Being
an artist takes the vision to see anew,,,,,
an artist takes the vision to see anew,,,,,
Oil
and Water ~ Michael Shane Neal and Mary Whyte
and Water ~ Michael Shane Neal and Mary Whyte
Model: Sam Adoquei
Both Shane and Mary look at the subject the same way
but with different mediums. The medium ‘is the car that we drive.’
but with different mediums. The medium ‘is the car that we drive.’
Shane repeats his mentor Everett Raymond Kinstler’s
motto ‘You don’t get away with anything’ when it is about the relationship with
our canvas and work.
motto ‘You don’t get away with anything’ when it is about the relationship with
our canvas and work.
Shane’s palette is fairly limited. He follows the idea
that if you stick with a simple palette you get to learn its weaknesses and
then can supplement to compensate.
that if you stick with a simple palette you get to learn its weaknesses and
then can supplement to compensate.
Mary stated that you must have a good drawing with
watercolor paintings. You are not drawing inventory but drawing shapes.
watercolor paintings. You are not drawing inventory but drawing shapes.
The
difference between oil and watercolor as stated by these two artists is that
with oil you find your way and with watercolor you have to know your way.
difference between oil and watercolor as stated by these two artists is that
with oil you find your way and with watercolor you have to know your way.
Shane uses Silver Grand Prix brushes in a variety of
filberts and a few sables.
filberts and a few sables.
Mary places her backgrounds first, wetting the paper
and creates an atmospheric background with softer edges. This is why she wets
the paper first.
and creates an atmospheric background with softer edges. This is why she wets
the paper first.
Shane stays in the middle values first. He uses the
background to promote his subjects.
background to promote his subjects.
Quotes Sargent ‘Too small of a brush, too little paint’
Issues in watercolor: brush strokes ~ hard edge, soft
edge, broken ragged edge
timing!
edge, broken ragged edge
timing!
To prepare for a watercolor painting Mary does several
hours of thumbnail sketches.
hours of thumbnail sketches.
Her palette:
colors are the same no matter what the heritage of the subject
colors are the same no matter what the heritage of the subject
Permanent rose, raw
sienna + ultramarine blue
sienna + ultramarine blue
She works top to bottom, and upright.
Shane uses a fan brush to knock down glare.
Temperature ranges adds life! Darker areas are those
planes away from the light source.
planes away from the light source.
Work from life and quickly!
Mary states that she uses a smaller number of shapes in
studies with more (up to 20 value shapes) in her formal work.
studies with more (up to 20 value shapes) in her formal work.
You
don’t have to paint everything!
don’t have to paint everything!
As Shane continues he looks for edges.
Mary relates tales of some of her commissions and tells
how she handles repeat revisions. She
will take off ’10 lbs, and 10 wrinkles for free, but there is a charge after
that’.
how she handles repeat revisions. She
will take off ’10 lbs, and 10 wrinkles for free, but there is a charge after
that’.
Shane views the head as a box, shapes as balls.
Mary’s shadows~~ first she lays down a wash of
ultramarine blue. She waits a few minutes and just at the right time she adds a
warm (burnt sienna) into the blue and they mix together on the paper. It is all
about timing!
ultramarine blue. She waits a few minutes and just at the right time she adds a
warm (burnt sienna) into the blue and they mix together on the paper. It is all
about timing!
Both artists use M. Graham paints. Shane also uses
Grumbacher.
Grumbacher.
Materials are important. Mary uses 300# Arches Cold
Press Watercolor paper. Shane works on A.E.R. canvas because he finds it more
absorbent.
Press Watercolor paper. Shane works on A.E.R. canvas because he finds it more
absorbent.
Shane uses Gamar for varnishing.
Unsure that a comfort level is always good. Break away
from that at times.
from that at times.
‘Start
with a broom, end with a straw’ Michael Shane Neal
with a broom, end with a straw’ Michael Shane Neal
Both artists say to teach what you are studying.
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