Step 3: In this step, I am reaffirming some aspects of the drawing, working directly over the charcoal drawing with diluted burnt umber. In the past I've taken different approaches to the underpainting process, including using complementary colors, such as red under green, or yellow under blue, or have covered the entire canvas with a wash or brown or gray before laying on paint. I've chosen this approach in part because I didn't do a highly detailed pencil drawing on the canvas. Using brown washes will lend some warmth to the cooler colors that are to come over much of the painting, and it helps me to see the masses in the composition. Next step: paint!

I would be the first to admit that everyone's taste in art is different. That said, there are many artists -- alive and dead -- who command significant following. The French Impressionists remain hugely popular in part because their subject matter was generally non confrontational and concentrated on the prismatic make-up of light through the use of primary colours mixed on the canvas. Their popularity in the twenty-first century is measured in gallery attendances and prices paid for their better-known artworks.

When the Impressionists were hard at work honing their new-found skills, their economic situation was generally dire, basically because they needed to create a market very different from that which prevailed at the time for serious works of art. Clearly, the constant rejection of their creativity must have been debilitating for years on end. I can only imagine how their wives and families must have pleaded with them to "get a real job".

I too frequently...

Welcome Collectors!

This my inaugural blog post here with Artweb.net. I look forward to interfacing with you here on topics related to collecting and fine art painting which is my passion.

Stay tuned for events, commentary and new works as they are created.

All the Best,
Diane

Forthcoming show at Blackheath Gallery, Tranquil vale, London
November 5th 2011 - January 7th 2011