CROPPING FIGURES:
Four Design Concepts Using Cropping

Cropping is such a great design concept to immediately give interest to your figurative paintings. Below are four examples and a brief description of these concepts to help you remember them. Be sure to watch the video for further inspiration and explanations.

 

1. FRONT CROP
Cropping and pulling figures to the front of the canvas.

2. BACK CROP
Cropping and pushing figures to the back (top) of the canvas.

3. EDGE CROP
Pushing a figure to the edge and cropping it.

4. GROUP EDGE CROP
Pushing ALL (or almost all) of your figures to the edge (typically the top of bottom of the canvas) and cropping them.

 

Video: FOUR DESIGN CONCEPTS USING CROPPING

Please Note: Each video in this course has its own unique password. 

▸ VIDEO PASSWORD: Multiple
▸ VIDEO LENGTH: 17:02 minutes

 
 

Project: CHOOSE A DESIGN

In this video I do quick studies of two of these design concepts. I’m looking at composition and spatial relationships of the figures and space around them. Small quick paintings like this are great studies for larger work. I apologize for my very stuffy nose!  I had an allergy attack that day.

I used acrylic paint in these demos.

A little secret: it is very challenging for me to paint multiple figures this small. I would typically do this type of work on a three, four or five FOOT canvas! So these demos are ‘risky’ for me. 

Demo: FRONT & BACK CROP

Please Note: Each video in this course has its own unique password. 

▸ VIDEO PASSWORD: Front
▸ VIDEO LENGTH: 19:59 minutes

YOUR TURN:

Things to remember:

A general cropping rule:  Do not crop the figure at a joint such as a knee, ankle or elbow.

  1. Do not crop a figure at the neck, unless you are making a specific statement. Cropping at the neck reads as a  “guillotine” cut and is generally uncomfortable.

  2. Try playing with perspective. You do not need to be realistic!  Push towards abstraction with your perspective. See what happens!

  3. Remember the three-quarter and one-quarter rule for cropping.

Artist Focus

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ZOEY FRANK

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Artist Focus 〰️ ZOEY FRANK 〰️

— Click on any image to see larger —

In the demos above I planned the placement of most of the figures, and I talk about quick studies ahead of time to work out some design issues for a larger canvas. This artist works very differently.
Prepare to have your mind “blown” as you look at the work of Zoey Frank. A skilled draftsman she renders both the figures and their surroundings with an astonishing command of color and inventiveness. Here are a few photos of her work, but wait till you see her process. It is fascinating! In this short video you will see a time-lapse creation of one of her paintings. Watch how she develops the painting by moving, adding and subtracting objects, shapes and human figures.
If you care to learn more about her go to YouTube and search for Zoey Frank. There are several filmed interviews and discussions with Ms. Frank available to watch.