This is the beginning of a collection: examples of painted grass.
When I paint grass I usually start with large shapes first, light swathes of masses break the canvas into smaller segments. I use a rag sometimes to form the first shapes, then a bristle brush so the bristles scrape away the paint as much as they apply it, leaving hair-like light lines in the color. Upward strokes starting from the top (the farthest away) and working down the canvas helps the lower grasses cover the blunt feet of the brushstrokes higher up, and the overlap gives the illusion that the lower forms are closer. Masses, or swatches, vary slightly in color so I don’t end up with a wallpaper effect, and grass in the background is heavily mixed with the sky color so atmospheric perspective can help me get some air in there. The second layer has a bit more definition, here and there an upward stroke in dark (shadows), then color (bold), then light (highlights) on top. Foreground has the most contrast. Don’t do every blade. Let the viewer’s eye do the work. When it comes to detail like this, less is more.
Recently I posted about Edward Hopper’s influences in painting and printmaking. This is part three of four (I think). Today is all about Hopper’s process. There is some of my own actual near-thinking and observation, plus a lot of internet research went into this, but I had trouble finding much for details that went beyond …
The chicken paintings featured in this V-Note are by Endre Penovác. The chicken letter that follows was written in 1870, sent to the Poultry Society. The title proclaims it’s a manual about how to raise fine poultry. The content, however, renders itself informational for how to steal birds from your neighbor (or yourself, if you’re an idiot). It was signed by …
[image_with_animation image_url=”9597″ alignment=”” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] For this unfinished painting, the artist did not die. The sitter did. [image_with_animation image_url=”9598″ alignment=”” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] In 1945, Elizabeth Shoumatoff was commissioned to paint a portrait of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. At noon on April 12, Shaumatoff began her work. That afternoon Roosevelt said, “I have a terrific …
You are now at the second half of our 30 day creative challenge. It’s all uphill from here! Did you see the post with some of my favorites? Today’s challenge builds on yesterday’s. You can use the same plant, or even the same drawing, if you wish. This time, instead of drawing continuous contour lines, …
Painting Grass
This is the beginning of a collection: examples of painted grass.
When I paint grass I usually start with large shapes first, light swathes of masses break the canvas into smaller segments. I use a rag sometimes to form the first shapes, then a bristle brush so the bristles scrape away the paint as much as they apply it, leaving hair-like light lines in the color. Upward strokes starting from the top (the farthest away) and working down the canvas helps the lower grasses cover the blunt feet of the brushstrokes higher up, and the overlap gives the illusion that the lower forms are closer. Masses, or swatches, vary slightly in color so I don’t end up with a wallpaper effect, and grass in the background is heavily mixed with the sky color so atmospheric perspective can help me get some air in there. The second layer has a bit more definition, here and there an upward stroke in dark (shadows), then color (bold), then light (highlights) on top. Foreground has the most contrast. Don’t do every blade. Let the viewer’s eye do the work. When it comes to detail like this, less is more.
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Edward Hopper’s Process
Recently I posted about Edward Hopper’s influences in painting and printmaking. This is part three of four (I think). Today is all about Hopper’s process. There is some of my own actual near-thinking and observation, plus a lot of internet research went into this, but I had trouble finding much for details that went beyond …
To Raise Poultry
The chicken paintings featured in this V-Note are by Endre Penovác. The chicken letter that follows was written in 1870, sent to the Poultry Society. The title proclaims it’s a manual about how to raise fine poultry. The content, however, renders itself informational for how to steal birds from your neighbor (or yourself, if you’re an idiot). It was signed by …
Reason not to finish a painting: Death of the sitter
[image_with_animation image_url=”9597″ alignment=”” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] For this unfinished painting, the artist did not die. The sitter did. [image_with_animation image_url=”9598″ alignment=”” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] In 1945, Elizabeth Shoumatoff was commissioned to paint a portrait of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. At noon on April 12, Shaumatoff began her work. That afternoon Roosevelt said, “I have a terrific …
Day 16: Organic Composition #30SAL
You are now at the second half of our 30 day creative challenge. It’s all uphill from here! Did you see the post with some of my favorites? Today’s challenge builds on yesterday’s. You can use the same plant, or even the same drawing, if you wish. This time, instead of drawing continuous contour lines, …