Kentucky and colleges resource


Planning a Painting

Planning a Painting:Okay, you've foundway of viewing the world around you. Don't
it--the perfect scene, the one you think willlose sight of what attracted you to the scene
make the perfect painting. What's next?at first. Was the palette pleasing to you?
Different schools of thought broach theDid it trigger certain memories for you?
subject. Some artist go straight to theRemember that. If it was the color, you'll
paper (or canvas, as it were) with brush inwant to keep that in mind, especially if it
hand. The spontaneity of the project is mostis a break from your usual scheme. I've
important. Others will do a detailed sketch,found more than once that I was disappointed
perhaps a small study of the scene. I'm awith a painting only to recall that it wasn't
mixture of both. Once seized by an idea, Ithe composition as much as the color that
will do a sketch, but only the roughest ofattracted me, that I wanted to
sketches. The shapes are crudely drawn, justcapture.Whatever element is the attraction
to give me an idea of their placement. Fromdon't let it stop once the painting is
there, I proceed to transferring my idea tocomplete. A fitting title will reinforce
my support. I've learned through the yearsthis feeling.Chris Dinesen Rogers has worked
that if masking is involved, it's best justwith local artists, but is primarily a
to draw the outline and fill in the detailsself-taught and self-representing artist.
later. Masking may remove my pencil lines.Her work weaves a tapestry of the realistic,
Besides, there's a risk of smudging thenatural, imaginative and historic, reflecting
lines.A friend of mine who also paintsher deep love and commitment to the
reminds of of another lesson that I'vepreservation of the natural resources of the
learned. He will want to stick slavishly toUpper Midwest. Her paintings are found in
a photo or scene. If what he sees isn'tcollections over all the United States and
right, he looks until he finds it. OtherCanada. Her work has also placed in juried
artists have taught me the value ofcompetitions. She is represented by Art in
rearranging things, moving objects to frame,the Village Frame Shoppe & Gallery, New
point to, lead the eye around in a painting.London, MN and the Earth Works Art Gallery &
Try to do that. Notice how your eye movesStudio in Penn Yan, New York.She is a long
through a scene, what you notice first ortime supporter and volunteer of conservation
don't notice. A truly excellent book I foundefforts throughout the Midwest. In 2000,
on the subject is Barbara Nuss's book, "14Chris and her husband, Norm, were
Forumulas for Painting Fabulous Landscapes".commissioned Colonels by the state of
The book has more info on oil thanKentucky for their volunteer efforts at
watercolor, but the information isMammoth Cave National Park. Chris and Norm
outstanding. Truly a book to help youare also co-authors of "101 Things To Do on
see.Another thing you want to keep in mindthe Wisconsin Great River Road." The book
about your work in progress is your owndetails the unique and wonderful of the
feelings to the subject. That is the goal,Wisconsin Great River Road.
isn't it? Developing your own style and your



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