Surfside: Step 11
The painting was, for all intents and purposes, complete at this point. However, upon inspection of the figure, I decided that a few minor adjustments would improve the piece. And while some contemporary artists insist that painting in Premiere Coup (one coat) is the sign of a true master, I am reminded of the words of two great masters.
Rubens said:
“…in regard to the lights: in them the colors may be loaded as much as may be thought requisite. They have substance: it is necessary, however, to keep them pure. This is effected by laying each tint in its place, and the various tints next to each other, so that, by a slight blending with the brush, they may be softened by passing one into the other without stirring them much. Afterwards you may return to this preparation, and give to it those decided touches which are always the distinctive marks of great masters.”
It is reported by his student Palma Giovene that Titian never painted a figure alla prima and that the master used to say:
“He who improvises can never make a perfect line of poetry.”
With this in mind, I am not afraid to make minor adjustments to the work at the end, adding depth to shadows, clarity to highlights, and smoother transition to the middle tones where needed. In this instance, only a very few minor changes were made…and I’m not telling where.
The close up of the figure shown below gives a better view of the colors, values and edges.
