Action, Movement of Figures in Art, Paintings by Bellows and Babad

In my above painting, Hockey Player, I wanted to convey the action, movement and gesture of the figure. Much of the action and movement was achieved by the diagonal lines of the hockey player. Except for the cast shadows, the diagonals are contrasted with the square horizontal background and hockey stick. I try to keep my background abstract. The figure and hockey stick are placed on the vertical and horizontal thirds of the support. I used modeling and impasto strokes to emphasize the figure’s gesture.

One of my favorite figure artists was U.S. George Bellows a member of the Ashcan school whom painted contemporary American life. Bellows' paintings of boxers were typified by dark backgrounds and bright, rough brushstrokes of the figures describing movement and direction. (Above painting, Dempsey and Firpo, 1924)

My painting is a digital painting using mainly traditional oil painting techniques and a painterly approach. I used virtual brushes and paints (Corel Painter 12 and Intuos5 drawing pen and tablet).

                           
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Basketball Player's Gestural Pose and Impasto Painting

In my above painting, Basketball Jump, I wanted to convey the player in a rough and sketch like manner. The gesture of the basketball player as he reached for the hoop shows his agility. I used impasto brush strokes for the player and an abstract background. The figure is placed on the support’s Golden Mean. The player’s pose and the impasto strokes contribute to the rough, sketch like figure.

This is a digital painting using mainly traditional oil painting techniques and a painterly approach. I used virtual brushes and paints (Corel Painter 12 and Intuos5 drawing pen and tablet).

                      
Buy fine art prints of my paintings; select support and size.  http://arlene-babad.fineartamerica.com  See my shop app on my Facebook Fan page.

Buy images of my paintings on items, i.e. greeting cards, postcards, 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. Did you know that my items are in the public setting?  If you are on another Zazzle site, i.e. Zazzle.ca, you can buy my items. You will not be eligible for sales on Zazzle.com. If you received this post via email (feedburner), you may need to copy and paste this URL into your browser, http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist*   

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Landscape Study with Impasto Paint

I decided to do the above study of a landscape with impasto brush work (thick paint strokes). I routinely limit impasto strokes to a few highlights. In this painting, I wanted to make my art more active and interesting.  I enjoyed using this technique and plan to add a few more details to the work.

                           
Buy fine art prints of my paintings; select support and size.  http://arlene-babad.fineartamerica.com  See my shop app on my Facebook Fan page.

Buy images of my paintings on items, i.e. greeting cards, postcards, 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. Did you know that my items are in the public setting?  If you are on another Zazzle site, i.e. Zazzle.ca, you can buy my items. You will not be eligible for sales on Zazzle.com. If you received this post via email (feedburner), you may need to copy and paste this URL into your browser, http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist*   

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Composition, Golden Mean in Art, Nature Painting by Babad

In my above painting, Natures Beauty, I wanted to convey the beautiful colors in the scene. I used the complementary hues, blue and orange. Complements enhance each other. The small figure is my focal point and contrasts with the vast space of nature.  I wanted to place my figure using the golden mean. There are several methods that provide artists with aesthetic qualities in a specific set of proportions. The golden mean dates back to the ancient Greeks. The golden mean is based on a mathematical formula. It is easier to think of the golden mean, golden rectangle or golden section as a proportion of approximately 5 to 8. I was taught and used in my painting the proportion 4 to 5. This proportion is also seen in Greek architecture, i.e. the Parthenon, and the works of the Renaissance artists. [Good compositions make the vitality and meanings in the artists’ works clearer to others and themselves.] (Nathan Goldstein, Design and Composition)  Another proportional method I use is the rule of thirds. When you draw a tic tac toe format, you can position a focal area at any of the 4 sections where the vertical and horizontal lines cross. Rabatment of the rectangle is a third method used to find the best location on the support.  Rabatment is the square within the rectangle. The rabatment's sides are all equal to the short side of the rectangle.

 

Golden Mean

                                   Rule of Thirds                                                                 

                                                             
                                  Rabatment of the Rectangle

This is a digital painting using mainly traditional oil painting techniques and a painterly approach. I used virtual brushes and paints (Corel Painter 12 and Intuos5 drawing pen and tablet).

                       

Buy fine art prints of my paintings; select support and size.  http://arlene-babad.fineartamerica.com  See my shop app on my Facebook Fan page.

Buy images of my paintings on items, i.e. greeting cards, postcards, 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. Did you know that my items are in the public setting?  If you are on another Zazzle site, i.e. Zazzle.ca, you can buy my items. You will not be eligible for sales on Zazzle.com. If you received this post via email (feedburner), you may need to copy and paste this URL into your browser, http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist*   

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Night Sky, Linear Perspective in Painting Study by Babad

I did the above painting to study the effects of the night sky close to the horizon line (eye level) and the building in 2 point linear perspective. The scene was done around 5 a.m. and the sky was a red black hue (color) close to the horizon line. This also allowed me to use the complementary hue, green in the painting. The sides or planes of the building converge to the left and right vanishing points on the horizon line in linear perspective. Linear perspective is a method used to paint 3 dimensional forms on a 2 dimensional support. The edges diminish and converge as parallel lines to the vanishing points on the horizon line. In my painting, the horizon line is at the top level of the windows.  I used a muted green to paint the building. The building was lighter on the left side because of the number of overhead light fixtures. I went back to the area during the day so I could view the building’s linear perspective as I stood at the same location.  You can also see the form and cast shadows on the building, poles and ground created by the outside light fixtures.

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Buy images of my paintings on items, i.e. greeting cards, postcards, 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. Did you know that my items are in the public setting?  If you are on another Zazzle site, i.e. Zazzle.ca, you can buy my items. You will not be eligible for sales on Zazzle.com. If you received this post via email (feedburner), you may need to copy and paste this URL into your browser, http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist*   

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Movement of Figures in Art, Paintings by Degas & Babad

In my above unfinished painting, Ballerina Soaring Movement, I wanted to convey the movement of the figure in space. I blurred the edges of the ballerina to help achieve my objective. While I did not use cross-contour lines, my lines overlap much of the form. Cross-contour lines are lines that cross and describe the surface between or up to the edge of the form (Art Fundamentals Theory & Practice, Ocvirk et al).  My support is more coarse than usual and this also breaks down the edges.  The artist Degas frequently used cross-contour lines and blurred edges to create movement (see Degas’ above painting, Yellow Ballerina). In both above paintings the figures’ gestures also contribute to the appearance of movement.

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Buy images of my paintings on items, i.e. greeting cards, postcards, 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. Did you know that my items are in the public setting?  If you are on another Zazzle site, i.e. Zazzle.ca, you can buy my items. You will not be eligible for sales on Zazzle.com. If you received this post via email (feedburner), you may need to copy and paste this URL into your browser, http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist*   

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Interior Light Sources in Art, Paintings by Degas & Babad

As I mentioned in my prior post, there are problems when painting the light source inside a room. The modeling of a form is weaker when there are multiple light sources. It is usually best to have one light source or one strong light source and a weaker light source. In my painting, Ballerina Tying her Shoes I mentioned the light source is from the above right. (Prints and images on items of this painting are now on sale.) In my painting, Gymnast, the light is from above; the light source is stronger from the right. The artist, Degas’ light sources on his dancers might originate from above the figures, below and from both sides of the figures. In Degas’ painting, Dancing Examination, the light source is from above and both sides. Examine how the light flows over each figure in the room; it varies for each figure depending on the location of both the figure and light.

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Buy images of my paintings on items, i.e. greeting cards, postcards, 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. Did you know that my items are in the public setting?  If you are on another Zazzle site, i.e. Zazzle.ca, you can buy my items. You will not be eligible for sales on Zazzle.com. If you received this post via email (feedburner), you may need to copy and paste this URL into your browser, http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist*   

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Inside Light Source, Visual Weight in Art, My Painting Ballerina Tying her Shoes, Degas

I have not finished my above painting, Ballerina Tying her Shoes.  I wanted to discuss inside lighting as well as visual weight. My painting is descriptive; I was not emphasizing my usual power, grace, etc. The focal point is the area where the dancer’s hands are tying her shoes. Although the focal area has the lightest lights it does not have the darkest darks. There are many art elements that have visual weight and attract the viewer’s eyes. A figure has visual weight; next the face and then the hands carry visual weight.  In my painting, the face is partially hidden and looking in the direction of the hands, my focal point.

There are problems when painting the light source inside a room. It is usually best to have one light source or one strong light source and a weaker light source. When painting figures inside a room there is usually more than one light source. In my above painting there were originally strong light sources from above. I changed the light source to a single source from the right. The artist, Degas was a master at using different light sources. Light sources on his dancers might originate from above the figures, below and from both sides of the figures. In Degas’ painting, Blue Dancers, the light source is above and strikes both shoulders and arms.

 
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Buy images of my paintings on items, i.e. greeting cards, postcards, 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. Did you know that my items are in the public setting?  If you are on another Zazzle site, i.e. Zazzle.ca, you can buy my items. You will not be eligible for sales on Zazzle.com. If you received this post via email (feedburner), you may need to copy and paste this URL into your browser, http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist*   

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Contrast of Art Elements Enhance, My Painting Waterfall in the Mist,Monet

In previous posts, I have written about the elements of art. Contrasting elements enhance each other. This is also called simultaneous contrast.  Artists frequently use contrasts of hues in their paintings. In the detail of my painting, Waterfall in the Mist, the muted blue color enhances its complementary color orange. Other elements of art when used in contrast create enhancement. The solid texture of the rocks enhances the flow of the water and vice versa. Contrasts of value (gray scale) or intensity of colors enhance each other.  A triangular shape will be more evident amongst a number of square shapes. In the above painting by Claude Monet, the blue hue enhances the orange hue.

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Buy images of my paintings on items, i.e. greeting cards, postcards, 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. Did you know that my items are in the public setting?  If you are on another Zazzle site, i.e. Zazzle.ca, you can buy my items. You will not be eligible for sales on Zazzle.com. If you received this post via email (feedburner), you may need to copy and paste this URL into your browser, http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist*   

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Maintaining Unity & Complexity in Art, My Painting Lake Rock Formations, Degas

In my above painting, Lake Rock Formations, I was attracted by the light, shadows, local colors, and overall form of the rock formation.  I was concerned about the different values (gray scale) of the planes breaking apart the overall shape and form of the rock. While I did connect some planes of similar value, my concern remained. I painted a simple background to contrast with the complexity of the rock formation. The light is coming from the right front side. My critique group felt I had maintained the overall form of the rock formation. It is best sometimes to connect shapes of similar values, i.e. dark values, to maintain unity.  In Degas' above painting, New Orleans Cotton Office, Degas has painting multiple figures of different values. He has maintained unity by connecting the dark values.

 

In my painting there are 3 bright light areas. The largest area done in impasto was my focal area. I painted 2 other areas in a more muted light so that the brightest area was to some extent repeated.

This is a digital painting using traditional oil painting techniques and a painterly approach. I used virtual brushes and paints (Corel Painter 12 and Intuos5 drawing pen and tablet).

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Buy images of my paintings on items, i.e. greeting cards, postcards, 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. Did you know that my items are in the public setting?  If you are on another Zazzle site, i.e. Zazzle.ca, you can buy my items. You will not be eligible for sales on Zazzle.com. If you received this post via email (feedburner), you may need to copy and paste this URL into your browser, http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist*   

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