The Blurring Technique for Observing and Simplifying Forms
This observation method is a fundamental tool for visual artists. It consists of deliberately squinting the eyes when looking at a real subject or a reference photograph. This action filters the visual information, suppressing minor elements and revealing the essential structure of the scene. 🎨
How the Visual Process Works
By consciously blurring, vision loses the ability to distinguish textures and specific features. Instead, the brain begins to perceive large masses of tone and color, along with the most evident contrasts between illuminated and shadowed areas. This state allows analyzing the overall composition and light atmosphere without distractions, facilitating the transfer of that simplified vision to the work surface.
Key Steps to Apply the Method:- Select a reference with well-defined lighting and clear contrasts.
- Observe with squinted eyes until only color patches and value (chiaroscuro) are distinguished.
- Start working by blocking those broad shapes on the canvas or paper, using generous strokes and color mixes.
If at the end of your work it looks perfect from three meters away, but chaos up close, you may have blurred a bit more than consciously.
Benefits of Training with This Practice
Using this technique regularly develops the artist's perception. It trains the eye to identify and prioritize the essentials in any scene, analyzing it in terms of value relationships and chromatic harmony. This skill is crucial for producing works with a powerful and clear visual reading from the first moment.
Advantages Obtained:- The work is built organically, avoiding detailing one area prematurely while others remain unresolved.
- A solid compositional base is established, on which, upon returning vision to normal, details integrate more easily.
- It acts as an effective bridge between the initial impression and subsequent technical execution.
Conclusion on Its Utility
The conscious blurring technique is more than a simple trick; it is a disciplined exercise to perceive the essence of what is seen. By forcing the brain to ignore the superfluous, the artist can capture the overall sensation and structure, laying the foundation for a coherent and impactful work. Mastering this approach makes a notable difference in the creative process. ✨