Category Archives: Art Tutor

Color study

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Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to [Roxanne Martino] and [lehighvalleyartlessons.com] with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

This color study has been a “Hoot” experimenting with color. I had an idea about what I wanted it to look like, but I really enjoy the colors and play on light. The colors are so more vivid in person. I have no idea why the colors here are not as bright as shown below. The size is a bit large for me as well, I usually paint wc in tight realism. I am not completely finished….I need to work up the  door knob and detail a few things yet. But, for the moment I am going to sit this aside in my studio and just look at it for a while before I go back into it. The title will be “December shadow”. I looked to see if I could re-photograph this shot and the light  and shadow are not there at this point in time. The angle of the sun changes the shadows. I took this picture in December, so the name is perfect..This painting has become a color study of sorts.  I came across these English watercolors from the 40’s and 50’s and they are extremely translucent, transparent and bizarre to work with. Not what an experienced  watercolor artist would expect from the medium. The pictures do not capture the brightness or vividness that the colors really are. I want to work this to a point where all colors can be seen through a monotone color palette. I rarely paint so freely; not sure if I like this or not? What do you think?

Photography

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Here are two pictures I took Monday on my way home from Kutztown, Pa. I have been working on my portfolio and loving every minute, meeting other artist and enjoying the artist God made me. This first picture is nice, I enjoy the composition and light.  My one drawing Professor Peter Taugott was all about “Where’s the light source?” so you better of had one!  I seem to be finding my way into “Show me the composition”.

There is one orb or light aura spirit in this photograph. Isn’t it interesting that there are orbs in these photos even on different days?  Every time  I  pass this gravesite it always seems to be unkept and just simply forgotten. It is so very sad to me, makes ya think. There is a run down farm house close by so the people must belong to the farm-house and farm that once flourished. I want to walk up to this gravesite and just put flowers on the grave. I believe there are spirits there, I always capture the orbs in the photographs.

My photography

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There are auras of light orbs of light in several of the pictures. In the next picture and the last picture I posted there are two, but only one can be seen here? Double click on the picture to enlarge and you can see the auras or balls of light/spirit. I took these from car while driving. I took another set, but I pulled off the road this time and there are a few orbs here and there. I like the composition. As I go through all the photography I have been working on I will post and update. The picture below is really interesting. I am not sure on a title.  I have been working hard on pulling together unfinished work from college; searching through negatives and asking myself why I never worked some of them up? I believe my artwork then has finally caught up to me now and the way I see things differently just simply because of life experiences.  I guess I didn’t see in them then what I see now or what they meant to me on a profound level?  It’s a good question. It is very interesting to look back at my work [from college] and realize I still can relate but now in a more mature fashion. I appreciate the artwork and the direction I was going in. The past two years I have been working in the darkroom and trying to gather and finish unfinished work. I plan to still work in the same direction, it’s interesting that I still can relate to these pieces and the ones I didn’t like then as much speak to me now. It’s true what the saying states; “I wish I knew then what I know now!” unfortunately….. the knowledge and enlightenment does come with age and before you know it you’re in your forties.

Watercolor painting turned color pencil combo turning into collage.

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After trying to gesso over the doilie zippo…..didn’t work. Tried white paint and forget the gesso bubbled up, two strikes….I cut out the candy box with a blade. HMMM….now I have a 2D candy box? lol. I need to figure something out. I think I will place it on another work area and keep trying different looks [different color background paper] to see what works. Here are a few options in the following pictures. Drop an email if you see something that works. I am feeling the fruit background……..Oh yeah! Now if I can find paper that looks like a vinyl tablecloth….

Update: So far the realism is good, but the doilie forget it. I never have this much trouble with a piece….I am going to gesso out the doilie and take it from there. Maybe add a tea cup? Not sure, but I know the doilie isn’t working. I should not of added the negative first [blue]; I was in a hurry….never a good idea to just put down color without a plan! Lesson learned.

This is where I started to get myself in trouble with too much color pencil. I broke the golden rule and used gold metallic pencil for the reflective candy foil. It’s not appropriate for watercolor and it does mess up the reflective quality of the watercolor itself. I took out all the metallic gold pencil with my mulitlith eraser and here it is at this point. I think it needs a bit more reflective-ness with watercolor yet? As far as the doilie, IDK? Just might cut out the candy box, glue to another board and start over. Never done that before, so it may come out like trash. I didn’t start the doilie off correctly with watercolor, I was in a hurry and put blue in as the negative space. Not exactly sure how I will approach this? AWE.So far this watercolor painting has taken me about four hours, maybe less. I started it in color pencil [the candy in the upper left], but I did not have Prisma color pencils at that time and the color pencils I was using were not the top of the line. I didn’t have chocolate type colors and even two toning I couldn’t get rich browns. Frustrated as I was when I started this I just picked up my watercolors and that’s the result so far. The doilie and candy box need to go back into a still life so I can continue and finish this painting. I believe I am going to pick up the Prisma colors and see how far I can take the realism. I will post pictures of the progress. So, please stayed tuned. Thanks.  I am also willing to take constructive criticism on how I can improve my site, so please feel free to email me. Important 101 perspective; the candy box is flat 2D and is sort of has a twisting to the box with the candy. I will shadow down the upper right corner and it should result in pushing back in space that corner. By highlighting the corner closest to the front it should come forward in space.

Okay, I used gold metallic for the darker golden foil sections, took the yellow box back into space with purple [yellow and purple are compliments of each other]. Used canary yellow to brighten the foreground.  The doilie is going to be a challagne……I am so geared towards realism I know myself well enough that It will take a few hours to create the doilie details. I am going to use warm tone grays to begin the thread loops.

Second hand art supplies

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I know how expensive art supplies can cost and even with a 40% craft store coupon the cost is still high. Try looking for art supplies on Ebay. Most sellers I find are honest to deal with and ship on time. Supplies are mostly somewhat used, but in very good useable condition. For Prisma colored pencils cost $200. new  for the 132 set at the craft stores and these items hardly go on sale. On Ebay you can win a set for $30, 40, 50.00 if you take the time to look for the auctions. Even if some pencils are used it is a lot cheaper to buy a few needed colors.

Trash to treasure

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Looking through my kitchen window everyday I get a chance to look at this beautiful once discarded  dollhouse turned into a birdhouse estate named Pear Mansion. I found this dollhouse on the garbage in a nice neighborhood. When I seen it I knew  it would make a fabulous birdhouse. All I needed to do was divide the compartments, put the holes and paint etc. The pear tree in the backyard had died and needed to be cut down, but the tree certainly made a wonderful post!  Within the hour the birds were checking it out! There are now two families living in the garage; there are two holes/compartments and one family on the other side.

These next few charcoals are recent drawings from life drawing class.

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Five and ten minute charcoal sketches from life drawing class last night.  Every Thursday evening from 7pm to 10pm at Lafayette College, Williams Art Building, 3rd Street, Easton there is open studio for local artist. Sponsored by Crayola and Lafayette College. Thanks you….much appreciated.

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Check out my newest color pencil drawing; Lehigh Valley art lessons; Roxanne Martino artist

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This tiger is complete and drawn in color pencil.

For the most part I will call this color pencil finished. I will sit it here in my studio and I am sure as I look at it I will add to it. 12 x 13.25″. I didn’t capture the realism I know that could be displayed in watercolour…..

“Gettin” there! CP takes time and understanding realism in any medium is a building layering process. Never give up on your artwork! CP is not even my strong suit, watercolor realism is my love. Plus, the fact I was working in graphite when I entered college back in the day. Watercolor picked me! I had this class called painting 101 with Dr. Sawyer. Well, put it this way; I went to church this morning and I will only state positive remarks. After six weeks of painting fire hydrants in the hallway I was seeing them in my sleep. I think his goal was to teach us form and shape? One Wednesday afternoon after black and white darkroom studio I had watercolor fire hydrant class; really looking forward to it. I had a self portrait picture photo from dkrm. for another assignment and anyway after an hour of painting these  fire hydrants I disappeared to the back of the classroom. I pulled out my work from dkrm. and just started painting the watercolor displayed in my header;  “My first watercolour”.  I need to state I earned a “F” on that painting from Dr. Sawyer.  I think he didn’t like me because I told him once in class his people were too orange! Politely though. At any rate sometimes you think for example “I’d like to be a painter?” and fate or “Arthood”  has something different in mind. That is what I mean when I say “The medium has already picked you, so now you need to discover which one it is”. Do not put so much pressure on yourself as an Artist. Explore all the mediums and enjoy the talent God has given you. About three more hours I will have this done. Aman. I only started to draw in cp again because of one of my students is drawing a tigar in cp and I need to know the “ins and outs” of cp so I can teach and guide him the best I can. The whiskers I am painting in with craft paint?

This color pencil is starting to get to a point where I see the realism. Color pencil is a medium and skill all it’s own. In college there should be a 101, 102 etc. level cp drawing class just for cp techiques. Firstly, the Prisma color pencils are expensive to be able to purchase all the colors you need right away. Adding different brands to your collection is very important because as you learn how the brands relate to your developing techiques you need supplies. The paper is also one of the very important necessity; without a quality surface to work on you are wasting your time and pencils. I recommend an Illustration board or a rag based type board found in a { Fine } Art store.  A quality board will give you “Press-ability” which can be used to your benefit in creating realism. You may not start out with the goal of a portfolio piece, but your artwork has a better chance to be successful starting out with quality materials. Tip: Never wipe cp with your hand, use a soft brush to wipe off excess cp.

Any questions about color pencil or any medium you can email here and I will get back to you.

Color pencil is an art all it’s own. Using just one brand of cp can limit the range of effects you can achieve by using the reacton of different brands. The brands react differently to each other. Experiment with different brands  to see the range you can display.                

Pennsylvania artist in the Lehigh Valley area. Professional creative art lessons in all mediums; watercolors, oils, acrylics, pastels, still and life drawing, graphite, charcoal and color pencil. If realism in any listed medium is your goal then I am the artist that can teach you.

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Hello and thank you for visiting my website.  Please feel free to stop by my online art GALLERY or learn a little about me by clicking on the SUBJECTS I teach and ABOUT ME pages above.  This WordPress website is growing with tons of art information,  art ideas and pictures of artwork.  I will be adding new galleries of dollhouse miniature paintings and paper flowers that I design, make and teach how to make. I am also a certified  tutor on WyzAnt, but please contact me here.

I am currently accepting new students of all ages.  I can be reached at zanadumansion@yahoo.com if you have any questions.