Focal Point

Finding and enhancing the focal point of the painting is the key to Troels Kirk’s artwork

- Troels Kirk

Throughout a long career, I have painted a varied range of subjects. Landscapes and seascapes constitute the main part, with wildlife a good second. But refusing to settle in a specific category, I have painted still lifes, portraits, railroads, fly-fishing, vintage airplanes, baroque gardens and so on… Whatever will tickle my fancy, really.

Very early in the process of creating any painting, I make two vital decisions: What is the main focal point of the painting and how do I best display and enhance it? The focal point will be the feature that caught my eye in the first place, that made me stop and sketch.

Without a focal point, the viewer’s eyes have no place to rest. A painting with a lot of details everywhere will soon tire the viewer, as will a painting without a prominent feature to demand attention anywhere…A painting can have more than one focal point, of course, but one must be the main, the others should balance, enhance and support the main.