A composer creating a memorable razzledazzle. A writer developing a dynamic plot, not just a parade of characters. An artist painting an inspiringly designed work, not just well-drawn.
A work of art can go "flat" without a good design, no matter how well painted. It doesn't have to be a flamboyant composition. Take the simplicity of Girl with a Pearl Earring, or more complex like The Lady of Shalott. I discovered this basic principle by studying works of art over the centuries, from my mentors and from my own years of developing. This is the importance of design.
The Moment
When painting or drawing, I've never thought of the image created on canvas or paper as a "freeze frame." To me, it is a moment of time when the subject is about to do something. In fact, as we look at the portrayal, we can imagine what might happen within the next moment. The person in that painting is alive and this is how the artist feels while developing the work. There's life before and during and after that portrayal. I'll add that it could be a leaping horse with a cowboy on top.
We imagine that cowboy holding tight with the horse and about to land. Or a portrait of someone looking over at me and then turning back to continue reading her book.
Simple, Basic
In a drawing or painting, if something is off, it gets attention. Like a perfect rendition of a song except hitting a bad note in the middle. Not that we want the painting to be perfect for other people. We're painting for ourselves throughout the work; and we want the completed piece to inspire us from top to bottom. I often put my work away for a few days and then come back to give it a fresh look. I might see a color too strong, a shadow too dark, a hand that seems unnatural.
Denne historien er fra Master at Work-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.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra Master at Work-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.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Fresh Eyes
Anna Rose Bain discusses the passions of being an artist and helping students transform their own work
The Next Level
Jacob Dhein uses a wet-into-wet technique to create painterly depictions of a variety of subjects
Wild Spirit
Alternating between broad glazes and fine details, Claire Milligan captures the intricacies of the animal kingdom
The Bridge Between
Watercolorist Thomas Wells Schaller delves into the nuances of observation and imagination
The Color Continuum
Catherine Hearding demonstrates how she utilizes color to enhance the mood of her landscapes
Points of Precision
A strong focal point and attention to detail make Nicola Jane's artwork jump off the page
BE YOURSELF
Harley Brown's fascinating things no one else will tell you
JEFFREY T. LARSON
Expertly Putting the Pieces Together
Hot-Blooded
Blending elements of realism and surrealism, figurative artist Anna Wypych’'s paintings are dominated by vivid reds
Adam Clague Incandescence
Adam Clague’s masterful understanding of contrast allows him to paint subjects that seem to glow from within