Our eyes automatically follow lines, so when addressing converging lines such as edges of bodies of water, roads and paths, hallways or village streets, if the artist places too much emphasis on the lines or their vanishing point, we can cause them to collide. The results is a "sore thumb."
With that in mind, what's the sore thumb in this painting?
The straight dark edges grab the viewer's eye, making it travel too fast, not to mention that both edges ignore the union of the banks' edges with the water. And, with the vanishing point visibly defined, the viewer is stopped cold.
Tip: First, find ways to break up continuous lines, especially those converging. Often the subject will provide what we need for that. If not, the wise artist will invent a method. Second, find ways to de-emphasize the vanishing point. Rather than show the converging lines connecting or placing an image right where they connect, find ways to draw the viewer's attention elsewhere.
Here's the above painting with the converging lines and vanishing point corrected. Notice how, even though we feel the riverbanks converging, the varying of the edges and the diverting of attention where they converge takes away the sore thumb and adds intrigue to the painting.
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"Morning Dawning on Tallulah" 12 x 16 Oil on Canvas
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Happy painting,
Dianne
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