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Improve your painting skill using 200 brushstrokes
I’ve set up this web page to show by example how to improve on basic drawing and painting skills through a method suggested to me by talented artist, Simon Bland (His website: http://www.portraitsbysimonbland.com ) who heard of the idea from artist/teacher. Larry Seiler http://larryseiler.blogspot.com another very talented artist, as well as I’ve recently gone watched 2 DVD’s by Craig Nelson that promote “quick studies from life” - So it seems to me that that from the high calibre artists that recommend similar methods for artists to improve their work there must be something in it. I’ve also heard from other art students recently that similar variations have been used as long as people have been painting and wished to hone their artistic skills so I think that that many great artists can’t be wrong so… I thought I’d attempt this variation and will post my little “from life” paintings chronologically on my website, hopefully, others can see that practicing since my progress will be easily viewed month by month.
It’s outlining a quick painting exercise and the postings of painting progress will show the effectiveness of this daily exercise. I’m the test subject and hopefully through that I also become the teacher of those that wish to try this method.
This exercise will help hone your drawing and painting skills at the same time. It is a very inexpensive method of practice. Get a several small 5x7 canvases - enough to paint one a day for a couple of weeks (I purchased mine at a local supply store for .84 each).
Set up a small still life arrangement using a large book draped with a piece of fabric and a light shining on it - and get a small everyday household object - a cup and saucer, a tube of paint, a flower, whatever. The important thing is to paint from life.
Now start painting (You can do a charcoal layout but you don't really need to). I will paint directly on the canvas without preparing a layout. While painting, count the number of strokes of the brush you make. Try to paint without blending and make every stroke count.
Try not to cheat when counting your strokes -- attempt to paint the piece using only 150 to 200 strokes to complete the painting.
I’ve been told that after doing just a few of these you will learn to make your brushwork sing. And you'll find that these smaller paintings can be artistically worthwhile -maybe not every one, but because they represent only 30 minutes of time you won't feel so bad when you end up with a donkey of a painting.
When you paint something you absolutely hate simply scrape
off the canvas and start over.
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Apple & Orange - Oct 28
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Orange - Oct 30
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Banana Oct 31/06 |
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Orange Nov 2/06 |
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Pear - Nov 4/06 |
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Pear - Nov 5/06 |
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Rose - Nov 6/06 |
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Rose - Nov 7/06 |
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Carnation- Nov 8/06 |
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Carnation and Rose - Nov 9/06 |
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Lily - Nov 15/06 |
Bird of Paradise Jan 5/07 (I took a short break from painting) |
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Eternity Cologne |
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Rose |
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Daisy type flowers |
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