More Painting Tips from the Gallery Girls

No matter the subject, from landscape to still life to portraiture, the very best way to grow is to paint from life. And it's been said that the foundation of a good painting is a strong composition. When painting from life, carefully plan your composition using a small viewfinder. These are readily available at art supply stores like Hobby Lobby for about $10 (well worth the cost) and are powerful tools for working out a strong composition. They have a sliding section with various painting sizes marked on the side (8 x 10, 9 x 12, etc.) so that you can work out the comp based on the size of your canvas. And, some are a mid-grey color with a small hole in the side so that you can look through it and judge the dark and light values of your scene.

As you look through the viewfinder, move around, squinting along the way so that you simplify the shapes into dark and light objects with a pleasing comp. Decide on a dominant focal point and position that off-center both vertically and horizontally (rule of thirds). Make sure that you don't divide your painting surface directly in half with your horizon line, table surface, etc. It will make for a more interesting composition when segments aren't equally sized. Choose to omit details that detract from or are unnecessary to tell the story of the scene. That's called "creative license".

When planning the view you'd like to paint, learn how to see with your eyes, not your mind. Ask yourself "Do these shapes work together? Is there enough variety in darks and lights to add drama to the painting?" Abstraction simplifies shapes into masses varying in color and value and adds cohesiveness to the scene.

Careful planning before you start your painting will enhance your success and satisfaction.

Posted by Celeste Vaught

PAINTING TIP FROM THE GALLERY GIRLS

Applying oil paint thickly and liberally so that it stands out from the painting surface and maintains the mark of the brush is called impasto. The paint can be applied with a brush or palette knife. The paint should have a buttery consistency and is usually used without medium. If using a brush, the bristle brush will work best because it holds more paint much as the palette knife will. Applying paint in this manner makes it more light reflective and makes a pleasing, tactile surface.

The impasto method is often used by plein air painters. It allows you to cover the canvas more quickly and allows the painter to easily produce an impressionistic, more"painterly" painting.
Knife painting is a versatile and expressive way to create a richly textured surface.

At first, painting with a knife is a bit trickier than painting with a brush but with a little practice you will get the hang of it.

UNDERSTANDING TONAL VALUES, a painting tip from the gallery

When you first begin painting it may seem to you that your pictures appear to be flat and lifeless. Most likely, the reason for this is that your value contrasts are not strong enough. It takes courage to make your shadows as dark as they really appear and keep light areas bright enough. But once you become familiar with a concept that might require you to paint something you know to be white as very dark, you will be astounded at the improvement it makes to your finished work, your painting will "sing" with light.

posted by Dalsing