This feature is intended to offer clear insight into a particular aspect of my own process. It is not intended as an argument for the superiority of any one artistic device. Reilly’s palette “consisted of nine equidistant values of neutral gray mixed at the top of a glass palette. Below that row were 9 equidistant… Continue reading
Now, if we are speaking of strict observational replication, we do not need to conflate our process with anything more elaborate than standard “ground-level” classifications of visual elements. Let’s take value for example. If my goal is limited to the strict replication of a spherical model, my aim is to apply and arrange values in… Continue reading
Our guests will range from curators to chefs, tattoo and graffiti artists to an artisanal bicycle maker. As many of these craftspeople frequently use painting as a metaphor for excellence in their own sphere, our conversations will explore this link in the interest of restoring a broader devotion to skill in the arts. We aim… Continue reading
The article began by establishing the idea that just because you have seen a photograph of something does not mean you know “exactly” what something may look like. While I understood the basic groundwork that the author was trying to establish here, the opening signaled that what would most likely follow would be a series… Continue reading
Let’s consider luminance (A stimulus that most representational artists would record with value.) “Luminance is an objective measurement of the overall intensity of a stimulus expressed in candelas/m2 (photometers used for this purpose measure radiant energy with a filter that mimics the sensitivity of the average human observer, thus specifically measuring light). The resulting sensations… Continue reading
1. Choose the tools that will deliver your desired finish. The majority of our charcoal drawings are done with compressed charcoal and white chalk (General’s Charcoal Pencils and General’s Charcoal White Pencil) on Canson Mi-Tiente’s Sky Blue paper. The compressed charcoal can produce rich, deep darks as the chalk allows for the addition of… Continue reading
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
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