Tip: Tips from Carl Purcell

Here are a few tips from one my favorite instructors, Carl Purcell. He has a relaxed way of teaching watercolor and drawing that puts students at ease. I've had the opportunity to participate in a couple of his watercolor workshops. His experience and knowledge of drawing and painting is systematic and fluid. He promotes a basic and simplified approach to each. I hope you find his artist tips helpful. Connie Hayden

Painting Tips

• Criticism is part of the art game. When it comes, lay it on the table and examine it. If there is something to be learned by it, embrace the learning and move on. If the criticism is not valid, throw it out and move on.

• Try to look past the things you can identify, and find the underlying patterns of color and value. Paint those and then add pertinent details on top.If an idea presents itself during the painting, do it. It might end up being a terrible mistake, but you have practiced listening to the inner voice, and that is valuable practice.
• Never assume anything. The most important question I can ask myself is: “Carl, What do you REALLY see?” If you can ask yourself that, and honestly answer it then you will know what to paint.

• The only thing we can paint on a flat surface is a shape. If our painting doesn’t look right, then we have either painted the shapes wrong (configuration), or we have made them the wrong value, or the wrong color. The organization of the values is what gives the painting structure. The colors add the emotional element.
• Before painting, ask yourself this: “What made me want to paint this?” Make yourself answer without naming anything. for example, “I like the light shape against the dark shape”, or , “I like the way the darker values combine into a large intricate shape”, or, “I like the area with all the little shapes set against the big simple shapes.” If you can state it in visual terms like this you have the biggest problem solved.

Drawing Tips

• Practice contour line drawing. The best way to develop confidence is to practice right. Contour drawing requires you to place the pencil tip at some point, look at the subject and determine where you can comfortably pull a single line to without stopping. Then look at your paper and locate that point. Pull the line, then without lifting the pencil, look at the subject and pick the next point where the contour changes direction. Look at your drawing and pull that line. At first you will make mistakes, but the line will look as if drawn with confidence.

• Set yourself a goal to draw something every day. Don’t waste time looking for a great subject. An egg beater, a mug, a toaster, or a dried leaf are fine. Don’t think” what would make a good drawing”, think, “I need to practice seeing and recording something.”