Simplifying Mass Shapes

Before focussing on the details and extra "stuff" in a painting, I first try to focus on the mass shapes and values...the simple [or not so simple] elements that make up the structure of the composition. As noted from my previous post, I have divided my landscape into 3 mass shapes of light (sky), middle (foreground pavement), and dark (mid-ground treeline) value. Breaking down the scene into abstract shapes, I am assigning color to those mass value shapes, disregarding (attempting to anyway) the smaller value and color accents.

These value masses, serve as a reference to relate other values in the painting. Now I can expand on the mass shapes, adding subtle value, color, and temperature accents. Supporting the value structure (and perspective) identified in my thumbnail sketch, will enhance the paintings overall "readability."

"The most important ally in the study of painting is the art of thinking."

Edgar Payne's Composition of Outdoor Painting

Finding Value in Value Sketching

Almost 2 feet of snow and 2 blizzards over the past 5 days, I observed many "white out" views of the landscape. Snow covers the ground, insulating and simplifying forms and, at times, abstracting the landscape. The near "white out" conditions muted the color and also aided to simplify the value shapes.
In both my watercolor and pastel classes, I spend the first day of a session explaining (and often trying to convince beginning painters) the value of value sketching. For me, the "dreaded" value sketch is fundamental to the success of a painting. I am a value painter first versus a colorist. I use the sketch to evaluate and simplify shapes, identify composition structures, and describe, literally, the black and white design of the composition. The subject and details are not what it is important in this exercise, nor the representation of the landscape. I am simply testing the underlying design and value shapes created from solid masses of value.

The above exercise was done on white pastel paper using a method of constructing and deconstructing shapes with black pastel stick and various erasers.

Snow Day Sketching

First Snow
4X6 (or so)
Pastel on Canson Paper

Winter Landscape Workshop

This week I had the joy of teaching three winter landscape workshops. In the workshop, I demonstrated how to paint a "mini" frozen lake scene in watercolor in only 2 hours. Above are two of the paintings done in class measuring 4X6. We listened to Christmas music and ate cookies for inspiration. Attendees created some wonderful winter scenes, even a few who had never picked up a paintbrush. One of my favorite things about teaching is seeing how different each student's painting develops; though we may all be painting a similar subject and using the same palette. And often, I will see a new interpretation or method that I have not considered and will try it out for myself. Thank you to all who participated. I learn so much from each of you and greatly enjoy doing the classes. You can find my upcoming class schedule at LibertyTown.