Stopping the Eye

Sometimes we inadvertently include lines that point off the painting surface.  Our eyes need a stop sign to keep them from wandering over to the edge of the page. 

In this painting of Otter Cliffs in Acadia National Park, I wanted the emphasis to be on the breaking surf and the flat rocks catching the light.  On the left the vertical rock formation stops the eye as does the foliage.  On the right the tree is the stop sign.  Also to keep them from forming a "goal post" look, I angled one of them inward toward the center of interest.