HOME | DD
David-McCamant —
promise of the light
Published: 2009-05-01 15:17:44 +0000 UTC; Views: 54910; Favourites: 3081; Downloads: 0
Redirect to original
Description
48” x 36” | acrylic on canvas brushwork only | private collection© 2004-2009 David McCamant. All rights reserved. No usage is implied or granted.
OMG A DD!!!! Thank you so much kangel and Mollinda for your kind endorsement! Thank you all for your wonderful compliments fellow artists!
Most Gratefully, David
Allow me to answer a few of your questions regarding my process. Every painting begins with several thumbnail sketches to work out the general composition. I take the best one and make a larger drawing of about 8” or so then check the composition with the principals of Dynamic Symmetry.
I then look for photographic reference from my picture morgue for clouds and such. Then I shoot other required elements like rocks on glass if I need the reflection too. Then I take all these image elements into PhotoShop and create a final composite reference image mostly in black and white.
The next step is to make several pastel studies to decide on the color harmony. The process up to this point is very similar to how Maxfield Parrish developed his work. Once all this preparation is complete I execute the painting using traditional methods.
If it is painted in acrylics it requires many, many layers taking up to 5 times the effort than oil paint. This is why I’m now only painting with oils. The process is similar though; you start with blocking the entire image with the darks to midtones. I work from dark to light not necessarily from background to foreground. Once the thing is blocked, you are working with finishing areas or middle stuff. I generally add the lightest passages later in the process especially misty or haloing effects.
My palette consists of, Ultramarine Blue, Phthalo Blue, Cadmium Red Medium, Permanent Rose or Quinacridone Red, Hansa Yellow Medium or Windsor Yellow, Titanium White, and Ivory Black. For acrylics I use only water as a medium. For oils I use Neo Megilp by Gamblin. I do not use or recommend turpentine or mineral spirits for oil painting. If you learn to use a brush properly, you can just wipe your brush between colors with little to no contamination.
Once the painting is finished and dry, I always varnish them with appropriate varnish.
Related content
Comments: 459
absolutely incredible work. Such a beautiful piece.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thank you very much!!!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
This is fantastic, absolutely love the light. The title is perfect as well! I think my favorite part is actually the clouds. Just gorgeous colors!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thank you very much, I'm glad you enjoy it.
David
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Fantastic work, the colours are so vibrant and beautiful!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
These colours are amazing! *o* I love the rock and the sky most
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I'm glad you enjoyed it, thank you for commenting!
David
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
absolutely stunning, can you give me a few tips on painting, i'm a beginner, and i don't know where to begin.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Hello Rainbocoloured, Before I can help you would you mind answering a few questions? What medium are you interested in, acrylics or oils? What supplies do you have if any? Are there any art instructors or schools near where you live? These questions will help me to guide you more effectively.
All the best,
David
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
i'm interested in acrylics, i have boldmere acrylic paints(14 colours) and a few da vinci forte basic brushes. there aren't any school near by.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thank you for answering my questions Rainbowcoloured,
The first thing to know when working with acrylics is they are plastic paints. This one fact dictates how you think about them. They need to keep hydrated with water or they immediately start drying. So, you'll need a palette that keeps your paint from drying. I use the Sta-Wet palettes. They are a rectangular seal-able plastic tray with a flat sponge under a special palette paper. Your paints can stay usable for weeks in these palettes. You'll want to get a few acrylic paint brushes in several sizes perhaps a number 4, 8, 12 and 18. I like the Galeria brushes from Windsor Newton. You'll want to have a large supply of fresh water for cleaning your brushes out between colors. I use a plastic one gallon paint bucket. I use a palette knife with a cranked or bent handle to mix large quantities of color for large works. Get a misting spray bottle from a beauty supply house for keeping things wet while you work.
Most acrylic paints have a problem with a wet-to-dry shift in value and some hue. The colors you mix are likely to shift to a different one after drying. The stay wet palette will let you match wet colors so this won't be as much of a concern. However, if you are attempting to match a dry color it can be very difficult. The only colors I've found so far without this problem are from Danial Smith.
Now, how to paint? First you'll want to pick a simple subject that you'd like to paint. Perhaps a single piece of fruit. Then do a pencil or charcoal rendering of it including shadows, foreground and background elements. Why is this so important? Because you'll start to see your subject more clearly and understand the value relationships from the darkest dark to the lightest light.
I start my paintings with a tinted ground. This is a white canvas that's been toned with a warm or cool wash. This was is a very dull grey color usually made with Ultra Marine Blue and Raw Umber. I actually use a very limited palette of Windsor Yellow, Cadmium Red Med, Permanent Rose, Ultra Marine Blue, Phthalo Blue and Ivory Black. So I mix yellow and red with the blue to arrive at a greyed wash color. The color is applied as a very watery mix then wiped off leaving a light tan or bluish tone of about 10-20% grey.
The next step is to draw your subject on the canvas. I use watercolor pencils or a dark dull brown color. Once you are happy with the composition and drawing. Mix the colors for all the areas of the composition from the darkest to the mid-tones or local color. The local color is the actual color of the area in light like the red of an apple. Block these in as simple shapes with thin paint using a large brush. You don't want to get caught up in any detail in the beginning.
Once the whole canvas has the darks to mid-tones covering it, then you can start correcting and sharpening or let it dry then go back to work. To make any transition or to blend from one area to another you'll need the paint to be wet; here's where you use your misting spray bottle. Lay down the first color then wipe your brush or clean it out with water then add the next lighter shade you wish to blend. Using your brush gently soften the edge between the colors. If it starts to dry, mist the area then keep blending. It might take several layers to get the area smooth. If it starts to really tack up (before it turns cottage cheese like), stop and let it dry completely before going on. For a perfectly blended sky it can take 4-6 layers.
You can always paint over anything so have fun with the process. Finish each area as you go if possible. I usually work from background to foreground with acrylics more than when I work with oils. Once you're satisfied with the painting let it dry for a day or so, then you can use acrylic varnish to finish it. This will make your colors vibrant again.
I hope this helps you in you artistic journey.
All the best,
David
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
thanks please check this acrylic painting i did if you can and tell me what you think,[link] it's my first time using acrylics i followed a tutorial i found on youtube. it looks nothing like the original, but practice makes perfect!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Hi Rainbowcoloured, I made a few comments on your first effort! Keep up the good work.
David
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
You made my day, thank you very much!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
and that is true! Your unusual gift for colurs and delicasy of your contrast really make me staring at this painting for a long time. This is a genuine festival of colours.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thank you again for your kind and insightful compliments!!!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
It reminds me of Pride Rock (from Lion King). Beautiful.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
You're welcome ^^
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
It's from a sketch and memories of camping in the High Sierra mountains. I'm glad you enjoy it.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
oilpntr58
how lucky are you can go, climb and camping over there. most of all... can breath the fresh air and saw/witness the beauty of the nature that's God created.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Thanks for making my day!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Thank you very much!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
This is amazing and great colors!! You have a great style!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thank you and you are too kind!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
your outstanding work is featured and you are welcome too,cheers
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
| Next =>