2/26/2022 7:17:18 PM
An old Chinese proverb says "Do not grasp the brush before the spirit and the thoughts are concentrated."
The first steps of the creative process must be handled with the same level of attention, if not more than the attention given to the paint strokes. During this stage, the artist envisions the potential of the final painting and the strokes that will get him or her there in addition to considering all the required variables.
The planning phase should be just as enjoyable as the act of applying colour.
Since I'm still working on the same two paintings as last weekend, I thought I would share two sunflowers painted a couple of years ago.
Registration for my upcoming class on Furry Friends opened a few days ago and is almost full. If interested, you may want to consider signing up soon.
Have a creative week,
Danielle
2/19/2022 6:34:55 PM
It's difficult not to compare yourself to other artists. When sharing my artwork on social media, I obviously see other people's artworks. I follow numerous talented watercolorists on Facebook and Instagram.
I occasionally compare my artwork to others. Most of the time, when I see some amazing artworks, it inspires me and drives me to do better. Sometimes I try to understand what makes their work fantastic and I ask myself if their is anything that I can adopt to make my artworks better.
Seeing artworks on social media feels like visiting and huge international gallery. That's a real treat.
Currently I'm working on four paintings. Here are three of them.
Here are two works in progress for classes that I'm teaching. They don't have a lot of colours yet but that will come slowly. Each of these two projects will take approximately 3 weeks.
Stay tuned for more colours next week.
This one is slow coming. I've been working on for a few weeks and it will take a bit of a back seat as I focus on the two above.
Have a great evening
2/13/2022 7:55:41 AM
If you look at art on social media, do you recognize the work of an artist before you even see their name?
Most accomplished art have their own style. Style is basically the manner in which the artist portrays his or her subject matter and how the artist expresses his or her vision.
Some of the characteristics that I recognize from an artist includes the subject, color, composition and technique. All of these stylistic elements are defined by the choices artists make as they create their artwork.
An artist's style can change and adapt as the artist gains more experience. I encourage beginning artists on developing their own style and finding their own unique way of expression. An artist's personal style usually progresses as the artist gains more confidence through experience, expands their knowledge and acquires more skills with the materials.
Do you recognize my work when you see it on Facebook or Instagram?
In the past couple of weeks I've been painting a few of my blue jars with some tangerines. Here is my progress so far. There is still masking fluid on the outline of the jars until I finish the background.
If you're interested in seeing the final painting, I suggest that you subscribe to my newsletter.
This week I will start painting a stack of quilts with my Kanata Art Club class. I enjoy nudging class participants beyond their skill levels. However, this project will require lots of time to complete which may not be possible for some. They will choose a simpler version.
On Saturday I start my painting this beautiful sunflower. We will take three Saturdays to complete this. I will take participants through every step. If you would love to paint this sunflower, I still have 2 spots in that workshop.
As you can see I will have a fun few weeks.
Enjoy watching the Superbowl
Danielle
2/5/2022 9:21:17 PM
An impressionist artist looks at the whole subject at once and paints a broad, visual experience of it. That artist cherry picks colour, nuance and focus.
Artists who paint realism require an acute sense of observation. These artists start their painting with and item by item exploration of their subject. Realism is all about accuracy. The most important factors are accuracy of the structure, and accuracy in values.
The eight key factors in achieving realistic results are:
- Precision - accurate drawing from observation.
- Values - brightness values.
- Contrast - contrast range in brightness values.
- Edges - sharp or soft.
- Transitions - in brightness values, colors, texture, edges, and temperature.
- Temperature - warm and cool colors.
- Colors - the object's fingerprint.
- Saturation - how sharp and rich colors are.
Realism requires an acute sense of observation of all of the above. Painting in a realistic manner is like learning to see again.
I am proudly hanging my latest painting in my studio. This painting was the result of a workshop with Angus McEwan. It took me a month to complete it in between a couple of other paintings.
I'm currently working on a painting of three blue canning jars. This painting started because I found some lovely tangerines with foliage at the grocery store and needed to find something they would look next to.
Here is where I'm at. The next stage is scary as I need to remove the masking fluid on the lettering. This means there is no going back with large washes on the body of the jars. The jars and tangerines are on an old piece of wood. I can't wait to paint it and add some rusted nails to it.
I have three workshops coming up.
The next one will be of a lovely drooping sunflower. There are two spots remaining.
After that I'll be teaching a class on painting fur. Registration for this 6-week class will open for Kanata Art Club members on February 24th, for non-members on March 1st.
Lastly we will paint this fun koi fish on March 13.
Have a great week
Danielle
