I tend to overwork my paintings, producing flat, almost photographic images that I find totally unappealing. Am I right in thinking that I should be at a distance from a subject, so detail is blurred and the eye is forced to relate to the general shapes and tones.

Shirley Harrell replies: I use the following method when composing a picture. I decide where my point of interest is and then look intently at this point, mentally making a note of all the detail in that small area. By doing this, you will find that the detail, colour and texture surrounding this area is out of focus or blurred. During painting, when the temptation to overpaint returns, refer once more to your point of interest. Working this way, the detail is painted only where needed, giving the painting its three dimensional look.