Let's get Art-ing!

“The more you learn, the more you know. The more you know, the more you know you need to learn more.”

-Kevin Macpherson

Hey all – wanted to give you a little tidbit into a fun new series I’ve been dreaming of starting!

Let’s get straight into it!

There are so many ways for artists to keep their artistic spirits alive that simultaneously sharpens their skills and helps them find new ways of pushing themselves artistically. There is no right or wrong way to do this, it all depends on the artist and what resonates with them. Personally, there are two things that I gravitate towards to keep myself, my skills, and my mind in check: Reading art books with different ways of painting and approaching art, as well as learning about current and old masters (what inspired them, their lives, their paintings, etc.). The hard part, however, can be finding the motivation to step away from the easel to sit down and learn in a deeper way. Hence, this idea for an “Art Book of the month” (and maybe later down the line an “Artist of the month”)! I won’t be talking about everything that I loved or found interesting, or else I’d have a ten page essay for everyone to read. Instead, I’ll be scratching the surface of the points that truly touched me and what I’ll be practicing myself in my studies and my final paintings.

I’ve been engrossed for the past two weeks in a book by Kevin Macpherson called “ Fill your Oil Paintings with Light & Color,” and I can’t get enough of it. He’s a wonderful and extremely talented impressionist oil painter and teacher who paints breathtaking landscapes and subject matters. He has hundreds of pictures and guides that make his process look so easy. I know now, through reading his book, that he paints them easily because he simplifies the way that he looks at whatever is in front of him. His process is easy because he makes it easy.

“Paint what you see, not what you know.”

A simple suggestion, but a hard one to master. Landscapes have always felt very daunting to me and I don’t paint them very often, although not because I don’t want to. There can be a day where I look outside and feel blown away by what I’m seeing, all I want to do is paint and capture that moment. The reason I hesitate to follow through is because I’m looking at everything. The complex shading on the leaves of trees, the endless colors in the blades of grass, even the clouds that can change color and shape in the blink of an eye. I’m sure I’m not alone in this matter either, so I hope the quote above brings others as much comfort as it has for myself.

It's not about painting what you know is there, but the shapes and colors that you see are there. There might be a tree covered in shade – I’m sure everyone’s first instinct is to start painting some browns and greens. But what if there’s overcast and the lighting is cooler? Could that brown really just be a gray blue, and the leaves a blueish, grey-green? Don’t paint the individual leaves, but the shapes of color that make up what that tree is.

Another great practice that Macpherson suggests is to look at things, and really look at the colors of what’s in front of you. A white house in the shade could be full of purples and blues and greens – and this is what we would paint on the canvas. Don’t even need any paints if you’re just trying to practice this, just look outside (or inside) and really look at how the lighting affects the color of your subject.

I’ve also been inspired to go outside and do more plein air paintings and sketches, where you take a smaller canvas, using a limited color palette (I chose titanium white, alizarin crimson, cad yellow light, ult blue, and grey, although MacPherson substitutes the cad yellow light for cad yellow pale) and quickly paint a scene in front of you. He suggests finding something that moves you so that you can put that same amount of emotion into your painting, painting quickly and decisively so you can keep that raw emotion in there. Trying very hard to trust my eye and paint quickly is not easy, especially when I’m used to trying to make everything perfect, but it’s great practice.

Also, simplify the questions that you ask yourself – don’t ask is this lighter or darker, that can lead to drastic changes in value (something I’m extremely guilty for), but ask is this warmer or cooler?

There really is an endless amount of information in this book, as well as plenty of pictures with step by step guides of how to build the composition and colors of your painting, helpful advice, and more. I think this can help so many people to “let go” in their art, even if you’re not used to doing that. I’m a strong believer of trying new things and allowing yourself to be free to make mistakes in the hopes of finding something new and fun that you can take away with you into your art. Finding your way.

Although not a painting, was putting into practice these tips and tricks and really took my time. Proud of how this sketch turned out!

“All paintings are lessons for the next. It’s an ongoing learning process, increasing skills for future works.”

A great reminder that no painting is a failed one, but one that you can look back and learn from. Even if I thought it was the worst painting I ever made, at least I can see why hated it so much and really look to see what I would have/could have done differently to change this around.

When reading books like this, I feel like I’m in a class and take it as seriously as though it really were one. I have notes of my favorite points, and I write in the margins of goals that I pledge to accomplish. I’m on the final pages of this book and can’t wait to read another and learn more! Are there any books that you gravitate to when it comes to art and painting? Mention them below! I’d love to expand my art library! I can mention them in next month’s Art Book of the Month!

Keep painting, get uncomfortable, and try new things!

Until next time, friends!

S.Y.

Book: “Fill your oil paintings with Light & Color,” Kevin Macpherson. 1997