Monday, April 15, 2019

Ink-Jetting

Zoungy asks: "What's the term for painting each area to completion, rather than painting the whole area broadly with pale washes and increasing the depth?"

Answer:
 "Some people call it "window shading," especially oil painters. I usually call it "area-by-area painting" when it's in oil and "ink-jetting" when it's in watercolor.  


For example, I want to paint this diner in watercolor. I start with a pencil drawing to give a baseline scaffolding. While I'm doing that step I notice that a couple of the cars have already been replaced by new cars.


It has an active parking lot. Patrons stay inside for an average of 45 minutes (according to Google). I decide to paint the motorcycles first and then record the parked cars one at a time. 


The rendering grows outward from those finished areas. I can worry about the sign and the trees after I finish the parking area.


Ink-jetting is just another painting strategy that every painter should try and have ready when you need it, in contrast to the "overall approach" advised by Pissarro and others.  
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Previously: 

4 comments:

Timothy Bollenbaugh said...

My word mill is inadequate for useful comments on today's and yesterday's posts (you know that by now). But these are excellent posts, with your advice, links and insights. Please keep them coming.

Steve said...

Does Google have data for that diner specifically — the 45 minutes stay — or is that for diners in general? I like the term “ink-jetting,” partly because it brings to mind Graham Nash (of Crosby, Stills, and Nash among other groups) who was an early adopter and adapter of ink jet technology for his photographic prints. I imagine you painting this before entering the diner for your meal, a delayed gratification reward. The rising steam plume over the roof, carrying its message of griddle and fry baskets, brings the sense of smell into the image.

James Gurney said...

Steve, yes, Google gives a capsule summary of patron behavior, and they say the busiest time is 10-11am, and that "People typically spend 45 min here." Google also tells you if there's a wait. I guess they know that from cellphone data. Didn't know that about Graham Nash. My next article for International Artist is called "A Day at the Diner."

Steve said...

I’ll be on the lookout for that issue of International Artist.

Graham Nash is probably the only person in both the International Photography Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. A lifelong photographer, he had a camera at age 10, before having a guitar. One of the first to be interested in the possibilities of inkjet technology, in 1989 he bought an IRIS 3047 printer and modified it to create larger, sharper images. That printer is now in the Smithsonian Natural History Museum of American History. His website, Nash Editions, offers a variety of photographic print services.