When looking at jewelery or gemstones the most important aspect is to
understand the nature of the item. To do this we will construct one
from nothing just using our imagination and what we understand of the
physical and technical properties.
This first
lesson is an entertaining introduction to give you some
idea of what I mean by 'looking'. Don't be too worried if the world I
now introduce seems alien at first, because as you progress, you will
begin to understand that the real joy of looking is
not so much occupying your hands, as truly understanding the laws, the
lights and shades, and the memories of all the things around you.
OK, I think I
remember what a pearl
looks like. Ah, its been so long between pearls. I will try to
construct one from memory, first principles and logic.
To begin, let us imagine the largest pearl in the
world sits on a
red table in a room with a blue ceiling. I am the viewer and I view the
perl from the front while behind me is a window. Outside it is a fine
bright sunny day.
Now if the pearl was someone elses 'eye' we must
imagine what it would see!!.
It would see me, basic and a little crude - but
that dosen't matter at this stage?
The window in the same condition.
Together ...
Add a blue ceiling, some walls and a red table
(this is roughly what
the pearl would see if it could see). Next we squeeze it into a round
shape (with a computer this is easy, in a painting you would work
backward.) I am a little disappointed at this stage as it looks rather
raw and nothing like a pearl. But, staring failure in the eye, we must
proceed (forever faithful to our logic).
So lets us rid ourselves of the black edges.
Then, since a pearl is not a perfect mirror, I will blur everything ...
Now we can and add a little milky screen (I
somehow remember pearls are a little milky, aren't they?)
Still too much saturated color and dark values -
so maybe another yellowish screen (glaze) ...
OK ; Now let's cut it out and give it a hard edge
... as it is not made of fur!
(later we will look at a lesson on how edge effects texture) ...
That's looks better. Now for the suggested table
and ceiling
But can't I have a string, seeing I made it
myself?
Why, I'm virtually rich! So why can't a pauper
have a millionaire's
imagination? I expect any artist can always be rich beyond the dreams
of mere mortals, the difficulty becomes one of keeping reality in plain
view.
With our
'pearls,' as with
the world, that is the starting point, and remember, everything exists
in relationship
to light and other things nearby. The rest is simple logic - either
with a brush or computer. OK, lets look some more into this world.
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