A Brush With Art.pdf

TOPSHAMObservationIn the programmes that follow, Iwill go into detailabout drawing, colour mixing, choosing alocation, composition, tonal values, and the manyother aspects of watercolour painting. But first Fmgoing to talk about observation.To paint well, you need to look at and seethings very carefully. It's one thing to stand on apavement and casually notice someone go into agreengrocer s shop. But if you had obser-ved thatsame scene in the same time-span, you might haveseen a much more accurate picture - that it was ayoung lady, that she was wearing a yellow dressand that the shop had a dark green painted doorand window frames and a bright yellow 'SpecialToday' sign in the window. You would also haveobserved that small white van parked at the side ofthe shop, and the telegraph pole in front with achild's bicycle leaning against it. And when theyoung lady came out of the shop, you would evenhave seen the large cabbage sticking out of hershopping bag!This is how you should look at a scene, evenbefore you start to paint it, although naturally youwill continue to observe it carefully while you arepainting it. If you can train yourself to see likethis, drawing or painting your scene will becomemuch easier. In fact, soon you won't have to thinkabout observing because, as an artist, it willbecome second nature to you!16