In this lesson you will learn:
- Learning to make an assessment of your work
- Learning to finish the painting
- Signing your finished painting
Homework assignment:
- Review any adjustments suggested by instructor.
- Build the painting adding color into the basic large foundation shapes you have in the shadow and light areas. You do not necessary want to cover the whole foundation area, just add color within that shape. See the following examples:
- Notice above that different colors of the same value have started to appear in the large foundation shapes. This is called building the painting.
- When you have added color to the foundation and feel you are at a good stopping point, photograph the painting and send it to Linda via email.
Now we will add the finishing touches to the painting. Typically this step is more observation then actually painting. Turn the painting upside down and then see what pulls your eye. Is that pleasant or is something wrong with the area? Make adjustments if necessary. Another step in finishing the painting is to add highlights. There should never be too many highlights. Some artists feel only one highlight in the area you want the viewer to spend most of their time is enough. Some will use highlights sparingly to provide a path that they want the eye to travel. No matter how you use highlights, do not over do it!
- Add highlights and add any finishing touches (more color in the same value or making corrections to things that pull the eye (like edges or too much texture). Take a break. After a few hours (or the next day), look at your painting with fresh eyes.Turn the painting upside down.What pulls your eye? Turn the painting on its side on the easel. What pulls your eye? Note these areas. Take a photograph and send it to Linda (cincyredhead@gmail.com) with any comments or questions you may have.
close up of El Captian showing light and shadow side with broken color.
Standing Guard Finished painting.
- Make any final corrections that you think need to be made. After any final suggestions/corrections, you will want to sign your painting.Using a thin paint (thinned with a medium or turpentine) and your rigger (brush–small and thin bristles), sign your painting with your name.You can use just your last name, first and last name, initials or any combination of these. (Note that Linda has a digital signature on the painting as well. This was done by opening the photograph of the painting in Paint or Photoshop. Select the textbox app in the software, draw a box and then type your name, all rights reserved and the name of the painting. This is done to preserve your copyright and to always make sure you name is associated with the painting across the internet.)
- Congratulations, you just finished your painting! If you would like, send Linda your finished painting so that she can see it and celebrate with you!
Linda Riesenberg Fisler 