I love the constant challenges of painting from life as it forces me to pare down grand vistas or detailed scenes to the bare essentials. It is a delicate balance to provide just enough so that the painting is understood by the viewer, while leaving suggested features to the imagination. I strive to be efficient with brushstrokes yet still capture my feelings about the scene.
We've all heard "Variety's the spice of life." Variety also adds spice to a painting: light played against shadow, hard crisp edges versus soft lost ones, and warm yellows and reds alongside cool blues and greens. These contrasts can really make a painting sing.