Two Art Podcasts

I enjoyed my conversations with Michael Clawson, host of the American Art Collective Podcast...

and B. Eric Rhoads, founder of Plein Air Magazine and host of the Plein-Air Podcast.

A Brain Circuit that Detects Faces

 

A brain circuit in primates that rapidly detects faces has been discovered.

This circuit, involving the superior colliculus, explains how we quickly spot and focus on faces, which could be relevant for portrait artists, character designers, or anyone who draws or paints people. 

According to a news release from the NIH, "The newly discovered circuit first engages an evolutionarily ancient part of the brain called the superior colliculus, which can then trigger the eyes and head to turn for a better look. This better view enables different brain areas in the temporal cortex to engage in more complex facial recognition."

The superior colliculus has also been found to play a crucial role in distinguishing objects from their backgrounds. PsyPost says:

"Researchers demonstrated that when the superior colliculus was deactivated, the mice had difficulty identifying objects against various backgrounds. This indicates that the superior colliculus is involved in a parallel pathway for visual processing, highlighting its significance in the brain’s overall visual system."

It's all a reminder to us artists that the viewer's attention is primed for seeing faces in whatever image we create. The ability to recognize, orient to, and identify people by their faces is built into our brain structures. 

So if you put a little more time into getting that face exactly right, your time is well spent.  

Matěják's Three Favorite Art Books

Thanks to YouTuber Jan Matěják for featuring my book Color and Light: A Guide for the Realist Painter in your shortlisted recommendations.

He says: "This one is hands-down the most valuable in my entire collection."

You can get signed copies of Color and Light at our online store. It’s also our bestseller.

Problem Solving for Oil Painters by Gregg Kreutz

The Art of Still Life by Todd Casey

Tiny Triads

 Here are two gouache plein air sketches painted with tiny triads. 

Left: titanium white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and Prussian blue. 

Right: white, cadmium yellow deep, raw sienna, and brilliant purple.

Free Stickers

 

For the rest of the year, EVERY order shipped from my online bookstore comes with 4 FREE stickers.

Kudos to this Bookseller

 

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Book Signing This Thursday in Rhinebeck

I’ll be doing a book signing this Thursday, Nov. 7 at 6:00 at Oblong Books in Rhinebeck, New York.

I expect to be signing: DINOTOPIA• COLOR AND LIGHT • IMAGINATIVE REALISM • LIFE LESSONS FROM DINOSAURS, plus we’ve got a preview copy that you can see of THE ARTIST’S GUIDE TO SKETCHING.

I’ll bring along a couple original paintings and do a brief talk and Q&A. Hope to see you there!

Lines and the Brain

Coles Phillips was a Golden Age illustrator who created illusory shapes as a compositional device, making our brains see what isn’t there. He became known for the “Fadeaway Girl,” who disappears into the background.

More at my Substack article "Lines and the Brain," part 1 and Part 2.

Lightbox Schedule

Here are my events for Lightbox Expo in Pasadena a week from now. The rest of the time I'll be wandering around. I look forward to meeting you there.

Colossal Characters in Two Weeks

 

We'll be sketching Colossal Characters two weeks from today in Pasadena. Bring a sketchbook and join us, and let’s dream with our eyes open.

This year’s list of Mentors is off the charts (links to Instagram)
Thomas Fluharty @thomasfluharty
Jess Karpishin @jess.karp
Karla Ortiz @kortizart
John Burton @johnburtonart
Kiptoe @kiptoe1
Angela Sung @angothemango
Sean Bodley @seanbodley
Jeff Hong @chromacorg
Amanda Grose @myworldinillustration
Qianjian Ma @q_sketches
Kate Rado @katerado
James Gurney @jamesgurneyart

(Pictured from last year: Kymba Plushner (LeCrone) and Gabriel Gonzalez, lead artists at Blizzard.) 

 eyes open!