Learn How To Paint And Draw: “Learn To Paint What You See… Or, Can You See And Feel What You Paint”

Some people paint what they see in front of them. You are extremely lucky if this describes you.

It means you can turn your hand to creating pictures that look exactly like the subject in front of you.

It is wonderful to be able to paint pictures that look real. There have been wonderful painters like the English Pre-Raphaelite realists, who took great pains to construct their world of romantic reality. Each painting has a complete story to tell and no detail is left out.

However, for painting beginners it is hard to produce realistic art. It takes a long time to develop the skills required. Even for an experienced artist it is hard to maintain the standards required to paint pictures that look real.

Although it can be stimulating and stressful for an artist to paint with realism for beginners and inexperienced artists it is pressure that you don’t need.

Luckily, there are other people who see what they paint…

They are fortunate because they can concentrate on their painting instead of being overburdened by their need for perfect copying. Perfection means something different to them.

For 30 years I have been locked into the quest for realism and correct detail in Technical Design and Fine Art. It needs iron discipline and rigid structure. It is a struggle to maintain these standards…

I don’t want this… “Do You?”

Imagine then the pleasure when you see paintings by an artist who has been released from realism.

Some artists see what they paint. They know the complex story behind a simple painting…

Some artists paint life in their paintings…

Paintings that can scream and shout
Paintings that are calm and quiet

Choices are yours… the search for lifelike realism… or life in abstraction.

But don’t be disheartened. Just because your painting doesn’t look exactly like the subject doesn’t mean that you haven’t caught the essence of it. You could have captured the life inside… the emotional quality… which can be equally as important.

Emotional quality has been important for Old Masters…

With JMW Turner, Art began to be transformed with vivid color and swift precise drawing. He was an inspirational man of the 1800s whose vision shocked the English Art Establishment
It was the Impressionists, like Monet & Sisley, who transformed Landscape painting with their swift brushwork and color use
Vincent Van Gogh unwittingly forged a place in Art history. With his passion and dedication, he painted masterpieces that will continue to be admired
Picasso, the father of Modern Art, excelled at conventional painting but expanded his influence through finding new ways of seeing the world. His influence was so great that he inspired competition from equally great artists like Salvador Dali.

What kind of artist are you? And, more importantly “What kind of artist do you want to become?”

To paint with flair and enthusiasm is as important as minute detail perfection. Let your personality and character shine through your artwork. Try to be accurate in capturing the spirit of your subject…

You will enjoy your painting more and you will paint pictures that have greater appeal.
However you paint, it is better to paint pictures that have a life of their own…