Winter by Ruth Dolan

That's a lovely snowy sky and the snow looks so deep brrrr, I like your fine detail in the houses and trees.

I agree with Carole: beautiful details on the trees and houses. I especially love the left side: this would make a lovely painting on its own, because in my opinion (no offense please, Ruth) I think the trees on the right are a bit too big and because of that there is not enough depth. And you are right it needs something to connect both sides, a path maybe?

Even when you consider that the house on the left and the trees around it are in a dip in the landscape, the trees on the right would have to be truly massive to reach this height, and I think that's all that's wrong here - once you've corrected the relative scale, all else should fall into place, if you either take the far line of trees farther to the left, having reduced the height or, if it were possible, cut out the upper right of the painting altogether. A path might help to bridge the two sides - so would a fox, pheasant, or rabbit or two.

Thank you, Carole, Mia and Robert, for your helpful comments. I see now and agree that the trees upper right are not in proportion. I think I will try to reduce them and extend them towards the left in order to link the two sides of the painting more convincingly, and perhaps add an appropriate animal between.

Looking at them again with your comments in mind, yes, I think I could either wash out the trees upper right, or reduce them considerably to make a better composition....thank you again for looking. Cheers!

You're on a roll, Ruth! Two lovely snowscapes in one sitting! It's great!

Thank you for looking Seok.

Very effective Ruth

Thank you Neil. Very much appreciated.

Hi Ruth. Thanks for the compliment on my Monet Lilys painting. If I may comment on this of yours; I find the atmosphere generally great on a cold winter day. My breath almost freezes in August! I find the open whiteness adds to the emotional response. However, the cottages seem to disappear behind a hillock whilst the trees on the right seem to be too close (closer than the cottages even), though the composition says otherwise. My suggestion if not too late, would be to knock back the strength of the trees and ridge on the right by wetting and dabbing back, so that they recede into distance. They could be that big so size is not for me a problem.

Hi Richard, and thank you for commenting. I think you are quite right about the tonal strength of those trees, that is what is bringing them forward. I think possibly Robert was right about the relative size also in his comment. I will perhaps give it more thought and decide to do something or to leave it as is....Once a painting has gone off the boil I do find my heart isn't in it and I think that shows, if you know what I mean?