Series 23: ABSTRACT TO REALISM

Abstracting with Color – S23L3

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This lesson is S23L4, From Color to Image of the ABSTRACT TO REALISM series. Beginning with her study from Lesson 3 of this Series, Dianne defines the images by focusing on shapes of those that best tell the story and reinforce the visual path. She emphasizes the importance of adding just enough definition to convey the image, but not so much as to add chaos to the painting.

Abstract painting might be the most curious genre of painting there is. People who don’t like or understand abstraction often will deem it meaningless, yet almost the entire 20th Century was dominated by abstraction in visual arts. Even today, many art schools still promote teachings that splinted off from the abstract era. However, any good realistic painting has a sound abstract design within it.

In this series, Dianne shows how we can abstract from a realistic image, then turn that abstraction into a realistic painting.

 Lessons 1 & 3 are studies, each showing how to use a principle to resolve an issue.  Lessons 2 & 4 each take the previous study to a conclusion, showing how to use those same principles to bring convert the study into a painting.

With every brushstroke we make, we are composing.  Just as with any creation, we begin with a structure, then as the art work begins we place shapes and colors according the concept with which we are working.  But the time comes when we move to a different level of thinking and decision-making–that moment when our intention becomes to bring clarity and resolution to the work.

Among Dianne’s passions about painting and teaching painting is how composing principles can expand creative freedom if the artist transcends the “rule” idea and instead, transforms the principle into a tool that opens creative doors.

Read Dianne’s Compose blog posts HERE.  Visit Dianne’s website and example her work HERE.  And visit her YouTube Channel with dozens of Quick Tips HERE.