Principles and Value
Welcome to 2017! Everyone has a fresh start, set big plan and big goal, and start working on the new years resolution we set a few days ago. But if you really think about it, the calendar year are somewhat man made. It is for us to be able to look at time in a more structural way so we can measure, schedule and reference better.
Read MoreBeing an artist gives us a great advantage when it comes to holiday season. Painting is a form of visual communication. Therefore if a person receives a painting that's irrelevant to them, it'll be like sending the wrong message. The person will be confused and not be able to acknowledge the value of your painting.
Read MoreGooch - 12x16
This weekend is Thanksgiving weekend. With so many unexpected things happened in 2016, it can be harder to be thankful. But being an artist, I believe we pay our appreciation and express our thankfulness to the world around us through the unique visual language of painting and drawing!
Besides commission, most of the time when I paint something because I appreciate the subject matter. It can be landscape or portrait. I don't really think about how well can I sell this painting. Not that it doesn't matter, I am all for being a financially successful painter. What I mean is that I don't paint for money. I painted the above portrait of my friend Gooch solely because I find his face an interesting subject and I appreciate all the details that age has been given him. I love how the painting turns out. This portrait might not be sold, but that's not why I paint it.
Art is one of the best way to express our thankfulness - to an event, to a place, or to someone. When you paint a subject you are thankful for, you allow yourself to connect with it in a deeper level by spending time looking at the detail, think about the story, and how to retell the story in your own way.
I am thankful for the subjects I get to paint. As I enjoy painting them, they helped me to pay attention to the beauties around me. I am also thankful for you, it has been a wonderful journey with you and Watercolor Wednesday. Thank you for your support by reading my newsletter/blog and sharing my website with others. And for some of you who came to my demo or workshop, thank you! I wish you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your friends and families!
Value etching by Anders Zorn
A realistic painting has great tonal value. Without good value, the painting will be flat no matter what color you splash on it. Color is important, but you see nothing without the light. And that is what value do - let you see the light.
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