Author: Cheryl

Tree6T

Comfort and Adventure

Cheryl
Art is such an odd mix of moments of comfort and moments of being stretched. To the artist, these dynamics seem to flash back and forth in a reality that doesn’t stand still. As the artist gets more techniques under the belt, there is certainly a level of comfort. For example: it’s great to know 2 specific pigments and all their mixtures so well that they feel like old friends to work worth. But the creative spirit won’t rest there. There are endless colour combinations, and endless new techniques to try. So out of the comfort zone and into adventure we go again. Paint on! 
Painting of waterfall

The Escape of the Prisoner

Cheryl 1 Comment
Nearly everyone has something tough to deal with. Life does that. We need a place to go where we can be refreshed and come back with renewed energy and hope. I know I’m not alone when I say that my God-given place of refreshing is in my art. When I take time out to paint, yes, it’s pleasure, and at times work, and sometimes – it’s just plain survival. Taking creative time enhances my ability to deal in a positive manner with whatever challenges are currently waiting on my doorstep. J.R.R. Tolkien seemed to get it. When someone challenged him for spending so much time creating fantasy worlds, he responded, “Why should it not be the escape of the prisoner, rather than the flight of the deserter?” Why not, indeed. (Acrylic painting by Cheryl O) 
Still Life Painting

New Palette Suggestion

Cheryl 2 Comments
If you have taken art courses from me, you know that I don’t buy a fancy palette. I use a piece of white cardboard. Most often this is the center piece cut from a white mat board. On top of that, I used to use a piece of wax paper. Recently a student told me that parchment paper worked better. It is less porous, and will take more scrubbing without deteriorating. The advantage is the same. Instead of having to wash a palette, I simply pull off the used parchment paper and put a fresh piece on when the old piece has become too messy. I use sticky tac on the back of the cardboard for fast and easy switching of the paper. I’m all for anything that makes for more painting time, and less clean up time! 
Orange

Saving Paint

Cheryl
I’m sure you have done it – ended a painting session with a whole lot of paint left on the palette and wondering how to save it. Here are some tips for each type of paint. Watercolour: Your freshly squeezed out paint is a lovely creamy consistency that is lost if it is let to dry rock hard. I never squeeze out a whole tube into the wells of a palette. It does not reactivate to the same lovely texture if it all dries up. So, if you have accidently put too much out, simply spray your palette with water and put a layer of plastic wrap on top. It should keep moist for a couple of days that way. Acrylic: The water spray and plastic wrap work for acrylic paint too. There are also special palettes sold that will keep the paint moist longer. They usually consist of a thin sponge that you keep wet that is below the main palette area. You can make your own stay wet palette with a damp paper towel folded up and placed underneath wax paper or parchment paper that you put your paint out onto. Lastly, there are times you will want some of the acrylic mediums that make the acrylic dry more slowly. This is especially useful if painting out doors. Stir a generous gob of the medium into each of your colours as you put them onto the palette. Oil: Oil paint cures by exposure to light rather than evaporation. So the simplest way to keep paint on a palette wet is to put the palette into a dark drawer. I have found this method effective for a week or even more. In conclusion: I hope you are not shy about putting out generous gobs of paint onto your palette. You are more likely to make beautiful painterly works with a well loaded brush. Perhaps knowing the tips above will help to encourage you to be generous with your paint knowing it can be saved for awhile. Happy painting!