ARTISTIC FOUNDATIONS

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CONCEPT   

Idea, originality, inspiration, shape/size of artwork

The intent of the work, the kind of painting: fun, learning, experimental, demonstrations, 

sale, commissions, for competition, size & intimacy of subject (?) big or small.

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DRAWING   

Line, proportion, shape, mass, perspective

Simplify, eliminate detail, see things as shapes as a flat puzzle, turn off your brain and use your eyes - your brain will fill in the details. Use a watch, relax and go fast. Paragraphs, not letters. 

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COMPOSITION    

Design, dominance, balance, direction, repetition, unity, size, conflict

Direct your viewer and keep their attention. Use edge control;  soft to hard.  Horizontals are calm - diagonals demand attention.

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VALUE RELATIONSHIPS    

Lighting, depth, alternation, gradation

Experiment with high & low key paintings. Leave 30% of the paper untouched. Vignettes, gradations toward center of interest. 

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COLOR INTERPRETATION    

Hue, chroma, temperature, full, limited palette.

Do value and color charts. Keep the same palette and learn to use it, don't keep changing colors for the newest instructor. Organize palette by value. Fastest read for sunlight is oblique cast shadow.

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TECHNIQUE  

Style, texture, application, edges

What makes your paintings different from anyone else's? Application of your thought process.

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FOCAL POINT

Center of interest, Kandinski's principal, Golden sections, Rule of thirds, directional thrusts, etc.

Should be different distance from all four sides. This is the star of the show. Subordinate everything to this. Sacrifice the picture to make a "painting".

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FINISH EARLY

Quit before you are done

It takes two people to paint a picture..an artist and someone to beat them senseless before they ruin it!!

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PRESENTATION

Appropriate matting, framing and installation, lighting, exposure, etc.

Think about the whole presentation before you begin (Polish-matte-tape). Work backwards to maximize sizes of paper and frames. Don't try to fit the picture in the wrong frame and matte. 

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