Saturday at the Beach

This is the exact palette we used for the 'grey' workshop. I hate leftover paint so I tried one without those dratted rocks and found it more difficult than my rock painting . I really wish I could tighten my paintings up and if anyone can help me with this I am all for it.

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Comment by Jon Main on August 13, 2013 at 7:22: I see what Leffel means (and agree) but I still would call that (ie form and mass modelling) "drawing", Donna, it's not so much the terminology as the concepts - and both are very helpful I find :

1) - macro level = big shapes/form/mass - NOT detail and 2) medium level = One instructor told me that every painting stroke is a drawing stroke even though it is a mosaic-like work procedure, you are still "drawing" in that you are trying to build a convincing form

Ah well, that's just talk - give me a brush and I'll proceed to demonstrate how to really mess it up ;(

Comment by Donna Spears Lauzon on August 13, 2013 at 4:15: No need to be sorry. We all strive for form through abstract shapes in the beginning. Then we use value to achieve a dimensional look. I have been doing a lot of reading and watching online lately to improve my skills . The quote is Leffel who I have been studying. " Nothing delights a student more than to draw with a paintbrush..the more minute the detail, the better. Avoid doing this. Instead, paint with your brush, think in terms of dimension. Instead of drawing individual hairs , paint hair thickness or dimension." I interpret that to mean think and paint in masses. Hopefully at the end we have something the viewer can " see". So much fun, isn't it?

Comment by Jon Main on August 13, 2013 at 4:03: Agreed 100%, Betsy - thanks! (Sorry, Donna :) )

Comment by Betsy Jenkins on August 13, 2013 at 3:34: Jon,

It was a teacher in Baltimore. I cant even remember his name--it was so long ago. I think the point is that when you paint--you should approach the painting as a painter, i.e., laying on patches of paint, somewhat like a mosaic, rather than as a drawing, with its usual start/emphasis in line. BUT, even though it is a mosaic-like work procedure, you are still "drawing" in that you are trying to build a convincing form. Think about the difference between wielding a fat brush full of paint and drawing with a fine(r) point pencil. The approaches are necessarily different, but the goal is the same: to represent the subject realistically.

Comment by Jon Main on August 12, 2013 at 17:20: That's what I call grays, Doona! - great! When Betsy says "is the drawing. One instructor told me that every painting stroke is a drawing stroke" - that seems to be a pure gem to me - I wonder who the instructor was?!

Comment by Stuart J. Gourlay on August 12, 2013 at 15:10: Donna, nice grays. You hit the nail on the head for this workshop. Leftovers are just fine in the studio and the kitchen! Stu

Comment by Betsy Jenkins on August 12, 2013 at 6:57: He is a great artist, from whom you can learn MUCH. I have one of his books, and have watched some of his videos on youtube. He puts on the paint, that's for sure, but sometimes a little too thick for my tastes. Sill, if you look at his paintings, the underlying drawing is always very good. He sometimes pushes the paint around and "sculpts" out the subject.

Comment by Donna Spears Lauzon on August 12, 2013 at 6:51: Well now I am blushing. Thank you Betsy. Funny you should write that because I am studying Leffel lately and his method is NOT to draw ..but to paint with LOTS of paint .

Comment by Betsy Jenkins on August 12, 2013 at 6:43: Donna,

The reason I paint so tightly is because--drumroll, please-- I can't draw! I am so worried about losing the drawing that I end up with hard edges. I feel like every time I put the paint on loosely, I lose the drawing and it looks sloppy. The key to having a great painting that is loosely painted, or any successful painting, is the drawing. You can paint loosely, but if your laid-down-pieces-of- paint are accurate, it will look great. So I guess my best guess to answer your question about the difference between sloppy and loose is the drawing. One instructor told me that every painting stroke is a drawing stroke. And so far, your drawing skills are pretty good--so your paintings always delight us! ;-)

Comment by Donna Spears Lauzon on August 12, 2013 at 6:42: I live in a remote area of Northern Ont , so the only decent brushes I can get are Winsor Newton bristles and their artist quality oils. Why is a sable or mongoose brush so recommended ? I will need to order online. One of the greatest ( and cheapest ) brushes I ever bought was a dollar store wooden pastry brush for blending and grasses!