Imagine
breaking down even
the most complex painting into just a handful of shapes. Painter
Ron Hicks has found that the process of painting a portrait can be
intimidating, if not overwhelming, to even the most practiced painters
because a lot of detail is often confused with what makes a successful
portrait. For Hicks, it is just the opposite. Hicks believes
that a powerful portrait--or painting of any subject, for that
matter--is
not in the details, but in the fundamental forms of a composition. A
well-executed portrait is one that describes a person's face or bearing
with just a few shapes. Just as you can probably
identify a friend or loved one from a distance because you know the
general structure of their face and head, you can paint a portrait by
representing those same large masses.
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