Kathyglennstudios
  • Home
  • Artist Statement and Bio
  • kmsGlenn blog
  • Daily Paintings
  • Gallery
  • TeddyRBoston Bags
  • Confident Color Class
  • Looking back
  • Daily Paintings
  • Confident Color Class

Fixing the 'Unfixable'

10/30/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
We've all had a painting that we really didn't have the heart to toss out.  Something in it speaks to us, or a part of it is just the effect we wanted.  But somewhere along the way things went wrong.  So it gets stashed away and forgotten.  After all - it is impossible to 'fix' a finished painting without making it all worse - isn't it?

So let's think of how to make a real smasher of this painting.  One thing I often do before starting work on something like this is to take a photograph or scan the painting.  This way it isn't a total loss if the 'fix' isn't a 'fix'.

There is a good demo on utube from Birgit OConnor.  She works by looking carefully at the painting and assesses it for value, balance, composition and color.  Is there anything that can be added or should be diminished to help the work?    A second step then would be to do this assessment on yours.  It might help to turn the painting or view it in a mirror.

If you are uncertain where the values belong you might try making a quick black/white sketch or where you're going.  You may also try making a color map to help you move ahead.  A good strategy is to paint a swab on a piece of paper and hold it over the painting where you might add color.

Finally, paint.   Remember is a part of the painting is too dark, you may be able to lift some of the paint from the paper.  Or there may be an even darker value that you can add to the painting that will make the offending part less dark by comparison.   You can add goauche or acrylic.  Glazing works well for watercolor and acrylic.  Pastel can be picked up from the surface and more added.   

Don't be afraid - just play with it!

0 Comments

Composition:  You Leading!

10/16/2013

0 Comments

 
   Another tool in your bag is Composition.  A VERY SCARY word!

But actually composition is much like Value and Color.  If you don't pay attention to them, they may appear intuitively but also randomly.  However, once you begin to consciously utilize these, they become intuitive but instead of randomly, they appear in a sure manner.   A little like riding a bike - at first you have to really work at keeping your balance but after a while - you don't have to think about it at all.    And the more you work with these, the easier it becomes to place them automatically in your work.
 
     I was at a watercolor workshop where the artist/juror excused himself, leaving the class painting on an assignment, to go over the works chosen for the group's yearly show.  His intention was to assign the awards.  The show had been juried and narrowed down to 35 works from over hundreds of entries.
So you might say that the artists had been very successful and most had been painting for many years.
     When the artist returned, he gathered the workshop attendees together and immediately gave an impromptu lesson.  "While every painting in the show is well done,"  he told us, "they almost all lack one thing - a knowledge of composition."    He then proceeded to give the lesson on types of composition.
    Composition has to do with leading the viewer's eye around the painting.  We'll discuss this more in class.  Many artist's choose one or two different types and use them in all their work.   I think most often when someone looks at a painting, they don't say, "oh look, the artist used a 'c' structure or 'converging lines.'   It's more like staying interested in the subject and finding the part that is most interesting to the artist.    And there it is again - what do you want to tell your viewer?

0 Comments

Problem Solving

10/9/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
For the last few weeks we've been working in a very ordered way - first completing a black/white sketch, then a color map and finally the completed painting.  This is a very structured way of achieving freedom where there are not as many surprises as you paint and you are free to just go for it.
   So now, let's talk about starting another way.  What if we just start with a white piece of paper and throw some color on it?  Then what if we throw on a bit more and add as we go along.    Ahh - now our problem solving is being done in a more direct way.  And that is what we are doing - solving the problems of value and harmony or disonance - contrasts and movement.  What if we have no plan - where will we end up?
   This week we're going to be experimenting - a little like the artist Barbara Necchis.   She builds her paintings from the paper up.
   So what benefits does this style have?   Well - first it forces us to keep changing our idea of what we are achieving.  We have to continually solve the problem of where we are going.  We can turn the paper from side to side and top of bottom to find balance.
    Second, it loosens us up.  I find that when I continue to work in a very structured way, I become so tight that the work is stilted.  Likewise, when i work in a very loose style, I can become looser and looser.   Working back and forth helps me stay in the place I prefer to be.  
    Do I have to do a complete painting in each style to alternate?  Certainly not - that's where small exercises come in.   And small exercises serve to keep me putting my brush to paper even when I don't have the time to complete something big.  I also find that many of these quick exercises become my best work to be reproduced in cards.



      

0 Comments
    Picture

    Author

    Kathy Glenn
    Art Center

    Picture
    Picture

    Archives

    April 2018
    March 2018
    June 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    June 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    June 2013
    January 2013
    October 2012
    September 2012
    April 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011

    Picture

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly