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Forums / Art Talk / Painting Talk / Why do my acrylic painting look so elementary? Its like flat looking...hard to explain?
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Muffins
276 posts |
#10976 2007-07-03 11:57 GMT |
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LIke in this pic with a acrylic paint it looks so real: http://www.williampowell-artist.com/PageMill_Resources/image93.gif
but my painting looks so flat or something, I buy my paint from walmart and plus im painting on regular typing paper thats extra thick for typing paper....could this have anything to do with it? Im assuming I need to know how to draw good first before I paint right? I can draw pretty good but I cant make my paint look good, it always looks so childish. Like do different brushes make a difference also? Thanks |
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Wayne
82 posts |
#10977 2007-07-03 12:16 GMT |
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Billy, much of it is just practice. Get a book with photos and just look at the colors and shapes. Forget the objects they represent.
Start with simple things. Just paint an apple, or a ball, it doesn't matter. This is just practice. You need to work on how to mix and blend your colors. And yes, brushes do make a difference. Technique is also important. Look at all the brushes at the store. Everyone was a job to do. A fan brush can't do the same thing as a liner. You need to learn what brush to use for what effect and how to use it. Also, you rarly use paint right from the tube. If you have to use acrylics, you have to add things to the paint to make it more workable. That's the big problem with buying things in discont stores. The people there know nothing. Shop at a real art store. The people there can usually give you all kinds of hints and tips. On, and get proper paper to paint on. Better yet, you should use canvas board. But for now, get some heavyweight watercolor paper. Go to the library and see if they have any books. Look for an art supplies store in your area and ask the people there if they know if there is a class you could take. Lastly, photo-realism may not be your style. There is more to art than just reproducing an image. You want to put your feelings into the work. A sunset is more than what it looks like, what does it make you feel like? You style may be a little more abstract. That's allright. Learn the basics, but find a style that is right for you. Kepp going. Joe |
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PinkBellyCat
157 posts |
#10978 2007-07-03 12:32 GMT |
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ok, its hard to say what you are doing wrong without seeing the actual painting. If a painting lacks depth, the problem might be that you are not using all of the value scale in your painting. The value scale consists of 11 tones ranging on one end from the lightest colour to the darkest at the other end. A painting must have all the values or it will look flat. As in Highlights and Shadows.
It is more helpful to use quality materials but its not totally necessary. Its like the difference between driving a clunker and a porche, you can be a good driver in both cars but it will be a smoother ride in a percission vehicle. If you use cheap paints, you will find yourself fighting to push them across the page more and that can affect the quality of your work. I would not think that typing paper would be very good at all as it would become saturated quite quickly. Opt for some canvas or canvas board. The secret to good painting is to just look at the object, study it exactly how it is and train your eye to see the object and don't allow your mind to make up any of it. There are some good books out there on painting what you see and not what you know. You don't actually need to be good at drawing to be a good painter, but you do need an ability to draw basic shapes. Painting is just drawing different shapes and allowing the paint/colour to fill in the volume. You have to develop an ability to really observe what colours are going on in the object you are painting and understand value. If you have the patience, read through this article. Your paintings will really improve if you apply this http://www.handprint.com/HP/WCL/color11.html also there is a really good website for artists where you can get feedback on your work http://www.wetcanvas.com |
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