Artists in both Western and Eastern traditions have long used still lifes to explore possibilities of space, composition and perspective. Below, Kenneth J. Procter, artist represented by Alan Avery Art Company in Atlanta and the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Georgia College, explores what makes seven still lifes so remarkably recognizable.
Artist Mark E. Mehaffey answers the question “What is abstract art?” and shares his abstract art techniques by presenting five examples of compelling compositions and solid designs for eye-catching paintings.By Mark E. MehaffeyYou may ask yourself, Just what is abstract art?In order to define it, first let’s take a look at some of the ways a painter can organize his efforts when painting in an abstract or nonobjective way.
This demonstration is from “Familiar Sights That Never Were” by BJ Foreman in the July/August issue of Magazine.“Autumnal Tonalities” By George ShipperleyI base my landscapes upon years of observation of the natural world, but the particular scenes I depict come from my imagination. For the painting that would be Pathway, I saw in my mind a dense forest with a path going straight through.
Landscape Painting, Meet CalligraphyHave you ever approached a watercolor painting as if each stroke would be your last? Practitioners of calligraphy approach their art something like this, and the results are fresh and spontaneous, not overworked.Calligraphy has a long and rich history in Asia. And, it has made a powerful impact abroad, with its ability to create a feeling of movement on paper.
An Engine for Your CreativityIn college, I created a series of mixed media collages that incorporated several of the same images, but each looked different in its final form and presented a distinctive narrative. It was a marathon of nights filled with cutting and pasting, but I loved the way you could layer different meanings and have multiple ideas in each work.
The above image compares three related painting techniques that often get confused: washing, scumbling and glazing.What is a paint wash?Put simply, wash painting is a hue or tint applied in a thin transparent layer.Color wash paintingWashes should be applied loosely in the very beginning stages of painting.
