Some more Painting tips

Oil on canvas "Black and White Study"

I painted this one for the Daily Paint Works challenge this week.  But it was a good reminder that working out ideas in just black and white can be a good practice.  Doing this reminds me how important having a range of values can be, instead of getting caught up just in colors.

   Another tip;  if you are working in oils, it is a good idea to have a safe place to pile paint rags while you are painting.  My husband made this for me, and it is a simple and helpful thing to have.  Get an empty paint can and lid, (I got mine at a local hardware store for a couple bucks), add a knob and there you go.  Linseed oil can spontaneously combust, and that is not something you want to have happen next to you while your painting.

Another tip, I mark all the lid of my paint tubes for quick reference.  An easy way to find that red tube of paint in a hurry.

And one last tip for those of you that work in oil and water media, like watercolor and acrylics.  Tag your brushes for the media they will be used in.  Also handy if you go to a class or workshop to keep your brushes marked and separated as yours.

One can never have too many brushes :)

Happy painting
Mary
Schiros-art.com

A Series of Studies

Found a figurative pose that just ask to be painted.  I have done two studies so far, and plan more.

For one I used Alizarin Yellow and Manganese violet, one of my favorite color combinations.  The Alizarin yellow makes a very intense warm glow.

The next painting the main colors are emerald green, caput mortuum  (violet-brown), brilliant yellow and magenta, which surprising created a cool blueish color palette.  Also with this painting I turned my photo reference up-side down and actually painted the entire painting up-side down.  I did that to stop myself from painting what I "thought" should be there, and just paint the lights and shadows as just that; lights and shadows.

These two paintings are oil on canvas 14 x 11 inches.  I am already starting another one but using water media and working a bit more abstract.  Hopefully I will be able to post that one in a day or two.  I am hoping this series of studies will lead to a larger finished painting.  With each painting I feel more comfortable with the subject and willing to see where the composition will lead.
Mary
Schiros-art.com

How to Loosen Up

Did the Daily Paint Works challenge this week..........three times in a row!

Want to loosen up your painting style?  Try painting the same thing at least three times in a row, quickly.  You will loosen up, really.
Started with this one, more or less a copy of the subject presented for the challenge to paint.

I had 3 canvas panels lined up and started right in on a second version. 

Click to Bid

With out stoping to rest, did one more, think you can see the change happening here:)

Click to Bid

This really is great way to loosen up. hope you give it try.

Mary

Snow day

Last night we got about a foot and half of snow.  What is not to love about Michigan :)
Lucky for me I had nowhere I had to be today.  So what do you do when you are snowed in....
paint!!!
    This where I stopped for today.

18 x 18 inches, Acrylic on canvas

Going to think about it for a while, before I decide if it is finished yet.  When I decide it will be added to my web site at Daily Paint Works.  But for right now it is time to just hang it and think about it.

    Thought I would share the steps, layers, that got me to this point.  

I started with base colors, flexible modeling paste, and really only the thought of sky.  I wanted some wild texture to the first layer.

The mid point I let the texture dictate the ground.  Nature is not perfect, and I wanted this to be part of the painting.  If you think about painting every blade of grass the way you think it should be, reality is lost.  Interesting thought that a little chaos and abstraction is more real than planned perfection.  Ok that was a little deep, hope I do not get a head ache now.
    Anyways, just thought I would share.  Off to texture some more canvas before the roads are cleared here.
Mary
Schiros-art.com