I've watched many artists tutorials/demonstrations on KZread and must say that I am drawn (no pun intended) to yours more than any other. Your videos are all clear and precise and it's a pleasure watching them and learning how you see and apply your techniques.

Very helpful . The process of step by step : cropping, eliminating and the block-in of neutral is art in itself. Thank. you.

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Hannah. I thought it sort of fell together well to, the step by step approach.

Just so awesome! I watched this a year ago and as my journey continues it becomes clearer and clearer!

So helpful - thanks! Can't wait to see next week's video.

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Debbie, just editing it now. Best wishes.

This is so very helpful to watch how you start the block in - keeping it simple and how the composition is arrived at by your cropping of the photo. This is VERY helpful!! Thank you Ian so much, and I am looking forward to next week. You are a terrific instructor!!!! You know how to explain everything really well. Thank you so much!

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Debra and thank you for letting me know. I appreciate it.

I find it remarkable to be able to do that simplification. It's a great lesson and for me, would require a lot of practice. I tend to paint with a lot of detail, which I really enjoy, so the simplification is out of my "comfort" zone. And yes, one thing I've learned for sure, a fabulous photo, doesn't always lend itself to being a fabulous painting. In fact, there are plenty of photos I've seen t hat I LOVE and would like to paint, but feel they would not lend themselves to a good painting. And this is where your simplification process would come in to play.

Your video’s make my Tuesday! I think for the first time I see how to truly simplify. I’ve always heard the words but today I understand more fully and see how to bring it to my next painting. Thank you!

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 жыл бұрын

It's funny how you can here something over and over but it doesn't quite register and then one time ping, you get it. Thanks great.

You do such an excellent job of explaining. A good design is the foundation for a good painting!!! You prove it every time!!!!

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 жыл бұрын

Yes, although I suppose if I crashed and burned one week and showed you why that would be helpful too. Better for you perhaps than me.

Thanks, Ian!

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 жыл бұрын

Saw a great picture of you and Bruce after voting. Or was it before voting. Somewhere. Thanks Nancy.

Looking forward to every new episode. And never ever disappointed. Thank you. Looking forward to next week.

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Patricia for letting me know you are looking forward to the videos.

Really liked seeing your simplification process with this busy scene. and so interesting to see this after doing our work with neutral colors.

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 жыл бұрын

Most of that painting was in shadow and most of the painting was painting all those neutrals. Even the sunlit part was really a pretty bleached color.

I love the simplicity and the transformation into a full-blown detailed painting is promising! I so appreciate your weekly lesson! ❤️

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 жыл бұрын

Well I am cutting the video of the finished painting for this week's video so I hope if lives up to it promise. Best wishes, Ian

Thank you for showing us how simple is better. We get caught up in all the little details and want to make something exciting and turn it into a complicated mess. Beautifully done.

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 жыл бұрын

It is very interesting to find as you strip stuff out you in fact make it stronger.

Thank you again for another very informative video Ian . You explain it all so clearly and I am now looking at how I can crop my photographs with your advise in mind . You are definitely making me see the importance of cropping and simplifying and I hope in time it will come naturally to me.I look forward every every week to your video , many many thanks for your clear instruction and your time spent making them for us .

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much for letting me know you are enjoying the videos and finding them helpful Judy.

Thank you! this is taking the fear out of painting something that seems complicated but can be simplified to the focal point. Of course first thing first...finding the focal point in a busy scene!

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 жыл бұрын

Well if it's a photo you've taken the photo for some reason. So maybe that is the first place to look. Then start stripping things out. It may not work all the time but it is a start. What was it that, really, caught your attention?

Thank you! Your explanations are always so clear and helpful. Thank you for these wonderful videos.

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 жыл бұрын

You are welcome Gayle. I'm glad you are enjoying them.

YAY! It’s Tuesday! I loved this one, Ian. Very helpful. Looking forward to next week.

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 жыл бұрын

Glad you liked it Annie. All the best.

Excellent demonstration. Very inspiring

I discovered you just a few weeks ago and have already learned so much. This episode is just wow.... how to leave out and stay simple. Thank you so much for your work!

Absolutely fabulous, Ian!!!! Loved it and best one ever! More please.

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 жыл бұрын

That's great Joani. More to come!

Fascinating seeing what you crop out. Learning to simplify without guilt is my learning path for now, so this is very apropos! Thank you!

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 жыл бұрын

Learning to simplify without guilt. That is a great expression. I will have to remember that one.

@usajane1

3 жыл бұрын

Great instruction

Ian, thank you so much for these weekly videos. I always enjoy them, but this one really resonated for me!

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Diane. Glad you liked it. I'm just editing the video of the finished painting today. Hope you like it. Best wishes, Ian.

I know this is a year-old, but it was immensely helpful to me. Thanks.

I look forward to these videos! I actually loved seeing this block in, and watching how you simplified the image was so helpful! Another great video...thank you!!

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Donna. I appreciate your letting me know. All the best.

I loved the unfinished painting ! Thank you !

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 жыл бұрын

Well next week, the finished one. Hope you like that one better.

Love these videos, but this one is really helpful. Sometimes it’s difficult to cut the wheat from the chaff. Especially en plein air. Looking forward to next week!

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 жыл бұрын

It's true. Knowing what to get rid of certainly makes it easier. Heading for structure and design rather than details and subject matter.

You are brilliant Ian!

So grateful to your videos and demonstration. The blocking is such an amazing way to simplify painting. I love hour art and your teaching. Thank you. 🙏🌿

I can’t tell you how much this helps me!! Thank you Thank you!!

Wow!!!! Really nice!! Paintings are way better than a camera 😁 Watching you block it in almost makes me want to try oils just so I can try that. I think I'll dial it back a bit and get out some crayons -- kinda like you said once (paraphrased): drawing is painting with brush strokes, paint and color, removed. This was a great demo video 😊

this was a great demo and explanation! thank you!

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 жыл бұрын

You are welcome Evelyn. Glad you liked it

I,M going thru all my photos and cropping like crazy and putting in black and white. Thank you!

Wonderful - thanks for this - just the kind of demo I love to see, and love to hear the thought process on. Certainly a skill that I need to work on, thanks again Ian.

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 жыл бұрын

You are welcome Janet. All the best.

Really, really helpful! You make me want to try to simply my own compositions. Thank you!

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 жыл бұрын

I'm glad you found it helpful. It's worth trying.

masterful.

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Amanda

I think your idea of making painting videos and showing the process you go through is excellent, and I hope you continue in this direction. Two questions came up as I watched this: (1) your brush seems to be a lot softer than most brushes I've used, almost as if it were a watercolor brush. The paint goes on quickly and easily. Maybe you can talk about that in your next video. And (2) when you say you are using turpentine, is it Gamsol or something else? But mainly it's that soft brush that intrigues me. Thank you, Ian. Your video are very helpful!

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Sandy, I think this approach of the thinking behind the painting is a good idea. So I'm going to try and do that going forward assuming the image I choose supports the idea. The brush is my favorite and now defunct manet, #8. Not softer than any other bristle brush. In fact I'd say they are a bit stiffer. And by turpentine I really just mean mineral spirits and specifically Gamsol.

You really know what you are doing and it is lovely seeing you working on the painting, and very helpful.

Love this!nI can hardly wait to try this.!

This is so helpful! Thank you!

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 жыл бұрын

Glad you liked it Lyne. Best wishes, Ian.

Marvellous. Love your explanations. Thank you!

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 жыл бұрын

You welcome Sandi. Glad you liked it.

You make it look easy!

So very helpful to see specifically how you simplify a scene to paint. Also, I purchased your book on composition. It is excellent, I am reading it for the second time.

It is very helpful with simplifying. Thank you.

Nice, love the video👍

Great demo. Learned good tools!

Great video🙂 thanks for sharing,very nice❤️❤️great work,beautiful yeah........❤️❤️🙂.👍👍....👍

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 жыл бұрын

👍👍👍

Very beautiful love ❤️ thx 😊

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Angela, well I hope you like the video this week as I finish that block in.

Ah yes, this is very helpful. Thank you.

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Linda.

Everytime I watch your video I get more and more excited to receive ur book I purchased online 😁 thanks so much for these videos Ian!

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 жыл бұрын

I'm glad you are enjoying them. And I hope you find the book just as helpful. Best.

Very interesting. Thank you, Ian.

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 жыл бұрын

You are welcome Gayle. Best wishes.

I loved it when it was bare. Your talent shines through before you fill in.

Very helpful

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 жыл бұрын

Glad to hear it Susan.

Thank you !

This is great!

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Doug, well those nascent steps I took with you way back have finally jelled into a weekly thing. I'm really enjoying it. Hope all is well.

My favorite part about your instruction is how you use artistic license to edit out parts of your painting and to also alter temperature, and values, to enhance the painting. A lot of painters who teach seem to want you to put all the values in exactly as they’re seen.

love that ! again would be a great demo for class !! Maggie

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 жыл бұрын

HI Maggie, I'm hoping everyone on the course is watching them. Maybe I should mention that in case they are not. I mean what are they thinking? Best, Ian.

Apart from you being a good artist & knowledgeable. Your very interesting how you describe processes of painting enjoy the videos. Though I don't use oils

Thank you.

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 жыл бұрын

You're welcome!

I got so much out of this thanks

Thank you

I'm learning a lot from you and I understand your vertical and horizontal intersection but, , I noticed the post is in the center and the woman is not quite in the sweet spot, (one of the thirds)and also her back is to us. Can you explain why none of that matters? I would have thought I needed to change those things.(If I had been looking at this scene,)....Thank you.

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 жыл бұрын

Well having that column right down the middle maybe wasn't ideal but it didn't seem like a big enough problem to change. The woman falls on the third actually, but she's sort of a bit wide so it is really just off centered. And I didnt' want to get into rendering her face and who she was. Just as I was as I took the photo, she is in her world not mine. I liked that.

@rolisonpaint3

3 жыл бұрын

@@IanRobertsMasteringComposition Thank you for sharing your deeper thinking and how it affected your decisions. ( it tells me, not to be dogmatic). I like the last bit about her being in her world and you not intruding. somewhere I got the idea figures (and animals) had to be in 3/4 profile or facing the viewer. Now, I know otherwise!

Glad to find your video's 😳very helpful. Keep them coming. U should check the consistency of your sound quality from in person presentation to video sound.

Without the detail, the image gets across the important aspects of that moment, the light, the woman, the peaches. A painting is not a photograph, and thank God for that.

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 жыл бұрын

That's it. How much can you eliminate to reveal the essence, not the details and distractions.

Great, Subbed, Thanks.!

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 жыл бұрын

Glad you liked it

Hi Ian Great video and I really liked the original pencil sketch. And seeing you interpret this complicated photo was helpful. You eliminated something that I thought was working well and I wonder what a painting with this included would look like? I'm talking about the reflection of the man in the window and the two verticals that are the boxes of produce next to him. one being real and one a reflection.I liked the way that the relationship between the woman and the man created a diagonal, I liked the fact that these stacks of boxes were not perfectly straight and I liked the relative proportion of this 'square' of interest ie the man and the stacks of boxes in relation to the 'square' of the overall painting. It all reminded me of the type of construction that Vermeer used. Best wishes and thanks.

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Stéphanie, well it might work of course. I was in a jettison sort of mood I guess. And at 12" x 12" it might end up get pretty small and involved and I didn't want to get into it.

Hi Ian - I work in acrylics and I was always advised to under paint to cover the white of the canvas. Since I mostly do sunlit landscapes, I often use a light wash of yellow ochre. But I notice you are not doing this. What is your opinion on it? Please do comment. I really want to know if it’s just a matter of personal choice.

👍🏻

Please, do an inerior image on similar style.

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

2 жыл бұрын

OK, I will do one again. I did do one recently called Mastering Muted Color. July 6.

Ooo... why is my brush not doing the same?

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 жыл бұрын

Mine come from a small brushmaker in the south of France and they do most of the work for me. I just have to hold them up to the canvas and they know what to do. Pretty much take over for me.

Ian, just a suggestion but maybe you should simplify the video process and just call these "Mastering Composition," forget "...and simplifying the painting process."

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Jay, does it just seem sort of superfluous? I think technically it is Laboratory of the Painting Process and if I change it to Mastering Composition I'd loose all the subscribers. But just for the opening spoken welcome, you're saying Mastering Composition is enough? It is a question. Thanks.

(“Jaws in Space” is exactly where Mel Brooks got “Jews in Space.”)

Thank you!