How Edges Make or Break Your Painting

[@pthaloblue100]

"Trust the viewer!" Great advice to remember when I feel compelled to portray too many details in the visual the story! That small painting is exquisite and what a great example of how to leave details out, thank you!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Delighted that you found it helpful.

[@bari9381]

Thank you Ian. Your books are an invaluable resource every artist should have. Also, appreciate you still have a presence on KZbin. Have a beautiful day!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

I'm delighted that you find the book and videos helpful

[@pchabanowich]

Your small painting is FABULOUS! The ear is a marvel of colour and light, and tells the whole story to me - I am led to hear the obscure bustle because of it, and the man's concentration on selecting the fruit. I think I'd've kept the bag, or tried to, but the painting isn't less without it. Thank you.💐

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

I'm glad you found it helpful

[@elsaweber4323]

This is my favorite video of yours so far! I had somewhat discovered this principle of leaving detail out of areas that you don’t want the viewer dwelling on but your demonstration really cemented this important concept in my brain. I especially love the way you put that tiny splash of light to the left of his body. It did wonders for defining how large the man is. Many thanks. ❤️

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad it was helpful!

[@annettaanderson766]

the video was so good, love your clarity when you teach. i have painted for 9 years and self taught.. except for wonderful artist like yourself... i like the 2 cylinder shapes you created on the table of fruit, adding just enough color to pop. i like art with less going on in the background. i paint each day and have learned not to tell the viewer what they are seeing!!!!! i am now 75 and consider art my best friend...

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

So glad you found it helpful.

[@ronan3167]

Fantastic! My brain created the entire background even though it wasn't completely painted. What a wonderful class! Thanks.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad it was helpful!

[@juleneknapp7403]

Thanks for the new videos. I so appreciate how you are so intuitive about what we need.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Delighted you enjoyed it.

[@jeannelutzkow2507]

You make it look so easy. Thank you for sharing

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

So glad you found it helpful

[@imMyshkin]

been watching all your videos this past week. i feel like i hit the goldmine. so much wisdom and knowledge. thank you so much!!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Delighted that you find them helpful!

[@tanyatanu1]

Soooo satisfying to watch the magic happen. Thank you for such a thorough explanation 🫶🏻💕.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad you found it helpful

[@cedricwilford]

Thank you for posting this. Very very helpful!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

I'm glad you found it helpful!

[@dorisr6424]

I love watching you paint, you have a unique way of attacking the canvas with that brush. I’ll have to look back to see if you’ve covered brush technique in past videos. Thanks as always Professor.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

I'm glad you found it helpful

[@susankolpack7044]

Your videos are so amazing for landscape painters, 😊 thank you ‼️🤩

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad you found it helpful.

[@Cyrano-w5x]

Thank you Ian, I really appreciate your clarity while dealing with the complexity of painting. I always recommend the videos on your channel to my students because I find them not only highly valuable for them, but also for myself. :)

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Delighted you found it helpful

[@Zek-nc5tr]

I found this really superb Ian. I painted the same piece, and I ended up quite astounded by the result. For te first time in about 4 years, it seems by following your method, I have a reasonable and attractive looking painting. Thank you so much . Great to be on this channel.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Delighted that you found it helpful!

[@juliawalsh7934]

I liked this demonstration immensely. The useage of simplifying shapes and the art of suggestion are what draws the view in and lets them participate in understanding the painting.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Hi Julia, I think that is exactly it - the art of suggestion. Great expression. All the best.

[@davecampbell511]

Very helpful video. I now feel I understand much better the function of losing edges, whereas before I understood the point of sharp edges to call attention to a focal point. It’s clear to me now that losing or obscuring them engages viewers by challenging them to fill in what’s missing and play an active part in viewing a painting. What a great insight. Thanks!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

HI Dave, you can think of edges in a range from the sharp edges you are talking about to lost. Just like value light to dark. And just like value the quality of the edge will be pulling your attention around your painting. Whether you're aware of it or not. Glad you found it helpful. Best wishes.

[@ThinMintsSnail]

Great guide for edging!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

So glad you found it helpful.

[@dianecourtney2724]

You have no idea how helpful this is. Thank you very much. 🌷

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jenbeaudetart]

What a great video! I loved when you painted his face! So good. Thank you for all of your inspiration!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Most welcome Jen. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@yolanda.c1]

Best explanation of lost edges I've ever heard! Thanks.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad it was helpful!

[@christianday8430]

Brilliant little painting. Nice exposition. Thank you.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Delighted that it was helpful.

[@blackcoffee-f7h]

I love your videos and your paintings are incredible!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thank you very much!

[@firestarter7680]

great video. as a self learned painter I never thougt about this stuff, now I can will incorporate this in my works.Thank you

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Delighted you found it helpful

[@IsabelMourao]

Thank you Ian !Always so good ,so clear 🙏

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Delighted that you find them helpful.

[@feelswriter]

Wow. The coin drops! I all of a sudden get this! Very well explained.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

That is great news. Thank you for letting me know.

[@Kontorgh_art]

Amazing tutorial.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad you liked it

[@Sira_Ahmed]

Thank you sir your preciese videos are entriching resources for me, wish you gorgeous life

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad you found it helpful

[@iaincphotography6051]

Another wonderful, thank you Ian.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Patxi__]

thanks for sharing your knowledge. Regards.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

So glad you found it helpful.

[@barrysimon8103]

Thank you. I'll see how I can apply it to my drawings.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad it was helpful

[@delta_halo]

Needed this video today. Thank you!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Delighted you found it helpful.

[@taniaregina5007]

Bom dia Ian Roberts. Muito obrigada pelo carinho em suas orientações.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

I'm glad you found it helpful

[@gargleblasta]

Very educational. Awesome!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

So glad you found it helpful

[@andyquinn1125]

Very nice, Ian. Thank you.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

So glad you found it helpful.

[@neilbarton7216]

Always so good Ian,thsnk you

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@oppositeofh8]

thanks so much for the information & inspiration.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

So glad you found it helpful

[@karincarter4962]

Very helpful thank you!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad it was helpful!

[@agold1702]

Wonderful-thanks for sharing!❤

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

So glad you found it helpful.

[@Poppy_love59]

Great lesson, thank you!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad you liked it!

[@henriquejanuario881]

Great class! Thanks!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

I'm glad it was helpful!

[@yong1960]

Thanks for the Video.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Delighted you found it helpful

[@merciaduplessis3635]

Thank you.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

So glad you found it helpful.

[@joannsmith9]

I love it!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

So glad you found it helpful.

[@annieeatch9014]

Wow amazing

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad you found it helpful

[@richardgroberto]

Amazing!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad it was helpful

[@robertfay1150]

Fasanating 😊

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad you liked it

[@stevewadley1903]

Fab!👏

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad you found it helpful.

[@christinachristina8271]

Thankyou. ✅🦋

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad you found it helpful.

[@happyfarmer979]

Thank you

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Delighted you found it helpful

[@michaelmcguire1628]

Wondering how you get so much of the initial block-in done with just one loaded brush? What surface do you paint on or maybe medium used? I usually paint on either pre-primed medium-grain canvas or my own prepared panels (couple of coats of gesso plus some added marble dust - then lightly sanded to give a smooth surface but still retaining some "tooth").

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Hi Michael, my favorite surface is Claessens linen (RayMar makes good panels using that, double primed). You'll find it is much less absorbent then your gessoed panel. So paint goes on easier. I use a little Gamsol to thin the paint in the block in. When that layer is dry then I go in with quite a lot of paint. No medium. Hope that's helpful. Best wishes.

[@michaelmcguire1628]

@@IanRobertsMasteringComposition Thanks so much, Ian. That's very helpful.

[@kerstinebascope6493]

Thank you!!..

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Delighted you found it helpful

[@olivernjoku3110]

I am not a painter ( yet). However i enjoyed this approach of loosening the edges 👍🏾. I never thaught about this before thiis video. A famous German painter, Max Beckmann ( if im not mistaken)used to draw thick lines around his characters. Does his still have a particular name? I couldnt find it out.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

I think the term is cloisonnism. It comes from the idea of stained glass, which has dark lines of the lead around each shape. Post-impressionists used (Gauguin, van Gogh) and I guessBeckman too. All the best Oliver.

[@olivernjoku3110]

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition many thanks 👍🏾

[@annap214]

This seemed effortless demonstration has years of experience behind it…. So lovely….

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

So glad you found it helpful

[@Serg_Bro]

Thank you! ✌️🇺🇦🕊️

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad you found it helpful

[@renzo6490]

The eye is drawn to contrast. Light / dark Neutral color / saturated color Sharp edges show a greater contrast than soft edges do.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

So glad you found it helpful.

[@yijumiller5659]

It is also called lost and found

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

So glad you found it helpful.

[@davidwilliams2439]

I am not sure how to know which edges to lose and when. Anytime I intentionally create lost edges and I show the painting to other artists, their comments almost always include a suggestion to clarify divisions between objects or areas (they don't actually mention edges but want the subject to be more distinct from the background for example.)

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

HI David, I think if you are losing edges you need to be looking at something , or a photo of something, where the edges are in fact lost. Either into shadows or the value and color of two things become very close and hence "lost". Set up a still life in a dark room with only one strong light source and look for edges that are actually lost. It doesn't mean you can't have slight variations in color or value to let us see the edge, but from viewing distance that edge is lost. Spend some time looking at the edges in that still life so you see they are really are not there. Then those edges try painting them as lost edges. I feel maybe you are trying to create it where it doesn't actually exist and so your friends are feeling that something has been contrived rather than actually seen. Hope that helps. All the best.

[@davidwilliams2439]

@@IanRobertsMasteringComposition Next time this happens I will check to see if I am inventing lost edges

[@zeeochance]

I practice edging everyday. I still haven't mastered it.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

In time, you'll see results

[@rogerdestre9980]

The bag in his hand would have added more interest and life and more depth. I would have liked to have seen it added.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Hi Roger, I thought that bag so formless I really didn't think it would add much and could be one of those things you paint over and over trying to make it look like anything at all. So I left it out.

[@stephen300o6]

Darkness is good way to not see things.