stephenbaumanartwork

Block In Bootcamp: Memory Drawing #1 (UPDATED)

UPDATE: Rough cut of livestream uploaded.

Link to group critique: https://youtu.be/2xOXqoiiSvs

Memory drawing is a technique in which you try to recall and draw a previously seen image from memory. The aim is to improve your ability to store visual information and retrieve it for recall. It is time tested and a great way to improve your drawing performance overall.

We are going to be diving in at the deep e...

Atelier Forum Podcast, Ep. 2 with Adrian Gottlieb

In this episode of the Atelier Forum Podcast, we welcome renowned artist Adrian Gottlieb to the show. Adrian is an accomplished painter known for his masterful use of traditional techniques and his ability to convey emotion and atmosphere in his work. He discusses his experiences as a student- including what he wishes he had studied sooner!

Find the episode on:

2023-02-09 10:03:17 +0000 UTC View Post

Anatomy for Portrait Artists, Features of the Skull

The human skull is one of the most important structures for portrait artists to study and understand as it contains many key features that impact the overall appearance of a face. 

In this lecture, we will explore the anatomy of the skull and examine the specific features that play a significant role in creating a lifelike portrait. By the end of this lesson, you will have a comprehensive understanding of the anatomical features of the skull and you will be ready to begin the first...

Anatomy for Portrait Artists, Vocabulary

First things first- the vocabulary section of Anatomy for Portrait Artists! 

In this section, we will focus on learning and mastering the essential terminology of artistic anatomy. Having a strong understanding of the vocabulary used to describe the human form is crucial as it helps to effectively communicate with other artists, accurately describe the subject, and ultimately create more lifelike and expressive portraits. 

By the end of this lesson, you will have a solid...

Intro to: Anatomy for Portrait Artists

Welcome to Anatomy for Portrait Artists (APA)! In this course, you will learn the fundamentals of anatomy as they apply to portraiture. My goal is to provide you with a comprehensive, yet practical understanding of anatomy so that you can create more accurate and dynamic portraits. Release starts Feb 1st on The Atelier Tier.

My approach to teaching anatomy is efficient and straightforward. I have broken down the complex subject into easy-to-digest sections, using short lectures and demo...

3 Types of Edges Explained

This vid is a condensed answer from my Hot Topics livestream from Dec. 

I am still fishing for the right topics for my next livestream so please keep commenting- the next stream is coming soon.

In other news: 

Anatomy for Portrait Artists (APA) comes out Feb. 1st on the Atelier tier!!!!! This series of lessons is going to be awesome and I am sure your drawings & paintings will benefit LOADS from it- stay tuned ...

Block In Bootcamp, Reductive Drawing #2

(UPDATED, with final footage where I refine the block in).

Group critique from this session is now available to watch HERE.

As we dive deeper on this technique we are going to study a pose that offers quite a different challenge. What happens when the features are not easily described by shadow shapes alone? What if the shadows require a duo-tone application right from the start? These questions and more on the n...

It finally happened...

It has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember to put a show like this out into the world. After dozens of false starts I finally made it to the finish line, which is also the starting line...?? So, here it is!

The link above is to the pod on Apple podcasts. The links below are for Spotify and Google Podcasts:

Apple Podcasts 

2023-01-09 13:07:06 +0000 UTC View Post

The Atelier Tier, Color Study #2, Monochromatic

Happy New Year, people!

This color study lesson will teach you how to search out all the variations contained in a single hue: yellow. You will be surprised to find out that you have tu use every color on your palette just to paint all of the different forms of yellow you encounter.

My palette here is: Titamium white, cadmium lemon yellow, yellow-brown, vermillion extra, raw umber, cobalt blue and ivory black. The support is acrylic primed linen, very fine weave.

2023-01-01 13:10:58 +0000 UTC View Post

Block In Bootcamp: Reductive Drawing #1 (updated)

Very cool technique incoming!

To know how to prepare your paper for this lesson , follow this demonstration.

You can also catch the unedited group crit here.

Edges vs. Transitions + Background Design

Livestream date: December 13th @ 4pm Oslo time

Topics this session are:

• Edge quality vs. transitions. What do we mean when we talk about each of these?  
• How to design a background in a portrait
• + Anything cool that comes up organically during the stream

If you would like to suggest a topic for the next stream please drop it in the comments. All of the topics that were suggested in the comments section of the initial poll are documented and...

Anatomy, Livestreams, App Dev & The B.I.C.

DECEMBER! What's coming up on Patreon, you ask? A lot.

1. There will be more color projects coming, but... I am going to start releasing parts of another big course on the Atelier Tier: Anatomy for Portrait Artists! Should start up in Jan. or Feb.

2. A new live stream type is arriving on the 13th of December. With your poll responses in mind, I will be live streaming on a pre-chosen topic. The topic will be relevant to one of the following categor...

The Atelier Tier, Color Study #1, Complimentary

Now that we have all of the pre-painting color theory in the bag it is time to put it to the test.

In this lesson, you will be painting a complementary color theme (violet + yellow). 

The application of paint will be bold and direct- no smudging. The goal is to create a mosaic of color values that, together, add up to an accurate impression of the subject.

My palette here is: Titanium white, Old Holland yellow-brown, vermillion extra, cobalt blue, and ivory black.

Lets get IMMEDIATE!

Information is as good as it is accessible.

My goal in every lesson I make for Patreon is to deliver the simplest version of the concept or process that I can. 

Still, pre-recorded lessons by their very nature can't react to students in real-time.

So here is my idea:

I go live and answer your questions with explanations and photoshop diagrams. 

These subjects of these questions would include, but not be limited to, my l...

Block In Bootcamp, Searching Lines (updated)

In this lesson we are going to maintenance skills that, despite not being in the top 3 (structure, proportion, likeness), are super important. We are going to draw using searching lines. 

This approach will focus on improving 2 drawing skills. 1st it will help to loosen up your application of initial lines. 2nd, because of the nature of this approach, you will be incentivized to keep your hand "light." There will be minimal use of the eraser so once the lines are on the ...

Palette Exersizes

Part 2 of your immersion into color dynamics in oil painting features:

• How to audit your palette
• Desaturating colors
• Color bias
• How to mix and match any color

My palette here is: Titanium white, Old Holland yellow-brown, vermillion extra, cobalt blue, and ivory black.

Let's talk about Loomis-

Andrew Loomis gave us a great tool to help block in a drawing. There are others like Bridgman, Vanderpool, and even my own, but Loomis is by far the most well-known. In this demo you will learn how to draw one from start to finish. 

Also- very soon I will add an extended version of this lesson here on Patreon! 

In other news: 

Your 1st applied color theory lesson comes out November 1st! If you've ever wondered if you are working with the corre...

I am teaching in Rome- and you should join me!

UPDATE: all places are filled. 

Here's the bullet points- 

- This July 3rd - 14th I am teaching in Rome, it will be literally the only workshop I teach in person this year.

- The course is a deep & practical dive into everything I know about portrait drawing. Materials and all.

- This is a link to the course description. Booking is at...

Block In Bootcamp, Mass Drawing #2 (updated)

UPDATE: The date should read October 15th, 4pm Oslo time

We are going to go deeper into mass drawing this month. Specifically a more polarized light/dark dichotomy. You might be shocked by how direct it gets...

You will need for this lesson: Nitram charcoal. One of each box will do. There are other brands but Nitram is the standard.

Paper is the same,...

The Atelier Tier, Color Theory (I actually use)

This section of the Atelier Tier deals with the concepts of color necessary for the beginning oil painter and the application of those ideas through palette mixing and painting.

This video is the primer for the color application section of your atelier training. There are 2 more videos in the series in which we will be applying these ideas to art making.

My advice- TAKE NOTES. It is important to assimilate these ideas and vocabulary.

Block In Bootcamp, Lesson #1, Visual Style

UPDATE: This video is the introduction to the structural style taken directly from The Block In Course. It is rigorously edited for clarity and many diagrams have been added to express the concepts with a crystalline clarity.

Not all of the Bootcamp lessons are edited this way. The others that you will find are taken from the live streams only.

There are chapter markers separating the sections of the lesson:

• Envelope shape
• Int...
  2022-09-30 09:18:41 +0000 UTC View Post

Two Kinds of Simplification, Explained

This is a kind intro to the concepts we work on in the Bootcamp Tier. It's a video about WHAT we use to simplify rather than HOW we simplify. If you haven't signed up yet- what are you waiting for 😉 >>> Bootcamp Tier 

These 2 particular styles of simplification contain the concepts that I use most when developing my own block ins. 

There is...

Block In Bootcamp, Mass Drawing #1 (updated)

If you want to learn a fast and effective way to block in a portrait, this is for you.

Mass drawing is a great way to edit out the details and go for the BIG impression- in fact, you will have no choice except to do so.

Here is something you will need for this lesson: Nitram charcoal. One of each box will do. There are other brands but Nitram is the standard.

Paper is...

My student life would have been so much easier if...

...I knew the 5 things I talk about in this video.

The advice isn't revolutionary- they are simple things that anyone can apply. 

By the way- there's a bonus tip (#6) at the end that's tough to follow but nice to hear.

Cheers,

S

Alla Prima Painting, Refined Edition

All the goods in 1/4 the time. 

These refined editions are a great way to get a concentrated dose if info about the lesson, even if you intend to work along with the real time video eventually. 

While I have your attention- later this month Block In Bootcamp will feature a deeper dive into the Hybrid approach to blocking in and...

The critique session will be a group zoom meeting. You can all chat with me and ask as many questions ...

Alla Prima Painting, Real Time

In my experience as a teacher alla prima painting is the most effective accelerant for students learning to paint in oil. 

What we are talking about here is a painting made in one session- a highly repeatable process that ensures progress. For best results, rinse and repeat!

The materials are the same as 90% of my other paintings:

Titanium white, yellow-brown, 50/50 mix of vermillion and alizarin crimson, raw umber, and ivory black.

It is painted on Stonehenge oil...

Alla Prima Lesson Preview

August 1st my full alla prima lesson will be available on Patreon. 

This video will tell you a bit about what it is and why I think it is useful for students in particular.

LOTS of hard work went into making it as easy as possible to follow and work along with!

Block In Bootcamp: Lesson #3 Hybrid Style

This lesson is the introduction to the structural style taken directly from The Block In Course. It is rigorously edited for clarity and many diagrams have been added to express the concepts with a crystalline clarity.

This will give you more practice drawing the head from another angle which will ultimately better prepare you for memory exercises. 

The Hybrid approach is an expression of how I actually draw. It's made up of the ...