Learning to Paint

Sometimes I have to paint something, so I can paint it.  This is an example.

This set looked interesting to paint, flowers, pottery, and a cup.  I first painted everything.

But it felt a bit busy. 

 

 

So I did the next one simplifying all the objects.

After sitting a bit and look at the first two paintings, I realized the flowers were the most interesting to me.  So with the final painting I focused only on the flowers. 

The last painting I feel like I learned how to paint this subject, in other words, I painted to learn how to paint.

14 x 11 inches, watercolor

                                                    Available at DPWs

Mary

Schiros_Art

Acrylic mediums

8 x 8 gallery acrylic on gallery wrap canvas

                                                                                                          Available at DPWs

10 x 8 Acrylic on canvas panel

                                                                                                        Available at DPWs

Thought I would share a slightly different method used in paintings these flowers.  As long as I have been using acrylics, I mainly have used water for mixing and diluting my paint.  Read an art book a while back that suggested not using water except for clean up.  The author said to always use a medium for mixing.  Air brush medium was suggested for mixing similar to water, and acrylic mediums such as matte or gloss fluid, or pouring medium for a slightly thinker mix.  Gel medium was suggested for a think texture.

I decided to give this method a try for these flowers, used pouring medium instead of any water for painting both floral paintings.  I was surprised and very pleased with how they turned out.   This does create a much richer look that I honestly was not expecting to see.  If you haven’t tried this yet, give it a try and see if you notice a difference.

Mary

Schiros_Art 

Painting exercises

A collage of 4 individual paintings in acrylic

There are many ways to approach painting, many rules and ideas.  But there is only one rule I follow, make it fun!   Ok, really two, paint often.   Some days I need a little push, or should I say a bit of a challenge.  On Daily Paint Works web site they have weekly challenges that are fun to drop in on.

   Today I picked the 10minute challenge to warm up with. (Oh no forgot rule three, warm up before painting anything serious.)

    I picked 4 acrylic colors, white, and gold fluid Dick Blick brand, and teal, and moonglow (dark violet) from Daniel Smith.  Then spread out 4 sheets of black canvas paper Fredix canvas, and pick a little wood deer as my subject.  I then set a time for 10 minutes and started painted, giving my self a about 2 and a half minutes per sheet.

my subject

 

Half way through I did move and turn my deer to continue on for the last couple.

This is a great way to get in the painting mood, no time to worry or fuss, get get the paint moving, give it a try, you will have fun.
Mary
Schiros_Art



 
     One more challenge from yesterday,  "Clouds"

                                                 Aailable at DPWs

 DPWs keeps challenges open for a while so you have several to pick from.

Sharing the process

Thought I would share the steps involved in making my latest seascape.  

"A Dusting of Yellow"  Oil on canvas,  9 x 12 inches

                                 Available at DPWs

I started with a combination of texture and color combinations.  The texture is a mixture of oil paint, pigment and egg yoke, this mixture is nice because it dries at the same rate as the rest of the oil painting.  I put down my dominate color of blue and a point of red as a focal point.

Then a layer of yellow high light is added to bring back in light and warmth.    

The third step was to develop structure.  The last step is to refine the painting over all.

Mary

Schiros_Art 

Emails and art

9 x12 inches, watercolor on Arches watercolor paper

                                                                        Available at DPWs

One of the best things about being a painter is sharing a bit of your self.  Every time I send a painting out, I am sending a part of myself out.  Some times a painting will go out and all you know is where it is headed, other times sending a painting out creates a new friendship.   It is a nice surprise when an email comes back about the painting.  I have had emails with pictures of the art hanging in a new home, and emails with simply interesting photos and information about buyers. 

Recently a new friend in CA sent photos of her pomegranate harvest.  This was really interesting to me, living here in MI there are no pomegranates growing, so seeing them fresh was pretty cool.  Having a new idea of what they look like growing gave me the push to try painting them. Thought I would share the new painting with you.

6 x 6 inches Oil on Ampersand clay panel

                                                                               Available at DPWs

And here is a photo of one of my paintings framed and hanging in a new home:

Mary
Schiros_Art

Just for Fun

Did the Daily Paint Works Spooky Tree Challenge today,  just for the fun of it.

                                                                  Available at DPWs

Getting the spirit of Halloween.  Sometimes getting the paint brushes out should be just for fun and play, life is short and way too serious!

Mary