Art Fundamentals
“Good composition is like a suspension bridge – each line adds strength and takes none away. No one is an artist unless he carries his picture in his head before painting it, and is sure of his method and composition.” Robert Henri This is a detailed guide on composition. I’ll cover: (If you don’t have time … Read more
Read More
I curated a selection of paintings that break the typical composition rules, yet work. The idea is to demonstrate that composition is not a black and white area. The rules and theories exist for a reason in that they work most of the time. But they should be treated more so as guidelines or suggestions … Read more
Read More
This is a detailed guide on how to paint color gradations. I wrote this in light of a recent painting, Morning Lookout (shown below). It’s a study of the early morning’s subtle color gradations just before the sun peers above the horizon line. I cover: Color Gradation Meaning Color gradation refers to the transition from … Read more
Read More
Pattern refers to the visual arrangement of elements in some kind of sequence or repetition. Think of a line of trees, a floral dress, the design of a flower, the back-and-forth sway of the ocean. Patterns are all around us. Though some are more obvious than others. In this post, I cover: Tips for Using … Read more
Read More
Below are two recent but vastly different paintings based on the jetty at Kingfisher Bay. Together, they remind me of chaos and harmony. So much of art can be distilled down to a basic conflict between chaos and harmony. Chaos is unexpected, unwanted, unknown. It’s that burst of activity amongst a quiet background. It’s your … Read more
Read More
This is a rather detailed guide to the concept of foreshortening as it relates to art. I cover: What Is Foreshortening? Foreshortening in art refers to the way we perceive an object as it recedes in space. It is perhaps best explained visually. Take a moment to do the following: Place your arm in front … Read more
Read More
I have been busy over the past few weeks creating color charts as recommended by Richard Schmid in his book Alla Prima. My charts are still in progress, but I thought I would publish this post in the meantime for others who may want to join me in doing this exercise. I cover: Be warned, … Read more
Read More
Form is a visual element that refers to the illusion of a three-dimensional object on a two-dimensional surface. If your paintings look “flat” and uninviting, it is probably due to poor use of form. In this post, I cover: The major forms you need to be aware of are sphere, cube, cylinder, and cone (refer … Read more
Read More
This post is a deep-dive into the concept of hue. I cover the following areas: What Does Hue Mean? Hue is one of the three elements of color, with the other two elements being value (how light or dark a color is) and saturation (how bright or dull a color is). It basically refers to … Read more
Read MoreVariety in art refers to the use of different qualities or instances of visual elements. It is the opposite of repetitive or monotonous use of the elements. In this post, I cover: Below is a great demonstration of variety by Tom Thomson. Notice all the different colors, lines, shapes, and brushwork. The end result is … Read more
Read More