Painting outside “Honey & Garlic, Windowsill Series”

Posted on | March 1, 2012 | No Comments

Painting outside is one of my favourite things to do when camping.  Although it does present a minor problem of the paints drying a bit too quickly, the fresh air, sunshine and friendly chats with passersby make painting outside a very enjoyable experience.  When travelling with our 5th wheel, I always bring along my painting supplies for acrylics and watercolours.

Painting at Campsite

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I usually work in watercolours when camping, but for “Honey & Garlic, Windowsill Series #3″ I chose to paint with acrylics.  I used a 10″ x 10″ linen gallery-wrapped canvas to begin the sketch for the painting.  Normally, I would use objects from the camper to set up a still life, but for this painting I used photographic references of a still life I had set up in my studio at home.

Sketch, Honey & Garlic, Windowsill Series

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The image below shows the block-in stage of my painting process.  I have begun to paint the reflections of the pottery honey pot and garlic pot in the window, as well as, the interior windowsill.  Pottery is a favourite subject of mine, and I have spent many happy hours searching antique and thrift stores for interesting pottery to add to my still life collection.

Block-in Stage, Honey & Garlic, Windowsill Series

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The image below is the finished painting, “Honey & Garlic, Windowsill Series #3″.  Notice how I chose cool, neutral colours for most of the painting, saving the warmest and most intense colours for the focal area.  I was happy with the final results.

"Honey & Garlic, Windowsill Series # 3"

Alla Prima, Everything I Know About Painting – A Review

Posted on | December 28, 2011 | No Comments

A comfy chair and my favourite art book.

BRENDA’S BOOK REVIEW

“ ALLA PRIMA EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT PAINTING”

“Alla Prima – Everything I Know About Painting” by Richard Schmid is one of the top books recommended by artists in workshops that I have attended in the last several years. After purchasing the book and reading it several times, I understand why it is so highly recommended.

Richard Schmid is an acknowledged master who writes with humility, humour and grace. He teaches the foundations of painting –

• sound drawing skills

• good composition

• seeing and painting the correct values and colours

• painting edges

One thing I learned from his book (or should I say relearned) is that one of the most valuable skills an artist can master is squinting to simplify what you see. Squinting at your subject reduces the detail to patterns and simple shapes that you can manage. Schmid states that you need to look to see colour, but squint to see and compare values.

If you are a beginning artist, I feel this is the one book you should have in your reference library. Actually, I feel every artist, at any level, would benefit from having Alla Prima in their collection of art books. Schmid shares some of his struggles and failures, as well as his successes, so the beginning artist realizes that even master painters can have a bad painting day. His book is filled with helpful tips, insights and encouragement for all artists.

Alla Prima is more expensive than most art books I have collected, but I personally consider it to be one of the most important reference books in my library, and worth every penny. It’s a book you can read over and over and gain fresh insights each time you read it. It definitely gets the Brenda stamp of approval. Did you guess that I love this book?   You will find his fabulous artwork and books at www.richardschmid.com.

“Making It” Case Studies of Successful Canadian Visual Artists

Posted on | July 29, 2011 | No Comments

Colour me happy!  I just got a new book today by Chris Tyrell, a British Columbia author and teacher who writes about professional development for visual artists.  His latest book is called “Making It!” Case Studies of Successful Canadian Visual Artists.  I’ve only read the first two chapters, but already this book promises to be as interesting and  information packed as his earlier book, “Artist Survival Skills” How to Make a Living as a Canadian Visual Artist.

I found chapter two especially interesting.  It featured a textile artist living in Newfoundland who makes her living marketing her work on Etsy.  Like her, I live on an island with limited opportunities for marketing my work, so I can relate to her situation.

If you want to check out Tyrell’s books visit his website www.christyrell.ca.  Tyrell also writes a regular feature article in the Opus Newsletter (www.opusframing.com), a framing and artist supply business in BC.

For all my Canadian friends, who is your favourite author who writes with the Canadian artist in mind?  For my American friends, I like lots of American authors too.  Have you read “Alla Prima – Everything I Know About Painting” by Richard Schmid?  It’s awesome….my favourite in my library of art related books.

Windowsill Series #1, Honey & Apples

Posted on | June 7, 2011 | No Comments

"Windowsill Series #1, Honey & Apples", acrylic on linen, 11" x 14"

“Windowsill Series #1, Honey & Apples” is my newest acrylic painting.  It is the first in a series of windowsill paintings I have planned.

This still life setup on my sunny windowsill gave me the opportunity to play with the reflections on the window, on the pottery honey pot and on the windowsill.   The strong light made the apples glow and throw reflections everywhere.

I chose to keep the colours of the background and the pottery neutral so the red apples could steal the show. 

I’m happy with the finished painting.  What are your thoughts on still life painting?   What inspires you when you are setting up a still life to paint?  I look forward to reading your comments.  

Glass Clown Series #3

Posted on | May 2, 2011 | No Comments

"Glass Clown Series #3"

This is my third painting in the “Glass Clown Series”. It is a 14″x11″ acrylic painting on linen.   This set of glass clowns were perfect to feature as a set of bookends.  Appropriate, I thought, since I love books as much as I love painting. 

It was a beautiful sunny day when I set up the still life in my studio, and I was getting some lovely strong shadows.  This gave me the idea of setting up the still life as a contrast of light against dark.  So I selected a darker book to place next to the clown in the sunlight, and a lighter book to place next to the clown in shadow.   I felt it created a very effective and interesting still live, and I’m happy with the way the painting turned out.

A painting friend made a comment that he could see my quirky sense of humour coming out in my paintings with my selection of objects I chose for my still lifes.  He’s right – I am always on the lookout for quirky and unusual objects to feature in my still life paintings.

Actually, I chose the glass clowns because they reminded me of a beloved cousin who has passed.  She loved and collected clowns, so of course, when I am browsing antique shops or thrift stores searching for still life subjects, I always think of her when I come across a clown.  These beautiful glass clowns combined my love of painting glass with her love of clowns, so I had no choice but to bring them home and paint them.  

Can you see how your personality comes out in the choices you make when setting up a still life?  Where do you find subject matter for your still lifes, and do you find yourself choosing object that remind you of a particular person or event?  I look forward to hearing your comments and suggestions.

Acrylic Painting “Glass Clown Series #2″

Posted on | March 29, 2011 | 4 Comments

"Glass Clown Series #2", acrylic on linen, 20"x16"

This is the newest acrylic painting in my glass clown series, titled “Glass Clown Series #2″.  

It is painted on a 20″ x 16″ gallery-wrapped linen canvas.  I enjoy painting on linen because it has a finer texture than cotton canvas that I like.   The linen is a middle value brown colour which helps me to determine my values when I am beginning my painting.  Research indicates that linen is a stronger fibre than cotton, so the canvas should survive longer. 

I really enjoy the challenge of painting glass.  I loved the way the yellow, pink and blue of the balloons showed through and  reflected on the glass clowns in this still life setup.   Notice how the colours also reflected on the floral fabric. 

In this painting, as in the first painting in the series, I used a glaze of Stevenson’s Iridescent Pearl on the balloons to give them the glow that these balloons had when placed in the light.  It also gave me an opportunity to just play with the painting. 

Yes, I could have chosen a simpler subject to paint.  It would have made my life so much easier if I had, but then, what fun would that be.  Some would say that painting is enough of a challenge.  Trust me, there are many painting days when I am in total agreement with that statement.

What challenges you in your paintings?  Is it the subject you choose, the composition, the colour scheme or palette,  or the value pattern?  I look forward to hearing your comments and suggestions.

Four Common Reasons People Buy Art

Posted on | March 17, 2011 | No Comments

"Ginger Jar & Mandarin Orange", acrylic/canvas, 16"x20", SOLD

There are as many reasons to purchase art as there are people.  Everyone views art differently, and are attracted to a particular piece of artwork for their own personal reasons.  Generally, I have found there are four common reasons why people purchase artwork.

1.  As an investment.  Some people purchase art strictly as an investment in the hope that it will increase in value over time.  Actually, this is the reason some art collectors build huge collections of art by emerging artists – in the hopes that the value will increase over time.  This art collection could be an important part of their investment portfolio.

2.  Because it complements their home or office decor.  Many people purchase art that
 matches the colour and style of their home decor.  At nearly every art fair that I participate in, someone comes along who is looking for a painting to match a particular colour in their sofa, or  a particular paint colour on their walls.  Some even bring paint and fabric samples with them.  I always advise them to choose a painting that they love .  If a painting is framed in a style and colour that works with the room, almost any painting should be suitable. 

3.  As a gift for someone else.  Art is a very personal thing.  Everyone has different tastes, especially when it comes to art, so buying art as a gift for someone else can be a risky.  A piece of art that you think is great, the gift recipient may not like at all. This would put them in the position of having to disappoint you by asking to exchange the gift (thereby seeming to be unappreciative of the gift), or having to display a piece of art in their home that they just don’t appreciate in the same way you do.

4.  Lastly, and by far the best reason to purchase art, is that the buyer really loves the piece.  They feel an emotional connection.  Something about a particular painting touches them,  possibly reminding  them of a pleasant memory.  Or, they may just love the expressive brushwork or the lively colours in the painting.  Regardless of the reason for the emotional connection,  this is always the best reason to buy a piece of artwork – because you love it.

What motivates you to purchase a piece of art?  Do you purchase it because you love it, or do you purchase it for another reason?  I am interested in hearing your comments.

Glass Clown Series #1

Posted on | March 16, 2011 | No Comments

Clown Series #1, acrylic/canvas, 8"x10"

My newest acrylic painting on canvas, “Clown Series #1″,  is a study of how colour and light shines through and reflects onto glass.

Each year I choose a theme to work on throughout the coming year.  My theme for this year is glass and the effects of light and surrounding colour on glass subjects. 

This subject is a clear glass clown figure.  As you can see, the yellow colour from the balloon behind the figure influences the colour of the figure.  Note also how the colour from the pink balloon reflects onto the figure and onto the yellow balloon.

You may not be able to see it in the image, but I used Stevenson Iridescent Pearl paint to glaze over the balloons.  It added that glowing quality that balloons have where the light strikes them.

This painting is the first in a series I have planned.  I am currently working on the second painting of the series, a 20″ x 16″ painting of two glass clown figures and three coloured balloons.  If all goes well, I should be posting it soon.

Poppies & Lupines

Posted on | March 9, 2011 | No Comments

"Poppies & Lupins", acrylic/canvas, 11"x14"

“Poppies & Lupines” is an acrylic painting on canvas.  This recently completed painting is one of several I have done of poppies.  They are a beautiful flower and a favourite painting subject for many artists.  

The warm oranges and reds of these poppies make the painting cheerful and bright.  I like using purple as a contrast for orange subjects.  Actually, purple is my favourite colour, so I use it in every painting I make.  I think it works well with all other colours and every subject. 

Lupines are a recurring subject of mine.  I grew up in New Brunswick where lupines grew wild along the side of the road in many areas.  They have always been one of my favourite flowers.

In Victorian times, flowers and plants were used to express feelings, both positive and negative.  In the Language of Flowers, the red poppy means “pleasure, consolation”, and the lupine means “voraciousness, imagination”.  So, should you receive a bouquet of poppies and lupines, then  you should be consoled and pleased that the sender thinks you have a voracious imagination.

Painting Tranquility

Posted on | March 2, 2011 | No Comments

"Long Beach Sunset" SOLD

When I want to create an acrylic painting that is quiet and tranquil, I find inspiration in clear skies and calm, blue water.  It may have something to do with living on an island and being surrounded by the Pacific Ocean.  I always enjoy painting sunsets.  I love the warm yellows and oranges of the setting sun which compliments the cool blues of the water.  The dog and beachcombers added life and movement to the painting.