Painting Tips, Developing Visual Memory

Visual memory is the ability to see something when we are no longer looking at it, we can all, if we close our eyes picture our parents or a close friend. As artists, however, when we try to paint them then that is much more difficult, we start to realise that what we have is an impression in our minds eye that is actually quite vague. Most of us cannot just project onto the paper an image which we then draw over, if we could then we would almost be performing as cameras which I do not want to do.

The key to developing visual memory is the ability to observe and memorize fine detail. One of the commonest ways to develop a portrait is to start off loosely, aiming to achieve very general perspectives, the face will condense on the paper almost like a cloud taking shape. Once you have been painting for a while you will know certain rules to achieve a three dimensional shape on the paper or canvas, for the most part a head is a head. It is basically an elongated ball, the eyes in the middle etc, that is a head, it is not a portrait.

A portrait is, however, what is unique to that person. Here are a couple of exercises, to help you achieve uniqueness and develop powers of visual memory. Take off your shoes and look down at your feet. Find a feature on your feet that you can remember and may be unique to yourself. For example I have on, both feet, veins that travel across the top in an arc, a bit like a ring road on the top of my foot! I can see them now if I shut my eyes. I can only see them because I have picked them out and forced myself to remember them. Get it! Now try this yourself. See if you can still remember what you picked out the next day.

Now look at your own face. Look at your eyelids. How are they constructed. How does the skin of the top eyelid connect at the sides of both eyes. Is there a crease along the top of the eyelid, does the eyelid lie flat on the surface of the eyeball or does it seem puffed out. Fix these things in your mind as rules and look for uniqueness. Look at yourself from the front and side on. See the complexity in just this tiny part of the structure of your face. Fix details of the structure in your mind's eye.

In some ways, then, visual memory is assisted by, and enhanced by, proper observation. As an artist you must not just stare at something, you must study it, understand it and how it occupies space. Hope you enjoyed this brief look into a particular aspect of art.

When you next need materials visit [http://www.firstforart.com], you'll find pointers to grab yourself some bargains and further discussion on technique in the meantime... good painting!

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