Resources
What is better than being in the creative flow and forgetting time? This happens, when approach and technique have become part of our nature and eye, mind and hand work in harmony. This requires training. In the following resources, we are breaking down the complexity of realist painting into its ingredients, studying each concept separately before combining it all to a skillful and compentent painting practice.
Foundational techniques in classical drawing and oil painting are a great starting point for any aesthetic or technique you might want to expand towards. Observing nature and the human figure from life not only serves as the most versatile and abundant source of inspiration for artists past and present, it also provides ground for training the artists eye and translating the 3D workd to a 2D surface effectively.
At the bottom of the page you will find free resources to download.
With my E-Book “The essential concepts of painting from life” I have created an extensive resource, meant as a progressive student guide and handbook, providing everything I would have wanted to know, when classical training at an academy of atelier didn’t seem like an affordable option.
Art education should be accessible for everyone, and while there are a lot of resources out there, it’s easy to feel lost as to how to create a structured practice for yourself, that will help you improve effectively.
This is where this E-Book comes in. With easy to grasp concepts, doable exercises and a consistent and progressive learning strategy, you will make visible progress naturally.
What are the benefits of working from life?
Before photography and the digital age, artists worked exclusively from live models and from nature. While we have much more comfortable options available, working directly from life has remained irreplaceable for artists.
Photographs for once, significantly limit the visual information and your freedom of choice. Colors are distorted and lack nuance, edges are generalized and forms appear flat, everything has already been translated for you. They can be useful as references, but without observation from life, paintings often lack depth, natural colors, life and 3-dimensionality
Working from life provides the unique challenge and opportunity, to observe life in 3D and make conscious choices about how to translate the visual information. Not only can you set up your composition with more freedom, but your every line and brushstroke are directly reflecting your observational filter, making your work authentic and unique to how you see the world.
Drawing and painting from life will not only challenge you and help you grow your skillset, but it essentially trains your eye for the nuances of light, form and color, all of which can bring your representational skills to the next level. No matter which subject matter you focus on in your own work, observing and translating the human figure and vast variety and beauty out in nature, will expand your vocabulary, skills and imagination.
With generous experience of working from life under your belt you will also look at photo references differently and make more informed decisions about how to adjust the information available to you.
Moreover I have found that looking at the world through the eyes of a painter nurtures a deeper appreciation for what we see. When are we otherwise taking the time to observe a subject closely for several hours? But as we do, it becomes timeless, and even mundane subject matter reveals its quite beauty.
Do I have to aim for traditional academic aesthetic to profit from the training?
True to the title, this E-Book is concept based, rather than technique based. Many concepts are universal and applicable in a variety of techniques and aesthetics.
Having said that, a good part of the exercises will follow the language of great masters of the past. And for good reason. Well rendered figurative oil paintings are arguable some of the most challenging projects a painter can take on. As you are mastering the language of the 19th century painters, you are training your eye, refining your technique and gain a fundamental understanding of visual representation. These skills will allow you to proceed towards any direction you like, but with intention and the necessary control to execute your vision.
Painters like Gustav Klimt or even Pablo Picasso, who developed a very destinct style have first mastered their technique and observation skills by rendering highly developed figurative paintings. It is like learning vocabulary and grammar, so that you can artfully juggle the words in writing poetry, or studying your musical instrument well and practicing scales so that you can then improvise with freedom and control at the same time. Likewise in art, we need to understand our medium first, to be able to then make intentional choices and create works that convey our unique artistic intention.
For a healthy balance, I would encourage you to experiment with various techniques and aesthetics, simultaneously to classical exercises, as I believe it is important to balance a diligent and controlled practice with a free and boundless practice.
What is included in the E-Book?
We are covering:
- Line, Shape, Color & Value as the basic Visual elements
- Introduction to Drawing Materials (Graphite, Charcoal, Pen) and workstation setup
- Sight-Size method
- Light on Form
- Drawing exercises
- Color theory
- Introduction to Oilpainting
- Exercises in Oil (Stilllife, Portrait, Master copy)
- Compositional tools
- Composing with color
- Exercises for composition
- Plein air introduction (sketching and painting)
- Input for finding your individual voice and language
In the preview you can see a full overview of all the chapters.
Is the resource suitable for beginners?
The E-Book is specifically created to benefit anyone with the desire to explore realism and working from life in visual art.
From a first introduction to the visual elements of line, shape, color & value, we will quickly move forward to apply the theory through proven exercises in how to translate 3D into 2D, laying the groundwork for more complex projects to come.
Learning how to draw is a logical process, rather than a magical one, in fact anyone who can write can draw and those who make it look like magic usually have just done a lot of it.
The academic method in particular follows a clear guideline and provides various physical and mental tools for achieving correct proportions, a good light effect and a strong sense of form.
With many small steps we will reach from explaining terminology and basic concepts to approaching complex subject matter and confidently.
More experienced artists may benefit from the refresh at the beginning or skip ahead to dive into the complexity of figurative painting, compositional tools, plain air painting and more.
How do I use this guide?
You will benefit most from this guide by participating in the exercises and getting feedback where it is needed.
By reading through the information, concepts will become clear, but our hand and mind need to move through the process to fully understand, experience and integrate it into your practice.
I recommend creating a consistent (for example weekly) studio practice as well as to take a sketchbook with you, intentionally inviting art into your life. You chose your pace and the intensity of your training.
To improve and grow as an artist, it is also important to expose yourself to different subject matter, technique and various challenges, a range of which will be recommended in the book.
With both consistency and variety and in your practice, progress is inevitable.
E-Book
Essential concepts of painting from life
Drawing and painting from life is the he number one practice to expand your skills and artistic vocabulary. While it opens a whole world of possibilities, it can be quite challenging to get started and keep going without a clearly structured process.
In this guide I packed everything that I would have wanted to have at hand, when I started with oil painting and wanted to become independent from printed references.
You get: 220 pages of compiled essential information, explanation with visualizations, introduction to essential concepts backed up by examples and theoretical background, effective exercises, clearly structured processes and projects, as well as tools for reflection and correction
49 €
*no AI has been used in creating this resource
Embark on your individual painting journey
My hope is, that with my E-Book at hand, you will be able to approach any subject matter with confidence and develop an enjoyable painting process, where you never feel lost as to what to do next. By intentionally selecting and simplifying visual information, establishing one defined aspect of the image at a time, you will find that drawing and painting is a matter of method and mindset, rather than just talent. With practice, consistency and the right input at the right time, achieving accurate drawing & proportions, rendering light on form, as well as navigating color, composition, subject matter will become more and more natural, opening new doors for creative expression.
From simple exercises to complex personal works, you are capable of more that you think! Master the art of representational drawing & painting and let your visions come to life!
Feedback & Mentoring options
If you are looking for feedback on exercises or individualized Mentoring options please send me a message with your background (starting from scratch is also a good place to be!) and goals – and I am happy to get back to you with currently available options and discuss your individual plan in a free session.
Introducing:
