An Art Blog seems the perfect place to consider areas of growth. I’ve been drawing and painting since childhood, and now am at a place where certain challenges are readily apparent. One is watercolor backgrounds. As I look at the work of artists I consider to be accomplished, they seem to find a suitable midpoint between over- and under-done backgrounds. No background, or just a light wash like I often use in my portraits, is underdone. It leaves the picture just hanging out there. The alternative is overdone. Here the background is so cluttered or so dark that it detracts from the focal points of the picture..