Step 1: The artist began with an initial line drawing, or cartoon, paying close attention to major shapes and overall contours. These first lines were applied with the softest charcoal available using the lightest pressure that the artist could attain. Applying too much pressure early with hard or sharp materials can cause indentations or… Continue reading
1. Wood Wood can be conveyed through a wide variety of visual clues. Specific grains and knots top off an array of features that communicate a wooden surface to a viewer. Here we chose the subject of a child’s wood block to illustrate this: We begin each drawing with a simple charcoal outline (A). Next,… Continue reading
MIND BLOWN. I have recently learned of an exhibit being put together to feature many of the works from the Star Wars Visions project in Japan later this year. While being able to participate in this project was just incredible I have not thought about it in some time or looked into how the works… Continue reading
Give your work the illusion of spatial depth with five simple effects of perspective. Used together, linear and atmospheric perspective can create the illusion of space and dimension in your art, whether a vast landscape or an intimate still life. Here are five effects used in rendering perspective, which you easily can incorporate into your… Continue reading
4 Great Tips for a Successful Approach to Surface Details A confident and successful approach to detail begins with an ability to simplify at the onset of a drawing or painting endeavor. Uncertainty about details or surface characteristics can easily lead to works that appear unresolved or unfinished. With only a few key steps, you… Continue reading
I have always found far greater success in capturing faithful representations of nature by utilizing methods that echo the manner in which nature communicates the objects visually. One of the ways I often do this is by lessening the emphasis on delineated representations early in my process. This is not to say that I do… Continue reading
Defining an Expert Let’s look at how the terms are defined: An expert can be defined simply as a person who has a comprehensive knowledge of, or skill in, a particular area. However looking to the etymology of the word we find an emphasis on ‘experience’: Late 14c., “having had experience; skillful,” from Old French… Continue reading
Yesterday, I found myself drawn into an interesting discussion regarding the recent completion of artist Antonio López Garcia’s portrait of the Spanish royal family. The painting was 20 years in the making. However—the lengthy production time of the painting was not the focus of the discussion but rather his process. Due to the nature of… Continue reading