Honours Workshop Diary 5 – Artist Inspiration Part 2 and Art Theory Research

Meeting Agenda

Search for artists with appealing styles to me. The idea is that this search will trigger my own search for an aesthetic style by indicating attributes and artistic features. By combining different features and aspects I will gain my individual and original artistic expression. 

Progress Report

I subdivided the artists into to main categories. The digital artists and the traditional artists. There is a short description to each artist describing what makes the artwork stand out for me.

Inspirational Digital Artists

These are some of my favourite artists. I specifically chose digital artists painting with a fairly traditional feel. The artworks spread strong atmospheric vibes and contain well studied lighting and value skills. The colour choice is also great and these paintings are what I consider my goal. One day I would like to be able to paint at this level. With these last words, please enjoy the great skill these artists showcase in the following images that I selected from their galleries.

Lane Brown

Andreas Rocha

SnowSkadi

Viktor Titov

RHADS

Life Drawing No. 1

Improving Anatomy and Observational Skills

The first life drawing session for me this year. Unfortunately we didn't have a proper model this week and ended up drawing each other in 10-15 min long poses. 

Life drawing will help me improve my anatomy skills and improve my observational skills by paying attention to detail and recognizing significant trademarks that defines ones' character. In future classes I will set specific tasks such covering important aspects such as lighting, staging, composition, value or colour. Today I focused on scale and proportions of the human body.

They images are made up out of corresponding 2 dimensional forms that create the illusion of a 3 dimensional person. The challenge is to focus on the forms and in the eventually the whole picture will come together with correct proportions and scale. This is only one method though. If the time is not long enough to do so one can use charcoal for example and block in shapes, which can be done very quick. 

Beneath are my sketches using pencil. I also defined the outlines a lot this time and spent little to no time on shading. 

"Canyon Scenery" - Environment Exercise from the Imagination

 "Canyon Scenery". Overlooking the great Pass.

Painting Process

Colour Theory

Colour is the element of art that is produced when light, striking an object, is reflected back to the eye.

Hue

There are three properties to colour. First is hue, which simply means the name we give to a colour (red, yellow, blue, etc.).

Intensity

The second property is intensity, which refers to the strength and vividness of the colour. For example, we may describe the colour blue as "royal" (bright, rich, vibrant) or "dull" (grayed).

Value

The third and final property of colour is its value, meaning its lightness or darkness. The terms shade and tint are in reference to value changes in colours. (http://arthistory.about.com/cs/glossaries/g/c_color.htm)

Complementary Colours

“Most of you probably understand the concepts of contrast when it comes to value and complementary colors. For instance, if you want something white to stand out, surround it by black. Likewise, if you want something blue to stand out, surround it by orange. But there are many other means of contrast, and in this case, saturation is doing the heavy lifting.” Dan dos Santos (http://muddycolors.blogspot.co.at/2012/10/not-so-bright.html)

Relativity

Different results can be achieved by adjusting the intensity, hue or value/tone. Relativity is one of the most important aspects of colour theory. Make a colour bright and saturated by surrounding it with dull colours.

As Matisse and Kandinsky explain, colour acts as an important factor in the creation of specific moods in artwork. Hereby “the cultural background plays a significant role” (Bacher 2007). Nevertheless similar rules are applicable in many parts of the world as “certain cool colors calm down the emotions, while hot colors create aggression in emotions” (Bacher 2007). Through their combination different moods and atmospheres are created. 

Harmonic Colour Schemes

(Images from Bacher, H. 2007. Dream Worlds: Production Design for Animation. Focal Press)

High Contrast Colour Schemes

(Images from Bacher, H. 2007. Dream Worlds: Production Design for Animation. Focal Press)

Colour Expressing Emotions

Matisse and Kandinsky describe colour as an important factor in the creation of specific moods in artwork. Hereby “the cultural background plays a significant role” (Bacher 2007). Nevertheless similar rules are applicable in many parts of the world as “certain cool colours calm down the emotions, while hot colours create aggression in emotions” (Bacher 2007). Through their combination different moods and atmospheres are created.

While Matisse chooses colour independently from scientific theory and bases his choice "on observation, on sensitivity, on felt experience” (Flam And Matisse 1995). The concept of applying colour without connection to the subject matter is an interesting approach. Kandinsky even takes it a step further by describing colour as a powerful tool to directly influence the soul and create great emotional effects (Kandinsky 1977).

"Privacy" - Experimenting with a New Colour Swatch

The goal of this exercise was to keep using a specific colour swatch to create a bright atmosphere with a fitting colour scheme. Therefore I firstly made some quick thumbnails (the 4 beneath) from which I chose one to continue working on. These thumbnails hardly have any detail and have a very simple composition defined by the colour choice. The value is all quite similar. This is a colour practice piece.

I named the final piece "Privacy" as the painting is very relaxing and simple, yet mysterious due to the umbrella. Who knows what is going on behind those rocks. Possibly a couple has retreated to there or it's just someone trying to get away from everyone to have a moment in piece. The colours are quite joyful and bright without any too strong contrasts. The colour theme might remind some people of vintage illustration covers of magazines or pin ups. Heavy brush strokes with high opacity also create a somewhat traditional painting feel rather than a modern digital one.