Painting a Dancer, My Work in Progress - Part 1

This unfinished painting is my work in progress. It is 10 by 10 inches (25.5 by 25.5 cm). The support is pre primed acrylic gesso canvas on wood stretcher bars. The lighter image is the true value. I darkened this image on Photoshop’s colour variations to make it more visible for my readers.

I first did my figure on paper. With complicated subjects, such as figures and buildings or objects in linear perspective, I transfer them from my paper to canvas with graphite transfer paper. I decided on my overall design, hues and values. I use high viscosity acrylic paints. I like to place a matte medium over the pre primed canvas. It helps paint adhere to the support. I add a few eye drops of water to my mediums to improve flow. All other layers will be in gloss medium which is less absorbent. After the matte medium dried, I transferred my figure to the canvas. On Sunday, I started to paint. I use transparent glazes to build up values (light to dark scale) and hues (colours, i.e. blue, red). I add my paint to the medium and not vice versa to improve transparency. I glaze until near the end of a painting when I use opaque paints. Acrylic paints darken when dry. By painting with transparent glazes, I limit and control this color shift. I first started painting the dancer so I wouldn’t lose my lines and shapes. I did not complete the figure. I next started to glaze the background. I will continue to work on the background until it is finished except for final details. The background has a greenish hue because I used glazes of yellow orange and blue. I like to work from background to foreground. I can blur and dry brush the figure’s edges into the background. I had extended the dress on the left side as I had a tangent with the dress and arm. I have decided I will make the dress in that area smaller. This will create one negative shape - not two shapes as you see now. I also need to adjust the head’s profile.

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Caravaggio's Paintings & His Use of Color and Drama in Art

This painting is by Caravaggio, Boy Bitten by a Lizard. Caravaggio was an Italian artist who lived from 1573 to 1610. He had a turbulent history. In my prior post, I wrote about Rembrandt and his use of strong light and dark contrast. Caravaggio’s painting also shows his use of light and dark values used to model form (chiaroscuro). In this painting you can see the balance of strong light and dark shadow in the boy’s face. You can see these contrasts in other areas such as the boy’s arm and the vase on the table. It also shows the boy’s emotions of pain and surprise. Caravaggio was known for his dramatic scenes and his realistic treatment of figures with objects such as fruit.

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Click on title of post to 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. http://artbyarlenebabad.etsy.com

Buy images of my paintings on items, i.e. fine art prints, greeting cards, posters, and mugs. Customize style, color, border and more. http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist

In August 2010 my paintings will be exhibited at the Art for All Canada’s Rainbow Gallery. The Gallery is across from Toronto’s historic St. Lawrence Market. http://www.artforallcanada.org.

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Paintings by Rembrandt & His Use of Colours' Value in Art

This painting is by Rembrandt. I have also converted it to a gray scale (value). In prior posts, I wrote about the elements of colour. Hue is the common name of a colour, i.e. red, blue. Value is the degree of light or dark of a colour. Intensity is the purity or chroma of the colour. Many artists focus on value (tone). Close contrasts of dark and light values are dramatic and draw the eye. As you can see in Rembrandt’s painting, the master used strong light and dark patterns. The few light passages were usually a pure hue or warm tints (hue with white). These light passages were surrounded by dark passages. Rembrandt and his colleagues did not have the variety of paints that artist have today. His use of limited light colours made these subjects glow. Many subjects merged from the background.

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

Click on title of post to 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. http://artbyarlenebabad.etsy.com

Buy images of my paintings on items, i.e. fine art prints, greeting cards, posters, and mugs. Customize style, color, border and more. FREE GROUND SHIPPING TO U.S. ADDRESSES ON ORDERS OF $25 OR MORE. This is until April 28, 2010 @ 11:59 pm, Pacific Time. Code is MOMDAYGROUND. http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist

In August 2010 my paintings will be exhibited at the Art for All Canada’s Rainbow Gallery. The Gallery is across from Toronto’s historic St. Lawrence Market. http://www.artforallcanada.org.

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/