Abstract Painter.Art Educator.
David M. Kessler Fine Art
If you’ve ever wondered how to create an abstract painting composition, this video and pdf are for you!
This is the second painting in a series using a single color family combined with black, white and gray. This is a variation on a monochromatic color combination. In a monochromatic combination you would use only one color plus black and white.
Read MoreI think this is an interesting question and I wonder how many artists ask themselves this question. I see too many artists trying to do too many things. My experience is that if you try to do too many things you may only be really good at doing one of those things.
Read MoreThis is the first painting in a series I hope to do using a single color family combined with black, white and gray. This is a variation on a monochromatic color combination. In a monochromatic combination you would use only one color plus black and white.
Read MoreValue in painting, is the degree of light and dark. (Value is sometimes referred to as Tone. ) Values range between white and black with any range of grays in-between. These grays are known as middle values, because they lie “in the middle” between the extremes of light and dark. I use only 2 middle values in my work: Light Middle Value and Dark Middle Value. Thus, the 4 values I use are Light, Light Middle, Dark Middle and Dark.
Read MoreThe world has gone crazy! With all of the negativity and illness in the world today I have given up on watching any news outlets - I just can’t take it. It puts me in a bad mood and I would rather be happy. Rather than having my attention on what’s going on in the world, I turn my attention to making things.
Read MoreSelf Expression vs. Copying a Photo
One of my pet peeves is art instructors who don’t teach students how to develop compositions from reference photos, but rather encourage them to copy what’s in the photo instead. There is no art in directly copying a photo. The art comes in when you interpret the photo to create a world on the canvas or paper that is truly yours alone. The art then is designed by the artist as only each individual artist can see and interpret it. Even beginning painters should be taught how to take a photo and use it as a reference only as a starting point for developing a unique work of art.
Frank Webb, one of my favorite painters, says “Don’t paint what is, but what should be.” I always add “what COULD be.” Each painter has a unique lens through which they see the world and everything in it. That’s what makes art unique. The subject matter in a reference photo needs to filtered through that lens and interpreted as only the artist can do. That expression is, and should be, different for each artist. Wolf Kahn did hundreds of barn paintings in his career, but I don’t remember seeing any with a gray barn, blue sky and green grass. Instead we see colorful barns filtered through the lens of Wolf Kahn, the colorist.
I was taught to do a value study from any reference photo, thereby distancing yourself from the “thing” of the photo. This process also forces you to look critically at the composition and make up what you need to to create a pleasing composition that works. I remember in a Frank Webb workshop once a woman asked Frank to assist her in creating a composition from a photo. The photo was basically just a plain horizon line with bland sky above and calm water below. Frank began doing a drawing of the scene - but it wasn’t the scene at all. He drew in a couple of buildings, boats, pilings, etc. The woman exclaimed, those things aren’t there, to which Frank replied, “no, but they should be.” He was trying to develop interest in a photo reference that had none.
The painting examples I am showing, are admittedly older paintings. I don’t really paint anything but abstract paintings these days, but I felt that the illustration of looking at the photo of the “thing,” then the value study, then the resultant painting would be helpful to some. Hopefully it will be helpful for you.
If you'd like to learn about abstract painting and making your own authentic work, then please join me for a painting workshop: (You can view a list of remaining 2020 workshops HERE)
September 9-11 David M. Kessler Fine Art Studio, Winston-Salem, NC. For information and registration Click Here.
November 4-6, 2020 David M. Kessler Fine Art Studio, Winston-Salem, NC Click Here for Information and Registration
December 2-4, 2020 Hill Country Arts Foundation Ingram, TX Click Here for Information and Registration
January 13-15, 2021 Murrell's Inlet, SC. Abstracting the Coastal Landscape (NEW) Click Here for Information and Registration
January 29-31, 2021 Art League of Daytona Beach, Daytona Beach, FL Email: artleague@bellsouth.net
February 3-5, 2021 David M. Kessler Fine Art Studio, Winston-Salem, NC Click Here for Information and Registration
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Simple Color System Colorwheel
If you have seen my videos on YouTube or taken one of my workshops, you have seen me use my Simple Color System Colorwheel. My Simple Color System is easy to use and assures that the color in your paintings will be harmonious. Proudly made in North Carolina.
You can purchase the Colorwheel HERE.
ALL ABOUT COLOR is a great online course that will show you a straightforward, no nonsense, clear and easily understandable approach to using harmonious color in your paintings. On Sale Now-Save $50!
Abstract Painting Academy is an online workshop experience specifically designed to teach you how to paint Abstract Paintings (like only you can!), Loosen Up your painting style, and use Design Fundamentals to give your paintings Dynamic Visual Impact. You get David’s personal attention and feedback on all of your work during the course. On Sale Now-Save $100!
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I have had so many questions lately about how my studio walls are set, that I thought I would provide a short video with the basic information so that folks can set up something similar in their studios if they wish. Many people call this a “wall Easel,” so that it what I put in the title. I don’t know what else to call it.so we’ll go with that.
Read MoreI taught a great workshop last week at a great, new to me venue in South Carolina. One of the demo paintings I did inspired me to use the same colors in a larger painting. The composition of the demo painting could have been better, so I am correcting it a bit in this larger, 36x36” gallery wrapped canvas.
Read MoreIn this week’s painting demonstration I am revisiting a series called “Conversation” that I started 5 or 6 years ago. I did 14 of them for an exhibition. I pulled one out the other day to hang on a wall in my house remembered what fun they were to paint, and thought it would be fun to do another piece in the series.
Read Morewas teaching at a venue in Michigan a couple of years ago which has multiple workshops being taught each week. It’s a very lovely place and has multiple buildings on campus. The week I was there I was sharing a house with Kevin Beilfuss, who is an outstanding figurative painter and workshop instructor. He and I talked a good bit during the week and even though we paint very different things, we teach almost the same content to or students.
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