Demonstration Art

This week, we highlight another painting technique; one that doesn't have a special Japanese name. One of the challenges an artist has when trying to paint a three dimensional scene on a two dimensional surface is how to do that and make it look realistic. The technique I explain below and used for my demonstration painting deals with blossoms, but with a little imagination, it can be useful for other things, too.

This is another photo of miyakowasure.

Note that the photo above shows miyakowasure blossoms at many angles. The illustration below provides guidance for how to paint realistic mum blossoms that way. Like in the photo, painted mum blossoms should be seen to be at various angles. Decide what angle you want a blossom to have, draw an imaginary oval around where the perimeter of the blossom will be in your two dimensional painting, and place the stamen in the appropriate position. Then paint each petal from the perimeter to the stamen with two strokes as appropriate. This assumes you are using the senbyō-hō technique with blossoms large enough to be able to see fine details. My demonstration painting doesn't show that level of detail for blossom petals, but nonetheless, this technique was used on every flower.

Here is my demonstration painting.

An objective this week is to discuss picture frames and mats. There was a demonstration in last week's Zoom class showing urauchi, how to stretch or place a backing on finished sumi-e. The syllabus for this week includes a mat cutting demonstration that is also done in the Zoom class. This unit provides additional information relating to properly preserving and presenting your paintings, a semester class objective.

A special exhibit at the San Diego Museum Art (SDMART) in 2004 was about picture frames. One of the informational displays said this about the purpose of the frame:

The picture frame serves three primary functions:

Protective:  The frame must be constructed so that it can physically protect a painting from danger.

Aesthetic:  The frame must reinforce the virtues of the work of art without overwhelming it.

Decorative:  A frame should complement a room’s architecture and furnishings.

A frame can be considered an unqualified success when all three of these aspects are fulfilled.

There are a wide variety of frames and frame styles available in art supply stores. The choice of the frame that suits you is personal, but consider SDMART's guidance when making your selection. It is a good idea to take your painting with you to the store to get a better feeling for how well your painting and a frame under consideration complement each other. Keep in mind where you will want your painting to be displayed in your home. Setting, wall color, furniture type and color, etc. all matter. Also, it isn't just the painting and frame combination that is important. It is the painting, frame, and mat color and style that need to work together.

Artwork doesn't last forever. Ready-made off-the-shelf frames are inexpensive and can look nice, but they tend to be cheaply constructed and are covered with the least expensive glass or acrylic. There is nothing wrong with such frames if that suits your needs. However if you want something that has a better chance of lasting much longer, consider custom framing. Especially important is the type of glass or acrylic covering over your artwork. Something that provides UV protection is perhaps the most important element for long-term preservation.

One thing you need to decide is which frame size goes best with the size of your painting. Again, this is personal and there is no perfect answer, but a size mismatch can end up drawing more attention to the framing than to your artwork. The following chart provides size recommendations to consider:

I plan on having a student art show on the last day of this semester, and you all are the guests of honor. It is your paintings that will be on display. Participation, of course, is optional, but it would be wonderful if you are willing to bring your best work of the semester to show on camera. It would be especially nice if your work is mounted and framed, mat and all. Think about it and start planning now.