What I was stuck on was the foreground. I tried painting a stream but that didn't work. I tried a road but that looked too flat. I stopped numerous times and contemplated taking the canvas off supports and cropping it. Then I stuck it at the back of the cupboard and forgot it for months.
In the new year, I felt like making some corrections to old work (believe me this is a rare feeling!) and pulled it out again. As foreground I decided that a road was ok but something had to lead the eye to the tree. Further, I borrowed a book on common oil painting mistakes and applied myself to the problem of the flat grass and road colours. That recommended the inclusion of different shades of green and gray to break up the expanse and create interest. A handy tip : I think I rescued this one! Mind you I would hate to think how much time I spent on it!
