I've been teaching some drawing and painting classes via Zoom lately. People have been asking, so a few friends have been working with me to refine how to teach this way. In some ways, it's easier..... I don't need to drive anywhere, they don't need to drive anywhere. We look in each others' faces.... in a class I am usually wandering behind our artists' chairs and there is less face to face communication.
What we've been working on is how to share effectively.
One thing that I've learned is that I need to emphasize looking at things carefully if you want to get a good likeness. Yesterday, after I taught a class, I went back to this painting. I looked carefully at my reference photo on the computer screen and noticed that those allium seeds are still too small and don't look like they are popping out of the page. They should look three-dimensional. And, the only way to achieve that is to pay attention to each seed pod and figure out the light and shade there. Every one is different.
So, I started attacking e a c h seed pod on the bottom right. I lifted out paint around them in the shape they were supposed to be. I waited for that to dry. Then, I went in and painted the correct colour and correct tones. Wait for that to dry. Mixed up the dark shadow colour around them and tidied them up. The shadow is mostly alizarin crimson, French ultramarine blue and Hookers green. Sometimes there is a little cobalt blue or even some Quinacridone Gold to either cool or warm the look.
I think it's looking better.
The other challenge when teaching via Zoom is to not encourage artists to be as anal as I am! Everyone has their own style just waiting to come out.
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else
is the greatest accomplishment.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson