Analytical Drawing has been giving me a headache for the past few days. I decided to leave my Cubist piece, which is also for Analytical Drawing, and move onto another piece just now. This is what I created today. I have tried and tried to get a highly finished piece, but I’m really struggling. I tried going for realism, but found I just don’t have enough time, so I ended up starting all over again and went for something a bit bolder and more illustrative.
I got so far into it, and decided I had to take the advice of some of my blog friends and try to divorce myself from my subject. I found once I did that I was able to let go a bit more. Am I copping out? I kind of think I am – at least that’s how I feel. Given the fact I’m such a beginner and that I have such a small period of time to finish a highly developed piece, I don’t think I’m equipped as yet to produce a realist piece. I’m not underestimating myself or talking myself down – I’m just being a realist. I don’t have the experience. I mean, I can see the subtle changes in tone and direction, but I don’t seem to be able to get it down on paper because there’s just so much information.
I also struggle with colour mixing. I tend to go too dark, then too light. I can never seem to get the shading just right. I think it’s probably lack of experience at colour mixing, and how to lay out my palette. I don’t seem to be able to get this right. The problem is that I’m painting in acrylics, and in order to lay out my palette correctly I would need to lay out a range of shades, but acrylics dry too quickly meaning it just gets wasted, and I don’t have the money to waste that much paint. If I lay out too little then it dries up instantly. If I leave out too much it hardens over with a skin. I can’t seem to win either way, and I can’t paint fast enough to avoid it. I’m at a loss. So, I just have to do the best I can with the ability I have at the moment, and hope that it will be acceptable to my tutor.
Hi Heather. First of all I'll address something easy. If you are using tube acrylics, you can fold some paper towel and lay it at the top of your palette and squirt it down good with water. When it is saturated, squeeze out the tube acrylics onto the scott towel ( I usually use about four sheets folded over). The damp paper towel keeps your blobs of paint moist and workable. You can squirt it again. You can even put it in a plastice container with a lid and it will be moist hours later. I like to lay my paper towel palette at the top of a butcher tray and I can mix on the tray in the bottom section.
Leslie, where would I be without you?! That's a brilliant tip. Thank you so much. I have been throwing away paint that I really can't afford to. I always seem to put out more than I need and can't find a happy medium, so you're saving me a fortune.
I read it in an acrylics book….so just passing that on because I did that and was happy that they stayed moist.
Second. I'm not hating this piece, above. Don't beat yourself up about the realism thing. Relax. You could be the best in your class and where would that get you in art. You are being offeredoptions and exploring new ways of expression.You already have improved, incredibly on your drawing skills. I heard something that was really cool once. Take a beginning piece and hang it on the wall and follow it with four more in sequence. When you finish the sixth one, take down the first one and you will begin to see your improvement. I store mine in a paged acid free portfolio and can page thru mine. It is remarkable how you will be able to visualize your improvement. We all work toward realism and at some point decide to go with what we get. That is the wonderful thing about art. You will improve as you expose yourself to all of this. If it all came easy? HOW UTTERLY BORING!!!!!!!
Aww thanks for saying so Leslie. The last couple of days has been pretty gruelling for me in terms of painting. I've been at it non-stop for nearly a week on just three paintings – from mid-morning through to about 9pm each night. I'm used to working much quicker and I think the longer I've been working on something the more frustrated I get. The strange thing is that my quicker paintings look much better than these ones. Working quickly obviously suits me better. Great idea about painting a series of images though.
I am seeing improvement in your work. I think when you are thru with your studies you will probably continue to challenge yourself in all sorts of ways because you will have had the exposure to know how. My grandmother used to say "Ain't life grande?". Sometimes at moments when I thought it pretty much "sucked".
Haha. Thanks Leslie. I think I was just having a moment of weakness. Sometimes it just doesn't work, but it's done with and I'm moving on to my next piece, so it's all good.