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The Alternative Grauniad Watercolour Club
To wake the soul by tender strokes of art - Alexander Pope
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August 11, 2010 at 10:33 am
kenatnpl
Copied from comments on pears in still life by Ken, August, some interesting points maybe.
In general I find the colours produced by TFT screens noticeably inaccurate and tending to the coarse and garish side, particularly when compared to something like a water colour painting. My comments on screen performance were in the sense that computers, cameras and web displays are sometimes not good enough for this job and to suggest one reason why, and really not to indicate that technical performance and exact detail are my overriding interest. They are simply tools in this respect.
Anybody interested can check and improve the performance of their TFT monitor using the website http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/ .
The still life pictures have been an attempt on my part to add some basic observational and brush skills to my lowly skill base, that of sketching, capturing shape and form, colour and lighting and attempting to capture the impression of the scene, in this case that the vibrant fruit looked just right for eating. To do this meant getting the colours and their depth right, I spent several hours attempting this and probably more by luck than judgement I was surprised to see I had got close to what I wanted.
When I first viewed the picture on the screen it was dull and lifeless and the yellows were greenish tinged making all the effort look wasted. Level adjustment brought some life to the picture but removing the slight green bias in the yellow made the reds seem garish and coarse, not what I wanted. The background was impossible to get right and the picture did not produce the effect intended. Eventually I found a good compromise and thought the problems worthy of comment.
In this case I do like this painting the way it is and wouldn’t agree that it needs a looser approach. The pears on their own were a sufficient challenge for me that is why there are no bowls etc, nevertheless I find I quite like the uncluttered open look.
Colour is an important part of the artistic merit of a picture. Galleries and museums spend a lot of money cleaning paintings so that we can see them with the colours the artist intended. Really it is missing the point to say a Picasso may still look like a good picture with its colours distorted. I would say we owe it to Picasso to present his work as close to his intentions as possible and it’s a moot point that Picasso might have been happy with his painting reproduced with noticeable colour inaccuracies. Artists and photographers who publish today are very particular about who publishes their work, in part to get the best colour reproductions available.
I know you like Chopin and doubt that you would be happy to hear one of his works played by somebody who has modified the harmonies.
In my view the basic skills and attention to detail, in the sense of discovering what achieves what, are important whatever styles suits. Picasso could draw and paint in classic style and you will not find a free playing jazz pianist who does not have a formidable technique. The spontaneity and freedom achieved by many gifted artists and
musicians is not usually born of casual execution; it is mainly the result of experience, perception, and skill. The good technique frees you if you have the imagination.
August 11, 2010 at 11:39 am
davidworth
Well I need some time to digest this and reply in detail! But I am sure I have had conversations with you on the tennis court where we have laughed about useless tennis players worrying about their racket as if if makes any difference to their game. Whilst i am not saying anyone is a useless artist – because I don’t think art can be measured in the same way as a competitive sport – the principal is the same.
I do get a bit peeved that my scanner at home is so bad but really i don’t think it makes any difference to anyones enjoyment of seeing my paintings in an altered state. I have already made so many bungles on the execution of the painting that a few extra ones from the scanner are neither here nor there.
August 11, 2010 at 4:23 pm
sworth
You cruel people – laughing at useless players. I hope none of them read this post – they might recognise themselves
August 2, 2010 at 1:41 pm
davidworth
I don’t know if any of you have seen the news about a 7 year old Kieron Williamson whose latest exhibition sold out in 40 mins for £150,000. I was a little sceptical when I first read about him but having seen his work, I can see he is a prodigy and people will be buying up his work in the hopes he will be the next Picasso.
My worry is that he attends water colour classes. Whilst I have nothing against learning how to paint, this boy is so incredible I can only see teaching him would influence and possibly interfere with his style. Some of his later paintings whilst amazing for someone so young look a little bit commercial and twee in their execution.
http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/amazing-paintings-by-six-year
http://cellar.org/2009/watercolor2.jpg
http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kx5m9pgt0h1qzs3iqo1_500.jpg
http://www.KieronWilliamson.com
August 11, 2010 at 4:21 pm
sworth
Surely if he continues to paint as he grows up, and has creative talent, he’ll develop his own style, no matter what classes he attends. Some people are technically great, but never really develop their own style. (Is everyone who paints an artist? What makes an artist is a subject I’m sure we could discuss for ever!)
May 29, 2010 at 4:01 pm
sworth
For a list of pictures in the competition, see this:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/series/in-pictures
May 31, 2010 at 2:30 pm
suemiddlesex
Hi Sue
Thanks for this. Look foward to checking them out.
October 22, 2008 at 10:39 am
sworth
Might be a good idea to remove the comment box from the front page?
October 22, 2008 at 10:38 am
sworth
Took me a while to find the Chit Chat category at the top of the page – good idea though.
October 22, 2008 at 9:57 am
davidworth
Sue (Cumbria) The Royal Watercolour Society has its autumn exhibition on at the moment. I’d love to go, but the web site gives a taste of how varied watercolour art can be.
http://www.royalwatercoloursociety.co.uk/exhibitions.asp?yr=&eid=10
October 22, 2008 at 9:56 am
davidworth
Its a photo of a white enamel watercolour palette which has had the photoshop watercolour filter apllied to it
October 22, 2008 at 9:55 am
davidworth
Sue (Cumbria) I keep meaning to ask – what’s the banner all about? I can’t decide if it’s teeth or fizzing glasses of beer!