The Composition Challenge

How many of you artists and hobbyists have gotten the technique and subject right–the proper colors, shapes, proportions–only to realize you’re staring at a composition nightmare?

While this attempt at spring magnolia is far from complete, I think the composition errors make it unsalvageable. My teacher calls the forked branches at bottom the dreaded “chicken foot,” and parallel, mirror image buds at the bottom are also a no-no. The main branch is also too straight. Sigh.

I’ll keep going anyway to get in more practice, but my heart’s not in it!