The Indoor Artist

The Indoor Artist
Linda Birch

The Indoor Artist is an ideal guide for all those who, for whatever reason, prefer to paint at home. Packed with original ideas and practical projects, as well as expert advice on techniques, this is an inspiring book for beginners and experienced artists alike.For many people, indoors is the best location in which to paint – convenient, undemanding, safe, not subject to the weather and free from curious onlookers. But inspiration can sometimes run dry and the amateur artist may also need some instruction to help gain essential skills.The Indoor Artist is a practical resource for such painters. Professional artist and writer Linda Birch takes the reader through the basics – establishing a simple home studio area, selecting the right medium and getting to grips with shape and form – before looking at a number of enjoyable projects in watercolour.These include:• working from photographs• painting still lifes• creating the outdoors indoors• painting from your window – skies and roofscapes• painting flowers, gardens, people and animalsShe also encourages the reader to explore their experimental side by varying scale, using colour creatively and adopting a number of different styles.An ideal introduction for the beginner and a source of inspiration for the more advanced artist, The Indoor Artist is an essential resource for those who paint at home.

THE

COPYRIGHT (#ulink_7ad94c85-58f8-53d4-8e90-5f97b67447d6)

Collins, an imprint of

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First published in 2004 by Collins

Editor: Diana Vowles

Designer: Anita Ruddell

Photographer: Syd Neville

© Linda Birch, 2004

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Linda Birch asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

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Source ISBN 9780007151486

Ebook Edition © NOVEMBER 2014 ISBN: 9780008124281

Version: 2014-11-14

DEDICATION

To my mother, Elizabeth Birch

CONTENTS

COVER

TITLE PAGE

COPYRIGHT

DEDICATION

INTRODUCTION

A PLACE OF YOUR OWN

SELECTING THE RIGHT MEDIUM

WORKING FROM YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS

LOOKING AT SHAPE AND FORM

PAINTING STILL LIFE

PAINTING IN THE HOUSE

INDOOR LANDSCAPES

PAINTING FROM YOUR WINDOW

PAINTING FLOWERS

PAINTING YOUR GARDEN

PAINTING PEOPLE

PAINTING ANIMALS

WORKING BIG, WORKING SMALL

EXPLORING COLOUR

CREATIVE & EXPERIMENTAL TECHNIQUES

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABOUT THE PUBLISHER

INTRODUCTION

This book came about as a result of my encountering many painters who cannot – or choose not to – paint outside ‘in the field’. There are a variety of reasons for this: some live too far from the countryside or lack transport to reach it easily; some are discouraged by unreliable weather conditions; others are not in sufficiently robust health to undertake a trip to paint outside, while many women do not feel safe alone in isolated places.

If you are one of these artists who are not able to paint outside the home you probably feel frustrated and disappointed by your apparent lack of subject matter. However, being indoors can be a real advantage. Your home really is a place where you have the privacy and time to try out new things, hone your skills and find inspiration. I know there are some who maintain that you can only produce a real painting if you work al fresco. Not true! Until the 19th century, all artists painted indoors. Even Turner regarded his outdoor work as sketches meant for his eyes only, prior to painting his more finished work. While his sketches are sometimes prized above his studio paintings, being indoors does not mean you necessarily lose freshness – it depends what and how you paint.