Hi "Treebeard,"
Here (below) is the image with the tree moved to the other side. I'll let you judge for yourself if it works - works better, or at all. In my opinion (just my opinion - not "the" opinion), it's "better," but it still is not an example of good artistry.
The crown of the tree and the "dome" that it used to be under are still at about the same level, which is bad composition.
The composition is balanced better (tree on left, painting interest on right), but the two elements still don't "go" together. This is not a case where the painting enhances, accentuates, or offsets the tree or vice versa. The tree and the painting have nothing to do with each other. This is an example of putting a piece of art in front of another piece of art. The each look cool, but the combination is not really a harmonic or even artistic one.
Another way of putting it would be: just because chocolate and peanut butter work well together does not mean that chocolate and asparagus go well together. Combining them does not necessarily make "dinner" any more than combining two works of art makes "art."
A "sky" painting where the sun peeking through the clouds makes rays point toward the tree might work - would certainly work better than this. Any painting done with a mind toward being ultimately combined with this particular tree would no doubt work. This is not an example of that situation and it shows.
Kind regards,
Andy Rutledge
b u n j i n | d e s i g n ::
www.bunjindesign.com
zone 8, Texas