pick out

To whomever graded my copper pot painting, bless you

The first assignment in the online Still Life course at Watts Atelier. 8×10 inches, pickout.

Thank you, thank you, nameless instructor at Watts Atelier, thank you for your kindness. I enjoyed painting this (more than I anticipated) and liked how it turned out, but you clued me in (in a kind but professional way) to the different problems with it. You are totally right! I see it now! The reflected light on the left side is too strong. I should have left in the fabric folds in the background to strengthen the composition. The lip of the pot is a little too wimpy and should have been sharpened. And so forth and so on.

But you still passed me and called it “a successful painting.” I like it, even with its flaws, and had a good experience with it. But reading all your comments was so helpful. Sobering, but in a good way. I don’t feel crestfallen or chagrined; I feel optimistic because I’m getting really “meaty” instruction which will help me greatly. I feel sobered because this isn’t going to be super easy; it doesn’t matter that I’m not a beginner, it’s not going to be a course I’ll “coast” through (not that I expected that). I’m going to get my money’s worth, that’s for sure!

Thank you so much again.

04/03/2023 by Art Training & Education Painting 0

First grading at Watts Atelier

Oh my gosh, I’m so geeky. I know I’ll calm down soon and become a slug about updating this blog. But it’s still all new to me, so here I am…posting again so soon.

Apparently, the best of the bunch, with the fewest problems.

I got graded on the first set of paintings from the Oil Fundamentals course. I got a score of 100%, but I think they are taking into account that we’re not experts here. (They say in the assignment notes that they are not expecting “mastery.”)

The portrait was okay (but with a few problems), and the other painting (a guy with the sombrero, which I will not show here) had more problems, but apparently not bad enough to ask me to do it again.

I LOVE IT!!!

You know what was so great about their brief critiques? THEY TOLD ME WHAT WAS WRONG. This can be in short supply in many art classes elsewhere. They just won’t tell you anything.

Yes, there were problems with the paintings! I expected that, and wanted to hear what they had to say. Oh, I’m sure they’re not telling me every flaw, but whatever is appropriate for whatever level I’m at.

I get so sick of art classes where the teachers are too hesitant or timid to tell difficult truths. I’m not talking about teachers being needlessly cruel, but saying nothing and allowing the student to continue as they are, without useful advice to help them improve—that is cruel.

(I understand why some teachers might choose to be close-lipped; often because other students in the past have pitched such a fit that it doesn’t seem worth the bother anymore. What an indictment on the students who complain in such a way.)

Anyway, suffice it to say I’m very happy to get this advice and look forward to more.

03/30/2023 by Art Training & Education Painting 0

“Pickout” Oil Painting Fundamentals, first assignment (portrait)

9×12″ burnt umber “pickout” portrait from the Watts Atelier oil painting course

Oh, I struggled with the drawing on this one. Front view poses are always the worst! I don’t typically do a preliminary drawing when I paint, because with opaque paint I can tweak things as I go along. But this is an exercise with just burnt umber and Gamsol. Basically, transparent. (You can see the pencil lines in some places.) I KNEW I’d get something lopsided (and I did) but drawing in pencil beforehand mitigated the worst of it.

I see all the problems with the painting, but at the same time, a lot was learned from this exercise. And we’re not done yet! We’re going to be doing plenty more burnt umber pickout, and I’m up for it. I integrated some burnt umber pickout in a recent painting (I try to do daily small paintings) and it sold immediately! So Watts Atelier is already starting to pay off!

I’m not a novice at oil painting, but experience has taught me that I DON’T KNOW ANYTHING and boy, has this course confirmed that! So much more to learn! So many more techniques to explore! And let’s not even get into the drawing courses at Watts. So much to unpack there as well.

03/28/2023 by Art Training & Education Painting Portraits 1
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