Laugh
“An onion can make people cry but there’s never been a vegetable that can make people laugh.” Will Rogers
Have a happy long weekend, everyone! Next blog post August 7/12.
Category: Newsletter
The Best Brush
There are so many interesting brush shapes – and names to go with them. For example, “Cat’s Tongue” is a square brush that has had the corners rounded – if that makes sense. But which is the very best brush to use? Certainly not the tiny one! You pick up niggley little amounts of paint, and spend more time moving your hand back and forth between the palette and the painting, than you do actually painting. If you are wanting to make thin lines or small marks, a larger round brush that holds a good point will do that just as well. The key here is – it is in good shape and holds a good point. Personally, I use a lot of square brushes. If you hold them on the chisel point, they can still make a thin line, and they can be held at an angle for thicker marks, or pressed flat on the canvas for the widest mark of all. This versatility in marks is fun for me. But which is the very best brush for you? It should be:
1. Large enough to hold a decent amount of paint,
2. In good shape and not having a bad hair day,
3. Make the type of marks that you are excited about having in your painting!
Notice #3 – that’s why I can’t tell you exactly which brush shape will be your favourite. You need to experiment with a variety of shapes to figure that one out for yourself.
Happy painting!
Drawing & Painting Inspirations
Here’s a list of ideas that may inspire your next drawing or painting. Thanks, “ArtPromotive – Inspirations“
Going for Gold
With Olympic fever upon us, it is impressive to see what mere humans can accomplish. If there is just one characteristic of an Olympian that impresses me, it would be the perseverance. The long determined road of hard work that goes into honing a skill to that degree. I admire the same thing in great artists – singers, painters, actors, dancers and the rest. How about you? What do you admire about those who are in the spotlight in London England right now?
Overrated
The stats say so. We have a tendency to overate ourselves. Apparently the vast majority of people think that they are great drivers, and better than average at sex. I’m not good with math, but I can see that 90% of people thinking they are better than average at anything, just doesn’t work with the numbers. Now, I’m sure you’d rather I talked about sex, but I’m going to take this overrating thing, and apply it to art. Let’s suppose, and I don’t know for sure how wide spread this is, but let’s suppose that some artists suffer from this too – thinking that their art is better than it actually is. What kind of things can we do to avoid this trap? First suggestion: learn to recognize your honest critics. These folks are few and far between – so if you find one, cultivate asking for their opinion. They don’t have to be knowledgeable about art techniques. They are the ones who say, “hmmm, really don’t like this one”. Or, “that area sure feels awkward”. No one in your life like that? Maybe you could to go to some art groups or art classes or retreats and network with other artists. And even in those situations, people are mostly very polite and supportive, so you will need to encourage honest responses. Finally, get exposed to the great art from history. Not only is it inspiring, but it’s hard not to be humbled in the presence of so much greatness that has gone before us.
Now, it would be wrong not to mention that I have also seen the opposite problem – those who make great art and don’t see that it is. But that would be another blog post.
Immersion
It’s good to immerse yourself in things that are creative. Oliver Wendell Holmes suggested immersing yourself twice a week in music and you would find that it “is for the soul what the water bath is for the body.” What good advice! For painters, when not immersed in the act of painting, it is refreshing to immerse yourself in good art by others. The library is a treasure trove of art books. As for magazines, my favourite is International Artist for the diversity of good work found there. And sometimes as a treat I’ll drop in to Chapters and see if there are any other current art magazines of interest for sale. So much to be inspired by! Do you have a favourite art book or magazine?
Summer Memories
Sometimes it comes over me again – that delicious enchanting feeling of an endless summer from when I was little. The delight of many hours of sitting in a field pulling at blades of grass while chatting nothing and everything with a good friend. The unhurried breeze that came to play. Nowhere to go, nothing needing to be done. The way the grass tickled bare feet, and hopping nimbly over roads that were too hot! Popsicles! I liked the orange ones best. No polite way to slurp that last bit before it melted off the popsicle stick. Yes, summer was good, and still is. What are your favourite summer memories?
Clearing
{emailcloak=off}This painting captures that magical moment when the sun breaks through the trees as you approach a clearing in a deep forest.
Click to view a larger version of this painting
Thanks for supporting a career in the arts by buying directly from the artist!
Order a Beautiful Canvas Print
giclée canvas print stretched on ¾” frame
delivered to your door, ready to hang
free shipping to most Canadian and U.S. locations (takes 1-2 weeks)
sales tax is added at PayPal checkout
18″ x 27″
$205
24” x 36″
$295
More Information
Free shipping applies to most US and Canadian addresses. An extra charge may apply for remote locations (e.g. Territories, Alaska, Hawaii). If so, we will contact you before processing your order.
Satisfaction guaranteed. Full refund – purchaser pays return shipping only.
The painting wraps around the edges of the frame.
Your print has a protective coating. It will last a lifetime!
The original painting is in the collection of JoAnne DePace.
Howdy Neighbour
{emailcloak=off} The background is highly textured, which shows in the way the paint reacted on it, and adds to the gentle mood.
Click to view a larger version of this painting
Thanks for supporting a career in the arts by buying directly from the artist!
Original Painting – SOLD
24″ x 30″ acrylic on pre-stretched 1.5″ canvas
Order a Beautiful Canvas Print
giclée canvas print stretched on ¾” frame
delivered to your door, ready to hang
free shipping to most Canadian and U.S. locations (takes 1-2 weeks)
sales tax is added at PayPal checkout
16″ x 20″
$155
24″ x 30″
$245
Note: On PayPal, you can use a credit card; you don’t need a PayPal account
More Information
On PayPal, you can use a credit card; you don’t need a PayPal account.
Sales tax is added at PayPal checkout.
For canvas prints, free shipping applies to most US and Canadian addresses. An extra charge may apply for remote locations (e.g. Territories, Alaska, Hawaii). If so, we will contact you before processing your order.
Satisfaction guaranteed. Full refund – purchaser pays return shipping only.
For the original, the edge is painted a complementary colour. For canvas prints, the painting wraps around the edges of the frame.
Your art has a protective coating. It will last a lifetime!
The Four Horses
This painting developed in the most amazing way from pouring paint with no subject in mind. The horses emerged from the wet paint, quite awhile before I even saw them! You can actually watch it happen in this video
Click to view a larger version of this painting
Thanks for supporting a career in the arts by buying directly from the artist!
Order a Beautiful Canvas Print
giclée canvas print stretched on ¾” frame
delivered to your door, ready to hang
free shipping to most Canadian and U.S. locations (takes 1-2 weeks)
sales tax is added at PayPal checkout
16″ x 20″
$155
24″ x 30″
$245
32″ x 40″
$395
(on 1¾” frame)
Note: On PayPal, you can use a credit card; you don’t need a PayPal account
More Details
Free shipping applies to most US and Canadian addresses. An extra charge may apply for remote locations (e.g. Territories, Alaska, Hawaii). If so, we will contact you before processing your order.
Satisfaction guaranteed. Full refund – purchaser pays return shipping only.
The painting wraps around the edges of the frame.
Your print has a protective coating. It will last a lifetime!
The original painting is in the collection of the artist.
