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Jenn's avatar

I love the way you write about light and how you describe the way paint moves your eye through a painting. The way you’ve pulled the highlights to really demonstrate your point is brilliant. Thank you for another great lesson!

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Michael Newberry's avatar

Thank you. I appreciate your feedback. What you mentioned was due to the new revision, so I am like “yay, it works!”

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Karafree's avatar

If you choose to copy the Rembrandt, think about it is almost like he is whispering in your ear, and giving you suggestions once in a while.

I absolutely just love that idea. made me smile. My favorite all time painter is Gustav Klimt. and I often have pretended while painting (since his work inspires all my paintings) That he is looking over my shoulder, just observing.

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Michael Newberry's avatar

I wonder if more artists have felt that way? Though in the last several years I haven’t felt that, I just paint what feels right. But earlier when I ran into problems I would seriously wonder how Monet, Rembrandt, or Michelangelo would do it…old friends.

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Charlotte Pendragon's avatar

Michael, thank you for the lesson in art. Your love for what you do resonates strongly through your writing. I love how you apply tricks of artist magic to manipulate light to produce the perception of movement. It’s an optical illusion in a lot of ways, right? Thank you again! 💫🤗💞

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Michael Newberry's avatar

Yep, exactly. Nearly all manipulation in directing the eye. You have brought up that kind of thing when you talk about magic tricks/stunts. Its the science behind it, technique, and talent. The movement one is crazy, but the art work is literally frozen/stagnant, so how the hell does it trick the eye of physical sensation of moving through space when the damn thing is flat? ; )

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Charlotte Pendragon's avatar

That’s optical magic! A good friend of mine creates mini optical puzzles. She’s excellent at creating them. Randy came across a video the other night where are you focused on a point in a black and white photo, and after a short time span the black and white photo was colored. It was presented by some psychologist. I can’t remember what she said but your eyes tricked, but just for a moment.

How did Rembrandt figure that out? Who inspired his own work?

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Michael Newberry's avatar

In some ways it not so strange when you actually paint and have a sensitive eye. In Chapter 29, Optics: The Power of Absence: My Take on Chevreul’s Illusion, I discuss some of the optics...it was fun, I think I am enjoying all if so much now because I can decently communicate in words....I understood most of this stuff very early, but my language was visual not in words. Rembrandt simply observed real life optics but to the 9th degree and knew how to recreate it. He was part of the golden age of the Netherlands, I don't thing he had art mentors, but he would have picked up the optimism of the times and led the way in art.

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Charlotte Pendragon's avatar

Now is this the same book you are currently working in an addition? When you publish it, I do want to purchase it. Here is my friend Victoria Skye’s creations, which you might appreciate. I look forward to reading about your thoughts on optical illusions in your book. Rembrandt was one of a kind! https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=victoria.skye.14&set=a.10203475351437379

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Charlotte Pendragon's avatar

She participates in these conventions featuring mind boggling optical magic.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=victoria.skye.14&set=a.3657189841298

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Michael Newberry's avatar

Thank you @ArtemisForestFairy for restacking! <3

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