Pay attention to Ekaterina Koroleva’s composition choices, i.e. where and how she places her subject in the frame (running off the edge, pushed to one side, parts cut off or eliminated). That, combined with her loose, layered sketches, subtle colours, and simple shapes, create an interesting aesthetic. More on Ekaterina Koroleva’s website.
Gary Hume’s portraits are all about line and shape. His water paintings (last 2 in the gallery below) consist of layered line drawings, creating interesting shapes where the lines intersect. If you are interested in this style, check out these two types of contour drawings.
So much to look at in Amy Sherald’s portraits – the flat, bright, backgrounds with subtle texture, the monochromatic grey skin tones, the saturated colours and patterns in the clothing that contrast with the background, and the small details of light and shadow in the folds of clothing and the way it drapes over the figure to give these otherwise flat portraits a hint of depth. See more on Amy Sherald’s website.
Hope Gangloff’s acrylic and collage paintings capture the personalities of her friends and family with defined shapes that are filled with repetitive marks and bright patterns (Colossal). More on her website.
Lui Ferreyra proves that pencil crayon doesn’t have to be boring. More on his website.
Ekua Holmes‘ rich storytelling collages are made from scraps of vintage wallpapers, snippets of yesterday’s news and pieces of discarded costume jewelry, laid upon fields of primary colors and multiple textures. More on her website.
The scribbles are all about using line in strategic ways, and understanding how to create light and dark with density. Check out Vince Low’s website for more of his work.
A brief snapshot of hands in art from the Renaissance to today: Continue reading
These tutorials cover several different approaches to constructing the human figure. There are loads more online – find what works for you! Continue reading