Building Art Skills
There are countless ways to art. Much of the best in art is not taught as it comes from the complex interaction of an individual and how they see the world and their own life and times.
However, these 7 skills are 7 very useful tools to take on that journey.
Shapes
The ability to reduce an object to simpler shapes and then build back the detail gives a solid base to any drawing
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Color
From color mixing to the emotional and visual impact of color, the study of color is an interictal part of the artist journey.
Shading
Shapes stay flat and undefined without shading. Starting with simply controlling darks and lights, to light logic, to the dramatic effects available with light and shadow.......shading can be a lifelong study.
Study from Velázquez's The Triumph of Bacchus
Anatomy and Gesture
Another area of infinite possibility for a lifetime of learning.
Perspective
We learn to use the theory of perspective developed in the Renaissance in Europe. We also look at other approaches like symbolic perspective such as was used in many places throughout history.
Composition
The rule of thirds is a famous and very effective part of composition, but there are many approaches to explore.
Observation: The Everything Skill.
Empirical observation: observation without a preconceptions is a starting point for both art and science. In art, observation can be concerned with facts such as shapes and color or it can be concerned with emotional responses to the world. In art, we can an should ask, what do I feel about what I have seen or experienced.
