Elizabeth Tucker Oil Painting Demonstration - Feb 1, 2019

​​Lizz gave a very detailed and interesting demonstration on the use of rabatment in artwork.  To lead into understanding rabatment, she first discussed many ways an observer sees paintings, and what she considers when planning to paint a subject: light vs dark, analogous colors that give a feeling of calmness, or complementary colors that either neutralize or excite, how to make the object in the foreground pop. These considerations are important when deciding on the mood, color and composition the artist wants to establish. The artist must  focus on what the viewer’s eyes do to move around the artwork.  Rabatment is the use of  squares and intersections to set up the structure that makes the artwork harmonious and keeps the viewer’s eyes engaged.

To use rabatment, in  a rectangular format, create a square (based on the length of the short side of the rectangle).  There are two squares possible, and either or both can be used.  Then draw a line starting from one intersection to the next. The easiest intersections to make will look like an “X,” but keep  adding lines to new intersecting points. The artist can put a “point of interest” at any of the intersections, and add as many or few intersections as needed.  The rabatment style of composition can be found as far back as Renaissance paintings, to modern magazine covers. 

To create her paintings, after taking the time to really see her subject, she uses a handmade transparent view finder with rabatment lines.  She can hold the view finder up to her canvas or to the still life to maintain the rabatment composition.  Tucker confidently uses a limited palette and mixes as she goes along.  Her artwork captures the nature and essence of her subjects,  Her thorough understanding of the rabatment style and composition keeps the viewers interested and engaged in her captivating artwork.

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