My work follows the academic closely. I've the academic process to my personal way of working, and I've created a process that always works for me. When I paint, I focus on three main things: design, drawing and paint application. I consider design to be the most important part of a painting. Before I start painting, I make sure that my composition works. Good design is the foundation of every good painting; that's why this step can take up to a month for each piece. Every time I have an idea, I try to make a simple drawing in my sketchbook. If the sketch works, then I start working on my iPad to develop the idea. There I plan the colors, the value structure and the shape design. After this step, I start drawing.
There is something very important that I learned in my years in school, and that is that a good composition will make a good painting even if the paint application is not great-in contrast, even a great paint application and rendering won't make a good painting if the composition is bad. Without a good composition, a work loses its visual value and seductive qualities.
When talking about realism, a bad drawing can ruin a great design. If trying to create an appealing realist piece, specifically talking about figurative work, a well-executed drawing must be a priority. This implies a basic knowledge of anatomy, portrait design and a humble eye to detect any mistakes and correct them. It is true that sometimes our eyes are so familiarized with our work-in-progress that it is difficult to see any mistakes; luckily there are some ways to refresh our eyes. One way would be to simply take a picture of the piece you're working on. When looking at the work on a phone screen you are forced to look at the whole image without focusing on small details. Another useful way is to flip the image horizontally, as this will also give you a fresh view of your work.
Denne historien er fra June/July 2023-utgaven av International Artist.
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Denne historien er fra June/July 2023-utgaven av International Artist.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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A Sense of Depth
A solid grasp of foreground, mid and background makes Colley Whisson's scenes come to life
Peaceful Places
Sara Linda Poly creates a sense of atmosphere and depth in her soft, ethereal landscapes
School's in Session
A look at some of the many in-person and online art classes and workshops available today
Collaborative Environment
In this special edition of Beyond the Palette, we asked Scottsdale Artists' School executive director Trudy Hays a few of our own questions-about the benefits of art school, community and more
Flying COLORS
Artist David Barclay discusses how to pack painting gear for air travel-managing bulk, weight restrictions and more
Keep It REAL
The Art Renewal Center bolsters the support and reverence of traditional representational art
BUILDING AN ART CAREER ONLINE PART I
In this two-part series, James Gurney presents options for artists who want to improve their internet business strategies
EDWARD FRAUGHTON
Sculpting the Spirit of the American West
Preserving the Soul of Art
Throughout human history, people have used art to express themselves, record their daily activities, capture moments and share their emotions.
Intrigue in the ordinary
I've \"'ve never had any formal training always had a strong attraction to the arts and the practice of painting