200711

Tool of the Month

Sponge Brushes - The inexpensive flat ones that you can pick up on the cheap. I use them if I want to add a nice smooth coat of gesso to a canvas, then toss it out. It does not leave brush marks. I use one to apply varnish to finished paintings. Again, no clean up and no brush marks. There are different grades and I try to get the little bit better ones, they seem to hold up better. Never put too much pressure on them, they will disintegrate if you do. If what you are using is not spreading easily, thin it out some. They are not meant to be used over and over, so just toss them after one use, don’t try cleaning them. But for the right job they are a good tool, give them a try.

The Right Steps

Don’t try to finish your painting too soon. It is tempting when you are working on a painting to want to get to the final wonderful result as soon as possible. However, that road is full of potholes and detours.

It is a little slower and less sexy, but if you take the longer road and do things in a certain order, you will get better paintings. Being consistent will get you better results and you will have more fun in the long run. Here is the map I recommend you follow. This guide works for any medium.

1 - Block In. Lay out your composition and just fill in the basic shapes with the basic colors. Think coloring book. Just try to get everything laid out where you want it. It is much easier to evaluate and change the composition at this stage than later. You can decide if you like a particular color - is it the right shade of blue? Is the horizon too high or low? Is the object large enough? Is the placement right? Fix these things now.

2 - Put Things into Place - check your perspective now. Look at the linear perspective - is everything the right size? Also look at the aerial perspective too, is there a sense of depth? Is the sky darker at the top? Are distant objects cooler than those closer? Are there overlaps that help define the space?

3 - Work from Back to Front. Always work on the items that are most distant and work your way closer. Backgrounds, skies, whichever, are easier to do first. It can be difficult to paint around things to add a background and have it look good. Work top to bottom - you are less likely to smear the paint if you keep you hands out of wet paint.

4 - Form the objects. Now that you have the background in add values to create the form of the objects in the painting. Add highlights and shadows to the forms to give them dimension. Does every object have at least 3 values?

5 - Add Cast Shadows - make sure you have a consistent light source. Are all highlights on the same side? Are all of the shadows? Does each object cast its own shadow? Are the shadows the right colors, the right values?

6 - Add Contrast. Are your values different enough? Are the highlights bright enough? The shadows dark enough? Are all of your colors cool or warm? Would a variety make it a better painting?

7 - Sharpen Your Focal Point. Do you even have a focal point? Is the focal point the right one? Where does the lightest light meet the darkest dark? Is it the right place? Does your eye wander out of the painting? Can you lead it back in?

8 - One Last Look. Stop looking at your painting for a time period. Turn it to the wall, put it away, work on something else. Then pull it back out, and give your painting the once over with fresh eyes. Once everything is good it is time to sign it, take a photo and add it to your inventory of art!

Follow this path and you are less likely to get lost in your paintings. Have a safe trip!