Cut-Offs

I sometimes use tree foliage on the edge of the painting to help frame the main subject.  Sometimes a shadow will help frame.  And sometimes using a building will help push the focal point back.

Often, though, students will believe that if an object is there and included in the painting, the whole object must be depicted.

In this painting of a boatyard, I've employed a boat on the left side of the composition to help frame the main boat.  However, I cut off part of the boat.  If the whole boat were included, I would end up with two focal points.  In this case the boat on the left pushes the focal point boat back, and acts as a frame.

On the righthand side of the composition, I've also cut off the background boat.  If the whole boat had been included, it would have acted as a pointer out of the painting.

It comes back to the concept of portraying shapes, not objects.  Know what your focal point is and use shapes that do not compete with the primary subject.