Cinnamon Pink

Portrait: Today's Story

Here is a painting that I just completed which was inspired by artist, Toni Burt.

My substrate was my art journal page that I first covered in vintage book pages and acrylic paint. I then used graphite pencil, watercolors and Da Vinci gouache paint to complete the portrait. And lastly a stamp.

100+ Painting Tips for Artists: ThoughtCo.

Via the ThoughtCo. site, here is an interesting post on: top 100+ Painting Tips for Artists. The article is written by Marion Boddy-Evans. Maybe you'll find a  new technique to try this weekend.

There are always interesting topics to be found on the ThoughtCo. site.

A New Portrait

I've been busy painting portraits. Here's one of my newest paintings.

A few years ago, the idea of painting portraits scared me. Then I began practicing my techniques and now I find it very relaxing to paint faces.

Handy Interactive Color Wheel: from Sessions College for Professional Design

Image from: Sessions College for Professional Design site

Have you hear about the Handy Interactive Color Wheel? The latter comes courtesy of Sessions College for Professional Design.

Here's the blurb from their site: "Whether you’re designing a logo or painting a house, choosing colors can be frustrating. Where do you start? Which colors work together, and why? How can you creatively explore different moods or directions?"

"Use the free Color Calculator to explore creative color options for your design project. Simply pick your base color(s), choose a color harmony, tweak/explore as needed, and see results. You’ll get a report of the hex, RGB, and CMYK color values for your project and see your colors applied to design samples. Share or print, rinse and repeat."

I'm going to bookmark the color wheel to use with future art projects.

Acrylic Pouring Tips

I would like to try acrylic pouring in the future and recently searched for posts on this technique. Here's what I found:

A Craftsy article entitled Go With the Flow: 4 Fluid Acrylic Painting Techniques to Try offers these tips on acrylic pouring:

• "If poured directly, remember that fluid acrylics should not be diluted more than 50% in water as the paint might not adhere properly.

• Try moving the angle of the paper or the canvas to make the paint go in a particular direction.

• Fluid acrylic can also be mixed with medium without losing adherence. Use medium to give it just the right consistency to be poured on canvas. This will make the paint move slower than in its liquid state, which makes it easier to control.

• Pour some medium onto the canvas (gel medium, pouring gel or self leveling gel), add drips of fluid acrylic and then make some swirls on the paint using a skewer or a painting knife. The medium will become transparent as it dries."

On the Golden Just Paint site, there is detailed information on Understanding the Techniques of Pouring Acrylics.

You can also view an acrylic pouring tutorial on the site, Acrylic Pouring.

Check it out!

Tips for Painting More Loosely: from ThoughtCo

Via ThoughtCo, I came across this article on Techniques for Painting More Loosely written by Marion Boddy-Evans.  Here's a few ideas you may want to try:

• "DON'T PAINT OUTLINES. Objects are three-dimensional, they don't have outlines. If you're unsure about this, look at your body and see if you've got an outline or if you're 3-D…. Instead of drawing an outline (or painting one) and then filling it in, paint the object as a whole."

 

• "TRY UNREALISTIC COLORS. Instead of worrying whether you've painting accurate colors, try some that are completely unrealistic. Paint a self-portrait in your favorite colors rather than skin tones. The result will probably be a lot more emotive – and certainly dramatic."

 

• "USE A BIG BRUSH. Painting with a big brush makes it hard to put down detail. A big brush encourages you to use your whole arm to make broad, sweeping strokes. Use a flat brush not a round one because you're wanting to increase significantly the width of the painting strokes you make."

Check out the complete post for more ideas from Marion.

 

Fifty Ways to Use Your Unfinished Artwork: from Empty Easel

Whimsical Girl: Art Journal Page

Here's a fun article that I came across on Empty Easel entitled: Fifty Ways to Use Your Unfinished Artwork written by Carrie Brummer.  I've listed a few of the ideas below:

• Choose an entirely new medium to incorporate into the artwork.
• Practice new techniques on the art work.
• Use the artwork as a warm up space.
• Flip it upside down or sideways and finish it with the new orientation.
• Splatter paint on top a la Jackson Pollack, then reinterpret the work.
• Write down a list of five things you learned from the work.
• List five skills you want to develop because of the work.
• Monoprint on top of the art work.

Make sure you read the complete post for more inspirational ideas.

Improve Your Acrylic Paintings: from ThoughtCo.

Here's a helpful article I found - via the ThoughtCo. site - Twenty-Two Mistakes to Avoid When Painting. The tips come from artist Brain Simons. I'll list just a few of his acrylic painting suggestions but do check the link for more ideas.

• "Using repetitive brush strokes: the latter puts the viewer to sleep. Use a variety of brush strokes.

 

• Changing to small brushes: stay with the larger brushes as long as possible.

 

• Using too many colors: use three or four colors with white paint and see how many variations you can arrive at.
  

 

• Thinking too much: painting is a doing, feeling thing and not a thinking, intellectual thing."

Great information. Check it out.

 

Abstract Painting Tips from Artists Network

Check out the interesting tips in the post on Creative Layering Techniques for Abstract Painting via Artists Network.

Here are some inspiring ideas from artist, Genady Arkhipau that I plan to try:

• "Work on the floor. Outside or inside — it doesn’t matter, but I have to have enough room to move around the piece."
• "Warm up for about an hour with drawing, which helps me loosen up and reach that degree of careless confidence and get in the zone."
• "Work on up to five pieces, one at a time, with the one in the middle usually being the best of the bunch."
• "Start with a theme and build out radically when abstract painting." 
• "I get creative ideas while working, and I explore my creative hunches when they come my way."

Make sure you read the complete article for even more ideas from other artists.

 

 

Female Figure on Cheap Paper & Leftover Paint

Today I was working on a painting of an abstract female figure on  a canvas board. I couldn't decide on how to shade the figure.

So I grabbed some cheap paper and leftover black paint on my brush and came up with this quick rendition. Sometimes, it's good to let go of expectations and just paint.

Painting In Progress

This painting is still a work in progress. I was going for a more subdued look by using diluted acrylics. I plan to add another layer of acrylic paints.

On his site, the artist John Lovett talks about using white gesso glazes on his watercolor paintings. He says the glazes can be used as a soft subtle haze to reduce emphasis. I tried the technique on this acrylic painting. Check out Lovett's site for more painting tips.

Girl with Flower Painting

Here is a painting that I just finished today. First, I collaged pieces of decorative paper on my small moleskine journal page, including the rose.

I drew the face and then used the following supplies: Golden Titanium White AcrylicPaint, Caran d'Ache Neocolor II Water Soluble Pastels and graphite pencil.

I love using the pastels for shading because of their creamy texture.

Portrait: Graphite Sticks & Acrylic Paint

This is a painting experiment where I first used my new jumbo compressed graphite sticks. I also incorporated Golden Titanium White acrylic paint and a hint of pink on the portrait. Portions of the background include decorative papers.

I expected the graphite sticks to blend more easily. I plan to work up some more paintings with the graphite. I may also add some soft pastels to the mix.

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The Art of Black & White Workshop

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Making Miniature Paintings from Artists Network

painting by Joyce Washor

Have you ever wanted to create miniature paintings? Then check out the Artists Network post on Mighty Miniature Paintings written by Cherie Dawn Haas with tips from artist, Joyce Washor. She is the author of Think Big, Paint Small, a book dedicated to the art of miniature paintings. Here are some specific tips from Washor:

Shrinking Your References for Miniature Paintings

One of the best things you can do to render what you see as life-sized into a small format is to draw the composition as a single unit, not as individual items. Specifically:

• Draw the Basic Outline

Start by blocking in the outermost edges of the objects—but as just one shape, not individual shapes.

• Fill in the Outline

Draw the edges of the shape made by the objects, and add the table top.

• Finish the Sketch

Now you can look at each object individually and add in each distinct shape.

Check out the complete article for more tips. This post inspired me to pull out my tiny canvases and begin experimenting. 

Chrysler Museum of Art Visit

Claude Monet, Haystacks, Late Summer

Hurricane Matthew paid us a visit but we were lucky. We received about ten+ inches of rain over the weekend and only lost power for about fourteen hours.

A day before the storm, we visited the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, VA to see the exhibit, The Agrarian Ideal: Monet, van Gogh, Homer and More.

 

Winslow Homer, Farmer with a Pitchfork

Adolph Gottlieb, Untitled

I really was taken with this last abstract painting. I like the energy of the art piece.

Flower Girl: Painting-in-Progress

Here's a work-in-progress, mixed media art painting of Flower Girl. 

A while back I took a portrait workshop with Misty Mawn at an Art & Soul Retreat. I remember her saying that it's common to not be satisfied with a painting in its beginning stages. I did have a rough time when I first began this painting but then I finally was able to get it back into shape. I do have some finishing details to add.

I worked on this painting in my art journal. I find that it helps to first experiment with portraits in a journal before moving on to a canvas or wood panel. For example, I initially added a flower image, to the painting, taken from a paper napkin. The latter quickly fell apart. So I rubbed it off and replaced it with a paper flower image.

Angel Girl Painting: Mixed Media Art

Here's a mixed media painting of an Angel Girl that I just finished in my new art journal. I may add some more details later on.

I usually never paint on the first page of an art journal. This painting was done on the second page.

Oil Painting Experiment

A while back, I won three tubes of Daniel Smith Water Soluble Oil Colors (in primary colors) via a Dick Blick Holiday Sweepstakes.

I finally decided to experiment with the tubes. I hadn't worked with oil paints in quite a few years. On the first day I really enjoyed working with the oils. By the second day, the paints proved to be more of a challenge.

I was surprised to find out that water soluble oil paints do not dry faster than traditional oil colors.

Then my use of graphite began to mess things up. Some mixed media artists love the grungy look that graphite produces in a painting. Others steer clear of that medium. I think I may use less graphite in the future. I still need to rework the lip area in the painting.

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Adding an Isolation Coat to Your Mixed Media Art Paintings

Do you apply an isolation coat to your acrylic/mixed media art paintings? I recently learned about this important step in preserving paintings. According to Golden Paints:

"An isolation coat is a clear, non-removable coating that serves to physically separate the paint surface from the removable varnish. The isolation coat serves two purposes:

• To protect the painting if/or when the varnish is removed by separating the pigmented area of the painting from the solvents used in removal.

• To seal any absorbent areas in order to create an even surface on which to apply the varnish."

Check the Golden Paints link for the details on this technique.

Start Three Paintings at Once

Via Artists Network, I came across some good advice from artist Jo Toye about the wisdom of Starting Three Paintings at Once.

Jo says, "Psychologically, having several paintings waiting for you helps to draw you back out to the studio. There’s a certain energy and momentum that builds while working on a painting that dissipates with its completion.....Having another painting waiting for you after completing one tends to lesson the inertia you may experience that prevents you from traveling that long distance (often a hall or simply a doorway) back to the studio."

Recently, I was working on two paintings at one time and enjoyed the process. Next time, I'm going to take Jo's advice and create three paintings at once. What do you think? Do you like to create multiple paintings? You can cut the risk by beginning your experiment with small canvases.

 

BLAST Rule for Painting from James Gurney

Via Artists Network, I came across this post on: James Gurney & His BLAST Rule for Painting.

According to Gurney, “This rule consists of five general pointers that lead to happier results in just about any kind of painting."

1. Use the Biggest brush possible for a given passage.
2. Paint Large shapes first, followed by small shapes.
3. Save your tonal and chromatic Accents until the last.
4. Try to Soften any edge that doesn’t need to be sharp.
5. Take Time to get the center of interest right.

Read the complete post for the background story behind Gurney's BLAST rule. Then give his ideas a go. I know that I will be trying his suggestions.

 

Create Depth in Your Landscape Painting - from Fine Art Tips

 Edgar Payne painting. Image from Fine Art Tips blog

Via Lori McNee's blog, Fine Art Tips, I came across this informative post on Six Ways to Create Depth in Your Landscape Painting. Here are two of the tips from that post:

• "Layering and overlapping is effective when there is a notable contrast in the shade or texture of two overlapping objects. This creates extra contrast and helps to separate the objects from one another." The Edgar Payne painting above demonstrates layering/overlapping.

• "Aerial Perspective. A faraway mountain range will usually appear lighter, hazier and bluer as it gets further away. This phenomenon is called, aerial perspective. It is an optical effect caused by the atmosphere on objects viewed at a long distance. Use temperature changes in color to help with aerial perspective."

Check out the rest of the post for more great tips.

 

Paint More Loosely from Marion Boddy-Evans

Via Painting About.com, I came across the post, 10 Techniques for Painting More Loosely written by Marion Boddy-Evans. Here are a few of the ideas that caught my interest:

• Use a Big Brush. "Painting with a big brush makes it difficult to put in detail. A big brush encourages you to use your whole arm to make broad, sweeping strokes. Choose a flat brush not a round one to significantly  increase  the width of the painting strokes you make."
• Try Unrealistic Colors. "Instead of worrying about using accurate colors, try some that are completely unrealistic. Paint a self-portrait in your favorite colors rather than in traditional skin tones."
• Don't Paint Outlines.  "Objects are three-dimensional, they don't have outlines. If you're unsure about this, look at your body and see if you've got an outline or if you're 3-D." 

For more inspiration, check out the complete article. And then try out a few of the techniques this weekend.

 

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Watercolor Painting with Catherine Mein at TAG Summer Art Camp

Our group, Tidewater Artist Group (TAG), recently held our annual Summer Art Camp.

We were lucky to have TAG member, Catherine Mein, teach a Watercolor Painting Workshop.

Catherine is a member of the National Watercolor Society, Virginia Watercolor Society, International Society of Acrylic Painters, Society of Layerists in Multi-Media, Tidewater Art Alliance, Chesapeake Bay Watercolorists and the National Collage Society. She has won numerous prizes in juried shows. Check out her site to view her beautiful paintings. 

The Workshop focus was painting flowers. I painted the flowers in the above photograph. I still need to add some finishing touches.

Thank You So Much Catherine for sharing your talents with our TAG Group!

 

Palette Knife Painting Tips on Fine Art Tips

I've only tried painting with a palette knife a couple of times so I was thrilled to find this post, Palette Knife Painting Tips on Lori McNee's blog, Fine Art Tips. The article was written by Jonathan Van Brunt. Here's a few tips that I found especially helpful:

• There is a purity of color that can be achieved when painting with a knife that is very different than with a brush. 
• Try the tapered palette knife, which is strong yet flexible. It allows you to mix the paint thoroughly before applying. 
• The ultimate benefit of painting with a knife is the ease from which you can change colors....The palette knife is simply wiped clean for each color with a good thick rag. This allows more time to be spent on the painting and less on the  preparation.

Check out the rest of the article for more helpful tips.

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Poppies - Palette Knife & Heavy Gel Experiment

Paintings of Francoise de Felice

 Francoise de Felice Painting

Through my wanderings around the Web, I discovered the ethereal yet haunting paintings of Francoise de Felice. 

Via Combustus, you can read an interview with the artist and view more of her paintings. Following is a brief background from the Combustus interview:

"Françoise first developed her craft as a French impressionist. She later left France and settled in Sicily, where she began to build her own personality and signature. The artist credits the splendors of the Sicilian baroque and light of the island for helping her along her journey, developing a style born of chance and want combined.”

Francoise de Felice Painting

You can learn more about Françoise and view additional paintings at this Web site.

 

Drawing & Painting Lessons from Edward A Burke

Image from the Art History Archive

Via Art Marketing Resources, I discovered free Drawing & Painting Lessons with Edward A Burke.

I was especially interested in his Lecture Notes on Contemporary & Cubism Art and his Experimental Drawing Lesson: Cubist Portrait Drawing. I have always admired the art that was created during the Cubist Movement. In fact, one of my favorite paintings is Picasso's Portrait of Ambroise Vollard as shown above. Many years ago, I painted my version of this portrait using oil paints.

You can support Burke's site by entering your artwork in their ongoing international artist competitions - or you can make a direct donation.

 

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Use Acrylics to Create Watercolor Effects

I was looking for a resource on how to achieve watercolor effects with acrylic paint. Via Fashionarium, I found this post, How Does Fashion Illustrator Jennifer Lilya Make Acrylics Look Like Watercolors.

Jennifer details her technique and provides a photo of the supplies that she uses. Check it out.

Will Kemp Art School - Check It Out!

If you're interested in learning more about acrylic painting, you may want to check out the Will Kemp Art School site (Professional Secrets for Aspiring Artists). Kemp offers an extensive list of posts and free video tutorials on acrylic painting.  

Topics covered include: Getting Started, Colour Theory, Acrylic Painting Techniques and more! Kemp also offers information on oil painting and drawing. Check the site out!

 

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Acrylic Paintings & Texture

Poppies - Palette Knife & Heavy Gel Experiment

Although I've been painting with acrylic paints for many years, I never worked with a palette knife until today. I used acrylic paints thickened with Golden Extra Heavy Gel to complete this small painting of poppies. 

I really enjoyed working with the palette knife and heavy gel. I look forward to more experiments with this medium.

 

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Day 27 of 30 in 30 Challenge - More Poppies

Day 24 of 30 in 30 - Blue Poppies Abstract

Finally - 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

Finally - Today is Day 30 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge. 

This morning I began a watercolor painting of roses in a vase. But I didn't like the end result. So my offering for today is an abstract, small rose watercolor painting.

I'm proud to report that I completed 27 paintings for this challenge. I only have 3 more paintings to do to catch up. I've never completed so many art pieces for painting, or mixed-media art, challenges that I took on in the past. 

Congratulations to all the other participants - and a Big Thank You to Leslie Saeta for sponsoring this event. You must check out her paintings. They are gorgeous.

Day 29 of 30 in 30.....And Snow!

Here is a photograph of the street across from our home. All you can see is snow which is an unusual sight in North Carolina. The total snowfall was only 3 to 4 inches but that's a lot of snow for the South.

Today is Day 29 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge. I completed this mixed-media art painting using Gelli Art Prints, stencils, acrylic paint, ink and collaged papers.

Day 28 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge.

 

Here we are at Day 28 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge. YAY - Only two more days to go! Of course, I also have to make up the 3 paintings that I'm behind in.

I used watercolor paints, crayons and pencils for this still life.

We're expecting a snow storm here in North Carolina. Predictions range from 2 inches to 7 - 10 inches. Snow is unusual in our area - and I have never experienced large snow accumulations in NC. I'll let you know what happens. Stay warm.

Day 24 of 30 in 30 - Blue Poppies Abstract

Today we have finally come to Day 24 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge. I'm still two paintings behind but my goal is to catch up.

Yesterday, I added modeling paster to a 5" x 7" canvas board and let it dry overnight. Today, I began covering the canvas with magenta and copper acrylic paints. To me, the colors looked lifeless.

So I scrubbed the paint off the canvas. Instead, I painted on Golden heavy body acrylic paints in Cobalt Teal and Turquoise. Then I sprinkled on some glitter and added Turquoise Stickles to the centers of the poppies.

Why blue poppies? Because I decided to create abstract fantasy flowers.

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30 in 30 - Day 3 - Abstract Art

Day 23 of 30 in 30

Today is Day 23 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge. Life has been hectic around here so I'm two days behind in paintings. But I believe I can catch up.

Lately, I have been painting traditional type art, e.g., landscapes, still life and buildings, etc. And I feel as if something is lacking in my art. Today I realized that it is the mixed-media art and whimsical that is missing from my art.

I just completed this mixed-media and whimsical painting. And it made me happy. I guess that the cliche is true - Do What You Love!

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Whimsical - Day 17 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

Day 19 of 30 in 30

Today is Day 19 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge. I completed two paintings today so that puts me at 19 paintings in 19 days. The image above is a mixed-media, watercolor painting.

First, I pasted down a variety of light-weight papers on the postcard size canvas. Then I drew and painted a few strawberries and cherries. I used watercolor paints and crayons, colored pencils and brown and black inks. Using watercolor paints on dried papers was a little tricky.

 

For this second art work, I used watercolor paints and pencils and ink. Check out what the other participants are painting for this challenge.

Day 18 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge....And Creativity

WOW - It's already Day 18 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge. I painted a still life for this day based on an exercise in the Charles Reid book entitled, Painting Flowers in Watercolor. 

One thing that I have learned so far with this Challenge is to just keep painting every day. Some days you may love the results - and on other days you might not. But bottom line, you are growing and improving your painting skills.

Onto another topic, here are two articles on Creativity that you might enjoy:

• Doodling Your Way to a More Mindful Life - Published 01/13/2014
• Visual Journaling as Art Therapy & Self-Help PDF – Articles published end of 2013

 

 

 

Whimsical - Day 17 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

I decided to go WHIMSICAL for Day 17 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge.

I began my art piece with acrylic paints. Then I incorporated some collage. Next, I distressed different areas of the painting with a Cretacolor Monolith pencil (9B). So what began as a painting turned into a mixed-media art work.

 

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Day 16 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

Today is Day 16 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge. I wasn't able to complete a painting yesterday for Day 15. However, I do have two paintings-in-progress so hopefully I will catch up.

For this painting of birch trees, I used watercolor paint and crayons, colored pencils and ink.  To create the orange/yellow tall grass, I placed ripped shreds of masking tape near the bottom of the page. I brushed on green paint over the tape. After I lifted the tape, I colored in the grass with watercolor crayons and pencils.

Day 14 - 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

Here we are at Day 14 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge. I decided to pay tribute to the animal kingdom and paint a cow.

I don't think I ever painted a cow before. I used acrylics instead of watercolor paints. Both the cow and the acrylic paints proved to be a challenge but I did finish the painting.

I'm also posting this painting to the 40 Portraits Challenge as Portrait #24.

Day 13 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

I left the world of landscapes, buildings and doors and painted a portrait for Day 13 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days. 

My portrait was inspired by a painting by Amedeo Clemente Modigliani (1884 - 1920). However, I took some artistic license and made the eyes bigger in my painting.

I am also posting this painting for Portrait #23 for the 40 Portraits Challenge on Facebook.

 

Day 10 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days.

Here we are at Day 10 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge. Only 20 more painting opportunities to go.

This painting, entitled Bettina Louise, features my newest Cinnamon Pink Girl©. Check out what the other artists are painting for the 30 in 30 Challenge.

Day 7 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

For Day 7 of  30 Paintings in 30 Days, I worked with water-soluble ink, watercolor paints and pencils. Last, I added a script art stamp. I'm pleased with myself for creating 7 paintings in 7 days.

Please check out the lovely paintings of my fellow-participants in this challenge.

30 in 30 - Day 3 - Abstract Art

Today is Day 3 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days.

This time, I created an abstract painting. First, I covered a canvas panel with modeling paste and let it dry for 24 hours. I painted two-thirds of the canvas with cobalt blue acrylic paint. The lower portion of the canvas is covered with buttercream acrylic paint. I glued glitter to the top of the canvas.

Take a few minutes to view the paintings of the other artists in the challenge.

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Image from  Carol Nelson Web site

For the anniversary of their launch date, Empty Easel is featuring a "selection of best of' articles that continue to be great resources for artists at every stage in their career"

Here's one article that may interest you - How to Add Incredibly Thick Texture to your Acrylic Paintings written by Carol Nelson. For the details, check out Carol's step-by-step process.

Why not take some time to read the other best of articles on the Empty Easel site.

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Painting Portraits

For the past two weeks, I have been working on Holiday projects. I noticed that I was beginning to lose my zest for the projects.

So I decided to paint using the techniques that I learned in  Misty Mawn's Brown Paper Bag Expressions Workshop. I took the workshop at the Art & Soul Retreat, in Virginia Beach, this past Spring.

Changing my medium to painting energized me. I enjoyed the challenge of directly painting on a brown paper bag without sketching beforehand.

How do you pump up your zest for Art?

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Monochromatic Portrait Painting

This is a monochromatic painting that I created before doing the Demo Painting. I may go back and work on her eyes a bit to give her a softer look.

I used the techniques that I recently learned about in Misty Mawn's Workshop at Art & Soul.

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Demo of a Monochromatic Portrait Painting