The Artist - UK (2020-05)

http://www.painters-online.co.uk artistMay 2020 27

PRACTICAL

Hazel Soan

has studios in London and Cape Town

and travels widely for her painting.

Hazel is the author of many painting

books, has recorded several DVDs

and her work is in private and public

collections, including the National

Portrait Gallery and a number of

embassies. http://www.allsoanup.com

TASK 1

PAINTING CIRCLES

Scatter a set of circular objects, such as

lids, coins, caps etc, of differing colours,

on the floor below you, so you can draw

and paint them directly from above. Push

some together, overlap others. Spend an

hour drawing and painting these items in

relation to each other, in monochrome.

Try to draw perfect circles, and

particularly note whether one is darker or

lighter than the other, painting the tonal

relationship as accurately as possible in a

range from white to black.

Immediately afterward, go out for a

walk, or a drive, and note the things that

draw your attention. I expect they will

be circular shapes such as road signs,

headlights, circles on advertisements.

You will probably find yourself assessing

their precise tone and their relationship

with their background. The act of drawing

and painting the circles trains the eye to

Exercise: Training the eye to see

notice specifics and for a while that training

stays at the forefront of your vision.

If you found this exercise helpful, change

the subject: exchange circles for a

predominant colour pairing, for example

blue and orange (I used ultramarine blue

and sepia), or pursue a particular texture,

such as shininess, and again follow your

painting session with a walk or drive,

noting what attracts your visual attention.

Next month: Particular, irregular and

random elements

Hazel will be leading a The Artist holiday to

Kafue National Park, Zambia, from October

31 to November 11. For more details please

turn to page 60.