Monday 15 October 2012

Mirror Mirror


Following on from my post on Friday, I thought I would just say something about the mirror/reflection
photo I had taken....



My wall mirror in the studio (a left over from when daughter lived at home)  has proved so useful when painting.   When I am unsure how a painting is 'balanced'   I just turn the painting round to face the mirror....that way instead of seeing 'what I want or think' should be in the painting, I actually 'see' only the 'structure' of the piece......

if something is out alignment (eg. a tree leaning wrongly - or a mountain top going too far in the wrong direction) the Mirror will show it up immediately.  It is so helpful.


example as with this landscape...I face the mirror to see if I'm happy with it...


 I adjusted some of the 'values' of light against dark....


Friday's painting happened to be on my large table easel, so turning it round wasn't an option.  In this case I used a small hand mirror instead...



the small folding mirror helps when doing plein air paintings too.


Hope this is a useful tip and a help

 when you are unsure of a painting


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16 comments:

Unknown said...

Love the tip on the mirror. Have a lovely Monday.
Best wishes Molly

RobertN said...

Very interesting! Thanks for sharing!

Judy said...

Yes that is a good tip to get an objective view of your work. I'm going to try that!

CJ Kennedy said...

Clever tip!

KonstantinaP said...

Never thought of that before, thank you Ann!! I just walk away and look my work from different angles, but using a mirror never crossed my mind...
Warm regards.

Christine said...

interesting tip! Thanks.

Dan Kent said...

Yup, I often use a mirror. It's an impartial second opinion, even more ruthless than my wife!

ann @ studiohyde said...

Hi everyone, good to know you like this tip. Thanks for stopping by to leave a comment.

Ash said...

Lovely idea, beautifully executed! Great work Ann!

Jerry said...

That's very ingenous and completely new to me - thanks for the tip!

Laura said...

Great tip Ann.

robin cox walsh said...

Once again, great minds think alike! LOL (That’s the only redeeming quality the HUGE mirror glued to the far wall of our living room has!)

bohemiannie! art said...

I do the same thing with most of my pieces. I also take lots of pictures and look at them on the computer screen - and I use one of those peephole things to see them from a different perspective.

liz said...

the trick with the mirror is an old secret,
grtngs, Liz

ann @ studiohyde said...

Hi annie...the peephole is a good tip too - Thanks (:

ann @ studiohyde said...

...the old ones are the good ones Liz (: