Hey, Is That Cheating, Or What?

by Cooper on 12/31/2009 9:44:33 AM1 Comment

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio in Jefferson, Iowa.

Ok, about that title: "Hey, Is That Cheating Or What?"

Number one, emphasis is always important. Bear that in mind and go with the loose definition of cheating for the duration of this post

. In reality, I think we are headed toward a discussion of artist's "crutches".

I am still reading in the book I mentioned in an earlier post---Conversations In Paint, written by Charles Dunn, and I found an interesting passage that got me started on all this.

If you get a group of artists together and play the devil's advocate by striking up a conversation regarding the painting "tricks" a fellow artist uses, then quite likely you'll end up where I'm going with this. Here, how about an example or two?

1. Artist projects a copy of a photo on the canvas, draws it in. For shame.
2. Watercolor non-purist adds white paint. Heavens, that's not even legal, is it?
3. Artist uses somebody else's photo image for reference material. And doesn't pay anyone for it, Dios mio.
4. Artist copies someone's painting in entirety. Aaargh!
5. Artist brushes varnish over a giclee reproduction to make it look like a real painting. Hey, wait a minute: that one really IS cheating!

So I am not here to weigh in on the moral ramifications of any of the above. (EXCEPT for #5, which really is disgustingly deceitful and tacky) Rather, I'd like to share a new one I found in the aforementioned book.

It comes under the heading of "Lost and Found Edges" Mr. Dunn states that "perhaps no advice is more frequently heard in painting classes than "lose and find the edge" Yup, we hear that all the time, he's right-on with that one. He talks about "found edges" being hard or rough-brushed. He talks about "lost edges" being blended or unseen. Hey, info tidbit: Did you know that Leonardo da Vinci invented the blended edge and called it "sfumato", Italian for smokelike? Mr. Dunn goes on to describe a blended or 'lost' edge as "an edge can be blended so we are not quite sure where it begins or ends."

Then he gives the reader this great little table of characteristics, and ways to use edges. Way down on the bottom of the "blended edges" list comes this gem:

"provide for audience participation and hide drawing errors."

Aaach! You mean, we don't have to perfect those drawing skills any more? Bingo! A new way to cheat! No, no, I mean, a new artist's crutch. No, no, I mean--- oh darn, who am I kidding?---it'll never work. I'd better go send that email to find out what the second semester drawing group schedule is.

Short cuts will always cut you short, right? Have a lovely day, and thanks for stopping by.

Later, Cooper

1 Response to Hey, Is That Cheating, Or What?

	Marsha Robinett via karencooperpaintings.com	25 months ago
	Karen, Your post is right on, and quite thought provoking. Although I do agree with the premise of ALL that you say...I also believe the 'imitation' of other artists can teach and improve a beginning artists ability and confidence. This is a way to educate ones self when formal education is not available. The issue lies when the artist continues down this path and does not allow their own style to evolve. Then their work becomes 'not art' but a 'copy' of another artists work. Well stated and thanks for sharing your thoughts. Wishing you a blessed and prosperous New Year.

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