featuring Colley Whisson

Today we are talking about looking for those peaceful areas in our paintings. It is so often that we try showing off our painting and subjects greatest assets. We get locked into over-detailing certain areas to keep the viewer focused on those. Colley once had someone tell him, “You know what I love about your work? Your peaceful areas.” At first, Colley was confused by this comment and was trying to work out what this other artist was talking about. Colley realized that, like a conversation, we don’t want things to be the same all the time or to fall flat. A great conversation ebbs and flows, and there are areas we sometimes just pause. It is the same with our paintings. The pause in a landscape painting could be the sky because the mid-distance or foreground might have more going on (like foliage, shapes, cars, or buildings) We need to look for those peaceful areas to have that ebb and flow between tranquil and more intense.

Another way to create that peacefulness is by using quieter, less powerful brushwork. In an interior painting, which is normally very detail-oriented, Colley is always trying to simplify the walls. He still has them resonate as a wall by adding a shadow, some light, or half-light. It is a great and easy way to bring in a peaceful area to your painting. In a landscape painting, you could paint the mid-distance as a peaceful area up against more detailed areas. Often times, a more peaceful area in the distance, up against more detailed areas in the foreground or even mid- distance, can actually make the painting look like there is more depth and distance. Colley places huge importance on those peaceful areas. Sometimes, it can be a blazing sun line. Even though it grabs your attention, you can still treat it with not as much detail or mass or visual information. Even an element that is usually eye-catching can always be simplified (if it fits the painting). Not only are we directing the viewer’s eye by simplifying, we are also entertaining the viewer’s eye.

Even shadows can be a peaceful area. If you squint down and look at most shadows, there is normally not a lot of texture going on; they are simple. There are a lot of different areas in our paintings that we can turn into peaceful areas. This then makes the detailed areas, or the highly visual information, far more interesting and less chaotic. We are getting that visual importance working for us. There are a couple of great areas that artists can use and run with when it comes to analyzing a subject and painting it well. It is true with any subject matter. It can be still life, portrait, landscape, etc. We always need those peaceful areas. By having too much detail, you are not saying anything. Chaos does not tell a story, it overpowers it. Without those peaceful areas, there will be too much detail and loudness. Just remember, there is power and magic in the silent and simplified areas.

If you enjoyed this blog post featuring Colley Whisson, you may like the other ways you can learn from him! Click below to find out more: