If you paint from real life—whether it’s a photograph or a still life—you’ve probably faced the challenge of deciding what to include in your painting. Do you add every detail? Do you leave things out? And what do you do with those funky shadows that don’t quite make sense?
As an artist, one of your most powerful skills is simplification. Your job isn’t to replicate reality but to interpret it in a way that makes sense and draws the viewer in.
How to Simplify a Scene in Your Paintings
Reality doesn’t always cooperate. A busy background, distracting details, or odd lighting can make a scene feel chaotic. But simplifying doesn’t mean removing all the richness from your work. It just means making intentional choices to strengthen your composition.
Here are a few ways to simplify your scene for a more cohesive painting:
- Identify the Focal Point – What’s the most important part of your painting? Focus on that first and let everything else support it.
- Reduce Clutter – Ask yourself: Does this detail add to the painting, or is it distracting? Simplify unnecessary elements.
- Group Values Together – Instead of painting every single light and dark area, combine similar tones to create stronger shapes.
- Adjust Colors for Harmony – Nature might give you a scene full of clashing colors, but you have the power to tweak them to create a more balanced and unified palette.
- Soften or Omit Background Details – Not everything needs to be sharp and in focus. Let the background fade away to bring attention to your subject.
Want to see this in action? Watch this clip where I show you how to simplify a scene for a stronger composition: K.I.S.S. – Keep it simple silly!
Simplifying a scene is just one of the many skills that can take your paintings to the next level. If you’re ready to gain confidence with acrylics and learn how to make intentional choices in your work, Acrylics 101 is the perfect place to start!
This beginner-friendly course will guide you step by step through the fundamentals of acrylic painting, from choosing the right materials to building cohesive compositions.
Join Acrylics 101 today and start painting with confidence!
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