Resources for learning paint application

[Alexandra Tyng]

Hi Vianna,

While you're internalizing all those tapes, of which I am sure you are fully capable given your level of expertise, I have a suggestion that might help:

I've heard that Sargent, while wanting his strokes to appear effortless and fresh, actually invested a lot of effort, practice and planning to make them appear so. If he wasn't satisfied, he would wipe an area out and do it over and over again until he got the strokes just right. It might speed up your "learning curve" to use his method. My son does the same thing when practicing a piece of music--he works on small sections, getting just the right inflection, tone, etc. before moving to the next section.

[Vianna Szabo]

You have given me a basis to tackle a rather daunting painting. The subject is completely back lit and the values in the figure are very close. I think that is an excellent approach to work the one area (I have a tendency to paint all over) and wipe down until I have the effect I want. The overall value pattern is in so I can work on top of that. I have read that Sargent's effortless look was achieved with much effort and wiping down. Although I do not see any evidence of fussing, fiddling, or dinkin.

I used to model for an artist who used that method in pastel. He would start with one area complete it and then move on to an adjoining plane. The start was disconcerting to me but the end results were lovely.

I'll get out my paints, palette knife, and plenty of Viva.

Thanks,
Vianna