This entry was originally posted on Sunday, December 31, 2012
Now
that you have been armed with knowledge of how to conquer watercolor,
grab
that brush and paper, and
Go
Forth and Paint!
Wishing
all of you painting success in 2013.
And in this case, 2023!
Thank you once again for being a part of my watercolor journey.
This entry was originally posted on Sunday, December 30, 2012
Today's
Sunday Secrets is from Jenny in
She asks, "Now that your year of daily tips on Watercolor Weapons is almost over, what do you plan to do?"
Yes,
tomorrow is my last day for posting a watercolor tip each and every day.
I
can't believe it is almost over!
It
has been a wonderful experience and I have enjoyed meeting so many other
watercolor enthusiasts.
Your
work and your thoughts are so inspiring!!
Thank
you for sharing them.
So
now that my year is over, the first thing I am going to do is take a short
break from the blog.
(don't
worry; it will only be a couple of weeks)
I
plan on continuing with my painting tips.
However,
it won't be daily.
More
like weekly or biweekly.
Right
now I have another artistic goal I need to focus more time on.
It
is my Masters of Art Education.
My
thesis and the paintings associated with the thesis need to be done by the end
of August.
It
is an exciting prospect and I am thrilled to have an opportunity to continue to
learn and to teach.
I
hope that you will continue to share your thoughts, your paintings, and your
own artistic goals with me.
This entry was originally posted on Saturday, December 29, 2012
It
is that time of year again where we start to think about New Year's Resolutions
and Goals.
This coming year, try to make art your resolution and your goal.
If
art is already a part of your life
(and
I am sure for almost everyone reading this, it is),
be
more specific about an aspect of art you want to do.
Is
there a workshop you want to take?
Do
you want to master the art of trees, portrait painting, or a different medium?
Is
it time to finally keep a journal filled with notes about your artistic
adventure?
What
is it that you really want to accomplish for you and your art in 2013?
Be
sure to write it down and keep it visible to remind yourself or your goal.
Also
remember that art is a journey and a process.
It
will lead you places you have never imagined possible.
This entry was originally posted on Friday, December 28, 2012
Framing
makes a world of difference to just about any painting.
It
feels complete and real.
It
now has presence and cannot be pushed under the bed and forgotten.
It
needs to be hung and admired by all.
Don't
forget to sign it before you frame it though!
The
world needs to know who did that fabulous work of art.
This entry was originally posted on Thursday, December 27, 2012
I
keep several white mattes of different sizes on hand to matte my work with.
It
helps to give the work a finished look.
The
matte also allows me to see my mistakes better and if the painting is
working.
It
is amazing what a matte will do.
This entry was originally posted on Wednesday, December 26, 2012
There
comes a time in your painting that you need to realize that it is what it is.
There
is nothing wrong with the painting even though you may think you see all sorts
of mistakes.
Stop
criticizing the work (and yourself) and learn to approve and love what is
there.
In
other words,
own
it!
It
is no longer a mistake but you meant to do that.
You
wanted the paint to run that way or you muddied that section to help the focal
point glow.
And
so on, and so forth.
Be
confident in your mistakes.
It
is part of the key to success.
Accept
and embrace.
Then
learn and move on.
This entry was originally posted on Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Wishing
all of you a Merry Christmas!
May
you have a wonderful day renewing your creative self by being with loved ones
and admiring the beauty of the season.
This entry was originally posted on Sunday, December 23, 2012
Today's Sunday Secrets is from
"When is a painting really done??"
That is an excellent question,
According to Leonardo da Vinci,
"Art is never finished, only abandoned."
Figurative painter Euan Uglow once said,
"I don't really finish a painting, it stops."
I have to agree with both da Vinci and Uglow.
I try to assess the painting to determine if it is finished by going through all my critiquing techniques of surprising the painting, and reducing it, among others.
But to be honest, a painting does just stop.
Then it starts to become overworked.
I am a better judge of when I start to overwork a painting
than when I am finished.
An overworked painting loses its freshness.
I become tired and bored.
My mind wanders to other things.
That or I have run out of time. (deadlines help a lot!)
As soon as I feel that this is happening, I stop and sign it.
It is done.
And as Robert Genn says,
"80% finished is better than 2% overworked."
Quit while you are ahead.
This entry was originally posted on Saturday, December 22, 2012
Brain
studies suggest that by learning something new everyday,
you
increase your overall health and well being.
I
have been painting for many years yet
I
have no doubt that every time I pick up a brush and paint, I am learning
something new.
Spend
time painting everyday
and
you will be learning something new.
Your
brain will thank you.
This entry was originally posted on Friday, December 21, 2012
Water
washes away most mistakes.
As
long as the paper and/or paint are wet, water can wash away unwanted dribbles,
drips, and strokes of bad judgement.
Remember
to keep a spray bottle handy to help wash those mistakes away.
