Reworking an Old Painting

The reworked design on an 18 x 24 linen canvas.  I feel like there is no relationship between one side of the painting to the other.  Below are two images that are taken from each side and they seem to work nicely cropped and stand on there own as paintings.  Cropping is so useful- maybe you can't save the entire painting, but there are usually some areas that are worth the rescue.

I have a habit of taking an old painting that didn't work and trying to correct some problems that the original painting had that I could not resolve at the time.  What I have found is that sometimes it is the design of the painting that is the problem and not the color or technique, drawing or any other issue- the overall design is flawed.  I have found that if I am forcing my idea to fit on a standard size canvas or board, that is when the problem begins.  That is my opinion today- it could change tomorrow, and I will let you know if it does.  Sometimes I can do something to correct the design but it doesn't come to me quickly- usually an epiphany much later and after I long since given up!

The right side of the painting- cropped with no sky showing.  One idea and the deign works.

The left side of the painting- cropped and a higher horizon- and the design works.

New Plein Air Work

In 2014 I moved 3 times, got a part time job, and tried to make time to paint.  I'm tired...

I did manage to spend the spring and summer of 2014 doing lots of plein air paintings with a small group of artists, Bucks County Plein Air Painters.
I plan to use the plein air studies as reference for studio paintings.  Since I am not a fast plein air painter, I am only satisfied with a few of the paintings that I completed in the field (ala prima).
This painting was completed for the Lambertville Historical Society- it is a view of the canal near Finkles- most artists paint the buildings that are closer to the bridge, but I chose to focus on a prettier area a bit down the way.  The paintings will be up for auction for their fundraiser in January at Ragu Auction in Lambertville, NJ- you can go to their website for information.

This was my first version of Cuttalossa Farm. Sometimes a block in like this can be more fresh and enough information. But if you are anything like me, if given the time I will go back and work on a paintings when I should have left well enough alone!
And as I write this I am already composing version 3 in my mind.