Is painting a magic act?

Looking at Art:

After creating sculpture for many years, it was shocking to begin to paint seriously. Drawing and painting rely on illusion to portray realistic subjects. The artist must use all of the tools in their arsenal to create three dimensions on a flat surface. Without a knowledge of perspective, works on paper or canvas look flat or distorted. In sculpture the 3D forms present themselves quite naturally in space, whereas, in painting I believe I need all of the magic tricks invented by artists over the years to produce successful work. I am still working on acquiring the keys to portraying three dimensions. Are you aware of the artist’s mastery of illusion when you look at a painting? I suspect they would prefer that you simply enjoy the work without recognizing the tricks they use to transport you to the world they portray.

Work in the Studio:

The man’s face you see in the painting shown here, attracted me because he seems to have great character with the years etched into his features. I wanted anyone looking at the painting to be drawn to his face. In order to accomplish this, I knew I needed to do more than paint him realistically. Since his clothing takes up a large portion of the piece, I wanted to paint his shirt and sweater without drawing too much attention to them. By simplifying the clothing and making it all the same color, I hoped it would act more as a background than an important object to draw the viewer’s attention. By making the area around the sweater the same value as the clothing, I was also attempting to draw attention to the much lighter hand and face. Did this strategy work for you?

A Good Read, Watercolor, 14” x 11”