Drawing and Composition

The Importance of Drawing

by Alana Knuff  |  May 11, 2016

To paint a realistic or impressionistic style, drawing is the foundation.  There is no substitution for good drawing skills.  A fellow artist recently shared an interesting book, The Zen of Seeing by Frederick Franck.  In it are quick sketches/drawings from everyday life of the author.   Like Andres Zorn, who produced a plethora of etchings as he traveled the world, drawing was daily exercise.  When drawing, one becomes intimate with the subject, seeing and recording the nuances that comprise the forms, gestures and energy of the moment.

Creating the Composition

by Alana Knuff  |  Jan 5, 2016

Always have a digital camera available to catch those images that stir creative energies. The opportunities are endless. By converting my digital photos to black and white, I have the ability to create a strong composition and focus on the emotional message for the painting.