Critique/help please! Painted this from a photo I took on our farm, loved the dramatic shadows over the hill but somehow the painting is not working, it seems lacking. Decided to stop and ask for help!

Hi, I like it despite everything. What I see at a glance is that the lower palette needs more tones. The shadows of the trees blend with the undulations of the snow. It's all the same. I think there should be a difference. In my opinion, what should predominate are the shadows and not so much the undulations of the snow. It's beautiful. It gives a sense of peace, of life, silence, a lot of nature. Beautiful!

I think you need to add a little more contrast in the way of darker darks. An animal or object in the right foreground would add to it but don't make it so big that it overpowers the rest of the work. A horse or deer?

I like the execution of the landscape, but stare at it trying to figure the story it’s trying to tell of the tree. Is it conflict with the pines?

I think it might be helpful to ensure the tops of the actual trees are in the image because they have been cut off as a result of having the eye-line too high (in my opinion). The shadows in the snow could then be darkened and don't need to include those shadows elicited by the tops of the trees. I agree with Margaret that having the eye-line so central detracts from the design of the painting. Otherwise its very attractive.

Your trees are fantastic ! Of course it comes across different than real life. But if you did another painting with the same subject I would change the composition by not having the horizon line in the middle...moving it to the upper or lower third.

I love it as is however if it was my painting I would want those wonderful tree shadows to be darker, more striking

A common problem with working from a photo is that it is easy to end up with a picture that lacks depth. I feel that this is what has happened; you need to use a bit of artistic licence.

Yes I think you could maybe add an animal in the foreground!