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Often times, images seem better in our imagination. In that environment, they are still fluid and allow more possibilities. Once we put them down on a canvas or a piece of paper, they solidify and gradually take over our vision.
In the drawing state, anything is still possible. We can google, be loose and have fun. But when we get into a more "finished" stage, they become rigid and sometimes we even create lines to confine them. Will you say that that's like how a life defines a person? We become more stiff as we grow older. And of course, nothing can be stiffer than a dead one! Sadly, we can become stiff in our mind sooner than with our body.
I often hear people say that they wish they can paint loose. They actually mean that they want to paint Impressionistically. Impressionistic painting utilizes colors more so than lines. It catches colors as they vibrate in the sunlight or light. It focuses more on the "impression" than the details, like glancing the scenery very quickly and ask ourselves what our impression is when we momentarily close our eyes and remember what we just see.
From my experience, here are some tips on painting "loose".
*Forget about creating a masterpiece. Just paint!
*Paint 200 paintings before we can call ourselves Artist - that will make us paint real fast and loose!
*Draw the composition with a brush monochromatically (with one paint color, like Burnt Sienna) instead of using a pencil, and quickly put down the values as accurately as possibly.
*Do a small abstract study of the subject to get ideas about what you want to do for your painting.
*Pre-mix the colors that you see in your subject matter into large piles on your pallet, grouping them in warm, cool, light and dark. Be generous with the paints so you can fetch or mix again with less effort. Stay with your original palette.
*Know when to stop and call it good. If not, start another painting and give yourself time to contemplate.
There is a phenomena we painters call "normalizing". It's a process in which we paint the painting to death. In other words, we over paint until we lose it's originality and freshness. We all do that from time to time and I'm the Queen of doing that. Friends said that they'd like to tie my hands when they saw how I went back to "correct" the painting they considered done. Normalizing, in my opinion, is caused, in big part, by losing the values in the process; the intriguing and subtle shades of values, which make a painting more interesting and beautiful in the beginning, get wiped out gradually or in one stroke in the process. The art than is to preserve or maintain the looseness while improving the painting.
**This painting,"Epiphany III", which I did a couple of years back, was a spontaneous work with almost no effort to correct but just improve to bring out the focal point, which is the bright yellow. Its luminosity is enhanced by the darker colors of purple and blue. Its various shades help create movement and dimensions.
Thank you for visiting! Your comment is welcomed and appreciated!
*One of my paintings, "Yours Truly" is being shown in the gallery of the Skye Restaurant in Glendale, Arizona. Please come and visit. The food is good and the band is fantastic! There are about 63 beautiful paintings gracing the walls of the restaurant; many of them are abstract works.
Li Hua
*** Private lessons are available in my studio, limited to 3 per class. If you are interested, please call me at 480.947.4741. Or email me at dreamcobbler@cox.net.
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