'Treats' Acrylic on wood assemblage ©robinrkent

Friday, June 22, 2012

Folk Art Diary: Reading My Art Through A Squinty Eye

There are a few points I try to accomplish when working on a painting or assemblage. When I've nailed them (figuratively speaking), I'm done. Here's the first in yet another series of how to read my art:
'Sainted Mother' assemblage w/shadowbox ©robinrkent
After I get a rough drawing in place, I analyze my light to dark palette. Not only for color, but for tones and shades as well. This is done using squinty eyes. There is something to be said for bad glasses (or eyesight). It takes out all the details (good riddance in my opinion) and leaves the foundation exposed.
Everyone should buy a pair of glasses with the wrong prescription if you're not lucky enough to have bad eyes of your own.
Anyway...
As much as I like bright colors, toned down versions are the best. I don't use a true 'red' in my palette. I like a rust-red better.  This might be due to my nod to folk art.
I try to keep my colors well rounded to include a balance so the image doesn't read all warm, or cool, or dark or light...
Stay tuned for part 2 next week. I'm on a 'Robin's Elements of (Art) Style' roll now, or to paraphrase a favorite musician, Leo Kottke, I'm going to take a lovely simple (painting technique) and drive it into the ground...

5 comments:

Cindi Myers said...

I do find this very interesting. I have always just painted and looked at it and spontaneously chosen colors and sometimes they seem to work and other times they get painted over. Maybe that's the problem? LOL! Maybe I should sign up for classes and actually learn some things.
Anyway, once again I LOVE what you have created.
XOXO - Cindi

I hope everything is "Sunny" in Vermont. :)

amanda white said...

Ha ha - squinty eyes! Me too. But I'm loving your analytics (is that a word?). More please, Robin!
Was there a practical reason for the folk art palette do we know?
Amanda
xx

Mimi said...

yep, squinty eyes. I do that a lot too. I love you giving away your secrets. Thanks!



Mimi Torchia Boothby Watercolors

Carole Reid said...

Robin, I love her from the title, the shawl, the smile, to the crossed hands! Your Sainted Mother seems to be looking out into the future.....maybe wondering about her children?
It's interesting to hear about your sketching, colour choices, and your squinty eye technique!
Nice to hear from you....thanks!

Sand said...

I am glad to see that we are out of your bath and closet. Things were getting a liittle too personal although I liked the sailor quite a bit.
Is it me or are the latest works both looking "Latin"? Obvious with the tango but the gal with the shawl has a certain south of the border flair as well.
Long way from Vermont.