When painting sometimes its best to step back - Grimvisions http://www.grimvisions.com/technique/when-painting-sometimes-its-best-to-step-back Where Grim Visions Become Dark Art Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:39:22 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 When painting sometimes its best to step back - Grimvisions http://www.grimvisions.com/technique/when-painting-sometimes-its-best-to-step-back/comment-page-1/#comment-981 Grim Sun, 06 Dec 2009 19:14:44 +0000 http://www.grimvisions.com/?p=1560#comment-981 WOW. All of this discussion as almost inspired me to start the 3rd incarnation of "Horatio Woe". He has a rather involved back story and I have always been able to see him completed in my minds eye. I also have a few of his accoutrements finished as well. He was in a horrible accident years ago and now serves as a rather robust grave digger. WOW. All of this discussion as almost inspired me to start the 3rd incarnation of “Horatio Woe”. He has a rather involved back story and I have always been able to see him completed in my minds eye. I also have a few of his accoutrements finished as well. He was in a horrible accident years ago and now serves as a rather robust grave digger.

]]> When painting sometimes its best to step back - Grimvisions http://www.grimvisions.com/technique/when-painting-sometimes-its-best-to-step-back/comment-page-1/#comment-980 Grim Sun, 06 Dec 2009 10:43:21 +0000 http://www.grimvisions.com/?p=1560#comment-980 I like keeping certain pieces around because they like markers on my artistic time line. I don't really look at it as defeat. At the time I was fairly happy with it I believe. It was my first attempt at painting lots of veins on a multi-layered skin paint up. My painting technique previous to that was very different. What I attempted to do after I finished my skin tone was apply my previous painting techniques over it to some extent. The two were not very complementary. Early on I always struggled with not using enough color or "going far enough" when painting. I was afraid of using to much paint or a varied palette I guess. This piece is almost the opposite of that in my mind. I like keeping certain pieces around because they like markers on my artistic time line. I don't really look at it as defeat. At the time I was fairly happy with it I believe. It was my first attempt at painting lots of veins on a multi-layered skin paint up.

My painting technique previous to that was very different. What I attempted to do after I finished my skin tone was apply my previous painting techniques over it to some extent. The two were not very complementary.

Early on I always struggled with not using enough color or "going far enough" when painting. I was afraid of using to much paint or a varied palette I guess. This piece is almost the opposite of that in my mind.

]]> When painting sometimes its best to step back - Grimvisions http://www.grimvisions.com/technique/when-painting-sometimes-its-best-to-step-back/comment-page-1/#comment-979 DaveTheDead Sun, 06 Dec 2009 08:05:59 +0000 http://www.grimvisions.com/?p=1560#comment-979 "The Shelf of Failure and Shame"...somehow I am reminded of the Island of Misfit Toys from Rudolf the Rednosed Reindeer. I shudder to think of your misfits finding their way into the world. Regarding the topic of stepping back while painting: I have struggled with not going far enough with my painting, leaving the potential of a piece untapped in regards to a full palate of color and contrast. Something I know you do but did not mention here is to take in-progress photos. Observing your progress at a computer screen allows a fresh perspective, and also demands that you leave the piece for a while. I suppose the challenge is to know when to stop when the painting is happening ( which is your main point here after all. Self discipline and artistic awareness are difficult skills to master. I still don't know what to think about letting the overpainted piece taunt you from the shelf. In many ways it feels like defeat, which is not healthy unless it is stiffening your resolve to do better. You are a very complicated person to understand, my friend. "The Shelf of Failure and Shame"…somehow I am reminded of the Island of Misfit Toys from Rudolf the Rednosed Reindeer. I shudder to think of your misfits finding their way into the world.

Regarding the topic of stepping back while painting:

I have struggled with not going far enough with my painting, leaving the potential of a piece untapped in regards to a full palate of color and contrast. Something I know you do but did not mention here is to take in-progress photos. Observing your progress at a computer screen allows a fresh perspective, and also demands that you leave the piece for a while.

I suppose the challenge is to know when to stop when the painting is happening ( which is your main point here after all. Self discipline and artistic awareness are difficult skills to master.

I still don't know what to think about letting the overpainted piece taunt you from the shelf. In many ways it feels like defeat, which is not healthy unless it is stiffening your resolve to do better.

You are a very complicated person to understand, my friend.

]]> When painting sometimes its best to step back - Grimvisions http://www.grimvisions.com/technique/when-painting-sometimes-its-best-to-step-back/comment-page-1/#comment-978 GhoulFriday Sun, 06 Dec 2009 05:18:33 +0000 http://www.grimvisions.com/?p=1560#comment-978 When working on projects - especially large projects - I have a 15 minute rule. I have to take a break approx. every 15 minutes while painting. Or I break after each layer of paint. I also have to leave the room where the object is. Get a drink. Check emails. Whatever. This way, I have fresh eyes when I go back to it. It also stops me from rushing. If I find that I am STILL rushing even after the break, or I seem to be off course, I leave it for the night. This is important for me because I tend to be a fast and furious painter. Luckily, acrylics are so forgiving I can usually fix whatever mistakes I made. And yes, I have "finished" a project and realized I didn't do the undertones properly. And yes, I start all over. I couldn't leave that prop unfinished :) His mere presence would be a challenge to my resolve. Plus, I love his face. He's screaming to be redone. But I totally understand and respect why you leave him as a reminder. When working on projects – especially large projects – I have a 15 minute rule. I have to take a break approx. every 15 minutes while painting. Or I break after each layer of paint.

I also have to leave the room where the object is. Get a drink. Check emails. Whatever. This way, I have fresh eyes when I go back to it. It also stops me from rushing. If I find that I am STILL rushing even after the break, or I seem to be off course, I leave it for the night.

This is important for me because I tend to be a fast and furious painter. Luckily, acrylics are so forgiving I can usually fix whatever mistakes I made.

And yes, I have "finished" a project and realized I didn't do the undertones properly. And yes, I start all over.

I couldn't leave that prop unfinished :) His mere presence would be a challenge to my resolve. Plus, I love his face. He's screaming to be redone. But I totally understand and respect why you leave him as a reminder.

]]> When painting sometimes its best to step back - Grimvisions http://www.grimvisions.com/technique/when-painting-sometimes-its-best-to-step-back/comment-page-1/#comment-974 DaveTheDead Sun, 06 Dec 2009 02:21:11 +0000 http://www.grimvisions.com/?p=1560#comment-974 Interesting post and good advice. Have you ever been tempted to go back to primer and start over on a piece such as this? Or does the experience and lesson provide you with enough satisfaction (or frustration as the case may be) to leave the piece alone? Interesting post and good advice.
Have you ever been tempted to go back to primer and start over on a piece such as this? Or does the experience and lesson provide you with enough satisfaction (or frustration as the case may be) to leave the piece alone?

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