The art of “eyeing it”

I love to paint.  But patience is not my virtue.  That being said I do not like to take time and sketch with a pencil.  Or measure.  Or calculate.  I just jump right in and paint.

I had a conversation a few months ago with a fellow artist that does incredible paintings that look just like photographs.  She has created a tool that helps her place things perfectly on a canvas, such as windows, etc.  She referred to one of my paintings and told me how her new tool would save me lots of time.  It would save me time measuring things out.  So I then told her I do not measure.  She was surprised.  Really?  How do you get all those windows in place? I told her that I eye it in.  And then I started thinking. What is my method?  I realized that I just count the number of windows, and then paint them in.  How I loosely draw the subject, then tighten it and define it.  And I decided I like my way better.

 

 

My paintings are not photo realistic.  And I am happy with that.  I respect those that paint realistically, but its not my style.  Even in my home, I prefer the looser style.  The ones where the brush strokes tell a story, and make your imagination work a bit.  Imagining if you will, the scene the artist has created for you.  The strokes of pink that suggest or tell you that there are flowers there, but are not fully detailed.

 

All the paintings shown were loosely drawn in with a brush that I have worn to a stub, with paint thinned by turpentine.

 

 

 

 

The only time I measure anything, is when I measure the horizon to make sure it is the same throughout the canvas.  That is one thing I do have a hard time eyeing in.

So far my method works for me, and I love it.  Maybe someday I will have the patience to use a tool to help me with my art, but until then I am satisfied.  And that’s what counts.