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What Are Positive and Negative Shapes? “A good composition is not just what you add—it’s also what you don’t add.” Before You Begin For a deeper understanding, be sure to review my earlier posts: SHAPE: A Foundational Guide (June 19,…
Why Format Matters in Art Many students begin drawing without first considering the format. Yet format is not an afterthought—it should be the first decision, even before planning the composition. Would a horizontal format best emphasize New York’s towering skyscrapers?…
Watercolor has a unique character—fluid, transparent, and luminous—that comes alive through skilled technique. My demonstrations highlight core methods: flat wash, graded wash, wet-on-wet, and glazing. Each technique produces its own distinct effect, and mastering these foundations sets the stage for…
Understanding color temperature is fundamental in both visual art and lighting. It shapes how artists express mood, depth, and atmosphere, making it a powerful tool for visual storytelling. *Helpful post for this lesson: Color: Painting Color Wheel – Beginner’s Guide…
Introduction Many artists are familiar with terms like monochromatic painting and tonal painting, but the concept of painting with a single hue plus a range of grays is rarely labeled with a widely established phrase for this method. For teaching…
Cross-hatching involves layering lines at varying angles to develop value to represent light, shadow, and form. When the lines are placed close together, they produce darker tones; when spaced apart, they create lighter areas. In this lesson, we’ll explore the…
Before diving into color, painting in black and white is one of the most effective exercises for beginners. It sharpens your observation skills and builds a solid foundation in understanding value—the lightness or darkness of tones—which is essential for creating…
An Essential Element of Visual Language What is Shape in Art? In visual art, shape refers to a two-dimensional, enclosed area. It can be defined by boundaries such as lines (where the beginning point meets the ending point), color, value,…
"Detail Of Sol Lewitt's 1971 'Wall Drawing #65' At The National Gallery Of Art (Washington, DC)" by takomabibelot is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
A Foundational Guide to Sketching with Structure and Confidence This approach is different from the contour drawing technique I introduced earlier. If you missed that lesson, check it out here: Understand Contour Drawing Step 1: Break Down Subjects Into Basic…
