Description
Book SynopsisDynamic Still Life for Artists takes a modern approach to a classic genre of drawing and painting, a “gateway” genre that’s accessible to beginners and offers more experienced artists a way to show their skill at depicting a variety of light and surface effects.
Trade Review"
Dynamic Still Life for Artists makes painting still lifes accessible, covering everything from setups to preliminary studies to the actual painting process. Artwork illustrates the exciting variety of approaches and styles possible with this rich genre." * Artists Magazine *
Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION
Welcome to Dynamic Still Life for Artists
Why Still Life?
My Art Journey
Your Art Journey
1 PAINTING SPACES AND STUDIOS
Different Artists, Different Spaces
Studio Setup for Still Life: The Basics
Materials and Tools: The Must-Have and the Good-to-Have
Paint Choices and Palette Layout
Studio Lighting
2 WHAT TO PAINT? SETTING UP A STILL LIFE THAT “CLICKS”
Diving into Still Life
Still Life Setup: The Three Vs
Lighting Your Still Life
Subject Matter: Thinking Outside the Box
Borrowing Inspiration
Exercise: Experimenting with Still Life Setup and Lighting
3 PLANNING YOUR DYNAMIC STILL LIFE: COMPOSITION AND VALUE STUDIES
Preparation Pays Off
Composition: What Is It and Why Does It Matter?
Using a Viewfinder Contrast: The Key to Creating a Focal Point
Thumbnail Sketches
Exercise: One Still Life, Three Formats: Creating Thumbnail Sketches
Format First, Then Size and Scale
Value Studies: A Solid Foundation
A Hierarchy of Values: Highlights and Dark Accents
Exercise: Creating a Value Study in Black and White Oils
4 PAINTING YOUR DYNAMIC STILL LIFE: ALLA PRIMA IN THREE STEPS
Step 1: Underpainting
Step 2: Color Mixing
Step 3: Applying Color
Paint Outside the Box: Alternative Materials
Battling Overwhelm: Breaking the Process into “Bites”
No “Bad” Painting Days
Exercise: The Three-Step Still Life
5 YOUR ART JOURNEY CONTINUES
Momentum: The Most Important Thing
Jump-Starting Momentum
Comparison Is the Thief of Joy
Finding Friends and Mentors
6 CONCLUSION: YOUR UNIQUE ARTISTIC FINGERPRINT
Resources
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Index
