A member of our staff at Art Center Information caught up with artist brothers, Lynn and R.D.Burton, yesterday, and they were kind enough to answer a few questions that some of our readers have asked.
Art Center Information: What tips would you give for an artist wishing to draw or paint a still life picture?
Lynn Burton: Once you decide on the center of interest, wisely use balance in the composition with different objects around it. Remember, variety is very important to any still life composition; and, finally, be sure to use a well composed area of light to emphasize the focal point of interest.
Art Center Information: What do you say when asked about foreshortening?
Lynn Burton: Foreshortening flattens out and shortens the length of an object to stimulate perspective. Anything you see at an angle, not straight on, is foreshortening. It is easy for us to think of foreshortening when considering round objects such as fingers, arms, legs, and even tree limbs, but rectangular objects are foreshortened as well–their sides are seen as shorter than they are. Everything has to be kept in perspective. The best example I can think of when considering foreshortening is the poster where Uncle Sam points his finger at you.
Art Center Information: What tools do you use in your graphite drawings?
R.D. Burton: Most of my graphite drawings are done with a 2H or 4H for the lighter areas. For the darkest value, I seldom use any lead softer than a 4B. My favorite paper is a Strathmore 4-ply plate finish Bristol board. I sharpen my pencils with a single-edge razor blade, tapering the wood and leaving a little more than 1/4″ but less than 3/8″ of graphite exposed. Then I give the lead a conical shape using a sandpaper block. The graphite dust is removed from the point with a soft cloth (critical). I never start a drawing without several sharpened pencils of each. I hate having to stop and sharpen pencils when taken over by the passion to draw.
We appreciate the questions coming in, please keep them coming, and we will try to get to them in a prompt and efficient manner.
Be sure to sign up for the Art Center Information newsletter and enter the drawing to win a free coffee table art book>>>Upper right hand corner of page.
