Determining the size of a painting

One of the first things I do when I paint from a photograph is to determine whether the shape of the painting will be square, a landscape rectangle, or a portrait rectangle.  Then I decide what size it will be.

This last decision, more often than not, seems to be made by instinct.  Generally I tend to make more intimate landscapes smaller and the more encompassing ones larger.  This is by no means a rule.

Last year I began painting some small landscapes in sizes, 4x6, 5x7, and 6x8.  I was really not sure that I would be able to paint small.  I had been painting mostly 8x10, 9x12, 11x14, 12x16 and some larger.

I found that I like painting smaller.  Sometimes I will start a couple of 5x7s or 6x8s in one plein air
session.  Check out my paintings on my websitewww.donnagordonpastels.com

What size paintings do you most like to do in pastel?  Why?

Here is the painting I posted earlier at the end of the day.  Not sure if it's finished.