How to Eliminate Pesky Details in Painting
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- Опубликовано: 4 окт 2024
- Are you struggling to simplify your paintings? Do your paintings have too many details that distract the viewer?
This week I show you a hierarchy, or order, to think of when you approach a scene to paint.
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Great video as usual! I'd be interested to know why you kept the tall pole to the right of the image - my first reaction was to get rid of that as it seems to me to 'block' the entrance to the path leading to the focal point. Perhaps if it was further to the right it might serve as a 'frame' of sorts, but with it being almost a 3rd of the way into the image it feels too strong. Anyway,, thanks for sharing!
Seems like it adds a strong vertical to the structure since there aren't many other verticals?
I thought the same thing - it led my eye in the wrong direction.
Yes - same here . The pole seems to fence off the right side of the composition & interrupt the flow of attention from lower right to upper left . Looking forward to Ian's reasoning .
Same! That was the question I was going to ask, too. I really expected that pole was going to get left out and was surprised when Ian left it in.
Tension? I blocked the pole with my thumb and the sketch immediately was less interesting to me
Ian is the art teacher we all wish we had in school. He makes complex ideas and shapes so simple, which is the foundation of more detailed work. Thank you!
Ian is the art teacher I wish I'd had in all the adult classes Ive been to as well!
100
Thanks so much Keke. I appreciate you telling me.
Thank you.
@@IanRobertsMasteringComposition I agree 100% with Keke. You have a gift. Thank you for sharing it .
I feel like when there's a very strong line, like one created by the lamp post, it sort of splits the image into two. It's fine to do that but I feel like both the left and right side should work compositionally on their own, in addition to as a whole together. So I'd probably eliminate the large lamp post, or add something in the bottom of the right frame, like keeping that red sign or doing something with the road shadows.
Hi Mr Baggins, lots of comments on that pole! I'll show why I put it in next week.
This is great and explains so well how you narrow things down. I’d love to see another but the opposite- a very simple scene, too simple, and how you play it up, or why you’d avoid it altogether.
HI Kimberly, that's a good idea. I'm going to paint this one next week. But let me think about a really simple one for another week. Thanks for the suggestion.
@@IanRobertsMasteringComposition I agree with Kimberly's idea! Thanks, Ian. Looking forward to your next videos :)
I think many of us were led to believe that to make a "realistic" piece of art you can't leave things out because then you're not representing "reality" - you're making stuff up. Thanks for clarifying this concept so well.
Very interesting. I could see the path but seeing how you can draw the viewer’s attention and be very intentional is really interesting and something to work on.
Well said Sarah!
Love the drawing! It edges to abstraction. You have managed to explain succinctly in a few minutes that which takes years to learn if your stumbling around by yourself. Thank you.
Very nice of you to say so Michael. And simplification does push the image towards abstraction.
Absolutely brilliant -thankyou! I have been stuck on this problem of what is junk and what isnt when designing a painting for so long now and watching your video has been a breakthrough moment for me. All the best for 2022
Makes me happy to hear it Richard. All the best to you as well.
I am a photographer learning about painting again after retirement. The post provides n anchor to the right side and allows the beautiful distant field to have weight in the painting. I believe that the strength of the road and embankment allows for the framing of the field to complete the story of distant fields.
Thank you for breaking it down to such a simple structure.
You're very welcome Dave
Thanks for the wonderful lesson. Something we all struggle with, made much simpler now. Thank you Ian!
Glad it was helpful! Thank you
Excellent and enlightening as always. I've been doing these thumbnail sketches lately and they really do help. If nothing else it slows down my usual bombastic style of diving in head first 😉
Yes, Mark as much as anything it slows us down. We settle into the image. All the best.
Hello from Montreal, I appreciate how you explained how something with potential but busy can be simplified. Also the importance of sketching, just those simple patterns of light and dark created so much deep leading us up the road to the focal point. Get your pencils out. Wow Ian, I didn't know you where so popular. Understandably
Hi David, glad you found it helpful. All the best.
I am beginning to understand. You don't get bogged down in the emotion of the place, don't dwell on the feelings of the things you are looking at. You stay VERY objective so all you see is the composition, shapes, values and relationships. I could do that if I got less excited about the subject matter. That's what is distracting. Ouah! Thanks Ian. 🤪 So one can experience exhiliration say, to chose what to paint, even how to paint it, but stay cool headed designing the painting.
Hi Ariel, I think you said it very well. If there is no excitement in the image then way paint it. But then as you say you need to settle down, be less impulsive, and build it. All the best.
Always helpful! Love watching your videos. There's so much information. Thank you for teaching us to look at a subject from a practical perspective.
You are so welcome Poonam. Delighted you are enjoying the videos
@@IanRobertsMasteringComposition your book is impossible to get. Maybe consider reprints. Unfortunately it's difficult to get a copy here in India☹️
I loved how your drawing finished up, it was almost lyrical with movement. Another great video; boy I really enjoy my beginning to the day on Tuesdays. Somehow whatever you're discussing seems to be related in someway to what I'm working on at the moment. Thank you so much, Ian!
Makes me happy to hear it Evan. All the best.
So amazingly helpful and I have ordered your pencils which, of course, will vastly improve my art! Thank you for a great lesson.
Wonderful! Enjoy the process and have fun
As someone with anxiety, and an interest in urban painting, this video was quite a relief lol. Its easily the most overwhelming part going into a new painting. Life long love of art, but new to doing it myself. Your channel is spectacular, I appreciate you and your content. Keep on keeping on sir.
So helpful - breaking down photos can be so tricky and it was so helpful seeing the way you simplify everything. TY!
Yes! Very helpful! You are able to take "ordinary and mundane" photos and turn them into paintings! Quite a skill! And I like that you show us the process of how to do it. Thank you!
You are so welcome MJ!
Today I pulled out my composition books and, lo and behold!! Your name is on the cover and a DVD is in the back and a slightly different you on the the back dust cover. Called mastering composition. :)
I really look forward to Tuesday Mornings Ian! Your videos and a nice hot cup of coffee are the perfect start of my day.
Glad you like them! Hope you had a nice cup of Joe. Thanks Tim
Hi Ian ! So nice to get back to my weekly indulgence of watching your much loved videos ! When you do your pencil demos I just glue my eyes on the screen and wish you would go on and on with your pencil ! Thank you so much for that ! Never get tired of watching and learning each and every time ! I thank you sincerely Ian and look forward to your next video ! Wish you a happy week blessed with health . Warmest regards Lorraine 🤗🎨😁
Thank you Lorraine for letting me know you are enjoying the videos. All the best to you.
I am a watercolor painter but always find so much wonderful insight in your videos. Thank you!
Thank you so much. I am glad this is helping you with watercolors as well
Simply (hahaha) wonderful. The addition of the mountain really changed the structure, great idea.
Thank you very much James
I always thought you couldn’t omit anything but of course you can I don’t know why I couldn’t. Love the idea of drawing beforehand! Thank you
Ian requesting please make a video about when/how artists get discouraged and sad and ways to combat that please. Thank you.
Ian...thank you so much for your instruction..I wish I had you as a teacher...you're very clear and simple in the explanations which removes the intimidating factor of starting a painting...
I very much wish that I had had Ian as my Art teacher all those years ago and then I’m sure that I would be in a far better place with my Art today. So good. Thank you.
Thank you Neil. I appreciate your saying so. All the best.
Looking forward to the follow-up on the vertical on the right side of the painting!
Yes, next week, with and without.
"The process," we all have one. Yours makes so much sense. Thanks for sharing it Ian, we will adopt it one day if we"re serious. 😉
Well said! Glad you enjoyed the video
Ha! I get major motion sickness! I made a painting last week where I think I finally got the idea of simplifying shapes and paying attention to the contrasts. Thanks so much for all of your teaching videos!
Hurrah! Glad to hear it (not the seasickness, the painting)
Amazing!! These tutorials are truly helpful!! Your a gifted instructor! Thanks 🙏 Ian
Glad it was helpful!
A delight to observe, a delight to learn from such a gifted educator! Many thanks for all you do. 🥰
Many thanks. Glad you enjoyed it!
Excellent video Ian , I liked the sketch and how it worked , I thought first of doing away with the pole and the tree on the right leaving the hillside more open, but that would take away from the center of interest focusing on the houses. Thanks Craig
Hi Craig, so many people have asked about the pole I'll show it with and without next week.
Thanks Ian for this great and very helpful demo. We try to paint, what we see in the picture. We think more is better. Your videos , every week are inspirational. I can’t thank you enough for sharing your knowledge with us.
Glad you enjoyed it Kamlesh. All the best, as always!
Thank you Ian. Your explanations help me immensely. When your videos end, I go right for my sketch book and try to do what you do effortlessly. ( I’ve been painting since 1970. I Studied under Marvin P. Brown at Brown University and then left to spend almost forty years in the worst profession in the world until it almost killed me. The good news is now I paint every day! And thanks to you Ian I’m beginning to understand De Stael!
Gorgeous !Thank you again for your clear - as usual- and so helpful explanation-demo. I see that, thanks to you and your generous lessons, my vision and understanding of seeing and painting have changed and my works also.
You are so welcome!
Another great " sharing video " thank you Ian. I think it's no secret that green might be your favourite colour ? Looking forward to the next Live session !
You are absolutely right Ken, about green. It isn't even really conscious. No live session this week. Getting ready to start my online courses next week and just too much going on. I'll start them again.
Hah, the motion sickness is possibly a symptom of "sensory overload." So much stimuli! Thank you for this fabulous video! A recent art class featured for our class a photo taken by the fine arts instructor and she seems to have captured the important parts, already simplified for us!
Glad you enjoyed it Lorrie.
wow this has to be in my TOP 5 tips ive ever taken on board. i can really connect with it. i have been longing to really FEEL the sence in a pre sketch ive always known yep good thing to do but could never jump my hurdle of thought that....im ashamed to admit 🙈 it always felt a bit of a waste of time. ive seen loads on this subject but here the penny has finaly DROPPED. Thank you soooo much Ian 🙏 BINGO
Yeah! That's all I can say. Thanks for letting me know Trish.
I have learned so much by watching your videos. Thank you so much for your great tutorials.
Thank you, Ian. I will be revisiting my own pictures of Suzette
HI Catherine, you are welcome. It is such a pretty little town. Mostly from outside looking in.
So useful, would like to see more like this. Maybe 2 versions of same photo?
I like that idea of doing more than one version of a scene. More on decision making which is the crux of the matter in design.
Hi Lisa, I'm planning on doing a painting of this scene for next week. So I guess that is 2 versions.
Hi Ariel, I'm going to paint it next week so that will reveal more decision making on that scene.
Watching your videos is the best thing.These are full of knowledge.You make it very easy to understand. Always learning from your videos.Thank you very much Ian sir from India .
Glad to hear that Meena. Thank you for watching and glad you are learning so much. All the best
Great video. Light and dark explained so I can understand it. Thank you
Thank you so much for giving us the value how to sketch before you start painting, you are always a great teacher Ian Robert, thank you once again.sir
You are very welcome Usha. Thank you again!
This was so helpful and makes sense. Thank you so much!
Always helps to clear the cobwebs and bring clarity to what should be a simple process. Thank you Ian.
Glad it was helpful Alisann. Thank you!
This video is just what I was looking for. Thank you so much! All your videos are so full of learning!
You're very welcome!
Such a helpful, eye-opening video! I'm inspired to get busy drawing some little simplifying sketches for practise. Thanks, Ian!
Hi Jean, nice to hear from you here in RUclips now. Glad you liked the video.
I think this is another great lesson. I love when you show how you simplify a scene, this is something I really struggled with before I found your channel. Your ability to simplify and explain why and how you choose what to lose and adjust in images in order to create successful compositions is easy to follow and always spot on. Creating thumbnails before hand has become key in my studio practice and I owe that to you--thank you once again Ian. Best Wishes, Natalie
Delighted Natalie you are enjoying the videos. I'm going to paint that scene this week (at least that's my thought now) and do the simplification in paint.
very helpful! I look forward to Tuesday mornings. Thank you.
You are so welcome Ejf!
You make it look so easy, I tried on a recent painting I made a mess, I’ll try again.
Rosemary, I am glad you enjoyed the video. I hope you had fun and enjoy the painting process. Messes can also make some beauty!
Another Excellent explanation on simplifying compositions! THANK YOU!
You're very welcome!
Excellent, as always. Thank you and have a great week. See you next Tuesday!
See you next Tuesday. Thank you!
Thanks for sharing, very helpful as I run into this often. Even one step earlier: finding the nice image through all of the clutter (i.e. choosing where to set up my easel). Anyhow, thanks again for putting this together!
Hi Mike well I still have that. The walking around, finding the right spot. That is one of the hardest things. So much to do with alertness and perception and seeing dramatically and so on. We are always striving for better design.
Damn, that's impressive
Just found you via The paint Coach, Brilliant!
Thank you Ian, this was a great video! You’ve inspired me to get out and sketch (from my car as it’s all snow here) to keep my plein air design chops sharpened. And who knows, maybe I of my sketches will turn into a painting! Thank you again!
Go for it and enjoy the process Judy. Delighted you are finding the videos helpful. All the best
Thanks so much! Impressive lesson on focus, and the importance of a thoughtful sketch. Okay, I’m really going to prioritize a valuable sketch first.
Glad it was helpful! Have fun Norma
Brilliant! This info is gold and will help me immensely. Thankyou Ian for teaching and sharing 🙏🏻
Great video, as always, and 5 days later, that pole is still getting on my nerves lol 😆 When I first saw the photo, I said, "Well, that pole will be the first to go," and I kept waiting for you to take it out, and you ... didn't! Really looking forward to hearing why it was left in, the suspense isn't killing me, but it does ache a little 😉
Thanks for sharing Ian, very useful video and great nuggets of knowledge and information, I really appreciate your time and talents 👍
Love your approach to painting Ian. Thanks.
Brilliant stuff. Simplistic and brilliant.
Sooooo valuble!!!! Thank you!
You're so welcome Claire
Really very helpful. Many thanks I am beginning to really understand structure so much more now and applying it to my own pictures.
That makes me very happy to hear Lee. Thank you
Good heavens Ian, that was exceptionally helpful!!! More please 😊
Delighted you liked it!
Such a beautiful little sketch too!
Thanks so much Chris
my favorite of all your videos I've seen so far! Thank you so much!
Very helpful video! Thank you for sharing, it reminds of how my better paintings have come from drawing out the sketch before starting with the paintbrush....
You are so welcome!
Thank you so much for such an informative video! Even the way you draw the lit side and dark side has taught me so much
Tuesdays are now my favorite day of the week, knowing I will have a new learning opportunity
Yeah, looking again, I wonder about that pole cutting off the right side of the painting.
HI Carla, delighted you enjoyed the video. And I'll show you why I left in the pole next week since so many have asked that question.
Next week I'll show you.
Another great lesson!! Thank you!
Always great and thank you Ian. Your haircut looks good too!!! Looking forward too seeing you paint this scene too.
Hi Sue, I'll paint it this week. Thanks and all the best.
Thanks so much for your time and good mood! You helped to clarify some thoughts that i have in mind about the simplifying topic. And of course, loved the graphite sketch, looked amazing! My best regards! Ariel from Argentina.
Great demonstration. Thank you. Gives me hope.
You can do it Igor. All the best
Thank you for sharing this precious experience.
I'm going to try this drawing from this photo that I would never have chosen because it is so full of confusing details.
Happy new year full of promise for a more serene world...
That's great Marie. Good luck. Yes and to the promise of the new year...
Hi Ian -- this is really helpful and to see your thought process in simplifying an image was excellent -- thank you
Glad it was helpful!
Brilliant! LOVE this one Ian, thanks!
Great summary of your process. Very useful.
Glad it was helpful Kathy
Once again, thank you for the Tuesday Treasure! Almost looks like there is a poll on the pole in the comments. Out of curiosity I sketched the scene without the pole (using your sketch as a model). Then I put the pole in. The original photo shows that the top of the pole captures a lot of sunlight, so now I'm thinking I need to do a sketch from the photo itself. See you and the pole next Tuesday!
Hi Rita, I like how you are diving in to understand this. I go into as I've mentioned this week in the video. See you then.
@@IanRobertsMasteringComposition Thanks Ian. I sketched the scene a third time and left sky between the trees on the top left and the border. This time the pole looked out of place/balance. Looking forward to tomorrow's video!
Woow!! Just discovered your channel and the info you are giving is GREAT!! New subscriber from Mexico!!! Thank you!!!
Thanks Ian, this was great, I think I will try painting this as exercise. You’re the best!
Go for it! And have fun Nick
Very helpful, Ian. Have only just got around to re-watching you following Christmas!! Happy New Year, although rather late. Jane/Oxford
I have been experimenting with taking a lot more photos to find some inspiring compositions, and then creating a three value thumbnail. What I am discovering is that many of the photos that I have taken, once translated into a thumbnail, are not very interesting. I am trying to simplify what is included in the photo, to make it a little easier to narrow things down. Yet, I am still struggling. I understand when you describe creating a structure and focal point…..it seems so straightforward and simple, but difficult to implement.
Thank you for this demonstration!
HI Ann Marie, just so you know this is the part I find hardest too. Because it is not just about the photo, but your perception and your spirit as an artist and all these things that need to meet in one place. Don't get discouraged by how few seem to work. Take the photos, use what you think are the best, try and figure out if you can make them into good drawings. Spend some time on that. It is the foundation of the painting. And as I say that is the part that is hardest for me as well. For everyone really.
Well done, sir. 👍
Thank you Robert
You are by far my favorite painting instructor. Your videos give me courage to try painting again after a long period of believing that I just can’t do it. I wonder if you have a P.O. Box? Is it ok to send you a small painting? I try harder when the painting is for someone else. Thanks!
HI Sarah, delighted you are encouraged to start to paint again. Very nice of you to offer to send me a painting. Paint it for me but send me a photo it to my website. That would be just as good for me. I'm waiting to see it. All the best and good luck.
This was realy good Ian, i see the value of this in planning a sucessful oil painting, thankyou mate from Oz
Glad you enjoyed it Bert. All the best
Super helpful Ian! Thank you!! Great sggestions --appreiated!!
Glad it was helpful Marlene. Thank you!
Wow. What a great video! Incredibly helpful. Thanks so much for this!
You're so welcome!
This is a great series and I appreciate so much the energy you put into it, tremendous value to artists, I live in Mexico and always enjoy your videos. Just wish I could develop a better limited palette as I have way too many colors! My objective for this year. have a great April!
Great. Thank you Ian.
Glad you enjoyed it Jan
I really like this post.
Yeah, finally! Me too Henny.
Wow, what a great lesson! Thank you so much!
You're very welcome!
Love these examples, wish you would have painted it in a loose style also, I think it may have needed to be simplified even more, unless scene was painted larger to observe the building? If the focus is to be the bldg?
Hi Constance I'm going to paint it next week.
@@IanRobertsMasteringComposition Great, I will look forward with anticapation.
Very helpful and encouraging as always. Thanks so much. 😊
You are so welcome!
Lovely demonstration..💕👍
Thank you so much
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