I'm away for a few days on a clinical trial. I also have to catch up, as I have missed quite a few days of painting. I have been disappointed by many of them these last few weeks, and it has me discouraged. I think I will be returning to the tutorials, in order to get back to basics.
There are some courses coming up in our Parks and Rec program this winter. Two in particular appeal to me, Life Drawing and Intermediate Acrylics. I should do both. I think it would be motivating and educational.
See y'all in a couple of days!
Monday 11 December 2017
Saturday 9 December 2017
Autumn Past
I took the reference photo on the same walk as the Day 31 painting. I felt like looking back to fall as we have snow on the ground now and it's freezing out.
Not bad, but it seems to be lacking something and the leaves seem to be floating, and they shouldn't be. I guess I could just sat that this is a painting of falling leaves.
The underpainting colour was a mid tone green. It seemed like a good idea because the photo was mainly yellows and browns. I never quite sure whether to use a similar colour or an opposite colour as a base coat. More research needed. Keep painting.
Acrylic on 6x6 Masonite |
Not bad, but it seems to be lacking something and the leaves seem to be floating, and they shouldn't be. I guess I could just sat that this is a painting of falling leaves.
The underpainting colour was a mid tone green. It seemed like a good idea because the photo was mainly yellows and browns. I never quite sure whether to use a similar colour or an opposite colour as a base coat. More research needed. Keep painting.
More Decorations
Quite simply, I did two more decorations as my daily painting. The second and third one are not exact copies of the Harris painting, I drew and painted them without looking at the original just to see how it worked.
I enjoyed painting these so much that I may make a few more!
Acrylic on Christmas Balls |
I enjoyed painting these so much that I may make a few more!
Friday 8 December 2017
Have Yourself A Group Of Seven Christmas
Many of the Streets Alive artists are painting Christmas ornaments to give away on Saturday. I thought I'd make it my daily painting and decorate it based on winter in the Northern Woods by Lawren Harris.
Painting something so small and on a sphere is not as easy as I thought. I'm going to do a couple more tomorrow.
This was fun and a nice change. I just bought cheap dollar store balls. They are plastic so they aren't fragile. I may do a few more to give as gifts.
Ornament with Acrylic Paint |
This was fun and a nice change. I just bought cheap dollar store balls. They are plastic so they aren't fragile. I may do a few more to give as gifts.
Wednesday 6 December 2017
Mantlepiece
I chose a photo of my Uncle Tom's mantle from a few years ago. He always has the most beautiful flower arrangements, and not just during the holidays.
I tried to make the background a purplish gray instead of the beige in the photo. I struggled with the candle, background and roses. You can see I worked them way too much. After that I pretty much threw the rest together. I was hoping for something I could use for a Christmas card. I'll try again tomorrow.
You know, I think I will look for some tutorials on painting roses. I'd really like to do a much better job with them.
8x8 Acrylic on Canvas Board |
You know, I think I will look for some tutorials on painting roses. I'd really like to do a much better job with them.
Tuesday 5 December 2017
Rise And Shine
It's breakfast time! I honestly couldn't paint for a few days. I guess the pressure of 365 straight days of painting got to me. But now is the time to break the "fast".
I don't know if it's winter depression or if I was just sick of painting every day. None of my reference photos appealed to me and I just felt dumpy. But last night I went to the Monday night painters group and it was nice to see everybody and paint without pressure.
I picked another magazine photo to take with me and painted quickly. Our meetings are 2 hours. Subtract talking time, I painted for 1 1/2 hours. The bowl and plate are crooked, but otherwise I am happy with it. I mean, at lease I got back on the horse. I still feel un-confident, but I will do my best.
Gee, this post sounds like a gripe session. I'll try not to do that too often!
6x6 Acrylic on Masonite |
I don't know if it's winter depression or if I was just sick of painting every day. None of my reference photos appealed to me and I just felt dumpy. But last night I went to the Monday night painters group and it was nice to see everybody and paint without pressure.
I picked another magazine photo to take with me and painted quickly. Our meetings are 2 hours. Subtract talking time, I painted for 1 1/2 hours. The bowl and plate are crooked, but otherwise I am happy with it. I mean, at lease I got back on the horse. I still feel un-confident, but I will do my best.
Gee, this post sounds like a gripe session. I'll try not to do that too often!
Friday 1 December 2017
Snow Day
At this point, I've learned that I do not do my best work when I'm tired, especially late at night. I just don't seem to care at that point. But at least I painted something today.
I took this photo last year on a day so cold and beautiful that I had to go for a drive. I will revisit this photo someday, maybe on the same piece of masonite.
Thank you all for your patience!
6x6 Acrylic on Masonite |
I took this photo last year on a day so cold and beautiful that I had to go for a drive. I will revisit this photo someday, maybe on the same piece of masonite.
Thank you all for your patience!
Wednesday 29 November 2017
Squishy Pumpkin Patch
I relaxed and didn't worry too much and just painted. I used a reference photo from the internet this time. I was in the mood to paint something orange, but wanted to avoid citrus fruits again. LOL. I will try lemons again someday.
I like the darks and lights on this one, but I don't think I captured the pumpkin shape very well. Or is it the ridges in the pumpkins. I shall revisit pumpkins again in the future.
6x6 Acrylic on Masonite |
Tuesday 28 November 2017
Float Like A Butterfly
I painted this tonight at our Monday night painting group. I didn't bring any objects to paint, so I tore a photo out of a gardening magazine and hoped for the best.
This is the first painting in a week and a half that I have been happy with. I wonder if it's because I went back to my old 5x7 canvas. It is because the composition is better with a rectangular canvas? I know now that it is easier for me to paint on canvas than a smooth surface. Maybe I was just having a good night!
5x7 Acrylic on Canvas Board |
Check
I painted this yesterday, but I was so unhappy with it that I thought I'd paint another one today to post in it's place. Instead, I tried to fix it up.
The black piece is particularly troublesome. It still doesn't look right because it's not symmetrical. Makes me feel like leaning sideways. Ah well, better luck next time.
6x6 Acrylic on Masonite |
Sunday 26 November 2017
Pitcher This
So I mixed a bunch of pastel shades and just painted freely. I had no plans other than to paint a picture of a little jug in front of me and have fun with it.
Okay, so it's not exactly a masterpiece. I almost didn't publish it. I've been painting daily for just over 40 days now, and I'm feeling like I'm not going anywhere. I lack focus and my paintings are lacking something. Skill maybe.
6x6 Acrylic on Masonite |
Saturday 25 November 2017
Broken Window
Day 40
Now that I have uploaded this picture, I see how truly awful it is. That's okay, because I wasn't really feeling up to it and kind of rushed through it. Ah well, I said I'd post a painting a day, right? I didn't say they would be good.
White shadows. Weird trees. That's all for today.
6x6 Acrylic on Masonite |
White shadows. Weird trees. That's all for today.
Wednesday 22 November 2017
Bridge Over Troubled Water
I took this photo last November while canoeing on the Severn River. It had been a mild autumn, unlike this year. We have had snow and freezing temperatures for a over a week now, therefore no canoe trips until next year.
I guess this painting is so-so. I overworked it in a few places. I need more practice with bright areas, especially sunlight.
I've been painting on these little 6x6 masonite panels because our local Peter Street Fine Arts has a Call To All Artists to submit small paintings for December. They gave me a couple of panels, but I made a bunch more just in case. Good thing I did. I'm not crazy about my 6x6 paintings. Hopefully I will come up with two nice pieces before the end of the month.
6x6 Acrylic on Masonite |
I've been painting on these little 6x6 masonite panels because our local Peter Street Fine Arts has a Call To All Artists to submit small paintings for December. They gave me a couple of panels, but I made a bunch more just in case. Good thing I did. I'm not crazy about my 6x6 paintings. Hopefully I will come up with two nice pieces before the end of the month.
Tuesday 21 November 2017
Follow The Yellow Brick Wall
I'll tell you a secret. I used yesterday's paint tray for today's painting. Oh yes, and I forgot the underpainting. I think this flu has affected my brain.
Luckily, I found a reference photo with similar colours as yesterday's. The wall is actually red brick. The actual painting doesn't look as yellow as this, though I did add yellow to burnt sienna in an attempt to match the colour of the bricks under the bright sun.
The search for the best red brick colour continues. This is very important, as many of the charming older buildings in our city are made of red brick and they will definitely be future painting subjects.
Valuable Lessons Learned Today:
6x6 Acrylic on Masonite |
Luckily, I found a reference photo with similar colours as yesterday's. The wall is actually red brick. The actual painting doesn't look as yellow as this, though I did add yellow to burnt sienna in an attempt to match the colour of the bricks under the bright sun.
The search for the best red brick colour continues. This is very important, as many of the charming older buildings in our city are made of red brick and they will definitely be future painting subjects.
Valuable Lessons Learned Today:
- If you intend to save your sheet of mixed paint until the next day, make sure there is enough moisture in the container to prevent the paints from thickening or hardening.
- Don't forget your underpainting. Little bits of white will show through otherwise.
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