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Tuesday, April 24, 2012

The Sketch Hunter


Prague, CZ



The “The Art Spirit” by, Robert Henri belongs in every artist’s library. It was first published in 1923 and is still being printed today. I want to share a passage from the book with you.

“The sketch hunter has delightful days of drifting about among people, in and out of the city, going anywhere, everywhere, stopping as long as he likes-no need to reach any point, moving in any direction following the call of interest. He moves through life as he finds it, not passing negligently the things he loves, but stopping to know them, and to note them down in the shorthand of his sketchbook. Like any hunter he hits or misses. He is looking for what he loves, he tries to capture it. It’s found anywhere, everywhere. Those who are not hunters do not see these things. The hunter is learning to see and to understand-to enjoy.”

When I first read this book it stopped me in my tracks. The pages of the book speak deeply to me. The passion and emotion of all artists transcends time!

I have filled countless sketchbooks. I have travel a lot with my sketchbooks. I travel to teach, sketch, and explore. I want to see and understand my world. When I sketch I see, I understand. These books contain my life- joy, sorrow, achievements... and all that life has thrown me. I am a sketch hunter!

Happy Sketching!
Brenda

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Reflective Color in Shadows

Often I see students reach for a tube of gray paint when they are describing shadows. What they don’t know is that shadows are where the most exciting color possibilities can be found. The illuminated area near an object reflects light into the shadows. This reflected light carries color with it. This is called reflected light.
To achieve a better understanding of shadows and reflected light, it can help if we can actually see it happen. I created the general shape of a building to demonstrate the point. Look at the photos of the building. I place the building on four different colored surfaces. Notice how the color of the shadows changed on the building, depending on the colored surface it is placed on. There are 2 kinds of shadows here (cast & form), and both are affected by reflected light.
Click on the picture to enlarge so you can really see the shadows.

The best teacher is seeing it for yourself. On a sunny day go outside and explore shadows. The only time you will see gray shadows is on a overcast day, and the shadows are very faint. The only time I see gray shadows is when the object is sitting on a gray surface (i.e. a building in a parking lot).

So next time you are painting REALLY look at the shadows before you reach for a tube of gray paint.

Happy Painting!
Brenda