Tag Archives: acrylic painting

Thumbnails

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Thumbnails they are called. It is important to sketch [on any scale] small drawings  as research compositions before you start a new drawing or painting. Use your favorite graphite pencil or charcoal. The main objective is to figure out composition and what works the best in your artwork. First figure out what the main focus will be; what do you want the viewers to see as the subject. Remember how color will affect main focus as well as lighting. Then taking into consideration the light source. Each thumbnail is meant to be different; change the light source, move the main subject within the small sketch to see how the composition changes by moving the objects within the small sketches. You may find you like for example the main subject matter not in the middle but the left side. Very importantly not to copy someone’s artwork. You may look at photographs of the subject matter but do not copy. Copying  destroys the integrity of your artwork; plus you are not learning at a pace you could be advancing. The artist you are looking at has figured it all out for you. The reward comes from the honest beginning.

Remember line direction, movement with line within the composition; the way your eye follows line and how it moves throughout the piece. The gesture of lines and how they are hard or soft flowing lines or gesture lines.

Here are a few sketches Tom is working on for insight to his next painting. 2014083020140833201408352014083420140837

The Unsent Letter..

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20141021_155044

This is how far I have been able to paint to. This is a large oil painting that I am not in a hurry to finish. It is better to produce quality vs, quantity. Some students say to me, “You’re still working on this?” and my answer is I would rather like what I painted then never be satisfied or question my work at a later date. I have been very busy outside my studio and haven’t had the time window  that I need to paint, so eventually there will be the time. My photography here isn’t as focused as I think it could be or my glasses aren’t strong enough! Anyway, the light I am now starting to put in is beautiful. Whom ever views this once hanging and takes the time to read the letter the painting will have so much more depth then just the title explanation.

Remember the Light source in every composition in any medium you work with. Complete flesh tones through out with consistency is key. Looking at where the light is coming from and how the light changes and affects tones. If you are not sure then set up a Still Life to help aid you. mannequins are wonderful for this purpose; if that  isn’t an option for you then ask a friend or family member to sit for a little time. Take pictures as reference to help guide you in the process.

acrylics

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002So far Rose was able to get this far. The wall needed to be separated or to look as though there are two walls. Painting the wall coming towards you in a few darker tones allows the bend to take place. Adding purple to gray paint will allow a natural recess in distance space.

The problem with acrylics is they dry extremely fast. Unless you are looking for fast drying paint then you are in luck, but for artist that need more blending  from the paint then try to use a blender extender in the paint. The extender has a shine to it though even when dry. So, play around first to see the results for yourself. In the following pictures these are Rose’s acrylic painting she wants to finish from years ago. The problem can be in matching tones and values of the colors used in another time. It can be done if you can read value and tone in color. I suggest using glazes to add the realism. Use this technique for oils as well. If you try to match existing  colors you most likely will be repainting the painting. This is where I can teach you to improve your artwork.

Okay, lets break it down:

1. Use the blender extender to equal parts to a paint color you want to use. You can use water but the color will dry flat and a value lighter.  For example;009

We worked on the bottom of the urn. we added a thin layer of a terra-cotta color with blender mixed in a shade darker than the urn. You can even use two shades darker to start to shade and develop depth to create more form or realism. So the darker color went into the cracks and around the sides of the urn. The value of the lightest will be on the highest closest part of the form and the values will reverse in paint; lightest to darkest in value and color.

REMEMBER:  the dark values are towards the back/sides or the parts of the forms that are the most far from you. Anything cool tone color will sink in space and appear away from you. Light values will come towards you in space. This is physics, law of the universe and the way God designed it!

In the above picture you can see a shine which is the blender. It does settle a bit once completely dried, but you can steal it once dry with a protective  acrylic spray and the blender wont be seen. In the  picture below look closely at the bottom two leaves against the urn. These two have been glazed with paint and blender to start to create form and shape of the leaf itself. Look at the upper leaves they are flat and need realism. Stay continued to see this painting develop.

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TIP: You can place a wet paper towel over the paint, cover with tin foil and place in the refrigerator. Should last a good twelve hours.

TIP:  If your canvas becomes rippled because of being sketched from leaning on something all you need to do is water the spot on the back and use a hair dryer to tighten up canvas. That should work, may need to do twice.