Charles Hawthorne: Painting the Figure

"By the Window" by Charles Hawthorne

"My artist friends are surprised at my having the class paint a model out of doors, something which they consider extremely difficult. But I consider it the quickest way to get under your skin the idea of the way to paint everything - the mechanics of putting one spot of color next to another, the fundamental thing.

We paint the model out of doors because it detaches itself from other things and is easily seen, obvious - it is still life one cannot escape. The figure stands up and is seen solemnly and very beautifully against the background; it is not part of the landscape. Just four or five principal things to do - it is an ideal problem. We paint problems in order to be able to paint pictures, and, if we are good, we keep on doing problems all our lives and the more humbly we stick to that attitude the better we paint.

It seems sometimes as if the figure painted out of doors is easier than the landscape. Landscape differences are more elusive and delicate - a figure in sunlight is more easily seen. The house may look like part of the landscape but the figure outdoors does not.

If the figure is against the sky, the water or the light sand, keep it as a silhouette against its background - it is surprising how violent things are up against the light. Keep the separation of figure from background out of doors. Have the courage to set down the colors you seed there - overdo in color rather than be weak. See brilliant color, then paint it a little more brilliant than you see it. Working out of doors your eye will be brought up to color - it has the effect of shaking off the shackles of your mind, showing you that you can do anything you please, making you dare. It is the most direct way of learning to see color. You will gain great delicacy and strength painting out of doors."

To be continued

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