To Add a Background or Not?

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Permalink Reply by Liz on March 4, 2011 at 6:09pm

Hello Linda,  Sometimes I do add a background, sometimes I don't.  I was always told by art teachers in primary school that a background was essential,.....and have been asked many times by my professional artist friend of 30 years+, ( he's seen plenty of my work) - why I sometimes don't add a background. 

 So, on the basis of 'teachers' insisting that a background 'anchors' a subject, I suppose there must be some law somewhere that says it is the thing to do.

 However, here's my own thoughts on the subject,.......I maintain (for myself) that if a subject calls for the canvas or page being 'filled' - as in landscapes, seascapes, cities, harbours, - outdoor scenes in general, that's fine, fill the page or canvas.

 But to portray just a single object, on it's own, as in portraits or a flower etc., that  is fine too.

 I think it's just personal preference,......if you feel a drawing / painting is 'finished' without a background, why spoil it by slavishly following a 'rule'?

 I know lots of people will disagree, it's just my personal choice, I'm never going to be another Da Vinci, so why worry?

 I just enjoy doing what I do, and stop when I feel the drawing or painting is 'done', :-)

 Best regards,

 Liz

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Permalink Reply by Doug McCallum on March 14, 2011 at 11:48pm

I think a lot depends on the type of work. For most things I think a background would work. For botanical illustration in the traditional form, you never have a background. I do backgrounds when it makes sense to me and don't when it doesn't. Since I do art for me, that is all that matters.

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Permalink Reply by amanda simister on February 3, 2012 at 2:51pm

LIZ said it all IMHO.i i've done a single object drawing/painting with nothing as far as background and ones that are.

its all in personal opinion.

just as said why spoil a drawing/painting by adding a background if you think it id finished without one.

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