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What about Technique?
A work in Progesss:
From one point of view, how can painting be about
anything but light?
Thus, it does not matter so much what one paints, but rather how
one paints it, for example, light on the teacup is good, but
light within the teacup is even better! Becoming familiar
with the technique of oil painting means also understanding the
unique possibility of employing translucency to create beautiful
effects of light. Eastlake noted, "The leading attribute of the material of oil
painting, as distinguished from those of tempera and fresco, viz.
[is] its power to transmit light of an internal surface through
superimposed substances more or less diaphanous....".
After years of experimentation and study, I have come to a
technique that at least allows for the possibility of fine painting,
in my case landscapes. I'll try to describe it briefly here below using
illustrations from a current project, the Sint Annarei here
in Brughes. I've worked up studies of this canal from
the top of the canal looking south describing afternoon light. What is important is
maintaining my inner vision; what I find beautiful about a
particular place, at a particular time of the day, in other
words, the light. Remembering, that landscape can be
defined in at least four ways:
- Compositionally (lines that
ground one or draw one in),
- Chromatically (colors that bring one forward or
push one back),
- Value (lights and darks that pull one forward
or push one back) and
- Detail (focal length in combination with
object size)
so a good landscape combines all of these elements, plus a little
mystery....
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A
work in progress
The technique I use to paint landscapes in oils.
The
Ground
How to choose and prepare a panel for painting.
Egg
tempera
Some basics on painting with eggs.
Mixed technique
from the Ecole des Beaux Art, Paris.
Fresco
Some basics of painting fresco and fresco secco.
Encaustic
Some new expereince with an old technique.
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