5 Common Mistakes Artists Make - Part 1
1 No focal point - a painting needs a figure or animal, or a contrast in colours or edge sharpness to draw the eye. No focal point will make for a bland painting.
2 Competing areas of interest all clamouring for attention equally. A painting needs some busy and some quiet aspects or it will be jarring to the eyes.
3 Not enough interesting areas. Balance is needed to avoid too much quiet. Think of introducing a 2nd focal point.
4 Two elements - such as trees or people - lined up like soldiers next to each other. Either move them apart of have them overlap.
5 A line or edge going to a corner - and out of the painting, leading the viewer's eye away. Ensure you are keeping the viewer's eye in the painting.
The painting below has no focal point. It is a background piece with no where obvious for the eye to land.
The painting below has a focal point. Wherever there is life, that will be the focal point. Our eyes will naturally be drawn to people or animals.
