BeckerArt FLOAT-YOUR-PIGMENT Newsletter Nov. 6th Simplifying

Published: Tue, 11/06/18

Hello

Welcome to the FLOAT-YOUR-PIGMENT Newsletter #181 Simplifying

This week I trying to get caught up with all the things I couldn't get too when I was in North Carolina and Florida. The way I do this is to first make a list, I find this helps me get a little more organized. However, when I get too many things on the list it gets kind of overwhelming so I try at first to make a list of only the 10 most important things I need to get accomplished. Give it a try, I hope this helps you in getting organized and getting things accomplished. First thing on my list this morning is to go and vote.

I want to thank all of my weekly students that came to class last week, there were so many of you and it makes classes so much better for learning and teaching. Thanks!

I am still looking for artists who want to travel with me to the Kanuga Watermedia Workshops in March 2019. I am offering a free ride to and from Kanuga, here is the route I will be taking. If you are not exactly on this route I will check out if we can pick you up with a small change in the directions we will travel. Contact me if you need more information. I need to know ASAP if you want to travel with us.

Dad and Mom report: My Dad is hopefully going home this Thursday. We set up his room this last weekend and are so ready for him to come home. he has made an amazing recovery these last 2 weeks that we will be celebrating like crazy when he gets home! We have hired a lawyer for my mom's accident so she can stop worrying.

Next Thursday the 8th of November there will be a Lakes Region Watercolor Guild meeting and Frankie Johnson from Mainstreet Art Center - 20 E. Main St., Lake Zurich, IL 60047 will be the demonstrator.

Yes to Class at the Civic Center in Libertyville, Thursday, Nov. 8th 1 pm to 3:30

Yes to Class at the BeckerArt Gallery in McHenry, Saturday, Nov. 10th 9:00 am to 11:30 am

Simplifying is a Black and White issue

The simplest way to paint a watercolor is to start by always painting the largest light and dark patterned areas as possible. Watercolor washes start big and then get smaller and smaller until you get to the details, which is the final stage of a painting.

If your photo reference doesn't give you that option of painting large light and dark areas, it usually means it's a complicated reference and your photo is filled with a lot of stuff that you have to simplify. When I say simplify I mean you have to get the large dark areas to come together as one area so you can do a big simple wash.

Above is a city scene that if you painted it like the photo, would turn out very busy and not have a great value pattern. Below I explain how a take a busy complicated scene and try to simplify the value pattern between the black and the whites and try to simplify the value pattern.

1. The first step below is to turn the photo black and white trying not to have an overabundance of grays. There are apps on your phone and programs on your computer that will do this for you.

2. Second I try to bring down the contrast in the background so the painting will have depth. If you can't do this with your app or program you could always print the image out and use a white pencil to go over the background or just visualize it being lighter.

3. Third I simplify the details by putting a posterized filter on the image. If you can't do it with an app or program you need to visualize it in your head. Details need to be simplified into large value areas, making it easier to paint large areas first. With the large washes in place, you can then determine how far you take the details.

Even with abstracts you can Simplify the big groupings of large dark and light value and color patterns.

WORKSHOPS and DEMOS in 2019

Dillman's Festival, Marco Island Center for the Arts DEMO, Florida, January 27th, For Information Click Here

Marco Island Center for the Arts WORKSHOP, Florida, January 29th-30th, For Information Click Here

Morris Watercolor Guild WORKSHOP, IL, March 1st, Information to come

Dillman's Acrylic WORKSHOP, Lac du Flambeau, WI, June 3rd - 6th For Information Click Here

Vermont Art Event WORKSHOP Classes, VT, July 29th - August 2nd, Information to come

Cheap Joes WORKSHOP, Boone NC, Sept. 9th - 13th For Information Click Here

Dillman's Watercolor WORKSHOP, Lac du Flambeau, WI, Sept. 23d - 26th For Information Click Here

Artist of the Week

Andy Evansen is truly the master at simplifying his value patterns. I have found nobody that does it as well as this master of watercolor.

Andy's work is just amazing and check out his website to see how much work he puts out... it just knocks my socks off!

6 BeckerArt Brushes
I now have 2 sets of BeckerArt Brushes... they are the original set which includes the 1 1/4" flat, the #16 round and the #4 rigger. My NEW brush set includes the 1/2" flat, the 1/4" flat and the #8 round

Click Here to Purchase BeckerArt Brushes

For any other info please email me at david@davidrbecker.com