Looking for Spring

My most recent little painting (6 X 8). Title: The Pink flower.

I have recently done a series of smaller paintings that contain flowers and a Spring like feeling. I guess after a winter like we had (a feeling of living in the North Pole, even though this is Central Jersey), I am looking forward to some nice Spring like weather.

I went through my photo collection of which I have a nice stash, and pulled out many of my photos that I took during the Spring months, and composed this particular painting. It is actually a combo of two different photos taken while on a walk in the beautiful town of Cranbury. My imagination always kicks in tweaking the picture to suit my mood.

This is on Canvas Paper, Acrylic Paints.

See my other Spring-like paintings under Floral section of my Web site.
www.PaintingsbyLinda.net

PAINTING CLOUDS

PAINTING CLOUDS

1. Clouds aren't pure white, they reflect the color of the sky. This is clearest at sunrise and sunset, when clouds turn shades of yellow, red, and pink. They also have shadows. Skies aren't simply blue. They're build up of various tones of blue.

2. Experiment by adding colors such as orange, purple, gray, yellow and crimson to your blues.
3. Don't try to paint every detail in clouds. Learn to identify the different types of cloud as each has its own characteristics. For example, cumulus (thunderstorm) clouds have some hard edges to them.
4. Take photos of different types of clouds to create a reference portfolio.As clouds recede towards the horizon, their colors become paler and their shapes less distinct.

Tips:

1. Experiment with various brushes, and brush strokes. Experiment with colors. Your paintings will have more feeling in them.
2. Try painting the shadows in clouds, rather than the light parts.
3. Some clouds are long, some fluffy, some appear as streaks. Refer to different types of clouds from your observations and note the colors in them. also note the time of day you are observing- it may help you in the paintng.

Refer to my web site  ( http://www.paintingsbylinda.net/)  for various expressions on clouds. The "Mysitcal Series" and "Surreal Series" have unusual concepts and exciting color combinations of clouds. The unusual color combinations give it a surprise that makes it bolder and exciting, at the same time creating a mystical concept.

When you Talk About Your Paintings

When You Talk About Your Paintings:

Here are some tips to ask yourself and perhaps answer questions from other people about your paintings that you create.

1.    Do you have any questions that I can answer?

2.    Are you interested in a particular painting?

3.    What is it that you especially like about this piece?

4.    Would you like to hear what inspired me about this painting?

These are questions that may inspire you to create more of the same subject, style, technique (whatever the strong points are).

Remember Art is very personal. What inspires one person may not inspire the other.

Your number one person to please is yourself. It is important however to get opinions and feedback on what you paint!

LESSONS EVERY ARTIST SHOULD LEARN-FINDING YOUR VOICE

                  LESSONS EVERY ARTIST SHOULD LEARN

Painters should find their own style through developing skills, deciding what they want to say and finding their own voice.

If 10 different artists were placed at the same location to paint, you would see 10 very different interpretations of a subject.

1. Develop your visual and interpretative skills through practice (visual awareness)
2. The more you look---the more you see.
3. Learn to clear your mind (use your imagination)
4. Conquer a fear of failure
5.  By painting works created by others, an artist never feels growth and confidence.
6.  Creating only what will sell, misses the entire point- you must paint from your heart.
7.  Decide what reasons you are painting
8.  Improve technical ability and detail

Creating Art

 You don't need to be a painter-some of my postings apply to crafts as well. We can gain knowledge of our craft through opinions and techniques of others.

If you create, lets hear from you !

Collage and Painting

                                                  

COLLAGE  AND  PAINTING                                                               

Collage isn't just for a school project for the Art class. I have done a few pieces that incorporates collage and Painting to make a most interesting composition. Having viewed several Artists who use this techniques, I realize how far and how beautiful your creation could become using collage technique.

Here are 2 projects that I have personally worked on. Humming Bird" see my web site, under the   fauna collection and "Lighthouse Fantasy" under Aqua collection.                                                               

                   In "Humming Bird", I took pieces of tissues paper and glued them on in patches, crumbling some of them, smoothing others. I used white glue and a sponge brush to paste them down. When it was dry, I coated the canvas with color and then proceeded to paint over the rough texture. The painting was quite different than working on a smooth canvas.

               In "Lighthouse Fantasy", I used pieced together photos that I have taken, along with pieced together paintings that I have done. I then combined the collection, moving them around to create a story that I wanted with the images. My final step was to sketch in other details, paint them and then glue up the loose pieces.                                    

The final product to be applied to both was a clear Acrylic Varnish.

You can create the most unusual with the collage  technique, taking you into the Surreal world.

I would love to hear your comments on this topic.

These paintings are under Fauna and Aqua collection on my web site.

Web site: http://www.paintingsbylinda.net/

Working With Acrylics

Acrylic Paints were introduced in the 1950's. It is known as the "youngest" of all the media choices. Oil and water color paints have been used since the 15th century. The Modernists (Robert Motherwell, Mark Rothko) were the first to use Acrylic Paint. It's fast drying properties made it very attractive. Today it is used widespread for all aspects of Art. Liquitex was the first water-based paint.

I use Acrylic Paint as my main medium. Occasionally, I will do an Oil Painting, (love using water-soluble oils), but Acrylic Paint is my mainstay. (See my web site:  www.PaintingsbyLinda.net.)
The class that I teach, is  Acrylic Painting-giving Artists the chance to experience it's properties and quick satisfaction of a finished or semi-finished painting in the 2 hour class time.

The aspect that I like best about Acrylic Painting is the quick dry and bright colors that it offers.  I like the flexibility while it is wet, producing oil like effects. I enjoy the freedom of starting thin and layering the paint to obtain any thickness that is desired. I have been asked by viewers of my Acrylic Paintings, "Is this oil?"

Many painters are discouraged when they first use Acrylic paint because they use too much water.  Water kills the color. Water can be substitute with mediums that are compatible with Acrylics to achieve more color. Quite honestly, I work only with water, and more concentration of paint, gives me the desired vibrant color.  I coat my finished canvas with Liquitex Gloss Medium and Varnish to give an extra vibrant effect.

Acrylic is great for Plein Air Painting.  All you need to carry besides the paint and brushes is a coffee can with water (make sure the coffee is used up first!!!!) for your thinner.

We do not yet know if Acrylics will stand the test of time-that in 50-100 years from now the paint will last or deteriorate. However, there is no reason to believe that this will happen!

What are your experiences with Acrylic Paint?  would love the feed-back on this.!

http://www.paintingsbylinda.net/