The food was great, and the colours danced before my eyes! This is a great example of Hans Hofmann’s push and pull colour theory.
Author Archives: howtowriteaboutart
Happy Inktober!
Negative Space
Space is one of the seven basic elements of art an artist uses in their work to create particular effects – either to create an illusion of distance on the flat surface of the page/canvas, or to intentionally maintain the flatness of the medium of the page. What I love about this illustration by CliffordContinue reading “Negative Space”
Atmosphere
A sunny day and a drive to the beach was the perfect opportunity to do some sketching. A long cliff curves round the bay into the distance and one way of conveying this is by using stronger tones for things closer while using paler tones for things in the distance. The effect of the atmosphereContinue reading “Atmosphere”
Ink pot
There is a time to write, and a time to play!
Ink spread
Good writing, like good art, is inspirational. It can change the way you see things and do things; it can cause you to appreciate things differently; and it can help you become more conscious of your art. I stumbled across the on-line magazine IDEELART and happened to read a description of the Argentinian artist MartinContinue reading “Ink spread”
Wildsmith’s Lines
I have pretty much always loved books, but this summer I became entranced by the illustrations you find on book jackets. Beginning with the marvellous book The Illustrated Dust Jacket 1920-1970, by Martin Salisbury I have really started noticing what wonderful works of art there are on the front covers of books. So I haveContinue reading “Wildsmith’s Lines”
Tension Lines
After walking all morning in a beautiful place with Cadair Idris, Wales, in the distance, I decided to get my sketch book out. It felt very daunting to draw the landscape in front of me, so I thought ‘Just start’! I liked the foreground of the leafless hawthorn tree with the mountain behind – notContinue reading “Tension Lines”
Geometric Shapes, and Natural
What incredible straight lines and squares and geometric shapes! Whilst being out and about in Wales this summer, walking in the hills and mountains and shorelines, I have been astonished by the rock formations and noticing how many straight lines and geometric shapes there are in rock splits and fissures and strata. Nothing surprising there,Continue reading “Geometric Shapes, and Natural”
Shapes: Dreaming and Weeping
Shape is one of the elements of art used by an artist. (For more detail on this topic click on Elements of Art in the menu and scroll down to Shape). Picasso’s painting The Dream is a great example of this element of art. When writing about art it is important to be able toContinue reading “Shapes: Dreaming and Weeping”
