Analysis of My Still Life Painting, "Rose, Vase, Gourds & Pumpkins"

I did this painting, Rose, Vase, Gourds and Pumpkin, a number of years ago. Like many still life paintings, it has a triangular compositional structure. The rose is at the top of the triangle, the most important position. The painting has a dominant cool temperature and a dominant light value. The form shadow on the left gourd and the front right gourd are similar in value and create one shape. The form shadow on the pumpkin and the form shadow on the right gourd are also similar in value. These values help maintain unity in my painting. There is color bounce from several objects. The light is from the left side. The painting shows the modeling of forms, i.e. sphere, cylinders.

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Maintain Unity with 2 Figures. Peel's Painting "After the Bath"

This painting, After the Bath (1890), was painted by Canadian artist, Paul Peel. It is in the collection of the Art Gallery of Ontario. I thought about this painting after reading a wonderful article by Jerry N. Weiss, Take Two (the Artist’s magazine, September 2010). Weiss considers composition and unity when painting 2 figures. I do not consider the 2 figures in Peel’s painting as 1 shape. However, the sitting child overlaps the standing child’s foot. The figures are similar in hue and value. The fireplace provides the same light source. The figures are also united by the rug and the peeling wall at the bottom of the background. There is repetition in the shape of the arms and hands of both figures stretched out to warm at the fireplace. (The far arm of the seated child is not seen.) Weiss shows how 2 figures can provide a unified form as 1 shape. He also provides examples of a unifying background and a consistent light source. Repeated shapes also provide unity. Peel used similar elements and techniques to ensure unity in his painting, After the Bath.

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Click on title of this post to buy images of my paintings on items, i.e. fine art prints, greeting cards, posters, shirts and mugs. Customize style, color, border and more. Final prices are shown after you customize products and select the quantity of the product in my store and other stores. If you received this post via email (feedburner), copy and paste this URL into your browser, http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist*.

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Use of Line in Sketching Faces

This is another sketch that I did from a work by an unknown artist. (I also sketch from life.) The sketch shows my use of line to create the outside and inside contours of the face. The light is from the left. I used line to create the form shadow on the right side of the head. The cast shadow from the head on to the right shoulder was also made with line. I used line to capture the woman’s age, i.e. wrinkles on the forehead, the shape of the chin.

I would love to read your comments and suggestions.

Zazzle.com sale. 15% off mugs with images of my paintings. Sale ends August 30, 2010 at 11:59 pm, Pacific Time.
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Buy my original paintings. Paintings on canvas mounted on wood stretcher bars are $60 (20.4 by 25.5 cm, 8 by 10 inches). Shipping is free within Canada and the U.S. http://arlene-babad.fineartamerica.com and http://artbyarlenebabad.etsy.com

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Line as an Element of Art. 15% off Mugs at Zazzle.com

I did the above sketch from a master work. I darkened it using Photoshop so it was visible. Line is an element of art. Lines can be straight, curved, zigzag and more. Lines can be short or long; thin or thick. Lines have direction. For example a diagonal line has direction and moves our eyes. Also eyes follow a line from thick to thin. Lines can create shape; they can be a contour line for a figure. In my sketch, you view the contour line on the left side of the face. Since it is on the far side of the face, it would normally be lighter. The lines following the top of the head are cross contour lines (hair on the head). Lines can create value. A series of lines close together will be viewed as an area. The closer lines are; the darker the area. You can see the parallel lines I used over the eyes to create and model them. Wide lines also result in darker areas. Parallel lines used to create an area are called hatching. Since lines can be thick or thin; have warm or cool colors, lines can create depth.

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Buy my original paintings. Paintings on canvas mounted on wood stretcher bars are $60 (20.4 by 25.5 cm, 8 by 10 inches). Shipping is free within Canada and the U.S. http://arlene-babad.fineartamerica.com and http://artbyarlenebabad.etsy.com

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Light and Shadow in Fine Art Paintings

This is my painting, The Lighthouse. Light and shadow are important and are used frequently to establish form (illusion of 3 dimensions) and depth (atmospheric perspective). Light and shadow are elements of color value and hue. It is best if there is one main light source. Three quarter lighting is excellent to create form. Complete sidelight is very dramatic and colorful. Backlighting is used frequently in night scenes; one does not see forms. Shapes are evident. Front lighting was used by the impressionists; it is easy to see color but limits form. Many artists paint a cool light and warm shadow. As you can see from my painting, I prefer a warm light and cool shadow. Also, the lighthouse is painted in complete sidelighting. Colors in light and shadow are clear. The form of the lighthouse is not as round as it would be in three quarter lighting.

Zazzle.com sale. 40% off prints and posters of my paintings. Sale ends August 22, 2010 at 11:59 pm, Pacific Time.
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Buy my original paintings. Paintings on canvas mounted on wood stretcher bars are $60 (20.4 by 25.5 cm, 8 by 10 inches). Shipping is free within Canada and the U.S. http://artbyarlenebabad.etsy.com and http://arlene-babad.fineartamerica.com

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Modeling Flowers in Art. 40% Off Prints.

This is my painting, Orange Lily. This painting is not on exhibit as it was sold. It is available as a fine art print on paper or canvas at the Zazzle.com sale. The petals are primarily warm orange with a few pink petals. These warm hues contrast with the cool background and leaves. The leaves and petals on all sides of the canvas allow the viewer several entry points into the painting. The warm light is from the top. The flower is similar to the top half of a sphere except for its center. The petals turn downward based on a cool hue. There is a value change at the top of the petals with the thick highlight strokes. A flower can also be modeled as the inside of a sphere. In that case, the modeling with light and color temperature would be reversed.

Zazzle.com sale. 40% off prints and posters of my paintings. Sale ends August 22, 2010 at 11:59 pm, Pacific Time.
Click on title of this post to buy images of my paintings on items, i.e. fine art prints, greeting cards, posters, shirts and mugs. Customize style, color, border and more. Final prices are shown after you customize products and select the quantity of the product in my store and other stores. If you received this post via email (feedburner), copy and paste this URL into your browser, http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist*.

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Buy my original paintings. Paintings on canvas mounted on wood stretcher bars are $60 (20.4 by 25.5 cm, 8 by 10 inches). Shipping is free within Canada and the U.S. http://artbyarlenebabad.etsy.com


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Complements & Glazes in My Painting. Sale on Prints & Posters

I did this painting a number of years ago. I called it, One Season Following Another. I was experimenting with the complements, violet and yellow. I also experimented with glazes (transparent layers painted over dry layers). I felt a spiritual connection with the painting. I then added the silhouette of the tree against the sun and background. This is my focal point. The gradation of the sky and foreground add the illusion of space. The clouds in the sky point toward my focal point.

Zazzle.com sale. 40% off prints and posters of my paintings. Sale ends August 22, 2010 at 11:59 pm, Pacific Time.
Click on title of this post to buy images of my paintings on items, i.e. fine art prints, greeting cards, posters, shirts and mugs. Customize style, color, border and more. Final prices are shown after you customize products and select the quantity of the product in my store and other stores. If you received this post via email (feedburner), copy and paste this URL into your browser, http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist*.

During August 2010 my paintings are exhibited at the Art for All Canada’s Rainbow Gallery. The Gallery is at 80 Front St. East across from Toronto’s historic St. Lawrence Market. You enter the Gallery through Rainbow Cinemas, Market Square. Viewing the exhibits is free. At the top of this site is a link to Art for All Canada’s Gallery. Gallery hours are from 12:30 pm to 10:00 pm daily. My exhibit ends the morning of Monday August 30th. http://www.artforallcanada.org.

You can receive updates of my posts by email. Subscribe in the right upper widget. Forward this article to interested friends and family. Also join my Facebook Fan Page; click on the Fan Page widget to your right. Follow me on Twitter. http://artbyarlene.blogspot.com

Buy my original paintings. Paintings on canvas mounted on wood stretcher bars are $60 (20.4 by 25.5 cm, 8 by 10 inches). Shipping is free within Canada and the U.S. http://artbyarlenebabad.etsy.com

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Sale of 40% off All Prints & Posters of My Paintings

Zazzle.com is having a sale. 40% off prints and posters. Promotion code is BTSRULEPRINT. Sale ends August 22, 2010 at 11:59 pm, Pacific Time. See my shop announcement. http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist*


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Modeling Forms with Value and Color Temperatures in Paintings

A few years ago I painted this study of peppers. It is helpful to paint simple forms to understand modeling and the illusion of 3 dimensional objects. The warm light is from the upper right. Even with a limited foreground and background we see depth. I used red and green complementary hues; these hues enhance each other (simultaneous contrast). The forms have a gradation of value and hue temperature. They do not have abrupt value edges that you would see in cubical forms. The front red pepper is modeled similar to a sphere. The green pepper is modeled like a cylinder. When you wish to study values and temperatures of form, it is helpful to study a simple form under light.

Click on title of this post to buy images of my paintings on items, i.e. fine art prints, greeting cards, posters, shirts and mugs. Customize style, color, border and more. Final prices are shown after you customize products and select the quantity of the product in my store and other stores. If you received this post via email (feedburner), copy and paste this URL into your browser, http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist*. Custom binders are currently on sale.

During August 2010 my paintings are exhibited at the Art for All Canada’s Rainbow Gallery. The Gallery is at 80 Front St. East across from Toronto’s historic St. Lawrence Market. You enter the Gallery through Rainbow Cinemas, Market Square. Viewing the exhibits is free. At the top of this site is a link to Art for All Canada’s Gallery. Gallery hours are from 12:30 pm to 10:00 pm daily. My exhibit ends the morning of Monday August 30th. http://www.artforallcanada.org.

You can receive updates of my posts by email. Subscribe in the right upper widget. Forward this article to interested friends and family. Also join my Facebook Fan Page; click on the Fan Page widget to your right. Follow me on Twitter. http://artbyarlene.blogspot.com

Buy my original paintings. Paintings on canvas mounted on wood stretcher bars are $60 (20.4 by 25.5 cm, 8 by 10 inches). Shipping is free within Canada and the U.S. http://artbyarlenebabad.etsy.com

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Rhythm & Movement in Art - My Painting, "Dancer in Chinese Costume"

This is an image of my completed painting, Dancer in Chinese Costume. My interest was the movement of the large skirt. The yellow hue at the edges of the skirt contrasts with the complement of the muted violet. I ensured the violet was on both sides of the yellow edges. The muted green yellow background is the complement of the violet skirt. The yellow and violet hues are enhanced by these complements (simultaneous contrast). I establish rhythm and movement with the curves of the skirt, the yellow edges, the shape of the hat and hairline. The white brush stroke at the skirt’s edge repeats the curve. The left side of the canvas has adequate space for the dancer to move into the space. Faces and hands have significant visual weight to the viewers’ eyes. I did not detail the face and hands because I wanted the movement of the skirt to capture the viewers’ interest. However the front arm is similar in value to the yellow edge and although the line is broken, the eyes follow this open line.

Click on title of this post to buy images of my paintings on items, i.e. fine art prints, greeting cards, posters, shirts and mugs. Customize style, color, border and more. Final prices are shown after you customize products and select the quantity of the product in my store and other stores. If you received this post via email (feedburner), copy and paste this URL into your browser, http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist*. Custom binders are currently on sale.

During August 2010 my paintings are exhibited at the Art for All Canada’s Rainbow Gallery. The Gallery is at 80 Front St. East across from Toronto’s historic St. Lawrence Market. You enter the Gallery through Rainbow Cinemas, Market Square. Viewing the exhibits is free. At the top of this site is a link to Art for All Canada’s Gallery. Gallery hours are from 12:30 pm to 10:00 pm daily. My exhibit ends the morning of Monday August 30th. http://www.artforallcanada.org.

You can receive updates of my posts by email. Subscribe in the right upper widget. Forward this article to interested friends and family. Also join my Facebook Fan Page; click on the Fan Page widget to your right. Follow me on Twitter. http://artbyarlene.blogspot.com

Buy my original paintings. Paintings on canvas mounted on wood stretcher bars are $60 (20.4 by 25.5 cm, 8 by 10 inches). Shipping is free within Canada and the U.S. http://artbyarlenebabad.etsy.com

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Cylindrical Forms in Art - My Painting, "Dock Pilings"

This is an image of my painting, Dock Pilings, and the image in gray scale (values). This painting is also on display at my gallery exhibit. This painting highlights several points. The dock pilings are painted realistically. My cropping of the pilings imparts an abstract image. The 4 pilings are cylindrical in form. The light is coming from the left side. In prior posts, I wrote about modeling cylindrical forms. The modeling from light, middle tone to form shadow is gradation and not abrupt. I used contrast in color hues; blue and orange. These colors are complements and enhance each other. This enhancement of hues is most evident in the light and middle tone areas of the pilings. The reflections of the pilings in the water are darker closer to the pilings. Reflections in water are also vertical as seen in my painting.

Click on title of this post to buy images of my paintings on items, i.e. fine art prints, greeting cards, posters, shirts and mugs. Customize style, color, border and more. Final prices are shown after you customize products and select the quantity of the product in my store and other stores. If you received this post via email (feedburner), copy and paste this URL into your browser, http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist*. Binders on sale at Zazzle.com.

During August 2010 my paintings are exhibited at the Art for All Canada’s Rainbow Gallery. The Gallery is at 80 Front St. East across from Toronto’s historic St. Lawrence Market. You enter the Gallery through Rainbow Cinemas, Market Square. Viewing the exhibits is free. At the top of this site is a link to Art for All Canada’s Gallery. Gallery hours are from 12:30 pm to 10:00 pm daily. My exhibit ends the morning of Monday August 30th. http://www.artforallcanada.org.

You can receive updates of my posts by email. Subscribe in the right upper widget. Forward this article to interested friends and family. Also join my Facebook Fan Page; click on the Fan Page widget to your right. Follow me on Twitter. http://artbyarlene.blogspot.com

Buy my original paintings. Paintings on canvas mounted on wood stretcher bars are $60 (20.4 by 25.5 cm, 8 by 10 inches). Shipping is free within Canada and the U.S. http://artbyarlenebabad.etsy.com

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Bird of Paradise - My Soaring Painting

This is an image of my painting, Bird of Paradise, and the image in gray scale (values). This painting is on display in my gallery exhibit. I used contrast in color hues and temperature; blue, green and orange. I wanted to achieve a sensation of soaring. The bottom blue-green stem is an oblique shape moving from thick to thin. The upper blue-green stem also moves from thick to thin but the top leaf moves the eye back into the painting. It is the upper orange petals shaped like 2 wings that contribute to the feeling of soaring. Rudolf Arnheim in his book, Art and Visual Perception, A Psychology of the Creative Eye, notes that when a shape moves from upper left to lower right, we perceive this as a shape falling downward. When a shape moves from lower left to upper right, viewers perceive this as a shape soaring upward.

The Zazzle.com sale continues. 15% off all T-shirts. Code is BTSRULESHIRT. Sale ends August 8, 2010 at 11:29 pm, Pacific Time. Click on title of this post to buy images of my paintings on items, i.e. fine art prints, greeting cards, posters, shirts and mugs. Customize style, color, border and more. Final prices are shown after you customize products and select the quantity of the product in my store and other stores. If you received this post via email (feedburner), copy and paste this URL into your browser, http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist*.

During August 2010 my paintings are exhibited at the Art for All Canada’s Rainbow Gallery. The Gallery is at 80 Front St. East across from Toronto’s historic St. Lawrence Market. You enter the Gallery through Rainbow Cinemas, Market Square. Viewing the exhibits is free. At the top of this site is a link to Art for All Canada’s Gallery. Gallery hours are from 12:30 pm to 10:00 pm daily. My exhibit ends the morning of Monday August 30th. http://www.artforallcanada.org.

You can receive updates of my posts by email. Subscribe in the right upper widget. Forward this article to interested friends and family. Also join my Facebook Fan Page; click on the Fan Page widget to your right. Follow me on Twitter. http://artbyarlene.blogspot.com

Buy my original paintings. Paintings on canvas mounted on wood stretcher bars are $60 (20.4 by 25.5 cm, 8 by 10 inches). Shipping is free within Canada and the U.S. http://artbyarlenebabad.etsy.com

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Triangular Compositional Structure in Paintings

This dramatic painting, Animals, was done by Mexican artist, Rufino Tamayo in 1941. In a prior post, I wrote about the triangular compositional structure using my paintings as examples. When the triangle is on its base, the structure brings stability but it can still provide some tension. When the triangular structure is not on its base, the structure has more tension and insecurity. The apex of the triangle has strong visual weight. Many religious paintings have the figures of Christ or Mary at the top of a triangle. In Tamayo’s painting, the triangle adds more aggressive behaviour as do the features of the animals. The heads of the animals are at the top of the triangle. (See Design and Composition by Nathan Goldstein)

During August 2010 my paintings are exhibited at the Art for All Canada’s Rainbow Gallery. The Gallery is at 80 Front St. East across from Toronto’s historic St. Lawrence Market. You enter the Gallery through Rainbow Cinemas, Market Square. Viewing the exhibits is free. At the top of this site is a link to Art for All Canada’s Gallery. Gallery hours are from 12:30 pm to 10:00 pm daily. My exhibit ends the morning of Monday August 30th. http://www.artforallcanada.org.

You can receive updates of my posts by email. Subscribe in the right upper widget. Forward this article to interested friends and family. Also join my Facebook Fan Page; click on the Fan Page widget to your right. Follow me on Twitter. http://artbyarlene.blogspot.com

Buy my original paintings. Paintings on canvas mounted on wood stretcher bars are $60 (20.4 by 25.5 cm, 8 by 10 inches). Shipping is free within Canada and the U.S. http://artbyarlenebabad.etsy.com

Click on title of this post to buy images of my paintings on items, i.e. fine art prints, greeting cards, posters, shirts and mugs. Customize style, color, border and more. Final prices are shown after you customize products and select the quantity of the product in my store and other stores. If you received this post via email (feedburner), copy and paste this URL into your browser, http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist*. Zazzle.com sale. 15% off all T-shirts. Code is BTSRULESHIRT. Sale ends August 8, 2010 at 11:29 pm, Pacific Time.

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Painting, Movement in Dance. Zazzle Sale on T-Shirts. My Art on Exhibit

I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer. This is a study for a painting of a dancer in Chinese costume. I was excited about painting the movement of the skirt. The blue on the left side of the background will be eliminated when I do the final painting. When I paint figures, I like to paint the figure close to the picture plane. I still want to establish mass and solidity of the figure. I did this with some modeling of the form and the foreground and background. I liked the curve of the head covering that repeated the curves in the skirt. The curving lines establish rhythm. I painted a yellow edge on the skirt to contrast with the complementary blue violet of the skirt (simultaneous contrast). The shape of the hair also repeats the curve of the hat. My background is a muted yellow to contrast with the hue of the skirt. I added a cool green in the background to contribute to depth. Space in the background and the left side are necessary to allow for movement of the dancer. I also used repeated glazes to build up the skirt instead of thicker paint to give the impression of a soft material, i.e. silk, satin.


During August 2010 my paintings are exhibited at the Art for All Canada’s Rainbow Gallery. The Gallery is at 80 Front St. East across from Toronto’s historic St. Lawrence Market. You enter the Gallery through Rainbow Cinemas, Market Square. Viewing the exhibits is free. At the top of this site is a link to Art for All Canada’s Gallery. Gallery hours are from 12:30 pm to 10:00 pm daily. My exhibit ends the morning of Monday August 30th. http://www.artforallcanada.org.

You can receive updates of my posts by email. Subscribe in the right upper widget. Forward this article to interested friends and family. Also join my Facebook Fan Page; click on the Fan Page widget to your right. Follow me on Twitter. http://artbyarlene.blogspot.com

Buy my original paintings. Paintings on canvas mounted on wood stretcher bars are $60 (20.4 by 25.5 cm, 8 by 10 inches). Shipping is free within Canada and the U.S. http://artbyarlenebabad.etsy.com

Click on title of this post to buy images of my paintings on items, i.e. fine art prints, greeting cards, posters, shirts and mugs. Customize style, color, border and more. Final prices are shown after you customize products and select the quantity of the product in my store and other stores. If you received this post via email (feedburner), copy and paste this URL into your browser, http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist*. Zazzle.com sale. 15% off all T-shirts. Code is BTSRULESHIRT. Sale ends August 8, 2010 at 11:29 pm, Pacific Time.

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