Art Newsletter

Welcome to "Wendy Coad's Art Newsletter". I been planning the next few months of articles and I'm looking forward to sharing many points of views with you.

Since I've taught for most of my life, I understand that not everyone takes information in the same way. Heck, not everyone appreciates the same perspective... and that's okay.

Having a wide range of interests myself, my goal is to share many of them – from the artists I like and admire (and even some I don’t) to exhibitions and techniques.

Today's article is all about technique. I learned a long time ago that techniques along with structure will anchor a concept and create an environment for sharing ideas and the tools for change.
It’s all about perspective – figuratively and literally.

It's used to bring things into view in an organized way - or for lack of it, with chaos.

I love the contrast that perspective brings into my own paintings, giving them order and a counterpoint to the looseness of my brush stroke. (Is it just me or are all artists in love with the "signature" that the brush makes? – More on brush stroke styles in another article.)

My solo show of paintings is still on view in Miami Beach at Lincoln Road and Collins Avenue. The exhibit includes my current work along with a few pieces from the past – hence the title "Wendy Coad, Past and Present". The exhibition space has 60 + feet of windows that face the street and it will continue for the next few weeks.

If you're in Miami, go now to check it out.

All of Miami Beach is gearing up for the huge international art show - Art Basel Miami Beach which will be held again this year, December 3 - 6 at the Miami Beach Convention Center and local Galleries and Museums in and around Miami Beach and Miami.

Before it arrives we'll be having another fabulous ART WALK on Lincoln Road, Saturday, November 7th from 7 – 10pm.

Come and enjoy an evening of art where 40 artists at the ArtCenter open their door to the viewing public. It's always held on the first Saturday evening of every month.

Last week I showed you a video of the first ever Miami Beach Art Walk – well here’s a tour of my studio during the second one:

Click on the video to be re-directed to Youtube

Every month I show the newest work from my studio and there's always lots to see!

Have an art filled day.

~ A solo exhibit by Wendy Coad "Paintings Past & Present" at the "Windows" on Lincoln Road at Collins Avenue.

6 large scale paintings by Wendy Coad are featured, including 2 diptychs and 2 triptychs. This is where you can see the evolution of Coad’s work from early figurative images on paper to the delightfully subdued color palate of the most recent works.

The show is featured in the windows on the south east side - facing Lincoln Road at Collins Avenue. It was installed last week and will be on display through October, 2009

- Art Walk 4: the first Saturday of every month - 40 artists are in their studios and the art is for view and for sale. The previous "Art Walks on Lincoln Road" open studio exhibits were a huge success.

Come visit on Saturday, November 7, 2009 when the doors of the artist's studios will be wide open and the artists themselves will be there to show you their work. The featured locations are 924, 810 & 800 Lincoln Road, at the ArtCenter/South Florida.

~ Art Basel Miami Beach will be held again this year, December 3 - 6 at the Miami Beach Convention Center and local Galleries and Museums in and around Miami Beach and Miami.

What never ceases to amaze me is how important it is to always aim for the right...

Perspective

What is perspective drawing?

Florentine architect Brunelleschi is credited with inventing linear perspective drawing. During the Renaissance, artists discovered that two-dimensional art works could look like three-dimensional illusions. They used mathematics with their close observation to invent "linear perspective"- which is a technique that helps artists make things look deep. Perspective drawing is an approximate representation, on a flat surface (such as paper), of an image as it is perceived by the eye.

The image above is a play on perspective which is usually viewed from directly in front. Looking at this drawing from the side will correct the elongation that makes it look like the image is stretched too far.
The above image is definitely what I call “messing” with perspective (or with the viewer)!

Perspective Drawing is the technique used to represent three-dimensional images on a two-dimensional plane.

Linear Perspective is a geometric method of representing on paper the way that objects appear to get smaller and closer together, the further away they are. Linear perspective allows artists to trick the viewers eye into seeing depth on a flat surface.

Perspective in the graphic arts, such as drawing, is an approximate representation, on a flat surface (such as paper, canvas, wood), of an image as it is perceived by the eye.

The two most characteristic features of perspective are that objects are drawn:

• Objects appear smaller as their distance from the observer increases
  
  
• Foreshortening: the size of an object's dimensions along the line of sight are relatively shorter than dimensions across the line of sight.

Principles of Perspective drawing:

Perspective drawing is associated with the principles of 1-Point and 2-Point Perspective, which is most often used to create an accurate and visually appealing piece of art.

The purpose of using aerial perspective is to give our drawings depth and reality, whether they are based on a real place or from our imaginations.

How to draw one-point perspective

1. Keep the paper horizontal.

2. Line the end of a ruler up with the side of your page and keep it straight.

3. Draw a horizontal line one or two inches down from top of the page.

4. Draw a dot in the middle of your horizon line.

5. Then draw a square or rectangle in the right or left bottom area of your page

6. Now connect three corners of your rectangle or square to the middle point.

7. Draw a horizontal line between the top two orthogonals (receding lines) where you want your form to end.

8. Draw a vertical line down from the horizontal line to complete the side.

How to draw two-point perspective

1. Keep the paper horizontal.

2. Line the end of your ruler up with the side of your page.

3. Draw one line horizontally two inches down from top of the page.

4. Draw two dots on your horizon line near the edges of the paper.

5. Draw a vertical line that is the "front edge" of your form.

6. Connect the two ends of your "front edge" line to each vanishing point.

7. Draw two vertical lines between the orthogonals where you want the back edges of your form.

8. Now join the back, top corners to the opposite vanishing point to complete the top of the form. This form is in two-point perspective!

Like many artists, I rely on the illusions of depth that perspective creates. And, like many artists I use it in my paintings all the time. It's what gives the impression that you could step into the art and there's even room to walk around inside.

There are other ways to create depth without using perspective, Abstract painting is all about using these other options (or reacting against them). More on this later.

Because I usually have architectural elements in my work, I’ll continue to use perspective. It's a great tool. Just one of many that goes into creating a fabulous work of art.


©Wendy Coad, 2009

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Oct. 22nd, 2009 Vol1 Issue 3 Published every 2 weeks. You are on our list because you signed up for our newsleter. To change your subscription, see link at the end of this email. We never rent, trade or sell your email. ever. Sign up here for the ezine.

 

Art Quotes

I like this quote from Ernst Kirchner :

"A painter paints the appearance of things, not their objective correctness, in fact [s]he creates new appearances of things."