Mind's Eye Critique

Looking at “Two Paths”, the viewer immediately feels as though he or she is standing in a quiet, serene location facing an abandoned shack. To the left is an open path with specs of sand glistening from the sun’s warming rays. The path exudes a sense of calm and tranquility. To the right is an eerie, desolate path that hides in the shadows of the trees. The path feels cold and ominous. The trees and the grass that engulf the paths are different shades of green and brown. The artist’s use of these darker hues adds to the dreary feel of the path on the right.
The focal point of the painting could be the shack located where the two paths diverge. The contrasts of the bright colors against the dark colors of the woods make the shack stand out from its surroundings. Another focal point could be the path in the foreground of the painting. The path is made up of light shades of brown which stand out from the dark green grass that surrounds it. There is no right or wrong focal point, but only what the viewer decides to see first.
The painting could symbolize a decision in someone’s life. The path on the left, the blithe, more appealing path, could be the choice that is best suited for the individual who is faced with the two options. The path on the right, the frightening, dreary path, could be the choice that causes the individual trouble and is not the best way to go. The viewer must decide which path is the better one to take, sacrificing the outcome of the other path. All in all, the artist creates a scenario in which the viewer is the ultimate decision maker.