"Trio of Pears" - 6"x8" - oil on linen glued to board
Sorry, this painting has already been sold!
Tuesday, July 21
Another Small Still Life
Today's new venture:
"Trio of Pears" - 6"x8" - oil on linen glued to board
Sorry, this painting has already been sold!
"Trio of Pears" - 6"x8" - oil on linen glued to board
Sorry, this painting has already been sold!
Monday, July 20
New painting inspired by "A Painting a Day"
Check out "A Painting a Day," a website devoted to artists who turn out at least one new painting every day. Sometimes it's hard to keep creative energy flowing, and I believe that painting something, every day, is a good way to do this.
So this morning I set out a trio of plums (having never painted plums before - it was about time!), and here was the result:
"Plum Line" - 6"x8" - oil on linen glued to board
I'm hoping to turn out many, many more of these fun little images in the near future.
Saturday, July 18
My first art blog post!
Welcome to my personal blog about art! This blog is long overdue, as there are so many wonderful and exciting things to share! I am going to start my blog with some notes I took during a PSOA conference lecture by watercolor artist Mary Whyte. Out of all the key speakers and demonstrators at April's conference, I found Mary to be the most concise, helpful, and inspiring in her remarks. Her lecture was titled, "12 Tips for Creating Your Best Painting Ever".
1) Improve technical skills so you can make anything with paint. Painting is vocabulary. Don't mistake technique for expression...expression is what you have to say with technique (the vocabulary).
2) Know yourself. Know what it is that you want to paint. Know what you want to say with paint. If you have trouple with this, write out a list of the 5 senses, and underneath, make a list of all the things that wow you. These will help lead you to all the things you're made up of.
3) Persevere. Learning to do anything well requires sacrifice and time. Know how to budget your time and ask how important it is to you. Expect rejections - but then again, every painting only needs one buyer.
4) Simplify your ideas and compositions. One idea, one focal point. Don't try and paint everything. Do thumbnail sketches - get the idea tightened down.
5) Set aside time for painting. You have to make an appointment with yourself.
6) Paint from your heart.
7) Keep a journal or sketchbook for ideas. Keep yourself "on" at all times.
8) Visit museums, galleries and bookstores. Look for the best in the best places. Fill your eyes with beauty.
9) Study with the very best instructors. Stay away from anyone who wants you to paint like them.
10) Experiment with ideas, techniques and mediums. If you repeat yourself too often, it's the kiss of death. Painting is a discovery and you want the viewer to learn what you've discovered. If you want to paint something, but don't know how, find a way!
11) Get quality feedback on all your works. Go to your peers and instructors.
12) Think positive. Aim high. Be confident. As Winston Churchill once said, "Painting requires audacity."
1) Improve technical skills so you can make anything with paint. Painting is vocabulary. Don't mistake technique for expression...expression is what you have to say with technique (the vocabulary).
2) Know yourself. Know what it is that you want to paint. Know what you want to say with paint. If you have trouple with this, write out a list of the 5 senses, and underneath, make a list of all the things that wow you. These will help lead you to all the things you're made up of.
3) Persevere. Learning to do anything well requires sacrifice and time. Know how to budget your time and ask how important it is to you. Expect rejections - but then again, every painting only needs one buyer.
4) Simplify your ideas and compositions. One idea, one focal point. Don't try and paint everything. Do thumbnail sketches - get the idea tightened down.
5) Set aside time for painting. You have to make an appointment with yourself.
6) Paint from your heart.
7) Keep a journal or sketchbook for ideas. Keep yourself "on" at all times.
8) Visit museums, galleries and bookstores. Look for the best in the best places. Fill your eyes with beauty.
9) Study with the very best instructors. Stay away from anyone who wants you to paint like them.
10) Experiment with ideas, techniques and mediums. If you repeat yourself too often, it's the kiss of death. Painting is a discovery and you want the viewer to learn what you've discovered. If you want to paint something, but don't know how, find a way!
11) Get quality feedback on all your works. Go to your peers and instructors.
12) Think positive. Aim high. Be confident. As Winston Churchill once said, "Painting requires audacity."
