Urig’s Learning by Imitation of Frank Benson and Evening Light

by admin | Apr 20, 2011 | concepts in painting, Education | 0 comments

Learning by imitation has been considered the most sincere form of flattery. In painting it is much more. For me it is like a free instruction from a famous painter that I truly respect. I hang on his every stroke, color choice, trying to mimic what he may have done in the building of his painting.

Frank Benson Evening Light

I was astonished about his choice of raw umber being mixed almost every color to grey down the intensity of the colors and provide neutral greys throughout the painting. His soft strokes appeared to be painted with almost the same small brush through the entire painting. Colors moved in and out of the lightened raw umber tones in warm and cool directions causing vibration of color bouncing and jumping all over the canvas. Tones where kept to about 3 tones, laid out precisely in a well-organized design.

Daryl Urig and Frank Benson evening light

Studying the way paint was applied; color choices and the design tendencies make me appreciate how Benson painted. Inspiring confidence in me that I can do this, I understand this. It is not as complicated as I try to personally make very painting I paint. I felt relaxed from the experience of learning from Frank Benson, a 2-day personal workshop at the Cincinnati Art Museum.

© 2011 Daryl Urig, All Rights Reserved

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