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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
7 Comments
Amanda Brett
2/4/2022 10:40:43
thanks for reading Pam!!
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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!!!
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4/4/2022 15:09:21
hi Ngaire thanks for reading my blog. Huge questions!!
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Elizabeth MacColl
6/7/2023 16:24:36
Hi Amanda
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Amanda
12/7/2023 02:37:42
Thanks Elizabeth, I'm glad my tips are useful!! thanks for reading!! xx
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Paulette Cassidy
31/7/2024 09:44:16
Thanks for reminding me I sometimes get lost in the geogosness !
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AuthorPaintBox Tips, secrets, random thoughts, Poetry in watercolour is made in the freedom of the here and now. Amanda Brett Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working - Pablo Picasso There are no mistakes in watercolour, just some extra surprises!! Categories
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What my readers and viewers have to say
Your emails are so informative! I must confess I've watched a couple of your demos from beginning to end, and it makes me want to watercolor!!! I've only ever painted with oil or acrylics and haven't know how to begin with WC. Your content is excellent!
Susan VN 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
Yes very wise words. Agree with not fussing and agree with comments about good quality paint. Well written and inspirational as always. Cheers Janet xxxx Archives
January 2025
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