Before The Canvas Sees Paint

By Anne Moore

In this publication you will find a condensed overview of almost  everything professional artists have considered and understand before  the canvas gets the first touch of paint. A little history, maths, psychology and science -  From the history of brushes to how to  make your own, from the history of the canvas to how to stretch your own. Compositions and  demystifying the fibonacci sequence, the anatomy of a triangle, the rule of thirds and five eights, the golden ratio and the anatomy of a triangle, dynamic symmetry among others. Colour theory,  and some history from the masters, anecdotes, facts and motivational concepts and tips. I hope you find it as useful on your art journey as I have. Best wishes!!.              

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Anne Moore
• Release date: Apr 29, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224313143

Anne Moore

A native of Ireland and throughly enjoys writing with a passion for painting that flows into the books published. Inspiration comes easily from the rich green Irish countryside. A few art pieces are included in some publications which are originals.Creativity comes from many life experiences and the love of nature.

Book preview

In this publication you will find a condensed  overview of almost  everything professional artists have considered  before  the canvas gets the first touch of paint. A little history, maths, psychology and science -  From the history of brushes to how to  make your own, from the history of the canvas to how to stretch your own. Compositions and  demystifying the fibonacci sequence, the anatomy of a triangle, the rule of thirds and five eights,the golden ratio and the anatomy of a triangle, dynamic symmetry among others. Colour theory,  and some history from the masters, anecdotes, facts and motivational concepts and tips. I hope you find it as useful on your art journey as I have. 

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Lost in the Forest 2024 Greyscale photo

Painters or Artists?

Art is bound by expression and sometimes we tend to put ourselves in negative boxes at times and ask ourselves, what are we?.  The art of painting allows the painter to express emotions and feelings without the spoken word. Our aim is to provide something that elevates. Painting should initially be for the fun and enjoyment it gives. The simple joy of creating to elevate our being, will capture the spirit of your works and may in turn inspire others.The saying, a picture paints a thousand words holds true. However, at times we question ourselves on whether we are  painters or artists and many times we  look at this from the wrong perspective. The profession of painting can easily slip into the category of an artist. A painter is someone who can show their art  through colours and brushstrokes. Painters can show meaningful depictions in their paintings that can and  are deciphered by art appraisers.

An artist is said to be  someone who confidently enjoys depicting their own self expressions through their  paintings. Their art is constructed from their conscious or subconscious expressions and feelings.  Those who have the ability to create something  that portrays a deep meaning can be known as artists. Conceptualising your inner thoughts and experiences can be done in many ways through art, e.g. music  is a genre grounded  in the art world and under the umbrella of music  disciplines such as conducting, composing, arranging or singing. Graphic designers  also use their knowledge of colour and their colour wheel to create their own interpretations of meaningful art concepts. The writer, who expresses thoughts and meaning through words to feed our imagination  or those who create art through dance, the art  of life or conceptual art.

And so, returning  back to the question of artists and painters, we can say that painters have a great understanding of colours and can confidently use brushes professionally. The painter can depict  their visual concepts with a great understanding of compositional values. However, when it comes to getting outside the box and incorporating the painter's own vision, this may become a difficult endeavour. So for painters to become artists they need both.  For a painter, who is also an artist, their paintings are completed with passion and perhaps without the disrupting desire for monetary gain, but  mainly for a deep desire for others to see the world from their own unique  perspectives. And so, a painter can of course be an artist, but it is not possible to qualify an artist as just being a painter.

And following on from this we will travel through the steps professional artists take before the canvas is painted.  Whether you are using watercolours, acrylic, oils, burnt plastic, tar, ground minerals or quills, first, and as the saying goes fail to plan, plan to fail.  Art is to some extent no different.  Great chefs require the best ingredients and tools for their delicacies because they know without these the end result will not be their best.  So starting off with  the right perspectives, tools  and concepts are fundamental for the success of your art or design project. 

Principles of Art and Design 

The principles of composition  were first adopted in the late nineteenth century and became more popular thereafter especially in abstract and experimental art. It is difficult to emphasise one aspect  singularly since each principle  intertwines  in art to form unity within the piece.

Art worldwide is grounded on a set of principles that govern how we represent the elements and compositional aspects of our painting ( line, form, space, colour, value and texture). These principles are balance, rhythm, movement,contrast, pattern and emphasis and unity.

Balance - refers to the visual weight of the elements or the attention of the elements. Balance can be achieved in three ways: symmetry,asymmetry and radial symmetry. Symmetry refers to the mirror image of compositions i.e. both sides are similar. Asymmetry a composition is balanced by the contrast of elements e.g. a large square on one side may be balanced by a small circle on the other. Radial symmetry refers to elements which are equally spaced around a focal point.

Rhythm - Through the intentional, repetitive placement of elements within the scene this indicates movement and the tempo of the piece which allows the viewer to pick up the emotional aspects and intentions of the artist, whether that is peaceful or frenzied. By repeating elements in a work of art whether by column or doorways in architecture the artist can create a sense of rhythm in the piece and this can be further enhanced by the rhythm of the colour within the piece.

Pattern - This relates to the repetition of a design element. These elements can be varied in size. The artist can choose between dots, stripes or weaves etc., and these can be used to grab the attention of the viewer in an apparent or understated manner. Pattern can be used as the dominant composition in an entire piece or alternatively used within the composition.

Movement - This is another principle where the artist creates a sense of movement through the piece by guiding the viewers by design. Artists can use visual aspects such as colour, contrast and composition to create a sense of movement within the art work. The repetition of pattern, shape or lines can be utilised to create a sense of flow within the piece.

Contrast - In this principle the artist arranges contrasting or opposing elements to craft the story and create a path that leads the viewers eye to the focal point or an aspect of choice. This can be done by using contrasting colours and opposing shapes e.g. large and small, rough and smooth