DRAMA in the Outback. The dark blue of an impending storm creates a sense of unease as we are led from the dry arid land in the foreground straight into the path of the coming storm. Watercolour Landscape using Opposites This little impressionist landscape was inspired by the harsh condition of the Australian Outback. […]
Where does texture and detail belong? When to stop painting!? How to avoid fiddling? It is a matter of simply reminding yourself as you are painting, there are 3 main areas to your composition. Background, Middleground and Foreground. 3 Main Textural Areas: Background, Middleground, Foreground Each of these areas is to be handled […]
A master at creating depth in watercolours, an artist I’ve long admired Ellis Rowan has returned to my attention. I was reviewing my posts and paintings the other day, assessing actually. When the vibrant scarlet of Red Dragon Maple Trees caught my eye and got me thinking that the Colour was reminding me of […]
Imagine going on a quiet pleasant nature walk, happily taking in the serene environment. When out of the blue, you discover the tree you’re leaning on is swarming with unknown alien creatures by the hundreds. Well, it did make me step back, just a little. Actually, it must have been rather funny to watch. I’d […]
I have a real thing for great backgrounds. The backgrounds, make the painting or the photograph! I will often look straight at the background, poring over them more so than the focal point. A good background will gently lead the way to the focal point while taking the viewer on a lovely afternoon stroll along […]
A Simple Post: with an invitation! With no long discourse or Art Basic tips on tone, edges, depth, colour, design, etc. I’m inviting you to post in comments on your reactions to this photographic image. Is it too centered for you? Adequate depth? Some may dislike the location of the green signature, and wonder […]
Photo taken late afternoon with Canon 600d, Canon 5omm f1.8 ISO 200 1/640 (f3.5 chosen for shallow depth of field and soft blurred background) This post is perhaps a wee bit on the short side and a bit ….. “shallow” after my last two lengthy and information packed […]
“Foulweather Bluff,” Kitsap County painting was inspired by a simple morning walk along the shoreline with my dog Laura when we lived in the Pacific Northwest. We lived on a small hillside overlooking Admiralty Inlet and the Olympic Mountains with the beach a mere half mile away. I’d taken several photos which I’d tucked away […]
I love leaves. All sorts of leaves – scarlet, yellow spring green, fallen leaves, skeleton leaves. I do not like snails! Yet here I am featuring a snail in my art post. How did this happen? I was in my garden having a quiet morning amble, a little zen, yoga, relaxation, enjoying the refreshing cool […]
As I paint, my goal is to create the sense of seamless progression of back to front, i.e. background into the middle ground and then foreground. The prior post Depth, shared information on how Colour is a great tool to create the illusion of this kind of depth in a painting. Edges and Tonal values […]