Q. This painter has made a few “technical” mistakes. What are they and how do they affect our understanding of the painting?

A.There are some weird effects in this painting that come from errors in foreshortening and scale (her right hand is not well defined and her head is quite large in relation to her body). The grid on the wall also creates an odd, distorted effect (as though she were in a parallel universe). These “mistakes” however add a surrealist component to the image and make this portrait very special and interesting, particularly given that the subject’s gaze is so warm and direct. This image is from the book Thrift Store Paintings and was probably painted by an amateur painter. Perhaps it was discarded because of its imperfections.

Now take a look at the painting below. This painting, entitled Head, is the work of a highly skilled artist named Brian Calvin. Similar manipulations of scale and foreshortening have been made (in this case intentionally) to emphasize a kind of sadness and personal alienation. The beer can, distant setting sun, and the large sad eyes tell the whole story.

This comparison is provided to demonstrate that whether they are made intentionally or unintentionally, manipulation of technique is a fundamental way artists gain creative control and develop an individual style – and throwing a wrench into the way we expect an image to look can have wonderful effects.