Cropping Paintings - is that a good idea?

A practicing UK artist  considers when cropping a painting can strengthen the final result.

Should an artist ever crop their painting? I think yes but consider carefully first, and then reconsider before reaching for the scissors.

When we artists have finished a painting we naturally want it all to be seen and the thought of cutting a piece out is very unwelcome. However, a smaller part of the painting may say what you want to say more powerfully than the full sheet. Find the most powerful part of your painting and ask "Do I need all the rest?"

It is worth considering that we can now easily crop without resorting to the scissors or bits of mount board. Most of us have access to a photo editing package such as Photoshop or an app to try out all manner of crops without touching the original. Try all manner of crops but make sure it's reversible.

Before cropping a painting ask yourself the following questions

Does my painting speak more loudly with the crop?

Be true to your original intent. You may be seeking the pretty part and making a painting like thousands of others, attractive but readily forgettable.

What can I learn from this for the next painting?

Cropping, when it works, usually makes a painting more simple, more focussed and therefore more powerful.  That tells you a lot about your approach... concentrate on the essential.

Then just do it (or not)

Examples of Cropping Decisions in My Own Paintings

Attempting to fix an irrelevant part of the painting

I spent several hours trying to make the top left corner work and eventually admitted defeat. Looking at the painting afterwards, I realised it was a distraction to me and the viewer.

Too many similar shapes in this painting.

The circles in the bottom left are the key to understanding this painting. I intended the less clear circles in the top right corner to be an echo of the strong ones. They're unnecessary, but I only saw it after painting it. Cropping it out removed nothing from my intended feeling in the art and notice how the left remaining circle holds your attention.

The shape of the painting determines the viewer's reaction.

Artists tend to not pay much attention to the shape of the painting or canvas but it does have a major effect on the outcome. Cropping the art can save your painting and allow you to say what you want to say. The example below illustrates this, I wanted a sense of movement which was impossible in a square shape.

Sometimes you cannot decide even years later.

The strongest piece of this painting is the large black rectangle and the most pleasing part is the small coloured shapes which are there to enhance the black rectangle. It is a balance between those two elements and sometimes the artist just cannot tell. My advice for this situation is to not crop. Enjoy your complete painting and use a cropping app to reveal alternatives.

I hope this post on cropping paintings has been useful to you.  Cropping is rarely an easy decision. As artists we become attached to every part of a painting. Yet sometimes removing part of an image reveals its true strength. The key is to experiment, trust your judgement and remember that doubts are part of the creative process.

Please find other posts that can interest you as an artist in my Anything About Art blog

I also  teach art in the south-west of England. I help artists to find their own direction. I don't teach technique unless it is a blocker to the student's intended statement.