Good link to works of Nerdrum

[mona-K]

Hi all
Found a good link to Nerdrums works and thought Id share it with you.
Its a norwegian site called "kitch forum", so the link is directly to the paintings.
The paintings can be enlarged into bigger sizes than on his websites, wich is makes it easier to see the techniques. Most of the paintings are also shown in the book Nerdrum paintings sketches and drawings.
The first section is his paintings, the lower sections are other artists masterpieces Nerdrum has commented on.( but its in norwegian)
http://www.kitschforum.no/mesterverk.php Enjoy :)

[Gia]

Thank you ancelica. I enjoyed very much this site, ;) (did`nt know about the kitsch-forum, shame its not in English )

[snakum]

Thanks for the link, there's a lot of stuff not usually found in the net, but only in his book. I love Nerdrum and I've spent hours over his book and in front of 'The Water Protectors' at the NCMA (it's on loan to us from the owner). It's sorta what I've always aspired to ... classical, warm and rich, but imaginitive.

In the self-portrait I'm working on now I've been trying to use the blue-gray undertones you see in his work in my (painted) face, specifically near the chin and throat.

Love it ... love it ...

Minh

[Olan]

Thanks for the link, there's a lot of stuff not usually found in the net, but only in his book. I love Nerdrum and I've spent hours over his book and in front of 'The Water Protectors' at the NCMA (it's on loan to us from the owner). It's sorta what I've always aspired to ... classical, warm and rich, but imaginitive.

In the self-portrait I'm working on now I've been trying to use the blue-gray undertones you see in his work in my (painted) face, specifically near the chin and throat.

Love it ... love it ...

Minh

Hey snakum your not working on a self portrait like Odds (Odd Nerdrum Self-portrait in Golden Cape, 1998) are you? :evil:

[snakum]

Hey snakum your not working on a self portrait like Odds (Odd Nerdrum Self-portrait in Golden Cape, 1998) are you?
The thought had occurred to me. :D

Actually, I've changed so much of the colors already, it now looks nothing like I intended ... as usual. :(

Minh "Odd" Thong

[mona-K]

More great links
Heres a good link to Caravaggio the italian master who was an inspiration to Nerdrum besides rembrandt. http://www.kfki.hu/~arthp/html/c/caravagg/

The site lets you enlarge each picture of the paintings up to 150 %, amazing works. The frontpage shows lots and lots of other masters of figurative art http://www.kfki.hu/~arthp/artist.html..just take a pick. Recomend this site to all classic figurative art lovers!

There should really be a thread/ article with all our favorite classic art links,and educational sites. Im sure there are many I havent seen yet.
And it would be such a source of inspiration for many.

Throwing in a link to van goghs letters too http://webexhibits.org/vangogh/ for those interested :)
And one analyse of bellinis "feast of the gods" http://webexhibits.org
Bouguereau at work - good link about his works and techniques, also some recipies .very inspirational.
http://www.artrenewal.org/museum/b/Bouguereau_William/mark_walker1.asp

And student book of techniques "the painter in oil" - the whole book is online, free to read, and some very good tips there for any student of figurative art - also recomended http://www.artrenewal.org/articles/2002/Parkhurst/parkhurst1.asp
Artrenewal has many other interesting articles, books online also.

Hmmm I have spent some time online.. anyone have some interesting links? I appreciate it .
Enjoy:)

[Danny]

Ancelica thanks for the Caravaggio link. He is one of my favorites.Here's the offical websight of Odd Nerdrun :)
http://www.nerdrum.com/

[snakum]

I have Nerdrums last book (Paintings, Sketches, and Drawings?) and have started a copy of one of his portraits shown in detailed view. The way he paints is unbelievably beautiful. Very expressive, and almost impressionistic when seen up close. I've done a couple small studies of parts of his portraits and his technique is quite complex. It's very hard for me to understand exactly what the underpainting is within many faces and landscapes. It's very decpetive and has taken MUCH work to duplicate even the most simple parts at a respectable level. Without knowing a trade secret or two it's most likely impossible for the average student to really duplicate just the look, much less the masterful brushwork which he has developed in 40 years of practice. I'm sure I'll learn a lot just from the effort, anyway. :)

Good stuff, and even better in person.

Minh "Oddball" Thong

[artinoils]

Thanks for the link! I spent hours looking at a book of his work in a bookstore...was too expensive...may have to go get it though. Amazing work!

[snakum]

Yeah ... the book is $70 US with tax, however it includes the best of his work over his entire career. It also includes many, many close-ups which show his brushwork in great detail. I'm using the book to learn how to loosen up the tight, over-blended, stilted portraits that I do, to learn to better integrate colors of figures and backgrounds to make them look like the same painting, and to learn how to use neutral greys. In short, the book is a primer for painting in the style of Rembrandt Van Rijin.

Worth every penny. :)

Minh

Now if someone would just explain how to lay down those heavily impasto'd 'ropes' of pigment ... I'd be in business. :D

[mona-K]

HI snakum
I think its very impressive that your trying to copy one of nerdrums portraits, remember he uses months on each painting,noone can paint like that in some hours or days. if you become discouraged under way. He also uses mirrors to catch the errors, beginning with the drawings.
When you take a few steps away from the picture and look at it through the mirror, the space will make the mistakes stand out stronger. Its your most important tool! Always remember that.
But beginning with the sketch and the drawing, if the drawing isnt right then the painting wont be right either. Thats the importance of sketches, then drawings, then an underpainting, you correct your errors in each step of the prosess, making it as realistic as possible.If you work really hard on the drawing making it as good as possible, you will paint even better than you drew it. Stay pacient and have a good work ethic!
Its even more about training your eyes than the technique, the more you see the better you will draw and paint. And understanding what you are seeing is equaly important.
Good luck with it. :)

[snakum]

Yeah ... I've been doing the 'mirror check' since I started painting. It's amazing what it can catch.

But this time I'm not really copying a Nerdrum, so much as trying to learn the underpainting, color schemes, and dry-brush work. In this instance, I won't really spend much time on the likeness, rather I will be concentrating on the specific things I'm trying to learn.

Minh

[snakum]

Here's the portrait I'm working on ...

[snakum]

And here's my absolute favorite Nerdrum, 'The Cloud'. My second favorite is 'Initiation', third is 'Man Imitates Cloud'. Awesome ... absolutely awesome. We have 'The Water Protectors' here at the NCMA and I've poured over every inch of it. I even asked to be allowed to copy it in oils, but was told it ain't gonna happen (they allow pencil only ... no paint ... no charcoal :( ).

Minh

[Trisha H]

Love the WIP - fantastic !

I've seen some wonderful things in links on this thread - thanks everyone. It's the first time I took such a close look at Bouguereau, always having noticed the wonderful way he painted fabric. The ones with water/sea in them are super.

Snakum - love that portrait you're working on too!

Trisha.

[snakum]

I might mention that the portrait I posted is from the book. It's Odd's ... not mine. I wish ... :D

Minh :D

[Trisha H]

Oh Minh! - sorry, I thought it was one you were doing!

It's still a smashing piece of work though!

so, you having a go at trying a copy or similar then? :)

Trisha.

[snakum]

I wish it was mine ... unfortunately, at less than two years of self-taught farting around ... I ain't even close. :D

I picked this one out to try that darker valued, blue/black underpainting that he does over sienna/umber backgrounds. I used some of that technique with the self-portrait I have in-process now, and it has really made a difference for me in describing the form and 'turn' of the facial features. Previously, I have used the 'Reilly Palette' of nine values of fleshtone, painted directly or sometimes over finished underpaintings, yet I was still struggling with the illusion of form. So I'm doing copies of various body parts and heads from Odd's book to better understand what his style of underpainting will do for me, and to learn to loosen up my brushwork. I typically get stuck in that niggling, over-worked, sharp-edged, detailed style of painting that many beginners get hung up on. I think working in an entirely new style will help me 'let go' a little. If I can borrow a camera from someone here, I'll post some samples of the practice pieces.

I still can't get over Nerdrums brushwork. Even if one didn't care for his subject matter you'd have to admit that he is an absolute master with a brush. The book shows many, many close-ups of his brushwork and his use of wisps of pure, bright colors to make facial features sparkle. It's like an intermediate painting text, imho.

Minh

[mona-K]

Glad the links came to use:) And here are some more

http://howtopaintavermeer.fws1.com/ Many have this link, but for those who dont.

Thought it might be interesting for you snakum and others to see the works of some of Nerdrums students.

http://www.heleneknoop.com/
http://www.natalie-holland.com/
http://www.trinefolmoe.com/

[Trisha H]

Minh - I'll be honest, I hadn't particularly taken a lot of notice of his work before this thread, far less study his working methods. What you describe sounds interesting after seeing his paintings on that link.

I'm sure your 'almost two years farting around' - won't have been wasted, and it sounds like you're making progress!

I often use blue/black over a 'rusty' sort of colour, or even a magenta, and like the glow you can get that way. My problem is knowing when to stop trying to make it all too even!

Love to see some of your practice pieces if you can.

Trisha.

[snakum]

I've done two very small studies (one head and one arm) and one 8.5 X 11 head in that dark grey underpainting. Tomorrow morning I'll start mixing the fleshtones to see how it works out.

Here's the arm ...

Minh

[Trisha H]

...well, it certainly looks like an arm Minh! - and is that lovely orange/red some fabric draped around a waist?

Trisha.