By the Stream 8x8
Hello and welcome to Tonalist paintings by M Francis McCarthy.
Today's painting is 'By the Stream' 8x8.
Today's video features the progression of this painting over several different painting sessions. The video also features my usual rambling narration so please check that out.
As I've stated on this blog I have been working on a book about painting in a Tonalist manner. A big part of my research for this book has been going back again to a work by Birge Harrison called Landscape Painting. This book is nearly a hundred years old. It contains great quantities of vital information about the Tonalist method that helped me a lot when I first read it several years ago.
As part of my research I have been taking some notes while rereading this book and I thought it would be interesting to share those notes with you today. Birge has broken his book up into various chapters about the different aspects of landscape painting like values, pigment, brushwork and composition. Today I'm going to share my notes regarding his chapter on composition. Please note that these are not his words verbatim, they are my rephrased and abbreviated notes.
Composition
As you can see there is some extremely valid and pertinent advice here from ol' Birge. These are the bits from his book that I made notes about because these are the aspects that I would communicate to any beginning painter and that I am endeavoring to remember myself with each work that I create.
Cheers,
M Francis McCarthy
Landscapepainter.co.nz
A bit about 'By the Stream' 8 x 10; I'm happy with the way this painting turned out it has good colors, a nice atmosphere and strong composition.
To see more of my work, visit my site here
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| By the Stream by M Francis McCarthy, 8x8 Oil Painting on Wood Panel |
Today's video features the progression of this painting over several different painting sessions. The video also features my usual rambling narration so please check that out.
As I've stated on this blog I have been working on a book about painting in a Tonalist manner. A big part of my research for this book has been going back again to a work by Birge Harrison called Landscape Painting. This book is nearly a hundred years old. It contains great quantities of vital information about the Tonalist method that helped me a lot when I first read it several years ago.
As part of my research I have been taking some notes while rereading this book and I thought it would be interesting to share those notes with you today. Birge has broken his book up into various chapters about the different aspects of landscape painting like values, pigment, brushwork and composition. Today I'm going to share my notes regarding his chapter on composition. Please note that these are not his words verbatim, they are my rephrased and abbreviated notes.
Composition
- There are millions of good compositions in the world.
- All that is necessary are the eyes to see them.
- There are no fixed rules.
- Many of best rules of composition are expressed in the negative.
- Don’t try to say two things on one canvas.
- There must be one point of interest, concentrate on that and sacrifice everything else.
- The human mind can only receive on impression at a time.
- Don’t divide your picture in spaces of equal size and proposition.
- Don’t put horizon line in the center of the picture – same for center of interest.
- Lower horizon is generally better than high.
- Don’t have anything in the picture that does not explain itself.
- Treat nature with respect but do not let her rule you.
- A picture that needs a title should never have been painting.
- Don’t let the dominant line in your picture end in mid-air – use the sky to help.
- There are no rules of composition that cannot be broken – except don’t paint two pictures on one canvas.
- Don’t crowd your canvas/composition – let your tree or mountain have breathing space. Keep them away from the edge of the frame.
- Don’t put in a single unnecessary feature.
- Keep your eyes open, nature provides the best unexpected compositions.
As you can see there is some extremely valid and pertinent advice here from ol' Birge. These are the bits from his book that I made notes about because these are the aspects that I would communicate to any beginning painter and that I am endeavoring to remember myself with each work that I create.
Cheers,
M Francis McCarthy
Landscapepainter.co.nz
A bit about 'By the Stream' 8 x 10; I'm happy with the way this painting turned out it has good colors, a nice atmosphere and strong composition.
To see more of my work, visit my site here
 |
| By the Stream 8x8 (Detail) |