Dramatically improve your paintings using the methods of the old masters. Many of those artists used the sight-size and comparative methods to create beautiful artworks. The Joseph McGurl Sight-Size Viewfinder combines and updates these methods in a way that will significantly and rapidly improve your artwork. Whether painting in the studio or outdoors, the sight-size viewfinder is the best way to find your composition, refine your drawing skills, expand your creativity, and speed up the process.
Here is a brief overview of how it is used. See below for more detailed instructions.
The Viewfinder can be used for still life, landscape, interior, portrait, or figure—any subject which is drawn or painted from life.
The artist chooses his subject. The viewfinder helps the artist choose the composition because it is defined by the frame, and the painting will be the same scale as it is seen in the viewfinder. There are two ways to crop the scene. Moving closer or further from the subject or moving closer or further from the viewfinder. The artist has the option of adding the string grid to the viewfinder and drawing a corresponding grid on the panel. The artist chooses a spot to paint or draw from and draws the shapes he sees in the viewfinder at exactly the same size which is sight-size on his panel
The artist begins to fill in the colors and adjust the drawing by eye or measurement. Because the painting is right next to the subject and is the same scale, it is easy to make comparisons.
The shapes and colors the artist sees in the viewfinder are compared to what the artist has painted. For outdoor painting, the colors and shadows will shift with the changing light, but as the viewfinder will help the painting progress more quickly, the changes won’t be as dramatic
If the artist chooses to maintain a close fidelity to nature and is careful with drawing and color, the artist should be able to line up the painting to the actual scene. The painting should blend into the surroundings.
It is important to remember that the viewfinder is a guide. The artist may choose to depart from a close translation of the scene to a more interpretive expression. The colors can be more vibrant or subdued, the mountain made steeper, the tree moved into the scene to improve the composition. The value of the viewfinder is that it helps the artist make these alterations based on intellectual or emotional responses and not from poor drawing or color and value seeing. The viewfinder can be a point of reference or a point of departure. Every artist is unique and will find ways the viewfinder can be incorporated into their art making process. Below are some of the ways I have found the viewfinder to help enormously with my outdoor painting and studio work. It may give you some ideas for incorporating it into your art making too.
The purpose of this sketch was to study the rusting ship. However, it is still a painting, and the composition needed improvement. There was pile of brush on the shoreline which was not in the view defined by the viewfinder. I moved it into the scene to frame the right side of the composition. There was also an interesting pile of driftwood at my feet. I moved that back along the shoreline. As the day progressed, the wind came up and the reflections of the ship’s hull diminished. I brought the reflections back to better define the reflective qualities of water and to soften the transition between the hull and the water. These changes were not seen looking through the viewfinder; however, bringing them into the painting more truthfully portrayed the setting. The viewfinder allowed accuracy with painting the ship, but I was able to take liberties where needed.
This 9x12 sketch was an on-location study of light, atmosphere, and glare on the water. It became the inspiration for the studio painting "Lightspeed" 24x36 which was composed from my imagination. I can draw well enough to not need the viewfinder for accuracy; it's the efficiency with which I can paint that makes it indispensable for my outdoor sketching. Since I started using the viewfinder, I can paint much more quickly which allows me to put in all the information I will need before the light and atmosphere change too drastically.
“Sunspot, Eagle Lake” The sight-size viewfinder was used in the filming of my instructional video “Painting Light and Atmosphere.” The video begins with the sight-size landscape painted on location and follows the progression to the completion of this 24x36 studio landscape based on that sketch. The 9- hour video is full of tips and techniques. Available from http://streamlineartvideo.co/mcgurl
The viewfinder is made in the USA of steel for light weight and durability. It is rigid and will not be affected by wind. There are measurement holes along the sides which also allow for the option of adding the included grid line and there are two clips for attaching to panels. We've also included a sheet of red acetate. By looking through the acetate, the colors are reduced which helps determine the values in comparison to other objects in the view.
An important feature of the viewfinder is the bend on the two sides. These bends create the average angle which will present a perpendicular view when the artist shifts his eye from subject to panel. Without the bend, the artist would see a trapezoidal shape rather than a rectangular shape when looking at the framing of his subject by the viewfinder. Because of the angle, both the viewfinder and panel maintain a rectangular shape. If the artist typically works close to or far from the panel, the bend can be easily adjusted to the proper angle.
If you are a beginner or intermediate artist, the viewfinder will help you to draw more accurately and more quickly. The viewfinder will help train your eye so that you will not always rely on measuring; you will be able to make accurate drawings by eye. If you are an accomplished artist the viewfinder will help you to paint faster which is critical when painting on location. If you are a studio painter, less time will be spent composing and making corrections on the painting.
To Order: Mail check to P O 797, Cataumet, MA 02534 made out to Joseph McGurl or click the buy it now button for secure payment via credit card, debit card, or Paypal. For Canadian and other international orders, please email [email protected] and we will invoice you for the cost of the viewfinder and the additional shipping charge. Price: $49 plus $8 mailing and packaging $57 total. (less than a tube of Old Holland cerulean blue:)
Thank you for purchasing the Joseph McGurl Sight-Size Viewfinder. We hope it will give you a lifetime of enjoyment. I've provide detailed instruction here, but it's not complicated when you see how it works.
The viewfinder can be attached to any painting or drawing support and used with most easels. It can be used in a standing or sitting position. Above: French Easel, Studio Easel, Gloucester Easel, Pochade Box, Pochade Box with viewfinder on top, Strada Easel. Included are 2 clips for attachment to panels. Use with horizontal or vertical formats and attach to left side, right side, or above the panel.
If you are using a deeper support such as stretched canvas, a larger clamp can be purchased at any hardware store. The tab on the side makes aligning the viewfinder easy and also prevents the viewfinder from swinging down when one clamp is used. Place the viewfinder against the back edge of the support with the tab facing you.
This is the set up I prefer because it allows the most flexibility to adjust the angle and height.
Line is included with the viewfinder for the optional grid. Loop through the holes in the numbered order to create the grid. Pull the line tight, place your finger on it and tie a granny knot. Lay the viewfinder over your panel, and use it as a guide to measure the corresponding grid for your panel. The 9 x 12 size can be adjusted to smaller sized panels by taping mat board on the back with or without the grid.
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When you have chosen your subject, you need to decide how to crop it. Moving closer to the viewfinder gives a wider view, and moving back gives a compressed view. Once you have chosen your view, you must return to that exact spot every time you make adjustments to the drawing. To make this easier, paint a mark on the edge of the viewfinder where two obvious features of your subject are located. Line up those marks to the features each time adjustments are made (epoxy finish allows for easy cleaning of viewfinder). These are your alignment marks. Close one eye to prevent view shifting due to our binocular vision and only make drawing adjustments while that eye is closed, and the alignment marks are in position.
Adjustments can be made by eye or by measurement. Line up the features to the alignment mark you previously made on the viewfinder, and measure from edge of a shape to the edge or string on the viewfinder, and make a corresponding measurement from the edge of the panel to the edge of the shape you are drawing. The measuring will help to train your eye, and eventually, you will no longer need to measure; you can draw it all by eye. Once the drawing is locked in, you can lower the panel to paint and raise it back into position periodically to check it next to the scene.
If you choose to maintain a close fidelity to nature, when the completed artwork is superimposed on the subject, it should blend into the surrounding view. An equally valid approach is to be expressive with your color choices, brush marks, and composition, and if you stray too far, the viewfinder will help you find just the right balance between reality and personal expression.
