Painting Woodgrain

[Michael Fournier]

Well, I am starting this topic as a side discussion from: http://forum.portraitartist.com/show...&threadid=1345

First, let me say that there is no one way to paint wood, just as there is no one way to paint. But I will start by posting 3 details as examples: one by J. S. Sargent, one by William Bouguereau and the last one from one of my own paintings.

[Michael Fournier]

#2

[Michael Fournier]

Now, what you can see in these three, the wood is convincing enough that we know it is wood. But in none of these three, including the very detailed Bouguereau, did the artist paint every line of wood grain. (Please do not think this is in anyway a suggestion that I am equal to either of the other two artists!) In painting wood grain keep in mind the distance you are viewing the subject and how much detail you can actually see at that distance. In Sargent's painting it is a full-length portrait; obvoiusly you would have to be standing some distance back from the woman and the table to see all of her from head to foot, so you would not see every line of wood grain. Obviously you would not need to paint it.

In the Bouguereau, you may be somewhat closer but you still are not inches from the chair leg. And in my own painting I indicated just enough to show some texture of the grain by painting a few of the major lines of the grain. And in all three, the figure and not the wood is the area of focus. Your eye is not going to be focused on the surface of the wood and all the detail there, so why would you paint it?

[Michael Fournier]

In the case of a still life, or a painting where the wooden object is the subject of the painting or directly adjacent to the area of focus,then a more detailed handling of the wood grain may be required. But also remember that as a wood surface (such as a table top) is laid flat in perspective, the grain gets tighter and blends together, and fewer of the individual lines of the grain can be seen. Or, if you are looking down the direction of the grain, the lines converge as they become more distant.

To be continued, more examples coming soon.

[Michael Fournier]

Well after reading Morgan's post in this topic:
http://forum.portraitartist.com/show...&threadid=1464

Now why didn't I think of that? After reading his post I realized that he is right in that I really don't paint wood any different then any thing else. I just paint what I see. But, I suppose it is easy to say that the hard part is learning to see and know how much detail to put in or leave out. So I guess we could answer all questions about how to paint anything with one word. "Practice"