REFERENCE PHOTO
I am using the example of a commission painting to illustrate how I use shape to build a likeness. This portrait began with a sitting, sketches and taking reference photographs. The light and strong shadows were key to the composition and construction of the portrait and immediately made shapes easier to see. It is always worth considering this when you approach a portrait. A very flat light will make it more difficult to look for shapes in contour, colour and tone.
In this two-part article, I will be exploring the importance of learning to look. While observation seems such an obvious necessity for any visual art, there are different ways of looking that may not be apparent to the novice. In this first article, I will focus on finding shapes of colour and tone to help you see
