Need help with gallery image

[d2king10]

So I am making this piece of work for a gallery coming up, and I am having a dilemma. It is 18x24, going to be ink + watercolor, however I am not sure if I should stick a background or not in the image.

Here goes the normal shot (sorry for crappy quality, had to take it with a camera phone)


And here it is with a quick photo shopped background:


If I left it blank I would just make it a blue hue. Which do you guys think would look better, without it getting too cluttered? Thanks.

[Shard]

Re: Need help with gallery image

Consider this a comment from a casual observer. I've got no art training whatsoever. I like it better with the background, but the house behind the squirrel draws my eye away in distraction. It's got a natural flow from top left to bottom right, otherwise. I guess it's that the fence, tree, and boy all form a natural frame for the house.

[JPS]

Re: Need help with gallery image

Id say cut the house and fence and put just grassland with a few trees and mountains in the back, its suppose to enhance the main focus, not take away from it, and I think a nice scenic bland background would fit that good.

imo anyways

[American Hero]

Re: Need help with gallery image

Id say cut the house and fence and put just grassland with a few trees and mountains in the back, its suppose to enhance the main focus, not take away from it, and I think a nice scenic bland background would fit that good.

imo anyways