What's the title of this post got to do with these two paintings? Not much. I just like this old and oh-so-true ancient Chinese proverb! I"m posting these two 8"X12" acrylic paintings of mine, because this is an assignment in my college acrylic painting class that I'm teaching this semester. I promised to post both paintings for my students so that they would have my example to look at as they work on theirs. We are painting from a reference photo that I found on the photo site, Flickr. Last Saturday, I showed everyone how to quickly lay in (with a big flat brush) the sky and field. Then I demoed how to "block in" the foreground trees with a dark violet/green. The trees literally looked like blocks. Then we blocked in a light yellow/green for the sunlite portions of the foliage. Finally, I painted in "sky windows" to "feather out" the trees and give them that natural tree or foliage look. My students have the option of laying in a meandering path of their own design. To finish this scene, they have to add more detail in the foreground and paint in a soft background tree line.
Anyway... hereya go, my Art 334 students... something to look at while you are painting. What a pleasure teaching all of you! Every Saturday, you come to class bringing such great enthusiasm!!!
Monday, March 1, 2010
A journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step.
What's the title of this post got to do with these two paintings? Not much. I just like this old and oh-so-true ancient Chinese proverb! I"m posting these two 8"X12" acrylic paintings of mine, because this is an assignment in my college acrylic painting class that I'm teaching this semester. I promised to post both paintings for my students so that they would have my example to look at as they work on theirs. We are painting from a reference photo that I found on the photo site, Flickr. Last Saturday, I showed everyone how to quickly lay in (with a big flat brush) the sky and field. Then I demoed how to "block in" the foreground trees with a dark violet/green. The trees literally looked like blocks. Then we blocked in a light yellow/green for the sunlite portions of the foliage. Finally, I painted in "sky windows" to "feather out" the trees and give them that natural tree or foliage look. My students have the option of laying in a meandering path of their own design. To finish this scene, they have to add more detail in the foreground and paint in a soft background tree line.
Anyway... hereya go, my Art 334 students... something to look at while you are painting. What a pleasure teaching all of you! Every Saturday, you come to class bringing such great enthusiasm!!!
Thanks for the explanation -if only I could 'watch' you paint.....
ReplyDeleteGreat job succinctly highlighting the process, David. Love the proverb; it does indeed fit the paintings.
ReplyDeleteThese are wonderful. Lucky students to have you for a teacher!
ReplyDeleteMeera, one of these fine days I need to make a video of me painting and this scene would be a good one.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Liz.
ReplyDeleteI envy your students--I'd love to have seen these painted!
ReplyDeleteI sure wish you would have someone do a short video of you painting!
ReplyDeleteThank you Celeste and Mary.
ReplyDeleteOn my list of things to do, Ginny.
ReplyDeleteCan't think of a better title.
ReplyDeleteIts amazing how you make painting look so simple.
And thanks a ton for the visit to my blog.
These are great David. Lucky students to have you as a teacher.
ReplyDeleteTake care,
Barbara
Great demo and class project. Love it.
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure, Sujit!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Barbara and Dominique.
ReplyDelete