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PaintBox Tip #74 what is this painting about?

31/3/2022

7 Comments

 
Picturewith my notes about why I wanted to paint it, mostly memory joggers
Hello there *|FNAME|*

Students often struggle to understand what their painting is about.

This understanding is key because it's all wrapped up in your story and what you want to say. It follows that students often feel they have little of import to say therefore their painting is irrelevant. 

Your story is important because it will help you design a work that you are passionate about and will help you to focus on the important elements that attracted you in the first place. Thereby helping you avoid over-stating support and background elements.

What am I most interested in?
 
your painting (story, poem, sculpture, composition, drawing etc) must have a purpose and, yes, the purpose can be learning or just because you want to but more than this – why paint it? What is it about? What drew you (pardon the pun) to want to paint it? Without your want, your passion to paint it, there’s no story, there’s no purpose.

Might as well put your best foot forward and crack it!

We’ve talked about this before, sometimes it comes down to making yourself want to paint “it”. Do your research, study your subject, create design thumbnails etc (this research and study also has another purpose for discussion later). Design your painting, what can you use to create a painting with strong design?

So what made you want to paint this?
​
Was it a fleeting light?

Shapes interlocking and overlapping that piqued your interest?

Unusual colours juxtaposed?

A strong light/dark contrast?

People involved in some interesting activity?

An idea – what if I put this with that?

Whatever it was that intrigued you is your story. It’s really only necessary to explain it to yourself, to keep you on track, write it down. So then your painting becomes a concept about how to tell this story and the visual language you’ll need to tell it.

For example, let’s talk about a stiped canopy.

I might want a strong light and use the stripes and shadows to help me describe the shape of the canopy. There’s probably a door or a window under the canopy, this could be used for a strong value contrast – lightest light against the darkest dark. There might be a group of people nearby, can you link them to the canopy/doorway? Is it a shop, they’re going to walk through the door? People walking out with shopping bags filled with goodies. My focus must stay on the canopy and elements that help me describe the scene and the story of the canopy, maybe it's blowing around in the wind. I suggest giving your project a name to keep you on track. Exaggerate anything that leads to the focal area, minimise supporting gorgeousness.

What's your why?

ciao bei pittori xx

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7 Comments
Pam Lines link
2/4/2022 07:34:58

Morena Amanda
Just to let you know I do enjoy your painting tips.
Some good observations on enhancing the focal point of the painting.
Ciao

Reply
Amanda Brett
2/4/2022 10:40:43

thanks for reading Pam!!

Reply
Ngaire Elliott
4/4/2022 13:49:53

Thank you for today’s tips I have been struggling for weeks trying to decide what style of painting I want to concentrate on!!!
I am still not sure what I really want to do???
In the past I have done landscapes, flowers, abstracts, which I enjoyed, but I feel I need something else???
I started watercolour painting at the end of 2018 and have 100s of finished paintings sitting in folders which I am not sure what to do with!!!

Reply
Amanda Brett link
4/4/2022 15:09:21

hi Ngaire thanks for reading my blog. Huge questions!!
pick 10 of your favourite paintings. write a wee report on each of them ... why is each your favourite? 5 things you like about each, 5 things that could be better.
Join your local art group!!
let me know how you get on!!
cheers
A

Reply
Elizabeth MacColl
6/7/2023 16:24:36

Hi Amanda
Thank you for your tips. They inspired me to practise and I realised I haven’t been loading the brush properly. I learnt about adding more paint, and not water, to washes. In today’s tips I like the idea of painting with purpose. Your tips are very helpful. I very much appreciate receiving them. Elizabeth

Reply
Amanda
12/7/2023 02:37:42

Thanks Elizabeth, I'm glad my tips are useful!! thanks for reading!! xx

Reply
Paulette Cassidy
31/7/2024 09:44:16

Thanks for reminding me I sometimes get lost in the geogosness !
Love the tips look forward to them xx

Reply



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    PaintBox Tips, secrets, random thoughts,
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    Poetry in watercolour is made in the freedom of the here and now. Amanda Brett
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    Hi Amanda
    Thank you for your tips. They inspired me to practise and I realised I haven’t been loading the brush properly. I learnt about adding more paint, and not water, to washes. In today’s tips I like the idea of painting with purpose. Your tips are very helpful. I very much appreciate receiving them. Elizabeth
    Hi Amanda I enjoyed your post and generous tips. Looked up Dan Burt I begin to see that you can colour any subject to give it pizazz so long as the tone and form is correct Certainly adding value now to my attempts Thanks heaps Annie
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Copyright © 2022 All images and text on Amanda's blog and website are the legal property of Amanda Brett and may not be reproduced without express permission from Amanda Brett or her authorised agent. Thank you for respecting her art and the livelihood of all artists.
Quality Guarantee: All my watercolours are painted with only modern professional grade watercolour paints on Museum exhibition grade watercolour papers, they are extremely lightfast and will become a family heirloom and passed down to subsequent generations. ALL art of ANY medium should be hung away from direct sunlight. If​properly cared for, watercolour paintings will last as long, if not longer, than oil paintings. I only paint on 100% cotton rag paper, mostly Arches and Fabriano, and frame to conservation standard with acid free materials.
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  • Watercolour News
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