by Alana Knuff | May 29, 2017 | Values
Light is that energy that shapes the forms and its absence creates the shadows. It is what draws us into a painting. The contrast of the adjacent darkest and lightest values, known as chiaroscuro, is easy to paint for most artists. More difficult is the middle...
by Alana Knuff | Apr 22, 2017 | Hues and Intensities
My least favorite color is green. It seems to take over paintings if too saturated. Reality, especially landscapes, displays many variations of green. And it is important to note that green makes water wet in a painting. Combining various blues (cobalt,...
by Alana Knuff | Jun 15, 2016 | Hues and Intensities
Here are some useful bits of information about cool and warm hues. Cool colors recede and warm colors advance. In landscapes as the atmosphere plays with distant views, soft edges and coolness prevail. Putting cool next to cool or warm next to warm flattens the...
by Alana Knuff | May 11, 2016 | Art Instruction
In order 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...
by Alana Knuff | Feb 22, 2016 | Hues and Intensities
Often it is fun to explore new colors and their combinations. This broadens ones knowledge and keeps paintings fresh. The earth colors – raw umber, burnt umber, raw sienna and burnt sienna – I found produce some interesting combinations and results. Before starting a...
by Alana Knuff | Jan 10, 2016 | Art Instruction
I have been working on a large portrait which is several months from being finished. What I have come to realize is that one must be very patient. After an initial layout, work begins on small areas keeping true to the overall values and shapes of the original layout....
