While teaching my Modern Painting class
I remembered the idea of “massing shapes”
to begin a painting,
as opposed to outlining objects and filling them in.
I realized immeditely that this would be a great lesson
so I’ve been experimenting with that approach this week.
The idea is to begin painting a shape in the middle
and work outward until you have a silhouette
of the object (or shape).
NO drawing. NO outlining.
This is a great way to alleviate the habit of
just copying the reference image.
This also reminded me that Charles Sovek,
one of the important mentors in my painting journey,
introduced this approach to me
at a workshop on Cape Cod 20 some odd years ago.
In fact, it’s the first exercise in this classic book publised in 1991.
NOTE:
Only 2 more spots left in my
Modern Painting class hosted by
Rockport Art Association
Tuesdays March 30 -April 20.
9:30 - 12:30.
Come join the fun!