How to Simplify - Or, what do I do with all those details?

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  • Опубліковано 2 тра 2022
  • In this video, I share some of my drawings from my 30-Day Drawing Challenge, and I explain how I go about simplifying the detailed world around me in my drawings.
    Link to join my email list so you receive the New Free 20-Minute overview on Mastering Composition plus these videos weekly to your inbox: masteringcomposition.com/free-...
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    My website: www.ianroberts.com/
    Facebook page: / ianrobertsartist
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 781

  • @user-pb2kg1ng4g
    @user-pb2kg1ng4g 2 роки тому +1030

    In relation to magazine/poster design, that also is applied here, an art teacher said to us, "In your mind's eye, 'shake the page'". That way, what is less relevant falls away and is a 'cure' for detail mania and the curse of perfectionism and to some degree the final image is less distracting for the viewer. And, as two other art teachers said, 'See each painting as an exercise'; that way your approach is less precious. Also, 'A painting is never finished'. We have to know when to walk away. There comes a point where we must not add any more, otherwise, like a good party, everything starts to go down hill pretty fast. The viewers mind can fill in what is 'unfinished'.

    • @IanRobertsMasteringComposition
      @IanRobertsMasteringComposition  2 роки тому +127

      That I think is the gist of it - that you let the viewer fill in the rest. Give them a role in the process. Good point

    • @bethbartlett5692
      @bethbartlett5692 2 роки тому +5

      @@IanRobertsMasteringComposition
      I'm looking through your videos for one with Cypress Trees, those found in the Delta, that grow in water, "Think Louisana with the moss hang on branches".
      This is a subject I want to capture a technique that offers a realistic outcome. They are already a bit funky, with their stumps and unique style.
      Oh I would so appreciate finding your instruction on these.
      Thank you,
      Beth
      Tennessee, USA
      (about 2 miles from the Mississippi River, where we have Reelfoot Lake and many Cypress Trees, and swampy creatures + the Bald Eagle, our Nations Symbol.) 🐢🐍🐟

    • @houghwhite411
      @houghwhite411 2 роки тому +10

      Wow i also heard that particular advice for fiction writing. Thank you

    • @miralaartist1916
      @miralaartist1916 2 роки тому +1

      Love that. Thanks for sharing.

    • @jamieluce5960
      @jamieluce5960 2 роки тому +1

      Thank you ,it helps so much to have these little kernels of information.

  • @ruthward9626
    @ruthward9626 2 роки тому +552

    As someone who regularly gets bogged down in all the details of a scene, I found your tutorial very helpful. Thank you

  • @00blackmage00
    @00blackmage00 2 роки тому +114

    I don't often draw because I get overwhelmed and easily get lost in the details, losing sight of the whole. I think I'll give it a try using this method! Thank you for your video

  • @ellathrad
    @ellathrad 2 роки тому +316

    It's interesting how the stroke directions and overlaps are kinda giving the illusion of detail in the drawings. You have the best lessons ever, it's encouraging me to leave digital for a while to work with actual paint.

  • @user-pb2kg1ng4g
    @user-pb2kg1ng4g 2 роки тому +7

    6:03 As in theatre you do not need to see what's going on in the wings. If you do see what's happening in the wings the power of what's happening is diminished. Imagine, if you will, seeing a cabbage being chopped in two - whilst on stage there is an exections in progress - you would probably laugh. Whereas, if you are unaware of the true source of the sound, relating to what's happening, you recoil empathizing with what's happening - your imagination doing most of the work. Or, as in writing, 'show don't tell'. Likewise here, albeit in milder form, we see the light crossing the floor; we do not need to see its obvious source and the the main focus is on the point of interest - the two women interacting. I think Ian Roberts' teaching methods are second to none and truly inspirational.

  • @monib6819
    @monib6819 2 роки тому +174

    You are THE best at explaining and demonstrating concepts of composition. I've been successfully teaching art for 40 years and still find your direct approach inspiring and useful! THANK YOU!

  • @mariakingsley1966
    @mariakingsley1966 2 роки тому +59

    If you love these tutorials, you will simply adore taking his classes. My way of thinking and approach to painting has totally changed for the better. Few, and I mean few, artists teach the fundamentals. With this painter (part-time teacher) I am filling in huge knowledge gaps. Next time he offers an online class, don't miss it. I'm not a paid spokesperson nor affiliated with Ian Roberts, but happy to recommend his classes and approach to painting.✌🖌

  • @Donteatacowman
    @Donteatacowman 2 роки тому +37

    Using a photo reference, I've actually gone in to edit it to crop it and then to edit it to be very pixellated and blurry. I know that's not as good as training your eyes to see things that way but it at least helps me start off on the right foot. I got into art by wanting to be a cartoonist as a kid, and it's really incredible how much the skills in one art area can help you learn faster in another. Cartooning would say: Pay attention to what draws the eye and lay everything out accordingly; consider silhouettes; imposing limits (eg limited palette, only putting detail in certain parts to avoid clutter) can make the piece stronger; etc. It's also where beginners tend to draw from imagination more than real life, so the difficulty is learning that you can and SHOULD pay attention to details and learn to draw from life.
    So for 6:29, I would probably be thinking most in terms of the body language of the waitresses and how to exaggerate them to amplify the mood I wanted to achieve - what style to choose and how extreme to lean into it. I would start by blocking out the major set pieces of the windows, tables, and the chair, then spend a lot of time on the women. For example, lifting up the arm of the one on the right so that you can more easily see that she's carrying a tray, which would be contrasted to the window in the back. Only after I figured out all that would I go in and do the color for the background and only work on as many details as would look good. I would probably keep the brick.
    I think what I would be emphasizing in that picture is the "rustic" vibe given by the pew-style seat, the old wooden chairs, the texture of the brick, and it's enhanced with the warmth already present in the photo. Keeping the wood on the ground may be a good contrast for where the light hits it, where you can't see individual planks. But when I say I keep those, I mean that I would add just enough to hint at those textures, not that I would draw out each individual plank of wood or brick. Some very sturdy set pieces to contrast against the light, breezy feeling of the conversation between the women, the thin brights of their clothes, the transparency of the glass (I would keep one or two on the table, might place them elsewhere though), and the way the light curves around the wood, the left woman's smile, and the right woman's hair.
    I don't paint often - most of what I do lately is with gouache, since I don't have access to oil right now - but I really value (lol) these tips. Subscribing now!

  • @SGTsiete
    @SGTsiete Рік тому +10

    I love the way he goes over: "So we have this and that and some of those." And slowly lists off all the unimportant objects. The contrast between that and his expert simplification makes it feel almost palpable. It illustrates the getting bogged down feeling in a charming way.

  • @sarahhill3073
    @sarahhill3073 2 роки тому +4

    I’ve missed my weekly Ian fix. Lovely to get this post and reminder of what I should be aiming for.

  • @jeaninestark2731
    @jeaninestark2731 2 роки тому +5

    I see the importance of drawing ,drawing,simplify. Thank you , I struggle w this all the time.

  • @sallyfinch540
    @sallyfinch540 2 роки тому +57

    CREATIVE AUTHENTICITY - Great book! I just got through reading it, and it is a treasure. I will keep re-reading it and feeding on it through my artistic days. Thank you Ian. Your video is right on. It can be said that the structure and values alone can make a painting, much like your sketches. Details not needed. That’s huge. That’s the gateway to getting there without getting lost in all the other stuff.

    • @IanRobertsMasteringComposition
      @IanRobertsMasteringComposition  2 роки тому +4

      Wonderful! Thanks so much for commenting and letting me know how much you enjoyed Creative Authenticity. It is something you can use for your entire artistic days.

  • @lantanalanta1709
    @lantanalanta1709 2 роки тому +14

    You have the best lessons about simplification in art. Without simplification paintings are messy. Thank you! I love Eduard Vuillard for his great simplification.

  • @shibaos
    @shibaos 2 роки тому +13

    This is incredible, I always find myself getting trapped by details and then I overwhelm myself.

    • @IanRobertsMasteringComposition
      @IanRobertsMasteringComposition  2 роки тому +4

      It is a very common issue. Glad you liked the video

    • @Ikaros23
      @Ikaros23 Рік тому

      Art is like math. The point is not to make things complex, but to make things simple. The hight of sofistication is simplicity, not complexity. That hard part is to emotionaly learn to accept that your work is " imperfect". And is never going to be like in your head. Or 100% like " the real world".

  • @MicahBuzanANIMATION
    @MicahBuzanANIMATION 2 роки тому +1

    It's interesting how simplifying details tends to make the picture look more cinematic.

  • @robbedontuesday
    @robbedontuesday Рік тому +1

    This is a whole LIFE LESSON, not just Art.

  • @smasica
    @smasica 2 роки тому +1

    Many painters are sometimes 'thing' oriented. In other words, they are attracted to stuff, like picturesque sunrises/sunsets, streams, waterfalls, horses, etc., cliche type subjects. The thought is that it will make an attractive painting. It may be attention-getting, but structurally it may not work without some serious adjustments. In my own experience early on, I subconsciously felt obligated to include everything I saw in a scene. I think that's true for a lot of painters. I appreciate how you used a drawing/diagram of how a good painting is actually constructed from the ground up. No amount of decoration or festoonery will save a badly constructed painting.

  • @annwilson6333
    @annwilson6333 2 роки тому +3

    I bought your book, Creative Authenticity, and gave it to myself for Christmas. I sat in front of the fire in my leather wingback and read it cover to cover in one session. Since then I've been using it as a meditation book, reading random paragraphs and marking up sections that speak to me. I cannot thank you enough for writing this book. Your section on Van Gogh was particularly meaningful as it gave me permission to validate my own thoughts about certain revered artists regardless of common opinion. I highly recommend this book and I will be ordering your other book soon.

  • @stephenjamison6124
    @stephenjamison6124 2 роки тому +13

    I’ve had a difficult week so the few minutes of calm watching your video has been an oasis of peace. Thank you Ian , I deeply appreciate your efforts

  • @KpxUrz5745
    @KpxUrz5745 2 місяці тому

    There is some good material here about cropping, values, simplification, and such. But for me, the most important things relate to "content". In other words, the rationale for choosing otherwise rather humdrum subject matter in the first place. It cannot be to just make a picture of anything and everything. There has to be some personal relationship to subject matter, which likely will even greatly impact the way it is selected, focused, and treated. The best impressionists, for example, had a way of creating incredibly well-composed scenes. Many of Monet's landscapes (well, actually all of his paintings) are so brilliantly and perfectly composed that they seem miraculous. And this is to say nothing about his unattainably genius ways of creating painterly light through his color choices and juxtapositions.

  • @skinnygirlBwatchinU
    @skinnygirlBwatchinU 2 роки тому +3

    This is the first time in my entire life that i subscribe to someone 2 minutes into my first video from them. Usually i have to watch a few to be sure they are good, but not this time. Your instructions are direct to the point, well-thought out, simple but still informative. And you are actually teaching HOW to crop and simplify rather than repeating what every teacher says! I appreciate that the intro is short, the audio is clear, and there is no music to clutter my ears. i will definitely keep an eye out for your book and watch the rest of the videos. Thank you!

    • @IanRobertsMasteringComposition
      @IanRobertsMasteringComposition  2 роки тому

      Hi Shantelly, so delighted you enjoyed the video and subscribed. I also can't stand tinkling music in the background. All the very best.

  • @lyceum4177
    @lyceum4177 2 роки тому +1

    I LOVE your 2 waitresses painting! You're just a treasure. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

  • @twicen777
    @twicen777 2 роки тому +22

    Thank you for this. I love your tutorials. Perfect pace, brilliantly explained and you've a great voice to listen to. Pleasurable and helpful. 🙏

  • @RonHicks
    @RonHicks Рік тому

    I'm a cartoonist and two things I've learned over the years. In cartooning "it's what you don't draw" and cartoonist spend a lot of time drawing as little as possible😀

  • @craigseaborn4222
    @craigseaborn4222 2 роки тому +6

    Hi Ian , can't thank you enough for continuing to teach these principles of composition. Thanks Craig

  • @jeffmoodie6144
    @jeffmoodie6144 5 місяців тому

    I just picked my brushes and paint up after over a year away. The very first little study, the large hill and houses behind us, was so busy that I did exactly this but didn’t draw it out first, I was overcome with all the details that I had to pare them down. Those details I would have fussed over previously. One house, main trees and shapes cropped with to exclude extra details which turned into a basic under painting similar in scope to a pre paint drawing.
    This video basically supports my process that I stumbled into just due to what I thought may have been a little laziness. It’s not lazy, just efficient and effective planning.

  • @skiedev
    @skiedev 2 роки тому

    I love paintings that use the simple shapes and structures of objects or landscapes, something about the rectangle strokes and roughness without too much detail that's just enough to understand what it is

  • @sassy6292
    @sassy6292 Рік тому

    Ok so this is weird…3 minutes in I had to pause the video. I was so impressed with the brilliant breakdown of the mechanics of drawing AND at the same time I was taking my first couple of sips of a fresh cup of coffee when this feeling of euphoria washed over me. I have these episodes now and then but I never just stop and enjoy the moment. I say I will but I don’t. I did this time. And now I’m documenting it. This tutorial is just what I needed. I’m an artist and I have done my fair share of drawings but this has changed my outlook and attitude. Somehow, and, by what seems to be magic, a picture emerges from my canvas and it’s not at all too shabby. I always wonder if the canvas is haunted! Maybe I have an innate ability to do what you have just so wonderfully described? I don’t know, but my next project may just be by me and not by the canvas ghosts or fairies. Thank you 🙏

  • @mylesjordan9970
    @mylesjordan9970 Рік тому +1

    What you’ve done with your analysis-in-layers is a pretty exact analogy to what Heinrich Schenker did by inventing the graphic analysis of music. Very cool.

  • @stefanstern3542
    @stefanstern3542 7 місяців тому

    Extremely essential video lesson. We are grateful!!! I recommend stopping the video at each photo. Then thinking: how would I do this? Then moving on to the next piece of the video, where you see how the drawing deals with it. And again: look at each detail of a photo. How would you do it? Then move to the drawing. It's a bit though, perhaps? - But I begin to understand: we'll have to do a bit of serious detail work... - before we all get to be happy geniuses!

  • @apianarosa
    @apianarosa 2 роки тому +1

    So good to see you. Now I'll go out to take some pictures and then I'll try to compose the masses.

  • @Crtnmn
    @Crtnmn Рік тому +9

    Are we talking Life or Painting?

  • @jerryhunter1114
    @jerryhunter1114 Рік тому +4

    As a fatigued artist straddling the fence between traditional drawing/painting and the digital and 3D era, this video is an authentic oasis. A return to basic principles in the midst of a very hectic art industry. Thank you.

  • @gaylemartin6498
    @gaylemartin6498 2 роки тому +1

    Good to see you, Ian. Good refresher from your class. Thank you for posting. Take care. g

  • @kofeiNn
    @kofeiNn Рік тому +1

    Often when I'm about to paint, I'm starting to focus too much on details, that eventually leave me wondering ,,how am I gonna draw this??". That always makes me immediately discouraged to continue drawing, so I found this video very helpful. Thank you!

  • @cityofangy
    @cityofangy Рік тому +3

    Extremely helpful! As a new painter, I often feel overwhelmed by details. How to simplify is what I have been trying to grasp. Your video hits it nicely.

  • @soteroElias-mi6vy
    @soteroElias-mi6vy Рік тому +1

    I stopped washing my dishes to watch this ...yes I'm an artist
    Thankyou

  • @josephfcampisejr7816
    @josephfcampisejr7816 2 роки тому +5

    Ian...thank you so much for your explanations on composition ..I get so caught up in detail that I lose the main idea of what the painting should be....you break it down easily and make it understandable...

  • @guizachristiane4824
    @guizachristiane4824 2 роки тому +2

    I do hope my fighting with details will now have an end 💝💝💝 thank you for your art videos. The best I have ever seen...🥰🥰🥰👍have a great day....habe a great time. Wishes from Germany. Christiane

  • @DetoNaGamerscom
    @DetoNaGamerscom 2 роки тому

    Now I understand why I was much better at drawing when I was a kid. I wasn't bothered by trivial details like today.

  • @alphaomega6684
    @alphaomega6684 2 роки тому +17

    Once more, I love your clear example and lucid explanations. This video has inspired me to do my own 30 day composition challenge. Thank you and always happy to see another video from you.

  • @playalot86
    @playalot86 Рік тому

    It's so nice to see a master teach his students what I tried to teach my fellow students in college; what I had learned from studying mother nature and the old masters. I tried to save them from the S$%#@% abstract contemporary teachers that told them not to paint in a traditional realist style because they said... "it's too obvious", or, "where's the story?"... God bless you good sir, and I love your work.

  • @imc440
    @imc440 2 роки тому +1

    I’d only recently taken up sketching (I’m working my way up to painting) and stumbled onto something like this method. While I could use some of these tips on cropping, I say that focusing on the bigger lines is the difference between me knowing I couldn’t draw for 40 years, and being able to make pencil scratches look more or less like the scene they are portraying. It’s incredibly helpful

  • @NinjaJeean
    @NinjaJeean 2 роки тому

    Watching your wonderfully explained composition principles I couldn't help but think about those people who eat the pizza and leave the crust - the eye knows where the good bits are. Define the pizza, leave the crust... ha!

  • @garysimkins2179
    @garysimkins2179 10 місяців тому

    I cannot emphasize enough the value of your content and how much it has helped me fine tune my way of seeing. I live in Toronto, and drive to the country a great deal having boarded a horse north of the city. I recently bought a full French Easel because I want to experience working outside of my studio. You have in other videos provided a wealth of tips on how to start the plein air process, and I thank you for that. I am starting a three week holiday, it is mid July and I am so looking forward to doing some oil sketches. In closing I want to add just how much I love your work. Thanks again.

  • @phyllisalden9983
    @phyllisalden9983 Рік тому

    Have watched this specific video several times now and every time I find it so helpful for seeing differently, assessing photos differently, painting differently. Thank you so much!

  • @kriscontinuum3267
    @kriscontinuum3267 2 роки тому +3

    Your diagram is almost a map to every creative endeavor. I was thinking about how it can help with my screenwriting to eliminate excessive details that can weigh down a narrative.

  • @actorseokjinnie9073
    @actorseokjinnie9073 2 роки тому

    I am quickly overwhelmed by a lot of details and I don't where to start most of the time, this helped a lot. Thank you.

  • @ginam3379
    @ginam3379 Рік тому +2

    I am a “mature” graphic design enrolled in university art courses, and currently in a painting class. This is VERY helpful! As are all your videos, actually. Thanks!

  • @nimaya4688
    @nimaya4688 2 роки тому +11

    I just found your channel today and idk why seeing you paint weirdly inspires me a lot. And the way you teach is really amazing too, learned more about painting than all the time in my classes combined. Thank you! :)

  • @GH-uk5wx
    @GH-uk5wx 2 роки тому +4

    Super. Surely, you need a general concept about the process of simplification--a great video! Thank you, Ian.

  • @julieburke1579
    @julieburke1579 2 роки тому

    So very, very helpful as always Ian. Every single one of your videos is spot on and clear. I LOVE Creative Authenticity! I've read it cover to cover twice and still refer back to it and have given several as gifts. It's a treasure! Thank you for all that you share with us!

    • @IanRobertsMasteringComposition
      @IanRobertsMasteringComposition  2 роки тому

      Hi Julie, delighted you are enjoying the videos and CA as well. And thank you for giving it as a gift. That book just keeps selling through word of mouth. With best wishes.

  • @christineanderson4755
    @christineanderson4755 Рік тому +1

    This was fascinating. I used to paint, as my one and only hobby and people liked my work. I’m coming back to painting after a stroke. Your approach has given me much to think about. Thank you.

  • @mishelly
    @mishelly 2 роки тому

    This was so incredibly helpful! Thank you!!! I can’t wait to take this into practice! I get so overwhelmed by the subject it seems simple enough till I start drawing then I notice more and more details as I focus on it and then find I’m swamped!

  • @paolazorrilla298
    @paolazorrilla298 2 роки тому

    I've been looking for a video that explains this, and I am so grateful I found this gift you've created! Thank you for sharing this knowledge with us! I've learned SO much in 15 minutes! Thank you thank you! I hope you keep creating these videos, because they're so great!

  • @alicegriffin4375
    @alicegriffin4375 2 роки тому +1

    Thanks Ian, I needed that lol. As always you have taken something very complicated and distilled it down to the essentials. Thank you for your masterful and generous teaching.

  • @lilliann3705
    @lilliann3705 2 роки тому +5

    As always a very informative and relatable video, Ian. I miss your weekly videos and am resigning myself that they will be instead monthly. However, because you have a wealth of instruction spanning the past years, I am able refer to various aspects of composition whenever I need a refresher so all is good. I attended art school over 20 years ago but life got in the way in the interim. Now that I have the time to devote to improving my work, your videos came along to help get my confidence back and really enjoy the process. Thank you for your superb lessons and all the work you put into their creation. Greetings again from the Pacific NW.

    • @lilliann3705
      @lilliann3705 2 роки тому

      P.S. wanted to add I’ve been following the work of Alice Mumford for several years and happened upon her videos a while ago. She posted a series of them with a workshop she did at her studio and concentrated on Bonnard and his approach to painting. It was very interesting. I love Alice’s work too and your lovely wife Anne Ward’s paintings remind me of her work. Please relay to Anne how much I enjoy her work.

    • @IanRobertsMasteringComposition
      @IanRobertsMasteringComposition  2 роки тому

      Hi Lillian, I'm delighted you have been enjoying the videos. Thank you for letting me know. I just looked up Alice and she has a series of short films there on her website that looking interesting. I'll have to watch them. And I'll be sure to tell Anne that you like her paintings. Thank you.

  • @monkey5498
    @monkey5498 2 роки тому

    I don't even paint or draw but I just discovered this channel and its so interesting to learn about this stuff. Maybe I just found a new hobby.

  • @sebastianm.6669
    @sebastianm.6669 Рік тому

    its also an amazing strength of handmade art where you're not bound by reality like in photography where you can only depict what is "real".
    although nowadays you can argue that with photoshop you can alter images easily, but that wouldnt be the "purest" form of photography

  • @thomasgariepy6396
    @thomasgariepy6396 2 роки тому

    Wow! This was just the lesson I have been looking for. Whenever I have tried to draw any sort of natural scene I get so overwhelmed with details and end up with a messy/muddy image. This brings a lot of clarity to how you can simplify and condense all of that information into the image. Thank you so much!

  • @ethicsexistentialism4191
    @ethicsexistentialism4191 Рік тому

    Thanks Ian, your videos really help me! You teach me all the things my art teacher never did!! Very grateful for you sharing you expertise!

  • @raerae6422
    @raerae6422 7 місяців тому

    I allow myself to get overwhelmed too easily and it often stops me from sketching or painting entirely.
    A gigantic THANKS to you. This was just the advice i needed.
    I can definitely see how cropping and simplification gives us clarity, which makes colour, brushwork, details, etc come easier later.

  • @SpiritTracker7
    @SpiritTracker7 2 роки тому

    I've never learned simplified drawing... there is a disconnect in my mind. I don't know if it's my ADHD or information overload but even when I try to rough-in basic shapes, every time, I begin prematurely rendering things.. most of the time the information in the scene overwhelms my ability to see the basic form. They all converge. From my perspective, being able to simplify is a next level talent/skill, there is an art in and of itself. To simply information/details in the mind, and decisively and selectively shade in representations of forms strictly by it's value, is what differiantiates the higher artist IQ. 6:46 is a perfect example, to where I know that the artist has mastered his art form. First time seeing your work Ian and it reminded me that all of the great painters had this step mastered too.

    • @IanRobertsMasteringComposition
      @IanRobertsMasteringComposition  2 роки тому +2

      I'm not sure I agree. Exactly. Seeing in terms of masses, of the design of value masses to make up the foundation of the drawing or painting can be learned. Sure there are degrees of accomplishment within that skill. Some people are naturally better designers than others. See in bigger more engaging masses. But it can be learned. I know that because I have taught it and seen the shift. It is really a right brain shift to seeing in masses rather than details. All the best

  • @TheDilligan
    @TheDilligan Рік тому +1

    Love your sketches. Anyone watching this should look at Edward Hopper's sketches. He is great at this method of simplification.

  • @caboneyart
    @caboneyart 2 роки тому

    So excited to hear that Mastering Composition is on its way! I do have Creative Authenticity, and it is on my top reading list once I retire from teaching! I find your tutorials extremely helpful and clarify the artistic process! Thank you for posting!!!

    • @IanRobertsMasteringComposition
      @IanRobertsMasteringComposition  2 роки тому +1

      Thanks Cindy. Glad you are enjoying the videos and ... well the books when you get the time. May your retirement be full of authentic creative expression. All the best

  • @bram4808
    @bram4808 2 роки тому

    You are an amazing teacher. Straight to the point, easy to follow and the perfect amount of enthusiasm to keep me engaged. Thank you for sharing!

  • @helene3120
    @helene3120 Рік тому

    There is so much vital information involved in creating art. I love your tutorials, Ian; they are highly informative, incredibly inspirational and very much appreciated. ☺☺☺

  • @bettylansford
    @bettylansford 2 роки тому

    As a light bloomer, painter, artist, I am enjoying your instruction. I just wanted to say thank you.

  • @cryborgm.7260
    @cryborgm.7260 2 роки тому +6

    I’ve been needing this explained, you did this very well! Thank you. I’ve always been intimidated by attempting to landscape/scene painting due to my lack of confidence in drawing landscapes. I’m definitely going to use your tips to begin to work on those skills!

  • @kevinsturges6957
    @kevinsturges6957 2 роки тому

    One of the best art tutorials I’ve seen. Thank you.

  • @elizabethpeterson9914
    @elizabethpeterson9914 2 роки тому +2

    Just recently discovered your videos and find them so, so helpful! I've taken so many painting classes and never really understood very well how to tell what were good compositional elements and what were bad. I'd have an instructor say, "change the shape of this mountain, it doesn't work for your composition" but not be able to tell my why. Your videos are finally helping me to understand the why. Thank you, thank you!

  • @alexbork8896
    @alexbork8896 2 місяці тому

    I have always problems to focus myself on the simple forms. This video is very helpful. Thank you. 🙂

  • @rzk1327
    @rzk1327 Рік тому

    I'm not that great at landscapes myself, but I do apply the same ideas in pen & ink drawing (and design in general); taking away details can be such a powerful tool in focusing the viewer on what you really want to emphasise, like light, expression and movement. One of my favourite techniques is introducing strong lights to portraits and letting detail melt into the dark shadows. People's brains are great at filling in the gaps!

  • @gentleyogaforanybody1520
    @gentleyogaforanybody1520 2 роки тому

    It's amazing how you find the beauty in the mundane. VERY inspiring! Thanks, Ian.

  • @user-rx3ph3ox4i
    @user-rx3ph3ox4i 2 роки тому +2

    You always look to the point, Master. Thank you for the lesson!

  • @elysehubbard8321
    @elysehubbard8321 2 роки тому

    You make it seem so simple! Thank you for explaining your thought process

  • @Lobstrique
    @Lobstrique 2 роки тому

    it clicked in my head so hard) loved the diagram, it truly is like that when you start with composition and not just copying what you see. thank you!

  • @Wal48
    @Wal48 2 роки тому +4

    This was extremely helpful to me. I find simplifying really difficult and get frustrated when I still end up creating a painting that’s too photo realistic and doing nothing for either me or the viewer. Thanks for this, and I will look out for the book when it’s available again!

  • @theothercomicguy
    @theothercomicguy 2 роки тому

    I don't know how I stumbled across your channel. But I do appreciate it. Thank you.

  • @isitlina
    @isitlina 2 роки тому

    i have never painted anything in my life (outside of primary school art class) but this is so fascinating to watch/listen. its so interesting to find out what goes into making art

  • @senzen623
    @senzen623 2 роки тому +1

    This really helped me start to digest this concept. I also found this video very relaxing to watch. Something about the pacing felt reminiscent of my experience with my past teachers and got me feeling nostalgic. Thank you

  • @theprior46
    @theprior46 Рік тому +1

    Really good tutorial that gets down to the nitty gritty of what to discard. I don't wish to sound pessimistic but I have real difficulty in filtering out what is the important and what is the stuff you can drop off. Being more oriented towards sound rather than vision I find this sorting visually as difficult as when training to play a piece of music when a tutor asks "What is the main message here that we are trying to get across?" and I say "I really haven't a clue - the input has as many different interpretations and reactions as there are people observing it or listening to it". For those who naturally notice such things it's easy - but for those who don't it's nigh on impossible.

  • @eddielindaa
    @eddielindaa 19 днів тому

    U are a true master of teaching painting. Thank you.

  • @loricolt9123
    @loricolt9123 2 роки тому +3

    I always find your videos very helpful Ian. Thank you for creating these for us struggling artists.

  • @markhudson5825
    @markhudson5825 2 роки тому

    The best tutorial about values and simplification I have seen so far. Thanks!

  • @GentleTaipan
    @GentleTaipan Рік тому +1

    I cheat, by squinting and making everything in my vision physically blurry haha! Thank you for the more structured approach.

  • @sophiereinecke8659
    @sophiereinecke8659 2 роки тому

    Thank you Ian. This video is very helpful to me who always fall into the trap of tiny details. I know still have to go a long way in really achieving success in this regard. My biggest problem is that I am always worried that my painting does not have enough impact and keep on fiddling . You are inspiring me to keep on simplifying and to practice, practice, practice!

  • @lindakim9172
    @lindakim9172 Рік тому

    This was so helpful. Especially the part about making vertical and horizontal strokes based on the grain of what we are drawing.

  • @debwicks2523
    @debwicks2523 2 роки тому

    Hi Ian - still watching and benefiting from your videos, they just get better and better! My work does, too, thx to you and your classes. Will send you you a few things shortly. You changed my skill level and confidence - and my daily practice is solid, 2 years later. Simply amazing, thanks! Deb

  • @pipemma1893
    @pipemma1893 2 роки тому

    Thank you. What I’ve been doing is pausing the video and doing a quick pencil drawing on an index card. Then comparing it to your cropped sketch. I’m getting better! This has been hugely helpful and very encouraging.

  • @maureenparker5291
    @maureenparker5291 Рік тому

    Thank you for this video. It's really instructive to see the photographs first and then how you crop them and create a drawing based on the shapes. I get overwhelmed by all details in photos that I take and hope to paint. Your videos are an inspiration and very helpful. Thanks again.

  • @maxinebutcher379
    @maxinebutcher379 2 роки тому +1

    Really finding your videos very helpful. Shapes, design, structure; like having a road map. Now I understand how helpful drawing is before launching into a painting. Yes I’ve always been distracted by the detail. So glad I’ve found your channel.

  • @Crystalwolf953
    @Crystalwolf953 2 роки тому

    I finally understand what painting values and shapes means. Thank you

  • @saminess2
    @saminess2 2 роки тому +1

    I'm a beginner artist, I'm really eager to learn but it's so hard to find good resources, the quality of the information is truly just unmatched. You've made this concept so easy to understand, and I'm so thankful!

  • @mamahamda906
    @mamahamda906 Рік тому

    Thanks Ian. Your videos are eye opening, simple and answer the needs of many of us. Please keep up the good videos.

  • @swipe87
    @swipe87 2 роки тому

    Extremely helpful video. As someone who gets overwhelmed by all the details when trying to paint landscapes or cityscapes, i focus more on portraits and scenes within my control.
    Now i feel ready to get outside and take some reference images!

  • @marieradi-nahas767
    @marieradi-nahas767 2 роки тому +1

    Thank you Ian for another great lesson. Nothing else to say except: Merci!

  • @matthewrangel6673
    @matthewrangel6673 2 роки тому

    Brilliant articulation of such fundamental concepts that tend to get overlooked. The interplay of all these concepts is quite complex but you've distilled it in a very coherent way. Thank you.

  • @RedDesertRoz
    @RedDesertRoz 2 роки тому

    ohhhh this is SO helpful! The details are always what distract me and bog me down and these examples really help with starting to look for what is behind all that and bring that out. Thanks!

  • @tomplatt1256
    @tomplatt1256 2 роки тому +1

    Always enlightening to watch these videos.... even more so with being one of your students who participated in that 30-day challenge with you. Thanks, as always Ian. See ya Saturday.