Beginning Design

My design skills are so basic as to be nearly non existent. I'll freely admit it. I think it's one of my weakest points. Nevertheless, I'll share what I think I know with you. You can tune up your skills as you go from other teachers, artists and trial and error.

Now this is a weird, weird picture? Wouldn't you say so? I know you say so! :) But there's a name for what this is, it's called grouping. Group your lights and darks. Take your reference photo, and find a way to tie all the darks to each other and all the lights to each other. Think about putting a puzzle together. It latches together so all the peices fit tightly against each other and if you pick it up, it locks and hangs together. That's what you want your paintings to do...hang together! You also want to create some large exciting and weird shapes in your paintings. If someone is across a room from your painting, their eyes will pick up these shapes. The shape might draw them closer to have a better look at your painting!

Along with this same idea, when you group your lights and darks, or middle values, try to give more weight to one or the other of these elements. This is called "dominance". Let either the darks, lights, or middle values boss the painting. Choose one group and use it sparingly. This technique will give more excitement to your paintings. Use one of these elements more than the others. Give your viewers eye a nice big hefty shape to see the second their eyes light on one of your paintings.

Look closely at this painting. You'll see the shape from above in it's design. The peices of light and dark lock together. Now technically, you could say they don't all lock, what I'm trying to explain here, is the concept that they do, and what that will do for your paintings.

Another note about design. Don't place two objects so their edges are close together or barely touching. This forms what is called a tangent. Overlap your objects so one appears to be firmly in place in front of the other object. This also helps give your painting a feeling of depth and space.

Image Use-Copyright The support you paint on.Drawing your image.Value Harmonious Color Complimentary Color Magical joy of creation.Criticism vs Critique Your Basic Reference Photo More on the Reference Photo Using a reference photo more than once.How I do a watercolor painting.

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