Dinner Veggies, 6 x 8Still Life Demo: Line and Mass Block-in
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I did the following demo for my still life class and thought I would share it here. The "Line and Mass Block-in" is a pretty traditional method of starting a painting, but sometimes it helps to see an example. So here it is broken down. (And no, the canvas is not blue... it's white. I am not quite sure why it photographed that way.)
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Step one: Plan composition and sketch large, basic shapes using dark neutral mix of alizarin crimson, french ultramarine and raw umber.
Keep paint fairly dry to enable painting back in (soupy paint will make this difficult).
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Step two: Step back; correct drawing and composition if needed,and begin massing in large areas of values.
Step 3: Continue massing in values and make final adjustments to composition(better to make changes here before beginning with color.)
Paint directly into this underdrawing when adding color.
Step 4: It is important to maintain the massed in values as color is added.Painting directly into the underpainting, add color and work from dark to light.
(Sorry, no progression shots of the color.)
8 comments:
Thanky you so much...I really needed to have this broken down for me. Very clear!
I am so glad you posted this! You wouldn't believe the muddy mess I made of my canvas after I left class on Wednesday. The demo really helps me sort out my mistakes. I am going to give it another try!
beautiful!
Laurel, Thanks for sharing all the progression of shots for your "Dinner Veggies", seems so easy when you explain it this way. Why isn't it this simple when the brush is in my hand?? Wish I were closer to take one of your classes...maybe someday!
Made one more trip to SW Gallery to see the plein air show and to meet another artist friend. What a great show, will look forward to your next visit here.
Thanks Laurel! Trish talking about her muddy mess.... Hah! My paint bag rolled sideways OVER my painting in the car on the way home from class Wednesday. The pity? I think it was an improvement! :-) Love your class!
Hi Laurel,
Thanks for this. It's fascinating to see how you work.
Great painting.
XOXOXOBarbara
Thank you Laurel... It was really interesting to see your process even if it isn't unique. I think maybe if we see these steps often enough and are reminded often enough, they become part of us.... (at least it would be NICE to think so!!)
beautiful -
I was wondering, Is the under painting wet or dry when you paint on top of it?
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