Happy 2021!
Additional commentary and points for improvement:
Even though I typically don't make resolutions, one of my key goals nowadays is to appreciate both the negative and positive things in my life. I don't have to like everything, but it's good to recognize the inherent value in experiencing things. This approach should broaden and balance my perspective a bit more.
Moving on, I am very pleased to have made a painting so quickly at the start of this year. The concept was an engaging one, as I challenged myself to take the following elements and find a way to harmonize them: trees, water, fire, moon, stars, wispy clouds and swirling leaves (later changed to abstract specks).
I developed a backstory for how the elements fit together, but it's rather metaphorical and specific, so I don't think it's necessary to explain. As a result, this is one of the more non-literal paintings that I've made. Suffice to say, developing an underlying narrative from a loose theme made for a fun process.
The painting also presented technical challenges in my key areas of growth, which are composition and nature realism. Overall, I rate the execution a generous 7.5/10.
Development
In making the sketch, the first question was how to depict fire, specifically a non-man-made one. You typically think of fire as a vertical object, but it needed to be horizontal to agree with everything else. Thus wildfire on the plains worked really well.
I didn't want fire to be the focal point, so I kept its footprint small. Instead, I built the point of interest around the coil where the cloudy haze and the swirling specks intersect. With those key points in place, the rest of the elements quickly got sorted out.
Evaluation
Overall, the painting is pleasantly subtle. It could have afforded more brainstorming time to improve the composition and more painting time to improve the natural texture. (More detailed commentary at the bottom.)
On the other hand, I'm very impatient these days. Many an idea has been lost to refinement-purgatory, so I'm glad I was able to manifest a fairly cohesive piece.
In conclusion, though it's lacking in some ways, I made it with care, with the dexterity that I've been developing, with an eye that distinguishes my style, and with an idea that came from my heart. Happy start of a new year and may we have the best year we can!
"Coherency"
Additional commentary and points for improvement:
For better composition, I could have unified the elemental shapes under a stronger rule/pattern. Additionally, the cloud coil should be more natural, the swirling specks should be simpler, the smoke from the fire should be more inspired, and the stream is overall very wonky (complicated by my inexperience with perspective). I'm not entirely sure that the placement of everything is right either.
Interestingly, the top and bottom half of the painting look all right separately.
As for nature-painting technique, the grass and stream are too flat and it only just now occurs to me that the fire should emit a glow onto surrounding grass.
Anyway, I better try to workshop each of these skills separately in the future, and stop analyzing this painting now.