Sunrise Over Rockport
Oil on linen, 12" × 16" (30cm × 41cm)
You have probably noticed by now that I keep comparing nature against landscape paintings. This is because most artists believe they can use nature as a foundation for their paintings. While this is true for ideas and inspiration, we need to compensate where nature falls short.
In the previous chapter, you learned that one of the flaws of nature is the symmetrical, and in many instances unattractive, shapes it produces. Another drawback of nature is that much of the color you see is monochromatic, meaning it consists of various tones of only one color. It is our ability to vary and enhance colors that gives us artists the upper hand. Color variety is the flavor of your painting.
In this chapter you will learn: