Page 94 - The Decorative Painter Spring 2015

Certification Corner
Raindrop Chapter
They Want What?!
KAY BARANOWSKI mda
Submitting a Stroke entry
to be judged for Certifica-
tion is not about what they
(the judges) want—it is
about submitting a stroke
painting that exemplifies
and is indicative of stroking
with one continuous flow-
ing motion of the brush. We
judges are not looking for
perfection from the applicant.
It is about a painting that dem-
onstrates freshness, spontaneity,
movement, and flow. The various required Certification tests involve totally different painting techniques. The floral and still life tests require smooth applications of paint, lack of transparency (except for depicted glass), and lack of brush marks. This application is accomplished by applying color/values side by side usually with blending strokes of the brush. The colors and/or values are then blended together to establish depth, dimension, and realism to the objects. We pat, we nudge, we soften, we mop, we glaze, we clean up edges, etc., and we over-paint if necessary. These techniques are not what demonstrate skillful stroking for the Stroke category test. While all test categories obviously require “stroking” with a brush as opposed to a mechanical device, the Stroke test requires a different technique, application of paint with a brush, and appearance.
A successful passing Stroke entry demonstrates freedom of move- ment, confidence, and spontaneity. It should not appear mechanical, air brushed, stenciled, overworked, cleaned up, or “back painted.” The viewer’s eye should flow through the design via proper paint applica- tion and color and/or value placement. If scrolls and long S-strokes are in the design, they are there to convey movement and should be painted with a stroke of the brush to carry the eye through the design. Cross-blending long flowing elements such as scrolls, leaves, and long S-strokes disrupts flow. If paint is correctly applied to these elements in one continuous motion of the brush, color appearing across the ele- ment is inappropriate and incongruous. Comma-strokes should fol- low the line of the design. When placed along a stem line, they should not cross over that line or touch it—rather they should appear to flow along it. If they are within a larger element, they should flow with and follow the contour of the element. Large elements can and should be stroked as well. Stroke requirements state that paint is to be applied in one continuous motion of the brush. It means just that—one! The evidence of stroking in this manner is brush marks, possible trans- parency, value changes within the elements, and slight variations throughout. Double-loaded strokes (Master level) means that two (or more) colors/values loaded on the brush are to be applied to the sur- face in one continuous motion of the brush. Double-loaded strokes on the Master Stroke tray require the majority of the strokes to be double loaded; this is more than half.
Good stroke painting, regardless of style or ethnic background, requires good brushes, properly prepared background surface, appro- priate paint consistency, and pleasing color and value placement. It re- quires a display of confidence. Above all else, it requires practice—and more practice to attain and display proper paint application using one continuous motion of the brush.
92
The Decorative Painter
• ISSUE NO. 1, 2015
DECORATIVEPAINTERS.ORG