Most beginning artists think of painting in terms of creating a life-like representation of what they see.
They want to paint depictions of life, so they begin learning realism.
This is really the most logical approach, as it gives a student the opportunity to learn fundamental skills.
Once you have a firm understanding and grasp the basics, you have the confidence to push the envelope and experiment with other styles and types of painting.
1. Perspective Is The Key
Regardless of the lovely colors, the attention to detail and the perfect composition, if the perspective is inaccurate the painting will never look right. No, it’s not a glamorous or fun part of painting, but learning perspective is one of the most important parts of realistic painting.
Painting any object or view requires the ability to convert a two-dimensional surface into a three-dimensional appearance. There are specific rules that govern perspective, and with a modicum of instruction and practice, you can develop convincing, realistic compositions.
2. Don’t Try To Rush Realism
If you’re all about speed, then realism isn’t for you. Realistic painting takes time. Not merely days, but often weeks or months of time go into completing just one painting.
Folks who pound out paintings in just a couple hours are painting impressionistic compositions with little consideration of fine detail. That doesn’t make the work any less worthy, but it’s a different style of painting. Whether you work an hour or two, or spend the entire day working on a painting, don’t be surprised if you find yourself planning for your next session and what portion of the painting to work on next.
3. Compose A Sincere And Captivating Composition
Technical skill isn’t all you need to create a compelling work of art. An artist doesn’t just throw a bunch of objects on a table to create a still life or industriously copy every bush, tree and hill in a landscape.
An artist uses judicious editing and positioning to develop a great composition. That gorgeous bouquet that looks great sitting on the dining room table may not transfer to a great-looking work of art if it’s painted exactly as you see it. Every shrub and bush in a landscape setting may appear crowded and busy if each one were placed just as it appears in your painting.
Removing extraneous or distracting components, using artistic license for repositioning and resizing and basically improving on a view is very important to creating a composition worth a second look. Part of an artist’s job is improving a little piece of the world and showing it with his or her own reality.
4. Color Theory And Relativity
Color is a relative thing. There are lots of factors that cause our eyes to interpret colors differently at various times. Color depends on the light that is shining and reflecting on it, the surface of the substance and what color is next to it. Atmospheric differences can also alter or shift the perception of a color.
You may use the same pigments for both a polished red apple and a red cardinal, but they have distinctive surface textures and they’ll be painted quite differently. Water isn’t necessarily all blue. It reflects the color of the sky and the surfaces that surround it. Grass can appear green, blue or yellow, depending on the time of day and the shadows that fall on it. A pale yellow blossom can appear faint and pastel when it appears next to white or light objects, but seems much stronger and richer when surrounded by purple.
5. Shading And Shadows Are Rarely Black
Shadows are just as important to a composition as the objects from which they appear. Moreover, they are not merely solid black, but a wealth of dark variations of many colors.
You begin laying in shadows as you begin the initial sketch of your composition. An artist who paints in shadows after everything else is complete has no idea of the importance of shadows and shading.
Observe shadows as intently as you do the objects in your composition. You’ll see that there are a myriad of color changes from the darkest portion to the furthermost edges of the shadow. This articulation sets your painting apart from the realms of a rank beginner. A shadow painted with the attention to detail that is given to the compositional elements of a painting go a long way to giving your painting a real sense of professionalism and realism.
Use these tips as a challenge to create more realistic and powerful paintings. The time you spend cultivating these skills are well worth the effort. Your professionalism will be enhanced and you’ll be able to experiment, knowing the fundamental skills and how you can manipulate them to your advantage.
