I Stare At People

At work in the studio during my short love affair with the hand-held palette

This post was originally one of my first, in a series on technique.  The post, “The Difference Between Drawing and Painting” has had over 1100 views since I posted it.  I’m a slow learner, but I think maybe some of you out there would like to see more of my thoughts on technique.  Please, please leave comments, though, because I am not a mind-reader, and will not know if this is of interest to you, unless you leave a comment.  Comments are appreciated, and I will respond to you! And now, here we go:

I go into this territory with a bit of concern.  Let me explain why:  My first training in traditional portraiture was with Miles Mathis.  He insisted that we learn pastel work, used in a painterly fashion BEFORE we were allowed to move into oils.  Miles considered himself an “intuitive” artist.  Basically, there was no method, and no set formulae.  He also gave no direct pre-instruction.  About every six weeks, we would beg him to do a “demo”.  We would watch him work for 3 hours.  There were times when I hated him and became frustrated from the lack of direct instruction.  Now I know that he actually helped me develop as an artist in a complete fashion.  Once, I sneaked off and took a painting class from a New York Italian, who held workshops in the “Italian Rennaissance Style”.  Miles was so derisive and said that “Method” painting would ruin me.

Thank God for Miles.  Some people do just fine with systematic, formulaic styles.  But truly, I am so left-handed that I have militated against this way of working all of my life.  Now, I am not about to say that I am a “self-taught” artist. I have read many technical books. I even own and have read books about brush technique. I own several painting DVDs.  Actually, I learned a lot about painting by putting the DVD on slow-mo and painting along with the artist.  I read artist’s biographies, and I took more classes from other teachers.  The best of these painting teachers was Elizabeth Locke (more about her later).

And now, with that long introduction, we may discuss painting technique, as exclusive to the live oil sketch.  But not right now.  I have rambled on too long, and must do some studio work.  I promise to return to this subject.

If you found this post interesting, and would like to hear my ramblings on the subject of painting, please leave a comment or morsel.