7 Keys to Achieve Aerial Perspective

Bac Son Valley, Vietnam

What is Aerial Perspective?
As far as an Artist is concerned, Aerial Perspective is the illusion of depth and atmosphere created by the Artist in their painting or drawing.

We look through our earth's atmosphere all the time. When we look straight up, we are looking through less atmosphere than when we look towards the horizon. The more dust and water in the air, the more 'atmosphere' we are looking through. The 'thicker' the atmosphere is, the more the following 7 Keys of Aerial Perspective apply (especially 3 through 7). 

7 Keys to Achieve Aerial Perspective
1 - Make sure that objects closer to the viewer overlap those that are farther away.

2 - As objects move farther back into space, they are placed higher on the paper/canvas.

3 - Keep your colors warmer and purer in objects that are closer to the viewer.

4 - Make sure that your colors are cooler and more neutral in objects that are farther away from the viewer - the farther back an object is, the more cool and neutral the color should become.

5 - Keep in mind that as things recede into the distance, they become grayer and smaller.

6 - The closer an object is, the more detail you (and your viewer) will see.

7 - The farther an object is, the less detail you will see. Place less and less detail into objects as they recede farther back into space.

The next time you take a walk, look into the distance and you will see that the above keys come from keen observation of our world.

Are you a Artist of Photorealism?
Does aerial perspective apply to or belong in photorealism? Please share your view.

Photos Lie - Yes They Do!

Globe In Pitcher © Tien Frogget

During my last Drawing Workshop, we were discussing how photos lie. Newbies to the art world often use photos as research believing that they show the truth.

Photographers know that if you expose a scene for a long period of time, people can walk in and out of the camera shot - yet the final photo won't show anyone - yet they were there.

We use wide angle lenses, filters, special effects and Photoshop. Portrait photographers employ so many light sources that a portrait will show no shadows, lines, creases - AND DEPTH! Yet we will still insist that what we 'see' is true.

This actually isn't the case. I often paint from photographs that don't capture the truth of a subject. In this way, it makes it much more important to understand to paint more than just what you see. This is especially true when painting people or animals -- understanding the bone and muscle systems in the body will help you to accurately reproduce it on paper and canvas. Working from photographs will always help improve your art -- but in the end, the knowledge needs to be there, too.

How to Loosen a Stuck Paint Cap

Paint Cap Stuck on Tight?
There are several ways of loosening the cap from a tube of paint, whether it's oil, watercolor or acrylic.

I'm sure you've already had the experience of trying to twist the cap only to have the tube twist and split instead. What can you do?

Well, if you haven't broken the tube, try one of these techniques:

• First, try getting a better grip on the cap with a rubber gripper (like they sell in the kitchen ware department)
• Of course you can give it a go with pliers or a nutcracker (handy tools for your paint box)

• A gentler method might be to invert the tube in water (cool for watercolors - hot water for oils or acrylics), soak for a few minutes and then use the rubber gripper or pliers

• An old method is to heat the metal threading area using a flame (and I don't recommend this unless you are adult and know what you are doing). You also have to be very careful not to melt the cap...

By Far the Best Method
This is the easiest and less troublesome way to handle the situation. Squeeze all the paint up to the top of the tube and roll the tube up snuggly. You can use a Tube Wringer, or run a pencil or brush handle to squeeze the paint towards the lid. Grasp the whole tube with one hand and try unscrewing the cap with that rubber grip, pliers, paint rag, whatever. Having the paint tightly at the top helps to prevent the tube from twisting and breaking.

Once you have the cap off, clean the dried paint from the threads and from the cap. Rub the threads with petroleum jelly to keep the paint from adhering in the future.

Still Stuck?
If all else fails, make sure you've pushed all the paint to the top of the tube, then cut the bottom end off of the tube. Use what you need and then close the tube, cover with plastic wrap and secure the bottom with a bulldog clip.

And finally, save a few of your good caps from empty tubes - just in case you've split (or melted) a cap.

How to Donate Art for Charity

Last week I posted Donate Your Art and Get Great Exposure! I've had questions from readers who really want to donate their art to a great cause and asked how to go about it...

Is This a Good Thing for my Career?"
There is one thing you want to keep in mind when donating your Art for charity..... you don't have to just give it all to them. Let them know that you need a certain dollar amount for the work, so you aren't working at a loss - unless you are willing to donate your work as well as the proceeds.

It's okay to ask for, at minimum, the cost of your supplies. They can start the bidding or auction at your cost, plus a beginning donation from the bidder. 

"Fire" ©Wendy Froshay

Pricing
The last time I was asked to donate a giclee (not an original) for a silent auction, my out of pocket expense was $500. That was for printing, color proofing, stretching, framing and delivery costs. I wasn't prepared to donate $500 out of pocket to the charity, however, I was prepared to donate everything over my costs.

Keep in mind that too high a price can scare bidders away. People often come to auctions looking for a bargain.

So set the minimum acceptable opening bid and selling price as low as possible. If you need $400, have them start the bid at $250. Let them know that it should only sell when it reaches $400. If it doesn't sell, at least you will have bids. It's totally embarrassing (and looks bad) to have no one bidding on your item.

Research the Organization
Do research on what kinds of items the organization normally auctions and how much they usually get for those items. If your costs are higher than what they can get, or what you have to offer is of little interest to bidders, then bids on your item will be low or non-existent.

If however, what you donate aligns with the organization and it's bidders tastes, you'll have a better chance of it being bought AND, of bidders becoming collectors.

OUCH!

I attended an art auction recently featuring some excellent and well known artists. Most starting bids began between $300 and $500 - however one was set at $2,700. This $2,700 piece got no bids.

The artist was from out of town and had flown across the country with high hopes for the auction. This artist did not do his research. Many other pieces went for much higher than $2,700 - but that piece went home with the Artist.

Attend a few auctions before donating. It will give you a better understanding of what to donate, what sizes sell better and how the process works.

Sometimes pieces are raffled off rather than auctioned. Here too you should research the charity - attend some of their functions. Get a feel for the crowd and for the organization.

Finally - remember to get a receipt for your taxes! 

Improve Your Art By Avoiding Screaming Colors

"When Everyone is Shouting, No ONE is Heard"

I learned this from one of my college art instructors and I pass it forward to all of my students. Truer words were never spoken!

If all of your colors are intense and bright (screaming), then no one AREA stands out. You have no focal point and your viewer doesn't know where to look. If all you have is chaos, your viewers eye will run away screaming.

Offer Resting Areas
Kind of like a roller coaster, if you don't have some slower, resting areas, there is no thrill for the BEST part. Bright color stands out best against grayed colors. Grayed colors are your resting areas.

So save the intensity for your focal point.

'Nuff said.

How to Store Art Brushes So That They Last For Years

What's the BEST way to Store Your Art Brushes?
Protect your investment - take good care of your Art Brushes and they can last you for years. Store your brushes by either laying them on a flat surface, or standing them on the handle (bristle end up) in a storage container.

Before storing your brushes this way, make sure they are as clean and as dry as possible. (Read Caring for Art Brushes)

Never, never, EVER store your brushes, bristle down in a brush holding container.

In fact, don't leave your brushes sitting bristle down in your water or cleaning fluid - even while you are painting!

Types of Storage
My favorite method for keeping your brushes in great condition is a canvas brush holder that allows you to place each brush into it’s own pocket. The best ones allow you to stand your brushes up while you are using them and then allow you to fold, creating a protective case, or roll the canvas and tie it into a bundle. These are great for transporting your brushes to workshops, for plein aire painting and traveling with your supplies.

If you prefer something more durable, there are many styles of boxes and canisters that will keep your investment safe. Some double as water or solvent containers. Be sure that you purchase something that will keep your brushes suspended and secure, to avoid damage during transportation. Be careful of canvas brush holders that do not have separate pockets.

Here are some great canvas brush holders on Amazon:

Bamboo Mats as Brush Holders I also caution students about rolling brushes in bamboo mats. These can be rough on the hairs of fine brushes and cause them to break off.

There are new types of brush holders that allow you to hang your cleaned brushes with the bristle end pointing downward, while keeping the hair or bristle end free-hanging. These are great for storing your brushes while they are still wet and allow the moisture to drain away.

Water Basin
For keeping your brushes moist during the painting process (especially if you are using acrylics), you can use a brush basin that allows your brushes to lay suspended in the water or solvent. I don't recommend leaving your brushes in the solvent or water for long periods of time (overnight or for days), unless you are trying to remove dried medium from them. Clean your brushes thoroughly and them store them properly at the end of each painting session.

The easiest and least expensive is to use a nice jar, bottle, coffee can, potato chip can, or whatever strikes your fancy (this works best if you intend to keep your brushes in your studio and not transport them). Just be SURE to stand your clean & dry brushes with the handle down and the bristles UP!

Death of a Brush

Never, never, NEVER, tote your brushes loose in a case, box or bag. This will ruin your brushes just as fast as not thoroughly cleaning your brushes!