There's an exception for every rule. But it is worth knowing what the rules are - and adhering to most of them most of the time. - that allows artists to break selected rules successfully, and thereby to make the stunning, memorable exceptions! Here is a laundry list of pointers to keep in mind. Note how many of them apply to the planning phase.
- Render only what you love or what intrigues you. if you are bored, your viewers will pick up on it - and they may share you opinion
- Thumbnail sketches are worth the trouble. Thumbnails quickly give you a sense of the compositional possibilities. Do several.
- Think three-dimensionally in your design. Consider all planes; foreground, middle ground and background.
- Work on modelling skills. Well-developed modelling skills give you the freedom to rearrange, to manipulate shapes, lines and color, and to be loose without losing believability.
- Simplify. If you can get along without an object or detail, eliminate it.
- Include quite places for the eye to rest. Contrast between open and busy spaces adds interest.
- Mood is best made, not happened onto. Decide what feeling you're after, and support it early on
- Consider color early on. Color scheme can develop along with the rendering, but it's best to give yours some thought beforehand.
- Either warm or cold colors should dominate. Keep in mind that the human eye is more attracted to warm colors
- Watch format proportions.
- Start with big, simple shapes. Don't hamstring yourself with detail early in your rendering's development
- Leave something to the imagination. Omitting detail requires much greater discipline and skill than putting it all in. This also keeps the viewers mind engaged.
- Remember the finishing touches. Highlights, dark accents and bright jewels of color bring your rendering to life.
- Step away from your monitor after a couple hours. Rendering is a two-step process; application alternated with evaluation
- When you think you are through, give it time to cool. Turn your monitor off and revisit it later - once, twice, or several times more.
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