Learning This One Thing Instantly Improved My Paintings

When it comes to painting, one key concept that can instantly elevate your work is the idea of "blockiness". Whether you're painting a still life, a landscape, or a portrait, understanding and embracing blockiness can take your paintings to a whole new level.

Andrew Loomis, a renowned artist, delves into this concept in his book, emphasizing the importance of finding a balance between smoothness and rigidity in your paintings. A face that is too smooth and round lacks structure and can appear uninteresting, while a face that is too blocky and rigid can feel harsh and unnatural. The goal is to find the sweet spot, where you incorporate squared planes and soften them just enough to give your subject depth and dimension.

But blockiness isn't just relevant to portraits; it applies to any subject you paint. For example, when painting fruit in a still life, envisioning the fruit as constructed out of flat planes can make the process much easier. By drawing straight lines to outline the fruit, you create a sense of blockiness that simplifies the drawing and allows you to focus on capturing the correct angles. This technique not only helps with the initial drawing but also enhances your brushwork.

Many students often ask how to achieve a loose and painterly look in their paintings. The secret lies in an economy of brushstrokes. By thinking about your subject with a level of blockiness, you can guide your brush in three-dimensional space more effectively. Breaking down the subject into distinct flat planes makes it easier to wrap the paint around it, resulting in confident brushwork and a simpler, more impactful painting.

Identifying colors and values is another area where blockiness comes into play. When painting fruit with well-defined planes, it becomes easier to differentiate between areas in shadow and areas in light. On a smooth piece of fruit, it can be challenging to discern where the light starts and where the shadow begins due to the lack of clear transitions. Moreover, determining the reflected light can be equally challenging. By simplifying the fruit into blocky planes, you can easily identify and capture the interplay of light and shadow, enhancing the overall realism of your painting.

The concept of blockiness is particularly helpful when painting flowers. Instead of getting lost in the intricacies of individual petals, focusing on the overall form of the flower as if it were made of clay with flat edges can be transformative. By first identifying the light and shadowed sides of the flower, you can establish a blocky structure that serves as a foundation for adding the delicate details of the petals.

If you enjoy painting landscapes, blockiness is equally important. When painting trees, for example, thinking about them in terms of a big blocky structure helps determine the light source and which parts of the trees are in shadow. Establishing the overall form and structure early on allows for more flexibility in manipulating and refining the blocky structure to create a realistic representation of trees. Sometimes, when working from a photo, it may not be clear where the light is coming from. In such cases, don't be afraid to make it up or exaggerate certain aspects to enhance the overall composition and convey a strong sense of light and form.

Even when painting blocky subjects like buildings, it is crucial to approach them with a focus on their simple blocky structure. It's easy to get caught up in the details, but establishing a clear, solid structure in the initial stages sets the foundation for adding intricate elements like windows, ledges, and doors later on. By simplifying the building into a big block of wood with distinct light and shadow sides, you create a strong base for adding the desired level of detail.

When it comes to portraits, blockiness plays a significant role in capturing the structure of the face. Understanding the planes of the face helps establish a clear distinction between the light and shadowed sides. At the beginning of a portrait, the features may appear rigid and hard, but this intentional blockiness allows for easier manipulation and softening of the planes as the painting progresses. While it can be challenging to discern subtle changes in value on a face in a photo, having a solid understanding of the planes helps construct the proper form and adds depth to the portrait.

The number of planes you incorporate into your paintings depends on your personal style and preference. Some artists prefer more detail and specificity, while others embrace a simpler, more minimalist approach. Regardless of your approach, it's always beneficial to start with the big and work your way towards the small. By blocking out the major planes first, you establish a strong foundation and can then refine and add smaller planes within that structure.

In conclusion, blockiness is a powerful concept that can transform your paintings. Whether you're painting fruit, flowers, trees, buildings, or portraits, thinking about your subject in terms of blocky planes helps create a sense of structure, form, and depth. Embracing blockiness allows you to simplify complex subjects, make confident brushstrokes, and capture the interplay of light and shadow more effectively. So, go ahead and embrace the power of blockiness in your paintings and watch your artwork reach new heights. Happy painting!