The making of Inside Out

Previously, I did a painting called Outside In where a couple was dining indoors and clouds drifted through the window, with one of them enveloping the ladies head.
I decided to do another painting called Inside Out where a couple would be dining outdoors, set amongst trees. I decided to hang a chandelier from a tree branch to add a little touch of elegance and the unexpected.
With this painting (like any other) I dealt with a number of issues from concept through completion. I often use an x-acto knife as my eraser, literally scraping the paint off the canvas when I see issues versus simply painting over what's there - (I do a lot of that, too.)
The couple were a challenge for me - too often I think the people in my paintings look more like cartoon art. I've decided that's okay - it's just my own style though I wish I could give more depth and character to all of my characters.
There's a lot of detail in this painting - right on down to the food on their plates. But there's also a lot of interpretive images where branches and leaves are hinted at but not really defined.
This particular painting may not be in my normal genre - yet it still has a look that makes it uniquely my own.
I enjoy painting them, even if nobody else enjoys viewing them!