I heard a recent tip that's an alternative to squinting down to see the large masses of shape: put on a pair of reading glasses normally used for close vision when looking at objects farther away. This blurs the image.
Your videos are so very helpful. Many thanks. I like how you use your edit function on the photo to quickly establish the boundaries and then go over digitally to check out shadow shapes, etc. I am a fast painter and want to get into it quickly. I have learnt much about composition via Ian Robert’s Mastering Composition videos, where he also masses the important areas and forgoes detail. I also was inspired by David Hockney using his edit function on his iPad . It’s lots of fun because often those random pics look very fresh and more interesting.
Yes, Phil, it took a while for me to put away the pencil and mass in the big darks on the canvas/panel first, with maybe an outline, drawn in paint with a brush, of say, a distant mountain. You show a lot of barns, it "almost" makes me want to do some architecture, but I got my fill of that doing many plein air events years ago. Everyone wanted you to "paint the cute little town", even if some of the most gorgeous natural landscapes on Earth were nearby, such as in RMNP, near Estes Park. I did both of course, but the "quick draws" often were in some "modern", replete with little "boutique" shops of junk to sell, "town square" with, literally NOTHING TO PAINT, at least for me there!!!!!! :D LOL
Phil I could watch your videos all day long. So much useful information. I love your approach to painting. I have a question if you don’t mind. For the shadow pattern, do you try to divide it in terms of percentage, for example 50% shadow and 50% light? Or different numbers like 70/30 etc? That painting behind you at the beginning of the video looks amazing!
