| An apprentice painter might learn how to hold a brush,
mix colors or how to use a palette knife, but it matters
nothing if the same person does not learn how to 'look'
at things, and to look with the eye of someone who wants
to explain the world in terms of paint. After many years
of learning to 'look' we come to understand the nature
of things and how they relate to each other.
This first lesson is an entertaining introduction to
give you some idea of what I mean by 'looking'. Don't
be too worried if the world I now introduce seems alien
at first, because as you progress with the lessons,
you will begin to understand that the real joy of painting
is not so much occupying your hands, as truly understanding
the laws, the lights and shades, and the memories of
all the things around you.
OK, I think I remember what a pearl looks like. Ah, its
been so long between pearls. I will try to construct one
from memory, first principles and logic.
To begin, let us imagine the largest pearl in the world
sits on a red table in a room with a blue ceiling. I
am the viewer and I view the perl from the front while
behind me is a window. Outside it is a fine bright sunny
day.
Now if the pearl was someone elses 'eye' we must imagine
what it would see!!.
It would see me, basic and a little crude - but that
dosen't matter at this stage?
The window in the same condition.
Together ...
Add a blue ceiling, some walls and a red table (this
is roughly what the pearl would see if it could see).
Next we squeeze it into a round shape (with a computer
this is easy, in a painting you would work backward.)
I am a little disappointed at this stage as it looks
rather raw and nothing like a pearl. But, staring failure
in the eye, we must proceed (forever faithful to our
logic).
So lets us rid ourselves of the black edges. Then,
since a pearl is not a perfect mirror, I will blur everything
...
Now we can and add a little milky screen (I somehow
remember pearls are a little milky, aren't they?)
Still too much saturated color and dark values - so
maybe another yellowish screen (glaze) ...
OK ; Now let's cut it out and give it a hard edge ...
as it is not made of fur! (later we will look at a lesson
on how edge effects texture) ...
That's looks better. Now for the suggested table and
ceiling
But can't I have a string, seeing I made it myself?
Why, I'm virtually rich! So why can't a pauper have
a millionaire's imagination? I expect any artist can
always be rich beyond the dreams of mere mortals, the
difficulty becomes one of keeping reality in plain view.
PS. I am concerned you may think I am confusing computer
graphics with oil painting. I am not as this is a lesson
about 'looking'. In either case we must still learn
the essence or nature of things before we can make them
- using paint or computers. With our 'pearls,' as with
the world, that is the starting point, and remember,
everything exists in relationship to light and
other things nearby. The rest is simple logic - either
with a brush or computer. OK, lets look some more into
the world of the painter.
STUDENT ACTIVITY: Draw and color your own string
of pearls using oil pastels or crayons. Hint ... use
a toned paper for background. Allow 40min. |
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