Charles Hawthorne: Color

A Study by Charles Hawthorne

"The model out of doors ceases to be the same human being that she is inside - in a head on the beach the features show as reflections, are not drawn as in an indoor head. It is amusing how little one needs features for likeness - think of color notes; spots, not planes, when doing the face out of doors.

Draw as little as is compatible with your conscience - put down spots of color. Seeing things as silhouettes is drawing - the outline of your subjects against the background, the outline and size of each spot of color against every other spot of color it touches, is the only kind of drawing you need bother about. If you do that faithfully you will be surprised at the result. 

Think in color, think in color volumes. The majority of painters don't realize what it is all about - they believe in reproducing nature instead of expressing themselves in beautiful spots of color. Let color make form - do not make form and color it. 

Make it so that I could recognize the subject from the color alone, for color also is a likeness. Remember no amount of good drawing will pull you out if your colors are not true. The spot of color that a model makes against the landscape has much more to do with his character than you imagine. Do that and you have something to work with. Our tool of trade is our ability to see the big spots. 

Starting with a note of truth in a picture is the most important thing - the first color you put down influences you right straight through. Do not put things down approximately - you will take a wrong thing and unconsciously key everything to it, making it all false."

To be continued

(Excerpts from "Hawthorne on Painting" by Charles Webster Hawthorne.)