I almost gave up on a piece because I couldn't decide on the final background

I was finishing a character portrait last month and got totally stuck on the background. I had two choices: a super detailed, busy city street scene that matched the lore, or a simple, soft gradient that made the character pop. I spent like two days going back and forth, even asking my friend in Seattle for her take. She said the detailed one was 'cool but a lot.' I ended up picking the simple gradient, and it was the right call. Posting it online, the feedback was all about the character's expression and colors, not a single comment asked for more background stuff. It made me realize sometimes the best choice is to pull back and let the main subject shine. Has anyone else had a piece where simplifying one big element made everything else work better?

2 comments

2 Comments

emma_butler8725d ago

Ugh, my entire art style is basically "got overwhelmed and hit delete.

hernandez.miles25d ago

Used to fight for every piece. Now I see the power in a clean slate.