The philosophy of these lessons: Look, Learn, Practice
Chapter 17 of "The
Way To Happiness" deals with Competence. I've found that
too many limit their own progress as an artist with the concept
that they "haven't got the talent." 90% of being
a good professional artist is about looking for yourself,
learning (including good study habits), and practicing what
you have learned to become Competent. If you are interested
in a free copy of "The Way to Happiness", please
email me for one.
Lesson 10
1. Thought
"Basically, painting fat over lean means that the upper
layers of an oil painting should be more oily, or "fat"
than the lower layers... If the first layers of an oil painting
are rich in oil, or fat, the surface will be nonabsorbent
and a less oily, or lean, paint film will not adhere to it
well... Another reason for painting fat over lean is to avoid
cracking or flaking of the paint. Oil paint oxidizes as it
dries, combining with oxygen in the atmosphere and expanding
and contracting." American Artist, Sept '91
2. Word for the Week:
BRUSH:The tool with which an artist paints; made of many
different materials in many styles and sizes. North Light
Dictionary of Art Terms
Derivation: Middle English, brusshe, from Old French Broisse,
brosse, perhaps from brose, BRUSH (Brushwood).
3. Practice: "Learning bears fruit when it is applied."
Exercise: Seeing the complementaries in the shadows.
This requires that you work in color. If you are not set
up at home to work with color, get yourself a watercolor set,
box of oil pastels, pastels or colored pencils, anything that
will allow you to work in color.
Set up a simple still life with some fairly definite primary
and secondary colors (fruit and vegetables are good for this,
like bananas, tomatoes peppers, etc. Set up good directional
lighting so that you see some strong shadows. Now, look for
the complementary colors in the shadows.
(Hint: if you still see just grey, try putting some of the
complementary color in the shadow anyway.)
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