Full Description
Stop following the rules and start writing your own.
Packed with 50 rule-breaking practical techniques, tricks and approaches to unlock your creativity, this is the ultimate guide to creating truly innovative art.
'Don't use black.'
'You mustn't lead the eye out of the painting.'
'Never put your subject slap-bang in the middle!'
Maybe you've heard one, two or all of these 'golden rules'... But why? As Picasso put it, you should: 'learn the rules like a pro so that you can break them like an artist.'
Paint outside the box: 50 fun, rule-breaking exercises, each with an inspiring finished painting, practical techniques and handy tips.
Lose the fear of getting it wrong: Learn to reconnect with your creativity, develop an eye for innovation, and never feel afraid of a blank canvas again.
Perfect for artists of all abilities: Discover inspiration for your next project - dip in and out if you find a rule you want to challenge, or work through them in order.
Reinvigorate your painting practice: the practical exercises are worked in oils, but the principles apply across different artistic mediums.
This book, from best-selling and award-winning author Haidee-Jo Summers, is the perfect gift for artists of all abilities. It contains 50 fresh, lively ideas for challenging conventional artistic wisdom - showing that you can create something really, really right, even when you do everything wrong!
Contents
Introduction 6
Breaking rules of colour 12
Rule 1 Avoid using black - at all costs 14
Rule 2 Never use black from a tube 18
Rule 3 Don't use too much white 22
Rule 4 Don't use white too soon 24
Rule 5 You must tint with pure white 26
Rule 6 Never paint straight from the tube 30
Rule 7 You need all three primary colours 34
Rule 8 You must paint only the colours you see 38
Rule 9 Never use black in portraits 42
Rule 10 Distant shapes are always blue 44
Rule 11 Don't use greens from the tube 46
Rule 12 You must not use too many colours 50
Rule 13 You must not use warm colours in the distance 54
Rule 14 Don't overmix colours 56
Breaking rules of structure 60
Rule 15 Don't place anything in the centre 62
Rule 16 Figures must have accurate proportions 66
Rule 17 Don't lead the eye out of the painting 68
Rule 18 You must guide the viewer's eye 70
Rule 19 You can't hide the subject 74
Rule 20 You must not paint a boring subject 76
Rule 21 At all costs, avoid symmetry and repetition 78
Rule 22 Don't paint over the lines 80
Rule 23 You must paint on a rectangular surface 84
Rule 24 You must have one clear focal point 86
Breaking rules of materials 88
Rule 25 You must paint on a top-quality surface 90
Rule 26 Painting must be done with proper brushes 92
Rule 27 Stain your darks, load your lights 94
Rule 28 Big brushes to start, small brushes to finish 98
Rule 29 Always start from an outline drawing 102
Rule 30 You must work thick over thin 106
Rule 31 You must work fat over lean 110
Rule 32 You must paint on a smooth surface 112
Rule 33 Standard brushes give the best results 114
Rule 34 You must start from a blank canvas 116
Rule 35 Blending must be soft and gentle 120
Breaking rules of behaviour 122
Rule 36 You can only paint outside on sunny days 124
Rule 37 You can't paint in the rain 126
Rule 38 Your studio must have north light 128
Rule 39 You can't paint a moving subject from life 132
Rule 40 Don't paint in the midday light 136
Rule 41 Always work from dark to light 138
Rule 42 You can't paint outside in the dark 140
Rule 43 Don't skip the planning 142
Rule 44 You must cover the whole surface 144
Rule 45 You've got to do your best work every time 146
Rule 46 You can't paint using your non-dominant hand 148
Rule 47 Don't paint too sparsely 150
Rule 48 Criticism is the only way to improve 152
Rule 49 You can't start a painting without a subject in mind 154
Rule 50 You must follow all the rules 156
Afterword 158
Index 160
