Using Artistic License to Leave out Areas of a Painting

Gabriele has sent me her painting of a Rainbow Lorrikeet and has asked for some feedback, Gabriele writes:"I wanted to show you this picture I just finished, asking for some feedback. This time wanted to do a more focused foreground with leafs but I ran out of patience for the details. Do you think the branches should have been extended more? The red colour was hard to work with as it doesn't like any colour underneath as you mentioned before. It intends to get muddy"This is a lovely painting but I would like to address a couple of Gabriele’s queries, let me say that I totally understand the reason she gives for running out of patience in tackling the leaves as I would feel the same way.So how do you solve this problem do you or don’t you put them in? After all, they appear in your reference picture.My answer is unless you feel that you can enjoy this process and make a good job of them the answer is no leave them out. I am sure that this same bird would be just as comfortable on an area of the branch without the leaves.As far as the branch question is concerned my answer would be yes extend the branches, however I would alter the composition so that the branches would be of shorter length. I have suggested a shape above that would work although more infill would be needed above the bird.My final suggestion is that don’t alter the leaves as this would create more problems. Use the portrait shape I have suggested, redesign where I have indicated and fill in the top following the same colour scheme.Don’t alter the branches on the left unless you feel the need as this will work as it stands. But extend the branches on the right (see black arrows). At the moment the branches look like they are floating.These small adjustments will turn a good panting into a very good painting.You can receive constructive feedback on your painting by joining any one of our membership plans.