"almost there…" 12"x16" pastel on multimedia board
with watercolor/impasto(clear gesso) underpainting
I've had two weeks to mull over my notes from a recent 3 day workshop with Richard McKinley. If you have taken one you know what I am feeling…. INSPIRED! I'll try here to give you the things that I felt were important to me, but there is so much more.
1) Intuitive painting comes with practice. The underpainting is a starting point for the painting.
2) SHAPES are identity,VALUE gives us form, the most important element, think like a sculptor, COLOR shows emotion.
3) atmospheric perspective - creates depth
4) Shadows have weight
5) SIMULTANEOUS CONTRAST - the effect one color has on another, dark and light,what is a shadow in the light, is a highlight in the shadow.
6) light is a reflection
7) bits and pieces
8) angle of vision, we are always the center of our painting.
The top painting is one I did in my studio, a week after the workshop. I had headed to the beach with my family for week vacation the day after the workshop and everywhere I looked I saw potential for paintings. I took a lot of photos , but no painting….. Back home in my studio, I took all these items listed above and thought about them as I did this painting. The impasto underpainting was the most exciting to me. It forced me to get away from the detail, to step back a lot and "suggest" what I saw in my reference photo. Those "bits and pieces" made the painting cohesive.
I was able to complete three paintings in the workshop.
watercolor underpainting on Pastel Premier 400 white paper
12"x16"
I had painted this scene before, and it was fun painting it again with new ideas in my head.
Creta color and impasto with clear gesso on multimedia board. when dry I added watercolor, let that dry and then put the pastel on from there.
12"x16"
This was my favorite painting I did from the workshop. The impasto technique was so exciting to me!
oil stain underpainting. Diluting the oil paint with turbenoid to a watercolor like consistency. I need a lot more practice with this type of underpainting….
12"x16" on Pastel Premier 400 white paper.
Again from my own reference photo I had painted before. I always use my own reference photos now, feeling I have a better connection , what was it that intrigued me about the scene and any memories or notes I had on the photo.
I headed out for another few days with just my camera. I even have a different perspective on what to photograph ….. it doesn't necessarially have to be a beautiful scene to make a a good painting….. it's how we orchestrate the image. Can't wait to get back into my studio and get started on another painting! !
Just a note, If you have not taken a workshop from Richard McKinley and are serious about your painting, please sign up for one. He was a blast! we all had so much fun and learned so much.