Elements of Design - The Landscape Painter's Principles

Just as athletes must learn the rules and then spend many hours in practice to develop their precision and style, so must the artist learn the rules and then practice. This article is about some of the rules of design that artists must know in order to have a successful painting.

The simplest element of design is the line. A line is a one-dimensional mark. It has only length. If we draw another line, not on top of the first, then we are creating form. Form has both length and width; form is two-dimensional. Lines and forms can be organized into shapes, the third element of design. Complex shapes are often built from simpler shapes, such as circles, ovals, squares and rectangles. The distance between shapes is called space, another element of design. Space also refers to the illusion of depth, or three-dimensions. Thus when properly placed, shapes can give the feeling of three-dimensions in a two-dimensional surface. There are several ways to create visual three-dimensional space. One way is by using one-, two- or three-point perspective. Another is by using overlapping shapes. The landscape painter uses all these elements of design when creating a landscape painting.

In addition to line and form, shape and space, there are other elements of design. The amount of lightness or darkness of an object is the value. A good exercise is to draw a series of ten squares, put black in the left-most one and white in the right-most one, then try to paint shades of grey in the middle blocks, going gradually from dark to light. This is called a grey-scale, but the same could be done with any color. Similarly, we could paint a sphere with the lightest light on one side and the darkest dark on the other, going through all the shades of grey between the two.

Next is the element we all love - color. Color has three characteristics - hue, value and chroma. Hue refers to the color, such as red or green, blue or yellow. Value refers to how light or dark the color is (how it compares to the grey-scale). Chroma refers to how bright or dull the color is - it's saturation level or purity. The landscape painter must understand color in order to use it effectively.

Texture is the last fundamental element of visual design. A surface might be smooth or rough. We might represent a rough surface with thick brush strokes of paint, use of a palette knife or even by adding objects to our painting.

There are other principles of design that the landscape painter uses, according to Mitchell Albala in his book Landscape Painting. These principles refer to the painting as a whole. They are motion, balance, proportion, unity, variety, harmony, pattern, rhythm and emphasis - the focal point. In order to have a successful painting, the painter needs to be aware of all these elements of design and see that his/her painting observes them.

At Mary's Art, Inc., we have a large variety of original hand painted oil paintings on canvas. These inexpensive, colorful paintings were created en plein air (French for "open air") to capture the spirit and emotions of nature and bring them to you for your enjoyment. They are modern in style, somewhat abstract, and with expressionism overtones. Please visit http://www.murphyartstudio.com/ and find paintings you love.

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See Desert Plein Air Painters on Your Next Trip to Palm Springs

Every spring fifty plein air painters from as far away as Maryland and Pennsylvania converged on the intimate little desert town of La Quinta were a group of talented artists painted for six days at Desert Plein Air where they each competed for prizes as well as the opportunity to exhibit and sell their work.

Some of the week-long series of events included a Quick Draw Competition, the Grand Unveiling at the Hyatt Hall of Champions in Palm Desert and the two-day Umbrella Show.

This amazing program has given artists from around the country a platform to show their work. Sponsored by the City of La Quinta and the Laguna Plein Air Painters, a portion of the proceeds are donated each year to benefit the La Quinta Foundation, a non profit charitable organization that is dedicated to providing education, art and cultural opportunities for children, youth and adults.

Once inside the event, there were lines of paintings filling the room as patrons got the opportunity to view the still wet pieces of artwork as well as sharing a chat or two with the artist as they enjoyed the delicious gourmet spread that was served. There were awards for Best of the Show along with overall awards of excellence and the Quick Draw Award.

When the exhibition took a break, then it was time for lectures on such topics as the life of an artist and the work that is produced from past artists. The lecture series has included suck speakers/painters as Karl Dempwolf, Nikki Basch Davis, Camille Przewodek, Charles Waldman, and Tom Zephyrs to name a few.

The hectic schedule that was non-stop from day one concluded for the artists with the Umbrella Show. Here they were able to exhibit new work as well as recent paintings, allowing the casual observer a full array of portraits. Rows upon rows of booths were resurrected for the occasion in the colorful and fruitful gardens were the waterfalls displayed the flowing crystal clear waters. Some of the creations included deep deserts, towering mountains in full scope, scenes of produce fields that depicted the Coachella Valley lifestyle, of course the incredible Joshua Tree National Monument, the array of life at the Living Desert, and the whitewashed adobe architecture that is a signature of the Palm Springs-Palm Desert landscape.

Those that love art and look for life inspiration are best served to make the Desert Plein Air event a must on their next trip to Palm Springs and the California desert resort cities.

Mitchell Sussman has been a television producer for the past twenty five years. In that time he has produced adventure travel programming for such networks as Travel Channel, PBS, Fox Sports Net, Star TV and many others.

Mitchell is also a contributing editor to a website that provides information about and is a portal to hotels, golf, attractions, restaurants and events in Palm Springs and the California desert resort cities http://www.palmspringsvacationdiscounts.com/

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Tips On Dealing With 'Painter's Block'

If you're an artist, have you ever sat and drooled as you stared at a canvas or sheet of fine quality paper not knowing what to paint next? Do you even have the slightest idea on what to start drawing or painting? I've done this many times myself after going long streaks of whipping something really nice up. All of that creative energy was just spent; or so it seems.

What can you do in this situation? If you're reading this, then you obviously have internet access. You're seeking advice and answers on the world wide web. I can't say this is the "cure" for Painter's Block, but it sure helps.

Here's what I do in these situations:

1) Look up Images on any search engine and view other peoples' artwork. This gets me in the mood to create similar things. It doesn't even have to be artwork, but maybe photographs. Flowers, dragons, fish, people..etc. There are so many images we can use to help fuel our creativity.

2) Ask your friends and family or people on various forums that you might visit for ideas. I know, I know..it seems pathetic but some people have ideas that I don't. And besides, it gives others a chance who don't 'do' art to see what their ideas may look like on paper or canvas.

3) Write down what you think you need to work on. Is it scales of a fish? Are you trying to find a unique technique? Make your brush strokes more smooth? Insect or bat wings? Lighting? You can turn your rough drafts and experiments into a masterpiece! Do some finishing touches until you feel it's prepared for display.

4) Have you looked back at your older work lately? Sometimes I'll dig up an old sketchbook I finished back in High School! As primitive and 'wrong' as they all seem, I'll analyze every bit and compare them with what I've got going for me now. Again, we go back to tip number 3 with writing down what you need to work on, if anything. Doing this may also give you some ideas.

5) The last thing I start doing is just biting the bullet and start doing random brush strokes here and there like a madman! Then I'll do some tweaking and outlining to my liking until it turns into something recognizable. Most of the time I fail at this, but that's why we just call it an abstract. (I'm joking)...

Now that I'm suffering from writer's block, I hope you find this article useful!

Kristy S. is the founder of Kayjo Designs. If you are searching for more ideas or examples, please visit my blog at http://kayjoshack.blogspot.com/

I update my blog frequently with ideas and content. I'm also open to advice or suggestions from my readers.

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Rembrandt, Prince of Painters, Prince of Etchers - Face to Face With the Real Thing in Museums

Rembrandt arguably is among the 10 most gifted artist-painters in world history and he may arguably be the most accomplished and very best of etchers and engravers who ever lived, worldwide. In any country or period.

Nothing beats standing face to face and viewing the real thing. Amsterdam is a fine place to do so because here we have the Rijksmuseum (State museum of art) and the Rembrandt House, the place where he actually lived and worked for many years. Although leafing through illustrations in art books and images on the Internet are fabulous for study purposes, and indispensable in order to learn how to distinguish and compare, understand and classify, there is one experience paramount. Standing face to face with an actual painting by Rembrandt or an actual etching by Rembrandt may become a thrilling and moving event.

The Rijksmuseum is the prime place for viewing paintings in Holland, although the museums in The Hague (Mauritshuis) and Rotterdam (Boijmans) are a good alternative.

The paint surface: is it shiny and glassy-translucent like a Russian lacquer box (this is the successful style he invented and taught, called fijnschilderkunst or fine painting) or is it as rough and unkempt like bricklaying mortar? Did he succeed in combining both techniques within one and the same painting, like in the stunning Prophet Jeremiah lamenting the sacking of the temple in the Rijksmuseum. Did he only use the fine style in the beginning of his career, and the rough style only later on, or did he move to and fro with those techniques throughout his life?

And what is the psychological wizardry and soul-searching he employes, even at a young age, as a young man of barely 22 or 24? What did Rembrandt write on that subject...? In a letter to Constantijn Huygens, the art lover and Secretary of State, Rembrandt used the term 'naetuereelste beweechgelikheijt'; would a translation in 'Most natural movement' be called for or are there other options for translation? If so, what does this imply?

Rembrandt House

And then over to the Rembrandthuis. the house in which he lived with Saskia and in which his children were born. The interior has been re-constituted based on the inventory list of his bankruptcy. It feels like walking into his studio and sale rooms, as if the great master has just walked out on doing some business and left you there to roam about on your own. On the top floor one can stand face to face with a good series of the actual etchings. What sets Rembrandt apart from other artists like Duerer, Lucas van Leiden, Elsheimer? How fine or bold are Rembrandts results in the etching and engraving lines? Learn how to see and appreciate how he employed these fine or bold lines in the etching and engraving in order to get the 'Most natural movement'?

A bit of social history and the personal history will also serve to put Rembrandt in perspective. Was he really a cantankerous SOB who alienated the wealthy patrons after 1642, the year of the Nightwatch?

I will be there to assist you in viewing and I will help you to hone your own way of seeing. Art appreciation in front of the real thing.

http://kalden.home.xs4all.nl/verm/rembr_lecturesENG.html

Art historian Drs. Kees Kaldenbach has published widely and has a great capacity to share with others his deep passion for art history while sharing ways of heightened perception. He can meet you in museums in Holland to hone your vision and enjoyment.

http://kalden.home.xs4all.nl/

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