Things I Learned as an Oil Painter: Thing #7

3 min read

Deviation Actions

maccski's avatar
By
Published:
769 Views
This is another post that leads on from the previous one.  Thing #7 is:

A small study is a huge help in developing an idea.  It also works well as an extra source.

After painting all those small studies (see thing #6 maccski.deviantart.com/journal…) I was itching to bust out and paint something big (or at least bigger). I picked out a favourite source photo that I had used for one of my 50 small pieces and started work.  After a short while I pulled out the study to check on how I'd tackled a certain area and found that instantly I had an awesome resource. It sounds obvious in retrospect, but I realized that the decisions I needed to make when painting the larger work had pretty much already been made while painting the study.  For the most part I was just scaling up.  In some cases I rethought parts of the piece and improved on them. With the source photo and the little canvas as a help I found I painted a lot faster and with more confidence (I'd been there before). The resulting painting was, in my opinion, a stronger work than I was previously capable of producing.  Sure, part of it had to do with my improved skill level from the sheer mileage of churning out 50 works, but I later discovered that trying a larger piece from scratch with no study was harder, slower going and in greater danger of producing a lemon.  Taking the time to paint a study may, in fact, save time overall.

Over the last little while bad habits have crept in and I've neglected the study on a couple of pieces I painted on a tight schedule.  Luckily they turned out pretty well, but, with the pressure off, I painted a 60-minute study before tackling my latest painting.  I completed the final piece in a fraction of the time and I'm very happy with the result.  I have to stock up on mini canvases….

How small is small? I find a 5" x 7" (127mm x 178mm) canvas, canvas board or masonite panel is all I need to express my ideas before committing to a larger canvas.

Thing #1: maccski.deviantart.com/journal…
Thing #2: maccski.deviantart.com/journal…
Thing #3: maccski.deviantart.com/journal…
Thing #4: maccski.deviantart.com/journal…
Thing #5: maccski.deviantart.com/journal…
Thing #6: maccski.deviantart.com/journal…

Why am I posting this stuff? maccski.deviantart.com/journal…

Take a look at my Facebook page...if you like it, please "Like" it! www.facebook.com/MontrealArtis…

Hasta número ocho…
© 2013 - 2024 maccski
Comments17
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In
line-melte's avatar
I never used to make colour studies, but after trying it found them immensely helpful. I just need to learn to be less lazy and impatient. :nuu: