The Frame

Yesterday I spoke of placing an object in the foreground to frame a subject. Sometimes though, the frame becomes the subect.

In this painting of The Trees of Ocean Point, the lighthouse in the background is almost incidental, more of a balancing element than a focal point. The real subject is the twisted tree trunk with its shadows and foliage.

Yesterday's frame existed on only one side of the composition. In this painting the frame is on three sides of the painting. The second tree group is an eye-stopper to keep the viewer from wandering off the paper.

Also, examine the major trunk to see the multiple colors and gradations that give it more interest than painting a solid brown or gray trunk.