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Monday, March 01, 2010

Thinking in the Negative & Looking for Shapes


It's a school of fish! I'm not sure what kind of fish(?)but all kinds from the look of it. I simply 'picked out' the shapes I saw. I see even more now that I look at this on screen. Can you see the other fish?


Here I've expanded on my original landscape and tweaked some areas.

I'm still playing with the negative painting. It's also fascinating to look at random shifts in color and value on a piece of paper and pick out shapes. That's something I've never tried before but always wanted to attempt. It seems these two approaches go well together. The other obvious lesson one can glean from negative painting is the use of values and color to create depth. The darker or cooler the color the more it recedes. The brighter or warmer the color the more it moves forward.

6 comments:

Jeanette Jobson said...

I really like these shapes within shapes. They seem to just paint themselves don't they?

I love the fishes.

Billie Crain said...

Thanks Jeanette.:) I was inspired by all your fish although you are much better at painting them than I. One of mine looks like it's swimming upside down. lol

This sort of painting IS fun. I've never tried just throwing paint on paper and then looking for a subject in the confusion.

Tracey said...

oh that is very cool & looks like so much fun :)

Billie Crain said...

It is fun, Tracey. Certainly different and sometimes confusing but fun.

perugina said...

Hi Billie, finally trying to get around to some of my favourite blog sites.. You have been busy I see! :D
This has really caught my eye. What an interesting way of creating a painting – thinking in negative and looking for shapes. I tried this once and failed dismally – a right mess! The ‘school of fish’ piece is so beautiful in colour and movement & your landscape is mesmerizing.. almost to the point of wanting to loose myself with in the shapes.
Thank you for your insights here into colour and how it is utilized to create depth. You have certainly attained this here.
Ciao
perugina

Billie Crain said...

Thank you, Perugina.:) Lately I've just been playing with paint and different painting styles in hopes something will click. I've had many failures and a lot of paintings have hit the bin but I always manage to learn a little something along the way.

The negative painting 'thing' can be extremely tricky! It's something I think one would need to do almost daily to truly get the hang of it.