Share to XOne student sent in a tree painting this morning along with a brief reflection on how they went. Under “areas for improvement,” they wrote that there’s no clear focal point in the painting.
A clear focal point isn’t always necessary. Sometimes the painting as a whole can be the focus. This is the case with many Impressionist and Tonalist works, where ambiance and feel and emotion are the focus rather than any particular place in the painting.
My Fraser Island, Analogous Colors is a good example. There’s no clear focal point here. Rather, the painting as a whole is the focus, with the vibration of color and light in the landscape.
For comparison, here’s a painting with a strong focal point: Elora With Christmas Lights. There’s no mistaking where I want you to look in this painting. That alone doesn’t make this painting stronger than the one above; just different.
Just something to keep in mind. If you don’t have a clear focal point, it’s not necessarily a mistake. But if you go this route, then you must really lean into the sense of atmosphere and feel and color, or whatever it is you are trying to convey through your painting. Otherwise, the viewer may be left wondering what the point of your painting is.
Happy painting!
Dan Scott
Draw Paint Academy
