Abstract Painting: Back in Black 1
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Abstract Painting: Back in Black 1
I am absolutely loving the simplified approach to painting demonstrated in this video! I am essentially painting a value study because I am only painting with values and no color. The colors used for this painting are all Golden Heavy Body Acrylic Paint: Mars Black, Neutral Gray 6 and Titanium White. I am painting on a gessoed piece of Fabriano Artistico 300lb Cold Press Watercolor Paper.
I cannot tell you how liberating it is to paint with no color. Don’t get me wrong, I love color and teach it extensively in all my courses. I paint lots of the same combinations when doing demos for students, so sometimes I just need to do something different. Simplify. Simplification takes discipline and is harder than you might imagine.
There is much freedom though, in using only three colors and four values to do a painting. There are no color decisions to make prior to painting or during the painting process. Everything is simpler. While painting I am simply responding to the shapes and making sure the values distinguish the shapes one from another - and that’s it! Who knew?
I have been doing value studies for nearly 30 years, but always in preparation for making a painting - not as the painting itself. I tell my student that value studies are the best tool for pre-planning a painting. The good news of course, is that this painting, and others to follow can be used as value studies for color paintings. 80% of the work of the painting is already done, all that’s left is to add a color combination.
If you’re in a rut, or just want to try something different for a few paintings, give this a try. You will not be disappointed.
If you'd like to learn about abstract painting, then please join me for a painting workshop: (You can view a list of 2020 workshops HERE)
March 9-11 Hickory Museum of Art, Hickory, NC. Contact Ginny Zellmer, Email: gzellmer@hickoryart.org. For information and registration Click Here.
March 26-28 Franciscan Life Process Center, Lowell, MI. Contact Kathy Bechtel, Email: kbechtel@lifeprocesscenter.org. For information and registration Click Here.
April 3-4 Greenville, SC, Greenville Center for Creative Arts. Contact: Liz Rundorff Smith, Email: liz@artcentergreenville.org. For information and registration Click Here.
April 22-24 David M. Kessler Fine Art Studio, Winston-Salem, NC. For information and registration, Click Here.
May 1-3 Tubac School of Fine Art, Tubac, AZ. For information and registration Click Here.
May 20-22 Hill Country Arts Foundation, Ingram, TX. For information and registration Click Here.
June 12-14 Fort Smith Regional Art Museum, Fort Smith, AR. For information and registration Click Here.
As always, thanks for your support!
David
Simple Color System Color Wheel
If you have seen my videos on YouTube or taken one of my workshops, you have seen me use my Simple Color System Color Wheel. My Simple Color System is easy to use and assures that the color in your paintings will be harmonious. Proudly made in North Carolina.
ALL ABOUT COLOR is my newest online course that will show you a straightforward, no nonsense, clear and easily understandable approach to using harmonious color in your paintings.
The Painting Insider (formerly Abstract Painting Insider) now has a new format and is not abstract painting specific. Weekly lessons provide an abundance of information to painters at any level. I have poured information about everything I have learned about painting over the last 30 years into one course! You pay a very low yearly fee or monthly fee to be an Insider.
