myself peering around the tree to see the lovely view, so yes, I think you should have left it out or maybe replanted it at the left hand side!

I think that if you put a large object bang in the centre of a painting and that object is not the main subject, then you are going to have problems. I would have moved the tree to the right and closer because the interest for me are the rolling hills brightly lit on the left. This would have led your eye in to the view and given the painting more perspective. As it is, your eye sort of stops dead at the tree.

I think you are all right. I will see if I can find time tomorrow to scrape it off. And the moral? Don't choose a painting pitch because your legs are tired!

Tree to the right, yes - agreed. Wherever you put it on the left, it's going to cause a problem; and of course an alternative is to remove it altogether. That's a bit of a scooped-out curve you've got in the foreground too - not sure it's helping.

That's the scooped out ditch of the first hill fort, that is :-)

I like the useful comments this has attracted. I have posted my comment on the FORUM as you suggested. http://www.painters-online.co.uk/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=4676

Thank you, Pat - I don't really mind, for myself, where the comments appear as I get notified anyhow, but the forum is better for dscussion as all partcipants can be nofified of new comments.

Yes ... so it is (scooped out ditch of the first hill fort).... hmmm. Of course you haven't finished it yet so I've missed the point a bit - and it doesn't help that I don't know the scene; but the job you've done and posted on the forum suggests you could leave out the tree and mould that first ditch a bit, so the farther hill fort becomes the major focus... More than happy to leave you to it, because I'm find it far too hot to even think about painting!

Think you're having trouble with this composition Amanda and here are my thoughts. When painting from life, I find it easier not to accurately copy the view, but move things round for a better composition. Still capture the feeling of the landscape but alter the scene slightly.

Thank you, Louise. I think my brain was slightly addled that day - I was hot, tired, short of time and uncomfotable (sitting on the ground). To cap it all, hill forts - lovely though they are - are dashed tricky subjects! And I got sunburnt :-(