Pull Away to See Better!

Someone once said, "You need to always pull away from your painting so you can see better". I know this is true. I do it all the time. It's easy to pull away when you have a smaller piece but when I paint on the floor with my larger pieces, I always get up off my knees and pull away to take a good look at what I've done. You may already know that I love to paint this way, but I want to blog about why and what I see while painting this way. Here is a fun link to a great book-200 Projects to Strengthen Your Art Skills: For Aspiring Art Students (Aspire)

For one thing, it is not my design. My design has already been established before I add any paint. You should have a strong design as well. Don't assume you can just paint a decent painting without some design layout. It doesn't have to be elaborate, just a simple design so you know where your eye will be traveling within the work. Start with a foundation- which is a design!

I look at my values and where my lightest lights and darkest darks are.
It is important to establish that space in your painting right away so you can build from there. That is were I my focal point-although I usually do not have a focal point- I like to have a more prominent space, and then smaller points where your eye travels around the painting. Whether it is black or white, the darker next to lighter values is where your eye automatically rests. This keeps the viewer engaged in your painting.


I also look for color and where my colors relate to each other. What colored shapes are and where they need to be changed. Once color enters the picture, you have a brand new ball game to deal with. Color is where it is at and for some, color is where they get into trouble. Start with no more than 3 colors when you are a beginner and you will be able to add more when you get more comfortable. Play with color!


Detail. I usually do not create too much detail in my work. Just a bit in the focal area's to create more drama. If I have detail all over the place, where will my eyes rest? It gets too confusing and annoying. Create detail to add a bit of excitement to your piece. And remember, your intentions!


These are just a few tips that I offer when I teach classes and workshops. There is so much more for us-including me- to learn. You can start to paint at any age, play with paint and don't worry about the finished product. Plus, painting helps us relieve the stress in our lives.


Degas is one of my favorite painters because of his ballet work. If you look at his paintings, you will see all the elements and principles of design in his work. Check this out:
Degas: The Man and His Art (Abrams Discoveries)




So, pull away and take a look at your work. Keep pulling away often to see what's happening and you will be able to enjoy the process of painting.