From Fort Victoria to Hurst Castle

I really like it Robert its so dramatic, just a suggestion but how about colouring the distant sails in maybe an orange or red this could provide a focal point maybe??! Don't go ruining a beautiful painting though, I know very little about acrylic !!

A really super piece, Robert - love the movement and the turbulent atmosphere that you've captured so very well. I think it stands very well on its own, but I agree with Denise, if you're looking to include something more obvious as a focal point, something like a red or orange boat strategically placed would proably do the trick. In addition, even if you started in acrylic, you could add to it in oil, and then unify the entire piece with varnish. I do that sometimes, but usually end up painting over the entire painting with one final version in oil, because I find the acrylic underpainting tends to give the oils an added ooomph. But really, in this case, the painting looks smashing as it is. I'll be off on vacation for 3 weeks, so please excuse me if I am not commenting on your works during that time. I'll catch up when I get back.

You've really caught the wildness of the sea in this atmospheric painting Robert. Lots of movement and a great brooding sky, I rather like it as it is.

Some beautiful colours in your sea and lovely marks in your foaming foreground. I too rather like it as it is, there is a lot of drama here.

Robert, does it need a focal point? It oozes atmosphere and movement and is a powerful painting without a focal point. It's got strength and character without, but I'm no expert, I just like what I like....and I like this very much.

Thanks for those suggestions - I'm sure you find, as I do, that it's very difficult indeed to evaluate your own work, especially when it's reached a certain point after a long struggle: I could indeed put in a red sail - I'm going to have to think about it. There was a forum discussion on focal points a while back, ie do paintings really need them? It's an incredibly hard question to answer! The real issue here was, although I know this area very well, I used a friend's photograph as the reference point for the painting: sometimes that works fine - but of course a photographer has a different set of objectives and needs to a painter; and in trying to interpret it, I floundered. Maybe a watercolour study would be a good idea, to try out a few variations. Or maybe - and this I think is the answer - I should move on and paint something new!

I have admired this, and returned to look at it several times, but been reluctant to comment as I know you are a brilliant professional. I look at the webistes of the painters that I admire on pol. But thank you for your kind comment on mine. I can't tell you how encouraging it is to to us beginners. (You also commented on one when I had just started, a year ago.) I do like anything I attempt to have some meaning, even if just to me, and would rather try to paint something I know rather then copy someone else's photo. However, I shall keep returning to yours for inspiration. Being numerically inclined myself, I do understand 'discalculic' but am not sure if it applies to interpreting/ identifying the roman numerals LXV !

Have to agree with the comments...there is so much drama going on! I'd leave it as it is.

Wow I really really love this, beautiful acrylic work, I'm not to sure on the focal point in a painting though, I beleive it depends on the painting as a whole itself, and this to me is perfect as it is:). Been ages since I've been on here, and I just love your paintings:).