Category Archives: Blog

Marble

On a smooth surface (gesso panel is ideal) spread a layer of Medium (no 2) . Into this with a medium size flat, put down the first layer of fissures, using black, raw umber and viridian. These are broad, few and big. Then, with a smaller flat (No 4) and adding raw sienna add the smaller fissures and fractures around the big ones.Vary the direction in different blocks and remember the perspective rules.

Now haze the surface, leaving some more definate. Into the spaces, add raw sienna , viridian , raw umber AND white mixtures with a stippling action, and hieghten (lighten) some smaller spaces. Take care to get a chiaroscuro to differentiate different blocks of marble. Haze again, and leave some definate fissures.

Now with the feather, add the hairline fractures using dark mixes, with black. Very judiciously , haze again.

Adding light and dark cut lines, and even cracks will add to the illusion. Use a mahl stick and a liner. Cissing (sprinkling with turps or metho) can work while its all still wet. This is a way to paint wet in wet, alla prima.. .. You should work out your perspective and draw it first. Light and shadow could be done first using a grizaille, or use glazes when its all dry.

Related Images:

Acclamation

Acclamation

Why is it that a violinist can play Mozart , an actor breathes life into Shakespeare, a dancer dies as a swan yet again memorably, and all these artists receive acclaim, but if a visual artist declares ” I will now “do Rubens”, a completely different set of assumptions apply.?

I contend it is the assumptions that are misguided, and completely miss the point. If Rubens(or any other master) is my composer, my playwright,my choreographer, then judge my performance accordingly,starting with whether I know the script.

After all, if your role is to provide illustrations to,and demonstrations of, the theories and pronouncements of art critics and impenetrable French philosophers; so should your work be judged-as just that.

Brian E Deagon
Thursday November 10th, 2011 9:55 am
Back to the top

Related Images:

“What are you thinking about?”

The other night a tutor asked me” What are you thinking about?”as I was drawing. I muttered” line,shape,tension,space,light,bone, muscle and proportion” .She said” No, I mean when you are drawing.”

I had to really think,but couldn’t answer. A day later, I realised the answer was, ” When I am drawing well, I don’t.” I am a silent and almost passive witness to a conversation between the pen and the model. Only when I bugger it up, do I have to think.

This sits well with research on decision making in pressure situations.Go with your instincts or get it wrong. Its also why practice makes perfect.

Brian E Deagon
Thursday November 10th, 2011 9:47

Related Images: