I’m going to break the rules – shocking I know. One reason I don’t like hanging my paintings in my house is because I invariably find things wrong with them. If they are framed and in a place that suits them, I learn to live with it. Mostly, I just try not to look at it.

If it isn’t hanging or framed I think about “fixing” it. A lot of times I just stick it in a closet and try and forget about the wasted time, paint, and canvas.

Not so much with this last one – maybe I’m developing some patience in my old age. During my artist-in-residence months in Sarasota I painted a scene from the Italian Alps. When I brought it home I put it on my easel, mostly for convenience. Unfortunately my seat at the kitchen table faces my easel.

For several weeks that painting stared back at me. “You know those colors are wrong, don’t you?” it said. “The church is too skinny, and don’t get me started on the outcropping of rock.”

Now, here’s where the rule breaking comes in. Rule #1 do not show the photograph you worked from. Rule #2 do not show a painting you know to be flawed.

Above you can see the photos I worked from, below are version one, and version two. It still isn’t signed because I’m not sure I’m happy with it. Maybe staring at it some more will tell me the answer.

I’m curious what others think of the changes. Unfortunately the colors are going to varying depending on your monitor but the composition doesn’t change.

Version 1

Version 2