|Tutorial
Tutorial - Painting by : Nik Rafin
Hi. This is the SIXTH ingredient of COMPOSITION-SIMPLICITY.
In my own term, SIMPLICITY in watercolor painting means to simplify the painting so that it is easy
to understand without compromising the story and content of the painting.
You can tone down the colors and reduce the less important shapes to achieve simplicity and to
make way for the more important one-the Focal Point.
Whenever I paint in watercolor, I always separate the level of Importance into 3 categories-
1.TELL (Important)
2.STATE NOT TELL (Less Important)
3.LOST AND FOUND (Least Important)
Number 2 and 3 are the elements in the ingredient of SIMPLICITY.
'TELL' is reserved for the Subject or the FOCAL POINT.
'TELL' simply means letting the viewers know about the subject very closely. Details are visible.
Colors are bold and strong. Usually big in Shape(s). 'STATE NOT TELL' is for other parts of the
painting that are not so important but they need to be there to reinforce the statement of the
story and most importantly the FOCAL POINT. It simply means stating the obvious shapes without
describing/telling more about them. Colors are weaker and subdued. 'LOST AND FOUND' is for the
least important shapes. These shapes are not that important but without them, the story becomes
incomplete...and definitely you don't want to omit them! Normally I will look for important features
of the shapes and just paint the features. No obvious shapes. No details. Monotonous.
Applying this 'SIMPLICITY' ingredient into your painting can make your painting very interesting and
get the viewers more involved. Having the 'STATE NOT TELL' and the 'LOST AND FOUND' elements
make the viewers guessing but at the s