More on Edges

Blue Bowl (10 x 14)

This is my most recent painting a la M. Reid. The hard edges out in the light focus the viewer and the variation of the edge quality around the objects and the groups of objects  helps to create depth and dimension. Keeping lots of white in the composition makes for a light and airy feeling.

This is a very different treatment of background than is usual for me. The background objects are included and used to enhance the the lost and found nature of the edges of the foreground subject as well as keeping the whole picture plane interesting.

Lost and Found

Still Life with Mallard (9 x 12 inches)

I did this painting 6 years ago. At the time I was concerned with painting directly, achieving the correct value in the first go. Some edges have been softened but that was not the focus of the exercise.

My present study of Charles Reid's approach to painting is focused on edge control.  

Three Pears (10 x 14 inches)

Edges in the light are hard and defined while the edges on the shadowed side are lost into the cast shadows.The effect is to make the light side come forward and the shadowed side recede.

No parking

Here is another quick study using  a photo from that same painting trip to Brier Island. The background has been greatly simplified to maintain focus on the bicycle. I wish I had softened the back edge of the back tire by blending it into the purple shadow but it is what it is.

No Parking (10 x 14 inches)

Painting on the Edge(s)

Now that the new year is here I have time to indulge myself in experimentation and exploration. I have always admired the work of Charles Reid and Alex Powers. Both of these painters pay particular attention to making a variety of edges  to create depth, movement and focus in their work. Today I started working with Reid's approach to edge control.

I started, as he does, with a loose continuous contour drawing of my subject.

 

As much as possible, draw without lifting the pencil and try to draw shapes not objects. For example, the cast shadows from the figures are drawn as part of the figures and the dark clothing of the more distant figure is delineated only in terms of light and shadowed areas rather than hair, jacket and pants.

I worked from a photo I took on a painting trip with my friend Helen.

                                 A Walk on Brier Island (8 x 8 inches)

This was great fun to paint. I worked on Canson's drawing bristol with a small travel kit of Yarka watercolours. This paper does not allow much reworking or layering of colour. I have kept the light side of the figures hard edged and crisp while the shadowed sides are soft edged, blending in with their surroundings. The result is a loose interpretation of the subject matter and clear representation of the quality of the light and atmosphere of the day.

Look for my daily drawings on the Daily drawings tab at the top of the Blog. 

A drawing a day 2011

 Amy Mann, a painter friend is launching an art project to do a drawing a day through out 2011and she invites other artists to join her. Look for her blog at amymanndrawingaday.blogspot.com  She says:
"This is my 2011 art project: I'm going to attempt to do one drawing every day of the year. The drawings can be any medium, any size, any level of care and completion. I'm looking forward to seeing how my work evolves and improves, and whether this practice helps me to be more organized and "together" in the rest of my life pursuits. (To begin on Jan. 1, 2011.)"
Well Amy, I am going to give it a go. I have never lasted longer than a month doing any form of journaling and the same goes for past attempts at doing drawing a day. Drawing is a pleasure not a hardship and one would think that it would be an easy practice to establish but, sadly, life just gets in the way sometimes.


Here is one of my favourite drawings,

South Shore Fish Shack (Ink on paper, 10 x 14 inches)

Look for my daily drawings on the Daily drawings tab at the top of the Blog. 

Christmas Market

The annual Farmer's and Traders Christmas Market was  held in Annapolis Royal on December 4th. Here are a few pictures from that day.

My Table

Pots by my friend Pat Woods (Red Handed Pottery)

some Christmas spirit 

book launch

Nova Scotia Contemporary Artists - Volume II

On Saturday December 4th, Dee Appleby will be launching her new book of Nova Scotia Artists at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia in Halifax from 2 to 4 pm. Nova Scotia Contemporary Artists - Volume II is Dee's second book featuring the art of Nova Scotia painters. Her first book, From land and sea - Nova scotia's contemporary Landscape Artists (Nimbus, 2009) is a beautiful volume and I can hardly wait to see the new one. Both books are available in book stores now or from www.novascotiaartists.ca

 Cover art for the new book is this fabulous painting by Jose Valverde.