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Notes: Kerry Vosler
The Southern Atelier is
a new classical atelier located in
This demonstration by
Robert Liberace was held in the air conditioned teaching studio.
The "fireside chats" have
become unique & popular venues because it is rare to be able to
actually sit with a master
painter in a casual setting and just chat about their philosophy.
For more pictures and
information related to this demonstration: http://www.robertliberace.com/newsletterMarch2008.htm
The demonstrations and
fireside chats are open to students, professional artists & patrons of the
arts.
NOTES:
First 20 Minutes:
Massed in with Charcoal
the dark and light masses.
"In the first 20
minutes I like to figure out all the patterns of shadows"
"I work with
straight lines at the beginning, no rounded forms."
"Keep everything
very flat in the beginning."
Tools:
Canson
Soft Charcoal
Compressed Charcoal
Kneaded eraser
"Still going for
the masses of Shadows and clear patterns of light"
"looking
for size, width and character of shadows. Still melting around"
Second 20 minutes:
"Don't put in
reflected light to soon - It can be a distraction."
"Brush is used to
merge tone on the face - I don't want anything to be too aggressive."
"Glaze of Red Chalk
and hint of red will suggests the hair is
warmer."
"Almost like
tinting a photograph."
"White conte works out through the mass of light."
"Throw in a touch
of where the highlights will go."
"Abstract beauty to
the line, but, Glazed line helps pull the lines together. Now the right
balance of clarity and energy."
Third 20 minutes - Refining the area of
the face devoted to eyes, nose, mouth
"Reflected light inside
shadow of the dark side of eye."
"If you move too
fast to form and refinement you can loose the impact of the drawing."
Chiseling with eraser
into the lights
Harmonizing & final
accents
Reference to Charles Bargue:
"I like to leave
the Barkean line in as a
defined statement. Leaving those lines as a design emphasizes
shape so it doesn't turn into a cloud. It gives shape and
structure to the form."
"I'm dancing and
prancing feeling my way around and looking to keep some of the more direct
lines."
"Sometimes in all
prima painting I like the experience of modeling form and sometimes I sacrifice
this for the bolder stroke. I try to find a balance."
"It takes a lot of
focus to paint. You must be well grounded in organizing lights and
shadow. If there is not an underpinning of shadow and light chaos can
occur."
Things that are
important to Liberace: "Studying Nature, pursuing something, dancers
have movement." He enjoys painting people
because this is where he gets the most fulfillment.
Last 20 minutes:
He focused on
harmonizing and finalizing details. He tinted the lower lid and inside of
the eye with more reflected light.
Question:
Do you paint the bags
under the eyes? Reference to commissioned portraits.
Liberace referenced
"Sargent" who went for the larger
masses and noted that, "the bags played a minor roll within the larger
mass, Sargent painted those wrinkles but not at
the expense of the larger mass."
Fireside Chat Followed on the large plein air studio.
