Tony Allain, Richmond NZ, 2012, pastel on sanded board, 12" x 16". Plein air. Private collection.
Small, Sharp Marks at the Center of Interest Let your eye rove over the painting, and you’ll find resting areas in the almost-smooth areas of sky, mountain and beach. But at the center of interest, the marks change to sharp, abrupt strokes—a magnet for the eye.
Calvin Liang, Small Boats, oil on canvas, 8" x 10". Plein air.
Marks Following Form Whereas vertical and diagonal
brushstrokes create the forms of the boats, the artist has painted the water with horizontal strokes, which follow the surface of the water. This creates a feeling of restful, flat water.
Similar Marks Everywhere This artist makes loose, impressionistic strokes with pastel throughout the painting, so they don’t pull the eye to a particular place. Yet the piece has a feeling of unity because of this approach. So how does she pull the eye to the center of interest? With the sharp edges of the tall dome of the building against the sky. Sandra Nunes, Ferry Boat Station, 2019, pastel on sanded paper, 20 cm x 30 cm. Plein air. Private collection.
Vertical Strokes Introduce Calm and Height
The short, even, vertical strokes in the sky impart a sense of calm, height, and space.
Michael Chesley Johnson, Autumn Backlit, 2016, oil, 6" x 12". Plein air. Collection of the artist.
Beautiful Landscape Painting Outdoors 89
