Online Art Critiques > In this episode of Art School Live, Eric Rhoads shares practical painting advice: learn about composition grids, value checks, S‑curve flow, and small edits that boost contrast, depth, and focal impact—plus a Van Gogh study.
Using six submitted works—a cactus landscape, a church window view, a coastal scene with a lighthouse, a moody interior, a portrait study, and a lush garden—Eric demonstrates practical edits that clarify focal points, strengthen contrast, and improve depth.
He also examines a Van Gogh composition and experiments with small adjustments to show how even masterpieces can teach techniques that artists can apply to their own work. This piece explains the process in a clear, approachable way and even touches on what it takes for artists to learn how to paint like Van Gogh.
.
When you participate in art critiques, you’ll sharpen your eye and start catching composition and value issues in your paintings.
Actionable checklist for your next painting
- Evaluate composition: draw the center and a tic-tac-toe grid to spot dead-center problems.
- Decide the focal point and commit: increase contrast or color there, reduce competing highlights.
- Check values in grayscale: ensure distant elements are lighter and less contrasty.
- Create overlap: connect adjacent shapes to avoid a row-of-objects appearance.
- Introduce directional flow: add a subtle S-curve or leading shapes to guide the eye.
- Refine edges: soften distant edges, sharpen a few near edges to reinforce form.
Blog post prepared for the web by Cherie Dawn Haas, Editor of Plein Air Today
Browse more free articles here at OutdoorPainter.com
Don’t miss your opportunity to create lifetime memories at PACE! The next Plein Air Convention & Expo is May 14-18, 2026 in The Ozarks. All training sessions are indoors on giant, high-def screens, with plein air paint-outs in the afternoons. Beginners and pros feel right at home, so register now to join us!
Great articles. All artists need reminders to follow the basic rules of composition and color especially when painting Plein air. I explained to a young viewer as he watched me paint that artists have a built in Photo Shop app as I rearranged some components to make a better composition.