Does anyone know of drapery instruction references?
 

Hello, everyone.

I am looking for instructional tips or tutorials or online demos - just about anything that might demonstrate folds or draping in clothing.

I have noticed between various artist portraits in doing the clothing some were very weak when it came to the folds looking natural or realistic.

I want to do some studies just on draping and folding itself so I was hoping for some info on it if its available anywhere.

Thank you!!

Mark

Drapery/Folds on Clothing
 

I have found a section on drapery in a book called "Drawing the Head and Figure" by Jack Hamm pubished by The Berkley Publishing Group.

It mainly addresses the folds on clothing, based on the different positions a figure assumes. I have seen this book at my local library under art instruction. I hope this will help.

Check out this site: http://williamwhitaker.com

William Whitaker is a masterful artist who is also a frequent contributor to this Forum. His breathtaking work is shown on his site, along with many step-by-step examples which feature beautifully rendered draped fabric on his models.

I'm attaching a detail of a Bouguereau canvas that is on display in the art museum in New Orleans. This is a masterful display of drapery painting.

The best way to learn to paint drapery like this is to arrange or hang a piece of cloth and draw or paint it. A drapery exercise is best done using only one natural light source. Light bouncing around a room or coming from more than one direction will make it much harder. If you can't use natural light, then light the drapery using just one spotlight.

Try squinting (or take off your glasses.) That will help you simplify and see values correctly.

Bill

Thank You Bill!

You are one of my favorite artists. I love your work, and desire to paint like you.

Thank you for the example, and it is your paintings that have inspired my desire to learn folds as you do them.

Just an update, I did a simular excersise as you mention today and it looked pretty good. I was pleased so I am going to set up as you say a more compicated piece and see what unfolds, no pun intended.

Mark

Mark,

Drapery painting is just like painting other relatively smooth forms. Look for and identify highlight, light, shadow edge, shadow, cast shadow.

Keep your eye on the major value masses and their relationships to each other.

Here is a wonderful work by the great Claudio Bravo that perfectly illustrates what to look for in drapery painting.

Remember, drawing and painting is all about seeing clearly.

Bill

Thank you, Bill.

I found a larger version of that pic and used it to do a study.

I was quite pleased, pointing out lights, highlights, shadows and reflections really made me look and examine the subject matter more thoroughly.

I know I reached my objective when my wife came in and said, "Wow. it almost looks like it could be a mirror reflection."

Looking at the folds, and seeing more than just dark and light, but various degrees of light, and dark or shadow then reflective light, painting the folds suddenly were not as difficult as they had been.

The frustrating thing about this is, I should have known to do this. I mean, when I am painting a face for instance, I look for the lights, shadow, cast shadow, and reflective light.

For some reason, it just didn't compute to folds, but now it does, so thank you very much.

Now, I move on to another one I wish to figure out. I am painting a rain barrel, as I have seen several artist add to their themes and I like the results. So I want to see now if I can make my paint take on the look of wood.

Each challenge overcome is just one more step toward my goals I have set.

Ever learning,
Mark

Depending on the look you want, dry brush is a good technique for weathered wood. Can you post your reference?

Mark,

Could you post your question about wood as a new topic, otherwise I'm afraid it will get lost here. Afterwards, we can move Michele's response over with it.

Thanks!