Comparing My Watercolor Paintings - Same Subject 2 Years Apart

Growth can be hard to measure, so it’s important to take a step back and look at the progress you’ve made. It can also be incredibly helpful to hear how others have improved so that you know where some areas of growth could be for you.

In this week’s video, I compare two of my paintings on the same subject, completed about 2 years apart from one another.

When I look at these two paintings, there are things I like about each, but it there are definite ways that I have refined my approach:

1. I’ve improved my clarity. There's a nice kind of loose, sketchy quality to the first painting, but I do like that in the second one I was able to define the background a little bit more and turn up the contrast.
2. 
   I’ve added interest. The addition of the power pole connects the middle ground of this scene with the background and enhances the interest of the scene.
3. 
   I improved the sky. While the painting isn’t about the sky, I like the attention I give it in the newest version. Leaving some of the white clouds gives a better sense of the midday light.
4. 
   I used a variety of edges. In the second painting, I was much more intentional about creating contrast at the edges and using edges to create distance.
5. 
   I avoided tangents. A tangent is when two objects touch in a visibly awkward manner. The lightpost and awning in my first painting touch but don’t overlap, and I like that in the newer version I’ve positioned it differently.

Overall, I can see where I have become a lot clearer on details that need to be included and details that should be eliminated. I think that's a skill that comes with time, and I'm pleased to see that there has been some progress.

I hope this video helps you identify some areas that you can further develop and remind you to take some time to acknowledge your progress every once in a while!

Until next time, keep moving forward in your learning, keep working at it, and keep practicing!