| Adding "Life" to a painting is easily achieved by | | | | person compared to a house for example. If you |
| adding living objects or even non-living objects | | | | painted them in the background and they were |
| such as wagon wheels, carts or benches to an | | | | the same size as the roof top, it would throw off |
| almost complete painting. Follow along in this step | | | | your entire composition. I suggest penciling them |
| by step tutorial to see just how easy it is to bring | | | | in first. |
| you art to life. | | | | You can create the illusion of life by adding |
| So you have finished that landscape painting and | | | | non-living objects as well. Paint in objects that |
| have decided that it needs something more. Step | | | | suggest movement or activity. A sled leaning |
| back, take a look and ask your self, "What would | | | | against a snow covered front porch suggests |
| I like to see if I were in my own painting?" It | | | | play, or a water pail next to a well pump |
| sounds silly, but it works. | | | | suggests chores or work activity. |
| Life in a painting could be as simple as painting in | | | | One thing that I love to do with my landscapes is |
| some simple daisies or flowers. Colorful plants are | | | | to add a path. A nice worn down dirt path really |
| the essence of springtime and are simple to do. | | | | leads the viewer into the art. The path itself is not |
| Another very easy addition could be to add | | | | alive, but it adds illusion that people have |
| distant birds. Use a gray color and paint in a few | | | | wandered upon it. Paths can be added to any |
| little v's in the sky. Practice first and remember to | | | | season painting. If your painting is a winter scene, |
| add them in a manner to not distract from the | | | | just add blue and or purple to the white snow to |
| painting itself. By this I mean, in general do not | | | | create instant shadows where the snow has been |
| make them too large. | | | | worn down. |
| If you feel you cannot paint animals or people, | | | | Shadows cast from trees, buildings, and objects |
| then just paint the suggestion of them! What I | | | | add life because we think of the time of day and |
| mean by this is to paint in shapes that make the | | | | the setting and rising of the sun. Ripples in the |
| viewer fill in the details. Like the example of birds. | | | | water make us think of wind and movement of |
| You didn't really paint a bird, you painted a V, but | | | | the living earth. Animals tend to add peace and |
| the viewer thinks - bird. Another example - a | | | | tranquility. |
| distant person would not have any detail in the | | | | Adding life to any painting is not difficult. Take a |
| face, so just get the general shape and colors | | | | look at most paintings and I think you will find that |
| and dab in the idea of a person. Remember to | | | | you are drawn to those that have some indication |
| keep them in perspective. Always keep size in | | | | of life. Don't be afraid to experiment and I think |
| proportion to the surroundings. This is crucial or | | | | you will enjoy learning to paint. |
| you may ruin your painting. Think of a size of a | | | | |