Essays on Painting : Experiences of a Practical Artist: Experiences of a Practical Artist

By Kay, John, Rowland

Book Id: WPLBN0100750507
Format Type: PDF (eBook)
File Size: 14.78 MB.
Reproduction Date: 1/16/2025

Title:	Essays on Painting : Experiences of a Practical Artist: Experiences of a Practical Artist
Author:	Kay, John, Rowland
Volume:
Language:	English
Subject:	Non Fiction, Fine Arts, Helpful advice to Fine Artists
Collections:	Authors Community, Technology
Historic Publication Date:	2025
Publisher:	The Millrind Press

Member Page:	John Kay
Citation APA MLA Chicago Kay, J. R., & Kay, J. R. (2025). Essays on Painting : Experiences of a Practical Artist. Retrieved from http://gutenberg.cc/

Description
This book is a larger version of a previous publication, "Into Composition" but expanded to include advice and details from the art, painting and lecturing experience from a career teaching, demonstrating and lecturing in painting and graphic composition.

Summary
General advice previously from a series of lectures given to WEA classes in Essex Evening Classes.

Excerpt
I do not pretend to be a particularly talented or naturally outstanding practitioner with an inborn ability to arrive at the right solution instinctively. After acquiring enough skill as a competent painter most of my efforts have been directed into developing into a good art teacher. The more I learn from artists I respect the more I realise that full competence is a combination of consistent hard work and the willingness to learn from practitioners who have gained their experience the hard way.

Table of Contents
CONTENTS PREFACE 9 THE ESSAYS 11 1. INFLUENCES 17 SPECIAL SOURCES OF INSPIRATION 19 2. VISUAL PERCEPTION 21 USING OUR EYES 21 THE BRAIN TAKES OVER 22 WHAT THE CAMERA SEES 23 HOW SEEING DEVELOPS 24 SEEING AND DRAWING 24 SYMBOL INTERVENES. 25 THE EYE OF THE ARTIST 25 SIMPLIFICATION 29 ABSTRACTION 29 SEEING SHAPES INSTEAD OF OBJECTS 30 DEVELOPING A SCHEMA 31 OUT OF FOCUS 33 PLAYING TRICKS ON THE EYE 34 3. WHAT IS A PAINTING 37 AN ARTIST’S PERSPECTIVE 37 ILLUSTRATION OR PAINTING 40 4. STARTING OUT 43 CHOOSING A MEDIUM 44 INHIBITIONS 47 COMING TO TERMS WITH MAKING MISTAKES 48 MAKING MISTAKES 49 5. COMPOSITION 51 GOLDEN SECTION 51 MORE ACTION WITH DIAGONALS 55 BALANCE 57 SHAPES AND FORMS 60 TONE 61 CENTRES OF INTEREST 63 6. DRAWING 69 7. WORKING METHODS 75 THE APPROACH 75 STAGE 1. GATHERING MATERIAL 75 STAGE 2. CHOOSING SUBJECTS 77 STAGE 3. PREPARATORY WORK FOR A PAINTING 79 STAGE 4. THE PAINTING 83 8. A PAINTING CHECKLIST 87 1. BEFORE YOU START SKETCHING. 87 2. PREPARATIVE SKETCHES 88 3 THE PAINTING - A WATERCOLOUR 92 9. COMMERCIALISM 95 10. THE QUEST 101 THE SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE 101 TALENT 103 THE ROLE OF IMAGINATION 104 THE APPROACH 105 MAKING PROGRESS 107 DEVELOPING A PERSONAL STYLE 107 ACHIEVING A LOOSE STYLE 107 PAINTING COMPETITIONS 109 ON STANDARDS AND CRAFTSMANSHIP 109 11. USING THE TECHNOLOGY 113 12. COLOUR & PAINT 119 WATER MEDIA 119 PIGMENTS 120 POISONOUS PIGMENTS 122 HISTORICAL TALES 124 MAKING WATERCOLOURS 126 BUYING WATERCOLOUR PAINTS 126 13. MY INNOVATIONS 129 A PLASTIC BRUSH GUARD 129 14. PAINTING TODAY 137 WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF PAINTING? 137 THE CRITICS & THE GALLERIES 139 THE ART RENEWAL CENTER 142 CONCEPTUAL ART 145 MY HOPE FOR THE FUTURE 148 15. MY STORY 151 VISION PROBLEMS 151 EARLY YEARS 151 SECONDARY EDUCATION 152 THE POST-WAR YEARS 153 FIRST EMPLOYMENT 154 COLLEGE EXPERIENCES 156 SCHOOL TEACHING 157 DEMONSTRATOR FOR WINSOR & NEWTON 158 LECTURING FOR THE WEA 158 TUTORING & DEMONSTRATING 158 INTERNET FORUMS & WEBSITES 159 THE MILLRIND PRESS 160 BIBLIOGRAPHY 163