Advanced lessons - introduction
strength that was the key. The concept and knowledge of how people feel about something was- and is - essential for illusion to succeed.
- Whereas the magician needs the skill and discipline of the actor, performer so the artists
must similarly have the ability to control the painting in the totality of its parts. The artist needs
to be creative and know how best to construct and present his two dimensional painting as a
three dimensional illusion. The artist will need to know and apply the techniques that painters
use create form and depth (chiaroscuro and perspective).
To summarise then: we have the technical analysis, the conceptual analysis and the
presentation technique. When we understand these things about an object or subject we can
then paint it.Many will recall the pearl necklace I made from
scratch in a previous lesson - so now let us use
that to demonstrate the study necessary to
preform the task. Please understand that in this
exercise painting without form and depth will
produce merely a pale imitation, a sad flat thing
that takes us back to kindergarten.Technical analysis - the physical nature of a pearl.
The pearl's technical characteristics fall under four main headings;
a) Shape - various spherical - round, oval, tetrahedron with no sharp
edges.
b) Texture - hard-edge satin, non-oxidising
c) Color - the whole visible spectrum with an underlying milky yellow-
orange to blue-grey. Pacific island pearls are yellow orange while
artificial Japanese blue -grey.
d) Reflective ability - partially diffuses the light rays with its semi-
opaque non -crystalline surface.
Conceptual analysis - The pearl as it exists in the mind of most is
usually round, glowing diffused and organic. It's most esteemed color is
underlying gold. The pearl is natural and feels benevolent against the
skin.
Presentation technique - To take advantage of the pearl's reflective
nature I decided to place it in a situation where there was something to
reflect. In this case in front of a window on a red table in a brown room
with a blue ceiling and an observer between the window and the pearl.
A string of pearls is more believable than a single. Use a rich, soft
background (prussian blue) that exaggerates the pale, glowing diffused
nature of the pearl. That satisfies the form and the depth (perspective)is internal in the reflection.
STUDENT ACTIVITY: Painting the pearls:
1) Paint miniature scene as above in a wet medium and allow paint to diffuse.
2) Glaze in a semi-transparent mix of white, with a little red and yellow.
3) While still wet introduce the faintest touches of as many colors of the spectrum you like.http://www.geocities.com/~jlhagan/advanced/intro.htm (2 of 3)1/13/2004 3:33:29 AM