This tip comes from our Beyond Master Class Reviews.  Each week our students that are enrolled in our Beyond Master Class, submit their work at whatever stage it is for review by Tom Anderson.  We put Tom’s model up on the left side and the student’s work is on the right.  This is an amazing learning experience for all of us as we listen to the critique.  Hasn’t this happened to you?  You look at your painting and can’t figure out what you don’t like and someone points something out that you didn’t see because you have looked at your painting for so long.  Nothing like fresh eyes!  Especially if they are the eyes of a Master Artist like Tom Anderson.

This video is a little longer than most but there were several things we wanted to share with you. We are grateful for Linda for letting us use her work as a learning tool for all to see.

This painting is far from finished.   It is being painted in the old master’s style of layering thin layers of paint to begin.  The thick paint that will create variety and brilliance will come later.

Key Points To Consider:.

• Linda gave us permission to use her painting for this tip.
• Everything in the mapping stage should be under-painted, which means without detail.
• The mapping stage is done with thin paint.
• The reason the mapping stage is roughly done is that it is easier to move and change things without losing a lot of detailed work.  Best to get the structure of the painting right before you move on to details.
• The further back you go in the painting, the less clear things are.  Our eyes can’t see detail far away.  The far distance should almost be impressionistic rather than realistic.
• Everything far away appears more vertical and horizontal.  Even if something is leaning in the distance, it will appear to be straight.
• Tom mentions to Linda to glaze yellow over her distant hills.  What he means is to let the painting dry and then create a highlighting color and then thin it with Magic Clear.  By painting a thin coat over the area it allows the undertone to show through.  If the paint is thick and opaque then you will lose all the undertones, which would cause it to appear flat.
• Just remember, in the mapping stage, less is best!

Happy Painting!

Laurie and Dawn

PLUS: So whenever you’re ready…here are a few ways we can help you become the artist you’ve always wanted to be.

1:  Let US guide you in our Alexander Master Class 

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