Edges

When you get the feeling that an object has that "pasted in" look, you can be sure that there is something wrong with your edges. Notice in the top painting on the facing page, "Acoma, New Mexico," the outlined or hard edge throughout the picture. I call this a railroad track. Nothing is left to the imagination and all textures suffer. When looking at nature, half-close your eyes and see how few really hard edges there are.

In the painting below, observe that nothing is outlined. In the girl's dress, part of the white skirt runs into the picture. An outline is unnecessary; here form expresses itself, and your eye completes the picture.

Notice the rough edge on the house in the left corner foreground. This erose edge is an example of how rough paper aids the artist as the brush skids over the paper. If this line were sharp, it would resemble metal rather than old adobe over brick.

You can also soften an edge. You do this with water, blending the colors so that the distinct line is lost.

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