Stefan's Bio
Visit Stefan Baumann's Site |
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| Luminosity To A Painting |
| Often I'm asked how do I get my paintings to glow or have luminosity? My reply: You must have a concept of what you want to achieve as a final outcome. For instance, applying bright transparent pure hues in thin glazes onto a flat, white canvas. I also recommend using Masterpiece oil primed "Vincent" canvas and using a smooth white oil ground, rather than an acrylic one. It gives luminosity to a painting. Building up color through glazes, creates the effect of light by allowing it to travel through the layers of paint onto the white ground. Thus the light bounces back giving a depth to a painting that can't be obtained by using colors mixed from a palette. |
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| Landscape Painting: Don't Include Everything |
| You`re not obligated to include everything you see in the landscape into the painting just because it's in front of you (In fact, I'd go as far as to say that if you do this, you might as well take a photo and have it printed on canvas.) Be selective; include the strong elements that characterize that particular landscape. When you're painting on location, squint at the subject to eliminate the detail, but not at your canvas. |
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| Overcoming An Intimidating Blank Canvas |
| It can be quite intimidating when faced with a blank canvas. To get over artist block, wash the whole canvas in a color you like working with. I recommend a warm color like burnt sienna. You can use a brush or sponge with lots of turpentine. Wipe off excess color to make a thin layer. This will help to overcome fear of a blank surface. This under wash does not need to be quite in line with what you had in mind for your end product. Often a complementary color will do. Some of the under color will show through which will bring uniformity to your painting. Always be certain that you use a top quality canvas. |
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| Loosen Up Your Painting Technique |
| Often an artist will want to loosen up the way he or she paints. This means the painting will appear painterly than photographic. The best way to achieve this is to refrain from drawing your composition with pencil. Often, once a line is drawn it becomes law and you spend your time filling the area with pigments like a coloring book and not concentrating on the brush stroke you're making with paint. First, start with a high quality canvas like Masterpiece Cezanne; this brand has a lot of tooth to grab paint. Begin with a burnt sienna wash on your canvas then sketch your idea with a brush, starting with the darks and working up to the lighter colors. Finish up with the highlights. |
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| Less Is More |
| To become a successful outdoor painter you must refine your routine. Packing light, organizing supplies and placing them within reach will enable you to fire out a sketch in a moment's notice. I travel with the absolute minimum, often carrying only a Pochade box. These efficient little items are amazingly compact, portable, and they function as their own easel! You can paint on busy locations, as well as remote country spots from the comfort of your car. I have even used it inside a church during mass.
Everything you need is in one place. I pack alizarin crimson, cadmium yellow, cobalt blue, one tube of white, odorless turpentine, three good quality Masterpieces canvasses, and my brushes. That's all I need. Think about this the next time you make four trips to the car, lugging 50 pounds of art supplies to a remote spot.
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