Here's the deal. So basically, I look at paintings all day...literally. Hi, *waves vigorously* I'm Farrah, the artist behind this site.
If I could get paid to do so, I would decline. I just love paintings THAT MUCH. It's true.
Because of my habit, my eye can instantly pick up on mistakes. Ah mistakes...don't you just hate em?
I decided that since I despise mistakes, I'd share a few things I see often and that you can do to stave off the possibility of someone getting too close to your work and giving it the screw face.
Let's get started.
1. Not "Sanding" Your Substrate (Canvas)
Are you hoping no one gets too close to your painting?
Trying to hide the look of over-layering your paint?
I mean, unless you just want texture, it’s all good but if you desire a painting that looks more “finished” without all of the embarrassment of that $8.99 canvas to shine through…Sand the damn thing.
The canvases we buy from our local craft stores are not necessarily the best quality but they can be worked with to appear professional. Sanding is just one way to achieve this.
Many professionals do this prior to applying anything on the canvas’ surface.
In fact, I do.
Buying sandpaper is pretty cheap also. We all know Dollar Tree is the mecca of finding surprises...It sells canvas panels so I'm pretty sure you can find sandpaper too.
Dip it, the sandpaper in a little sunflower oil if you're painting with oils and get to scrubbing away.
Your paint will apply much more smoother if you do this, eliminating the rigid finishes you'd get otherwise.
For my acrylic girls...this is ESPECIALLY the case.
2. Not Applying Balance
Now, you’re probably thinking, who is SHE to tell me how to emote my creativity.
I get it.
But there’s nothing worse than seeing a lop-sided painting or in other words, one with the subject to the left and a colorful expanse to the right or vice versa.
Like, what is this? What does this space represent?
I understand that coming up with backgrounds can be tricky but do you want your work to stand out or have the look of an amateur artist's hands at work.
TIP: Here’s one way to solve it.
Take an element of your main subject, whether body part, intention, purpose and repeat it with imagery in the background in a tone that is darker than subject. It’ll instantly make your colorful figure pop and intensify the overall meaning of the piece.
Example: Let's say you're painting a buxom beauty with an Afro and a butterfly in her hair. I would simply repeat the butterfly in a pattern behind the subject in layers.
3. Depth is Missing
Similar to the top. WE GOTTA STOP PAINTING FLAT FIGURES YALL.
You know the ones where the skin color palette is the same all over the body.
This is physically and realistically impossible. You know it is so let’s stop it.
Skin color is made up of a sum of various tones…Apply a rule of thumb NOW that requires you to use at least 3 skin values (of the same hue) to your paintings if you want your work to be taken seriously.
(If you need help with how to do this, I can help...comment below.)
4. Poor Color Combination Choices
Want your paintings to last forever? Cool. I do too. But let’s be real. People evolve and so do their tastes. Life just does that to you.
Chances are, as your collector’s age, looking at a starburst toned painting, i.e. fuchsia’s, lime greens, neon blues, will get old real quick.
Sure, I mean, I guess they could pass it down to a younger relative but do you really want to be known for THAT? The fuchsia goddess with green hair and yellow lips? I see pieces like that at the Goodwill all the time. I mean, to each is own but....
Choose a more mature color palette for your paintings. LEVEL UP. There are so many ways to do this. In fact, yea, I got coming real soon to help you. Stay tuned.
5. Overusing Black and White
These two beauties…yea, they work well when used properly, but if not, your paintings will instantly look more cartoony than realistic. If I didn’t mention it before, that’s the focus of the Atelier, to have your portraits and figures take a turn towards realism.
Black and White will kill that quickly. Use these tools with discretion. Replace them with tones that are a bit more subtle and not as strong to achieve a demure, sophisticated effect to those highlights and shadows. I know you have to nail the highlights but tone it down some sus.
WANT ME TO SHOW YOU HOW? Comment “Yes” to item 5.
In fact comment period…I’d like to know you’re thoughts about this little list to decide if I should share more. Cause, I DO have more mistakes you should avoid.
Also, would you be interested in getting a cheat sheet for choosing the perfect color combo?
“Comment” one of the following below
-Write a Color Combo Post
-Demo No.5
-Demo the mistakes in a live session
and I’ll see what I can do :-)
until next time...
Farrah xoxo
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