Edges

Are there three Ps or four???

Three Ps (Pot, Pomegranate and Pepper) 10x8 O/L

This still life was set up in David Gallup's class.  Although I really don't think I reached the goal he was setting, I did try very hard to develop a variety of edges.   I have painted this copper pot a few times now and really love the way the light and reflections create so many varied colors in the surface. 

My version of the still life was called "Three Ps (Pot, Pomegranate and Pepper)"

David's Demo

David says the least sophisticated way to lose edges is when you blurr or fuzz out the edge.   He suggested scumbling, using tangled color, pulling or pushing sections, using thick or thin paint, playing down the contrasts or edge transitions using temperature only.  He also says the least sophisticated brush stroke has four edges.

There is so much darn stuff to learn...  Trying to deal with edges of shapes and values rather than edges of objects is going to take lots and lots of painting and practice.    Truly, I'm pretty much just happy when the painting is pretty.   (But I AM trying to learn all I can anyway.)

Today David's class was even MORE frustrating.   We had a nude model and were given 6 minutes to paint her.   No worrying about drawing, edges or anything... just beautiful color within three values and a minimum of strokes.   He says the short time forces us to just think of light and form and not worry about all the details.    We did a series of 6 minute paintings... most of which I wiped off.  Then we did 12 minutes, 15 minutes and the last was 35 minutes... heavenly...(not really BETTER... but psychologically heavenly)    I'll show a few of those sketches in a future post...  It's dark and they are too wet to fool with right now.  (Also... they're VERY sketchy oil sketches!!!)