This article will provide beginner oil painters with an introduction to the basic fundamentals of oil painting.
To accurately convey your feelings about the subject you are painting, you should learn and understand the fundamentals of oil painting like drawing, color theory, value and composition. I hope to give you a better understanding of these fundamentals in this article. This article is meant to be an introduction. You should study these topics further on your own when you have time.
DRAWING
Learning to draw, as a foundation for oil painting, is one of the most valuable skills a beginner oil painter can have. Many new artists usually frown upon the idea of drawing first. They would rather jump right into painting, as most beginners do. Nothing is more rewarding for a painter, than working with color, but if you want to gain experience working with values, form, and space, then drawing is something you should consider learning. This is not to say that you should master drawing, as it is an art form all in itself, but do spend time drawing and sketching your subjects before you work with color. Did you know that in art schools, many years ago, students were not permitted to work with paint until they successfully spent at least a few years drawing first? They must have been very restless, but imagine how skilled they became before they ever lifted a brush. You should at the very least have a basic understanding of drawing techniques before you begin. Check out Amazon.com for some great beginner drawing books that will give you a well rounded introduction to drawing and techniques. A book that is highly recommended by artists is: "The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, by Betty Edwards".
COLOR AND VALUE
Color is probably the single most exciting part of oil painting. It is truly amazing how an artist can take a two dimensional surface and create the illusion of depth and distance using color. To accurately depict a three dimensional scene using color requires much practice and an understanding of color theory and how to mix colors. The basics of color are value, hue, saturation and temperature. The value of a color is how light or dark it is. The hue refers to the color itself as it appears on the spectrum of colors. The saturation is the strength or purity of the color. The temperature of a color is how cool or warm a color is. For instance a cool color is blue and a warm is red. Artists can use temperature to give the illusion of distance. Cooler colors tend to recede into the distance, as in a distant mountain range, and warmer colors tend to advance closer toward the front of a picture. Color theory is a very broad topic, one that deserves more thorough attention. A great book on color theory and mixing is "Color Mixing the Van Wyk Way: A Manual for Oil Painters".
COMPOSITION
Have you ever visited an art museum and a particular painting just grabbed your attention and drew you in? Something in that painting kept you there looking and studying it. One element the artist successfully used in that painting was composition. The artist laid out the shapes and divided the space in the painting in such away that appealed to your senses. Here are some points to consider when developing your composition:
1) Avoid putting the main focus of interest in the center of your painting. 2) The areas of your canvas should be divided into parts of different sizes. For instance, if you are creating a landscape painting, do not put the horizon right in the center of your painting. 3) Do not place all the interesting parts of your composition on the left side of your painting. People read from left to right so they will have no reason to continue viewing the rest of your painting. 4) Avoid placing an interesting or important element of the painting too close to the edge of the canvas.
There are other elements that contribute to good design in an oil painting. Here is another good book to study if you would like to learn more about this fascinating aspect of painting: "The Simple Secret to Better Painting: How to Immediately Improve Your Work with the One Rule of Composition by Greg Albert"
I know all this information seems overwhelming at first. Oil painting can be very challenging in the beginning, but don't let that intimidate you. The most important thing to remember is to never give up and keep painting. You will learn from your mistakes and grow as a painter. Everything will come together in time. Happy Painting!
By Ralph Serpe
Published: 4/5/2007
There are times when we find ourselves without the ambition to paint. This article will help you find new ways to draw inspiration.
The next time you find yourself staring at a blank canvas, don't get discouraged. Sometimes our minds need a little break from painting. I would like to share how I find inspiration for those unproductive moments.
Take a walk or drive to the country - Step outside and take a long walk. Get your blood circulating and energize your mind. Exercise and fresh air can do wonders when you are feeling down. I also like to hop in the car and take a drive out to the countryside. I always bring a sketchpad or notebook along with me. I find so much beauty and inspiration from nature.
Visit a museum or gallery - Just looking at other artwork is enough to get your creative juices flowing. I will map out a few local galleries and head out with a friend to see what beautiful art I can discover. If they allow you take photographs, take a few shots of any works that catch your eye and bring them back to your studio for inspiration.
Go to a bookstore - Visit your local bookstore, grab a cup of coffee, and browse through the art section. See what new information sparks your interest. I pick up anything from magazines to art history books.
Listen to some music - Grab a few of your favorite CD's, a blank canvas, some of your favorite colors, and do some spontaneous painting. Don't think but instead let the rhythm of the music lead your brush. You will be pleasantly surprised at what comes out.
Don't be afraid to try different things - Oil paint is an incredibly versatile medium. Experiment with different oil painting techniques. Oil paint can be thinned to a watery consistency or brushed on with thick luscious strokes. Don't limit yourself to only one style. Don't worry about being wrong or following any rules. This is the perfect time to make mistakes as you are only experimenting and having fun.
When all else fails, say a prayer! Ask God, the one who blessed you with your creative gift, to lead your brush. He is the ultimate source of creativity. I bet he has some good ideas up his sleeve.
Ralph Serpe is Webmaster and Cofounder of Creative Spotlite - http://www.creativespotlite.com a free educational art and craft community. Visit Creative Spotlite today for more free art lessons.
By Ralph Serpe
Published: 12/23/2005
This article discusses some of the more frequently asked questions about oil painting.
Oil painting is probably one of the more challenging mediums to master. There are many aspects of oil painting that often confuse and intimidate beginners. Many questions arise and this article will cover some frequently asked questions that beginners have.
What is "Fat Over Lean?"
Fat over lean is one of the most fundamental approaches to oil painting and when followed will reduce the risk of your paint cracking as it dries. An oil paint is "Fat" when it comes right from the tube. If you wanted to make it fatter, you would add more oil. To make your paint "Lean" your mixture would contain more of a thinner like turpentine. Begin your painting with a "Lean" mixture. As you add more layers, you would make the mixture fatter. This will help reduce the risk of cracking.
Should I Varnish My Finished Painting?
If you want to protect your painting from dust, smoke, and other pollutants, you should varnish your painting. If not, these pollutants will accumulate on your painting and eventually darken or yellow the surface. When you apply a varnish, you are creating a layer that will protect your painting underneath. The layer of varnish can be cleaned periodically and eventually removed. A fresh layer of varnish can then be re-applied. You should wait 6 months to a year, depending on how thick your paint was applied, before varnishing. Varnishing a painting can be tricky especially if you have no experience. You should definitely do more research on varnishing before you attempt to do this yourself. You may even need to contact a professional.
Can I save the oil paint I do not use for a later time?
There are apparently ways to keep oil paint fresh until you are ready to use them again altough I have never actually tried either of these techniques. Proceed with caution. Some artists actually put plastic wrap over the paint and freeze it. You can also try and put your unused paint onto a piece of glass and then keep it submerged in water.
What kind of support should I use with my oil paint?
There are a variety of different surfaces that oil paint can be applied to. Stretched cotton canvas is one of the most popular supports used by oil painters today. Linen canvas is also used but tends to be fairly expensive. Other supports that can be used with oil paints are masonite and even certain types of wood panel.
What kind of paint should a beginner purchase?
This is a tough question to answer, as every artist is different and will more than likely have a different recommendation. There are a few different grades of oil paint on the market today. You have "Artist Quality", "Student Quality", and "Economical" grades. Stay away from the economical paints as these have more fillers in them than actual pigment and do not cover very well. There are some very descent student quality paints on the market, which work well if you are just starting out and for experimentation. Once you get your hands on artist quality paint however, you may never buy anything else.
There are some very popular brands to consider as a staring point. Winsor & Newton, Grumbacher and Gamblin are popular choices amongst artists.
What kind of brushes should a beginner choose?
This is also a difficult question to answer exactly. Brushes come in a variety of different shapes, sizes and brands. Every artist is different and will have different preferences when it comes to brushes. Ideally, you should have a variety of different shapes and sizes on hand to start with. Over time, you will develop a preference for certain types of brushes. Never buy cheap brushes, as they will shed their hairs and fall apart a lot quicker than a good quality brush. There is a good introductory set of 11 oil brushes made by "Silver Brush" that you may be interested in checking out. Do a search online or visit your local art store for more information.
How do I come up with ideas for my paintings?
Don't throw your paintbrush down in a fit of rage if you aren't able to come up with an idea for your next painting. There are a number of ways you can find inspiration and ideas. Sometimes the mind just needs a break. Take a walk outside or a long drive and just observe nature. Take a ride to an art museum with a friend and spend the day observing other artwork. Look around your home for everyday objects and setup a still life. Look to yourself for ideas. Do you have a passion for any particular subject? Do you love wildlife and nature? Perhaps you are a music lover? I absolutely love nature and wildlife. When I am searching for ideas for my next painting, I will usually take an outdoor trip with a friend. I will bring a camera of course and just take shots of whatever inspires me. Then when I get back to my studio I will take bits and pieces from each photograph and create my own composition.
I hope this article on oil painting has answered some or all of your questions. Best of luck and happy painting!
For more free art lessons head over to http://www.creativespotlite.com today!
By Ralph Serpe
Published: 5/31/2006
Discover tips and tricks directly from professional artists related to handling and taking care of oil painting.
Buying a genuine oil painting for display in your home or office is a cause for celebration. Whether you purchased an old oil painting or commissioned a brand new oil portrait, you probably realized as soon as you removed the wrappings that you don’t have ‘just another picture’ to hang on the wall.
Oil paintings, which are not mounted behind glass (except in some museum circumstances for preservation), require special consideration regarding handling and maintenance.
A few tips will help you avoid making mistakes that might damage your oil painting and help you preserve it for many years as a keepsake or family heirloom.
Handling and Storage
Oil painting is a sturdy, long-lasting, and durable art form, and with proper care and handling will last for generations. A visit to any good museum will confirm this, but keep in mind that museums go to great lengths to safeguard their masterpieces.
1 Always handle an oil painting by the frame without touching the painted surface.
2 Never let any object press again either the front or back of an oil painting canvas, as it pliable and will cause a dent or hole. If an accident occurs, have an expert repair the damage. An amateur repair job may look okay at first but given time will inevitably show.
3 For temporary storage or transporting an oil painting, place cardboard or plywood on both front and back (slightly larger than the outside dimensions of the framed oil painting) and then wrap in ‘bubble wrap’ and tape or tie securely.
4 Permanent storage should be in a custom-sized plywood container with the painting braced to allow air flow on all sides without shifting.
5 Never expose an oil painting to extremes of heat, cold, or humidity, whether hanging on your wall or in storage. Neither basements nor attics are good storage locations. The best place to store an oil painting is on the wall for all to enjoy.
6 Occasional dusting with a clean, soft-bristled brush is recommended. A very old or dirty oil painting should be taken to a professional restorer.
Hanging Your Oil Painting
Here’s the fun part. Oil paintings, especially portrait oil paintings, demand pride of place in your home. Involve your spouse or family in deciding the perfect location.
Hang your oil painting on two picture hooks which are appropriate to the wall (wood, plaster, drywall) and strong enough to secure the weight of the picture. Two hooks, rather than one, will allow the picture to maintain a horizontal position.
1 Choose a place for your painting that does not get direct sunlight or is subject to hot or cold drafts.
2 Hang high enough to be able to see the painting clearly from anywhere in the room. A spot over a mantelpiece or over a sofa (above head height of anyone sitting on the sofa) is usually ideal.
3 Avoid hanging oil paintings in hallways or on walls where there is frequent family movement or furniture may be brushed against the wall.
4 If you have central heat or air conditioning, that’s great. If not, a rule of thumb is, if people are comfortable in the room your oil painting occupies, chances are your oil painting will be comfortable too.
If you don’t own a genuine oil painting yet, you can turn a favorite family photograph into an oil portrait as a way of displaying it and preserving it forever.
An inexpensive way to acquire an oil painting or oil painting portrait of any photograph is to commission one from oil painting website.
By Assaf Kostiner
Published: 9/6/2007
This article will talk about some of the many ways you can work with oil paint.
Oil paint is one of the most versatile and adaptable painting mediums in existence today. There are many techniques and effects possible with oil paint. Oil paint can be applied in thin transparent glazes or washes, or the paint can be mixed to a thick buttery consistency and applied using a painting knife. There really appears to be no end to the wonderful ways you can create art with this amazing painting medium. This article will talk about some of the many ways you can use oil paint.
Dry brush
The dry brush technique involves using a small amount of oil paint straight from the tube. It is then brushed thinly onto your support with a bristle brush. This technique works particularly well with a rough surface. The raised parts of your surface pick up the paint, while the dips or valleys in your support do not. This creates a broken color effect where the color of your canvas shows through.
Painting On A Toned Ground
The white of a canvas can sometimes be too bright or have too much contrast which makes starting a painting a bit difficult. When you cover your support with a uniform toned ground, it makes it much easier to judge the values in your painting. You can use any color you like to tone your ground really, but the more popular approach is to use warm tones of red, yellows and browns, which provide a wonderful richness to the finished work.
Here is an example of how to paint on a toned ground using Burnt Umber and Yellow Ochre. First you create the wash by mixing the Burnt Umber and Yellow Ochre together with a paint thinner (use turpentine, or if you are like me, and are allergic to turpentine, use a water soluble oil paint). Apply the mixture generously to your support and completely cover it with a large bristle brush. Let this mixture stand for a couple of minutes and then wipe off the excess wash with a cloth.
Alla Prima Painting
Alla Prima painting , also known as "direct painting", is a technique of oil painting where the work is usually finished in just one sitting. You are probably familiar with the artist Bob Ross, who made this painting method quite popular on his TV Show. I am sure like me, you watched Bob paint in amazement as he completed a beautiful painting in under 30 mintues.
The paint is applied wet onto wet directly onto the canvas usually with no underpainting or sketches. It might be a good idea in the beginning to lay down a sketch with some thinned down oil paint. This way you will have a general idea where your colors will be placed. You must be careful using this technique as your painting can become quite muddy if you do not apply the colors correctly on your canvas. It takes practice, so don't be discouraged if your first, second or even third painting does not come out the way you anticipated. Keep practicing and let your imagination run wild. As Bob used to say, "It's Your World".
Working With Painting Knives
If you have never worked with painting knives, then it is highly recommended that you give them a try. This type of painting method is very different from traditional brush painting and when you lay down your first stroke of paint with a painting knife, you will immediately see why. Painting with a knife can be best described as spreading butter on a piece of bread and you should keep your painting at a butter or cream like consistency when using painting knives. Do not use your palette knives to paint with. They have a different construction and are not made for painting. Painting knives have more flexibility to them and come in a variety of different shapes and sizes. You can manipulate paint in a variety of different ways with a knife just by changing your hand position on the handle. You can hold your hand down low on the handle to smear the paint over your support. Move your hand up to the top of the handle and you can use your finger to gently push the blade into the paint to create small dabs of color. You can also turn your knife blade on its side for scraping away paint or for creating hard lines.
Glazing
If you never produced a painting using the glazing technique, then you should definitely give this a try as well. Your painting will have a different appearance then if you were to complete a painting using traditional color mixing techniques. Glazing tends to give colors more luminescence. The colors are not mixed together first before applying, rather, they are mixed optically using single transparent layers of color. For instance, if you wanted to create the color green using glazes, you would not mix yellow and blue together on your palette first. You would first apply a thin glaze of blue, wait until it dries, then apply a thin glaze of yellow, which would then create your green. Each layer must be completely dry before applying subsequent layers. Usually, the first step in using the glazing technique is to create a monochromatic (different values of the same color) underpainting of the subject. Using only one color will help you to focus on form and tone first, rather than being too preoccupied with color at this stage. Wait until your under painting is dry to begin applying your first layer of color. This technique is tricky and does require practice, but it is not as difficult as some may lead you to believe.
For more oil painting lessons and techniques be sure to visit Creative Spotlite today, a free online community for artists and crafters. It is also recommended that you visit the Creative Spotlite Art Instruction Blog, where you will find more painting lessons including step by step painting videos.
By Ralph Serpe
Published: 7/30/2007
I firmly believe that all people are born artists. Everyone can
remember how, as children, we all loved drawing,
finger-painting, etc. The wonderful thing was, we didn't care
what others thought of our efforts, we were just having fun! Somehow, as we age, we often lose that creative innocence and
exuberance, and in the process, lose a very gratifying part of
our lives. I see people every day that are unhappy and don't
know why. I believe that if they could "rediscover" a creative
outlet of some form, it would so enrich their lives that they
would return to it again and again. Often I hear adults say, "I
can't do that! I can't even draw a straight line!". Well, the
straight lines don't matter; it's the curved and crooked ones
that are more interesting! I personally have never had any formal art training. Neither has
my husband, Kris, or our daughter-in-law, April. We all three
just need a creative outlet to help us stay sane, and now here
we are! When you browse through the Artisan Shops on Ruby Lane,
you will see many very talented Artisans with different forms of
artistic _expression. Each and every one of them is exquisitely
beautiful in their own way, and all are uniquely different. That
is the wonderful thing about art. What you create is a very
personal part of you, and that carries over to your work. There
are three of us that contribute to our shop. I started painting fifteen years ago. I had always wanted to
paint, had never pursued it, and literally just woke up one day
and said, "Today I start painting!" I did, and two months later
sold my first piece. Next thing I knew, I had a custom artwork
shop going out of my home, and later, opened a brick and mortar
store that I had for over a year, until my mother became ill, so
I went back to painting from home. Kris started out designing
book covers in elementary school for extra money. April started
out scrap-booking about two years ago, and has taken off with
her own designs and techniques. I also work in ceramics, clay,
and jewelry, and have sold items through wholesalers in Texas
and Colorado. All because I decided I wanted to paint! Go ahead,
give something a try! "If you can dream it, you can do it"! About the Author
Laura is the owner of Ice Originals II ~ Collectibles, Jewelry and Artistic Designs . She is a practicing Artist and collector. View her items at http://www.tias.com/stores/iceorig View her personal webpage - "Ice Originals - Inside Out" at http://www.iceoriginals.faithweb.com for detailed insight into the artists and collectors behind Ice Originals II! "An Artist's Dream"
Art Articles brings you the finest and most up-to-date information concerning art on the Web. If you have an art related article that you would like to submit for possible publication, then send it in. We are always on the lookout for new and innovative pieces concerning the world of art.
The Street Painting Artist Artists from the different part of the globe go to street painting festivals - to paint it red. With chalks, pastels and paints in their hand, artists transform the street into a palate for all. Jay Schwartz during an interview said that "Street painting is an extension of my fine art background. My initial exposure to the medium was as a student at UCSB. I stumbled into the role of street painter by accident. The purity, tradition, and inspirational qualities are my main attractions to the medium. My approach to the street as canvas is much like any other visual communication problem: start with a strategy (subject matter, diagrams, keylines, etc.) and infuse my style into the project, all the while trying to maintain an overall view of the big picture. For the most part street painting is unique, mainly because of the physicality of the medium. I make a lot of my own chalks, so I can use colors that can't be reproduced through any other medium." One of the best among street painters is Manfred Stader who specialized himself in pastel. It is with self-manufactured pastel chalks that he paints copies of masters like Corregio, Bronzino, Bouguereau and many others. Edgar Mueller, also a renowned street painter, has been in the craft for more than 15 years. During this time he created a lot of paintings. A collection of his paintings gives a view of his most beautiful ideas as an artist. Street painting 3D Wenner, a master street painter, uses anamorphic principle in his paintings. Anamorphism is the style used in the seventeenth century which combines architectural elements with illusionistic painting forming an extraordinary combined image. Wenner's unique and innovative use of this creates unforgettable images that combine the painted surface with its surroundings into a single composition. How do you treat the street as a "canvas"? Well, it depends on what approach you will use. Those who are aspiring to become a popular street painter you can have the aforementioned artists as your inspiration or you can create your own style for that matter. About the Author
For comments and questions about the article you may contact The Printing Shoppers Moderator at 1-888-888-4211 or visit http://www.printingshoppers.com Art Articles brings you the finest and most up-to-date information concerning art on the Web. If you have an art related article that you would like to submit for possible publication, then send it in. We are always on the lookout for new and innovative pieces concerning the world of art.
Discover what are frames and different types of frames. These are technical details about painting, explained in easy way.
Everyone loves to have their own paintings. A painting is more than just a decorative item in our home, it is also symbolise our freedom of choice. We choose a painting according to a special feeling which it gives us.
A painting is like music, it creates atmosphere, it adds colours to our daily lives, it is a way for us to chose our own unique life style and to express ourselves.
To enhance the beauty of a painting we use framing as integral part of the painting. A frame must carefully chosen, it is as important as the painting. It may affect the overall feeling in a dramatic way, sometimes for good and sometimes for worse.
In general we can classify the frames to two categories. The first is a contrasted style and the second is a blended style. When choosing a contrasted frame, we try to achieve a dominant combination between the painting and the frame. The frame is playing a significant role in the overall outcome of painting while in the blended style, we chose a frame which have similar color to the dominant colours of the painting. In this case the observer will focus more on the painting and less on the frame.
In recent years a new style is developing and becoming more popular than the classical frames. The new style is called Gallery wrap. In this style the canvas is stretched and wrapped around a simple wood wooden frame. The canvas actually covers all areas of the wooden frame and it looks as the painting is 3 dimensional. The thickness of the wood will change the ‘feeling’ of the painting. It makes a big difference if we choose a thick frame or a thin frame. Although it may sound strange, researches have shown that a thicker wooden frame brings a more expensive look to the painting.
A classical frame is actually made by two separate frames. An inner frame, which the canvas will be stretched on and an outer frame for decoration. The 2 frames are connected by screws or pins and forms together a strong structure for the painting. The stretching quality is highly important, if it isn’t done properly ,the canvas will be loose and the painting will lose some of its effect.
A gallery wrap is usually chosen by young people and it is often use for modern paintings rather than classic style painting. There are 2 major benefits for using a gallery wrap, the first is the price which is much cheaper than a classical frame. The second is the weight which is much lighter in compare to any other frame style. The downside of a gallery wrap is that it can be used only for oil paintings and for acrylic paintings. These are the two major mediums that are painting on canvases which can be stretched on wooden bars. Watercolour paintings, Charcoal paintings, pencil paintings and pastel paintings are usually are being painted on different kinds of papers.
All those four mediums: Watercolour paintings, Charcoal paintings, pencil paintings and pastel paintings have one major difference if comparing them to oil paintings or acrylic paintings. They all need to be framed with a protecting glass. Those four mediums are more sensitive to sunlight, oxygen and human touch. Even though that some painters spray the painting with a sealing layer for protection, those medium are still need to be handled with more care than other mediums.
Thanks to technology, now we can the frame the paintings with a glass imitation rather than actual glass. The benefits of using such material are lower prices and also avoiding the danger of a glass breaking and damaging the painting. Another benefit is that a glass imitation is its weights which is less than a real glass. Another benefit is that it has almost no reflection when looking at the painting while in real glass we sometimes see more reflection than a painting.
However, there are two downsides of a glass imitation. The first is that it can be easily scratched, the second is that for large paintings (over 24"x36") the surface will not be as flat as glass which may cause a wavy look to the surface.
In the last few years, there are few companies in the market who offer custom made paintings. This unique service enables us to create our own original masterpieces by choosing any subject we like to paint. The process is very simple, you just need to send a digital photos to one of the companies who offers such service. They will pass it to an artist who will paint it according to your requirements. Once the painting is done you will get it by post (with or without a frame). This service is called "painting from photo". this new service has enabled us to easily design our lifestyle in any way we choose, however, it demands to play a major role in choosing the subject, the medium and the frame.
Final words: paintings and frames brings colours and joy to our life, sometime we choose a portrait of our family, some times of our pets, sometimes of a beautiful landscape and sometimes an abstract. But whatever we choose, we must choose carefully. We need to consider the overall outcome of the combination of the frame and the painting. A successful framed painting let us enjoy it for many years and therefore we should choose the right one for ourselves.
Remember, real art is not only for rich people. It belongs to each and every one of us.
Buy oil painting from the experts. Discover how to paint like professional artists for free from the PaintYourLife forum.
By Assaf Kostiner
Published: 8/18/2007
Glass painting is currently one of the fastest growing crafts in UK. The subject glass painting is so vast that one can just go on writing about it...
Have you ever heard about glass painting? Glass painting is currently one of the fastest growing crafts in UK. The subject glass painting is so vast that one can just go on writing about it.
Painting on glass is different from painting on a book. They are different ways to paint on glass, ranging from using traditional oil paints to specialized glass paints. Traditional glass painting is painting done on the surface of a glass sheet. This type of method was followed to add minute details to faces and fold of clothing which couldn’t be added with the lead lines. Traditional glass painting is actually more of drawing than painting.
Types of Traditional Glass Paints are:
• Vinegar Trace Paint
• Matt Paint
• Silver Paint
• Oil based stained glass paints
Glass Painting can also be done with paints that used to paint other surfaces. Some of the best examples would be oil paints, acrylic paints, model paints or automobile paints. Glass painting can be brushed by hand but air brushing can help you with better results.
Glass Paint Instructions:
• Select the right glass
• Clean the glass dry and place it over the top of pattern. Trace the pattern with a pencil with firm pressure.
• Apply liquid lead following the lines of the pattern under the glass. It would always be advisable to apply the lead from the center and work to outside.
• Mix stains and colors well. Always add dark colors to light colors
• Blend and shade with glass stain
How to clean up Glass Paints?
• Use a thinner or a cleaner to clean brushes, eyedroppers or airbrushes.
• Use Lacquer base glass paint or Lacquer based crystal paint to clean off your hands.
• Lacquer Paints are the best option to pat dry your hands than a cleaner.
Isabella Rodrigues writes for painting-books.info, offering the latest information on painting books, visit them today and get the latest information on painting.
By Isabel Rodrigues
Published: 5/25/2006
The first work I encountered of Jaeda DeWalt was one of her self-portraits with mannequin figures. The plastic look of the figures is softened by the usage of light and shades of grey. In this black & white photo the human body is almost equal to the mannequins surrounding it. It's the same with the pose of Jaeda, it makes the human and plastic body's blend together as a group of equals. The main difference is the anonymity of the mannequins and the individuality of the central character. You could say that she reveals her individuality this way. Does she express her sexuality as a female here as well? In a way there is a sexual aspect in this picture. The nakedness, the sensual lines of the body's against each other, even if most of them are not for real. But on the opposite there is the non-interaction and the static poses. This duality makes this image intriguing to me. What I also experience in her work is what's best to describe as visual silence. It is one of the things that gives the work of Jeada DeWalt the serene intrinsic beauty. The images in this gallery are almost all self-portraits of the artist. She describes it as a way of seeking answers to who she is and what se will become, a personal journey we can witness. The Artist statement:
The body is perhaps the most beautiful canvas of expression. The camera can provide a location of where we're at on this road map of life. Nudity in itself is not sexual, but rather, it is sensual. I feel sensuality is a state of mind that walks hand in hand with spirituality. In my photography I seek to express the sensual and spiritual in all of its magnificent colors, textures and feelings, as well as exposing the darkness that lingers within us all. About the Author
Hans is the author of The Art of Love. He writes about erotic art , photography and modern culture. The Erotic art and modern culture on The Art of Love
As I was riding a bus to Fernie, British Columbia, listening to Tool's album "Lateralus", I pondered life, creation and similar matters of uncertainty. I pondered the things that we understand, or think we understand, and the things that we don't. I questioned whether there was a finite body of knowledge out there so that one day, the human race, more likely factions of the human race, would know everything there is to know. I wondered whether by aggressively working towards "more knowledge" we were moving in the wrong direction. We passed a tree alongside the highway and I thought about how it had come from a seed that was fertilized at some point in the past. I then tried to think of where the seed that created the tree had come from and reasoned that it likely came from another tree. That was the easy answer. I realized that the things we think we know or understand are created from an imagination so great we can't begin to understand it. My friend Jeff owns these really interesting photographs of smoke rings by an artist named Donald Sultan. I have always found them visually intriguing and likened the respect I feel for the photographs to that which I feel for my favorite painting called "Hint" by a Russian artist named Vladan Ignatovic and to that which I feel for Mark Rothko's work. Unable to explain the source of that feeling, I recalled the countless times that I'd heard someone say "why is that so expensive? I could do that." I recalled the times that I had said similar things. The easy answer, "would you have thought of it?" Then it hit me. Wondering what artists, entrepreneurs and other creators were thinking when they came up with all of the wonderful things that society can't live without I realized that the source of life was imagination and imagination is so great that we can't begin to understand it. Hence the painting that you see at the top of this page. Simple, one sentence, black and white. I thought of doing this because most people would look at it and say, "I could do that" or "it's just a sentence", on and on. And I hope that a few people will understand the meaning of the sentence and the irony of the portrayal and realize that the painting is very interesting and a little funny. Would you have thought of it?! If no one feels the way I do about this painting, it doesn't really matter. I feel that I've thought of something original and extremely meaningful and for once that thought materialized into something I feel is creative and that I am very proud of. I felt a sense of exhilaration which heightened my spirits for the entire day and continues to linger today. I realized how healthy and important it was to sit back once in a while and think about nothing. Because for now, it seems imagination comes from nothing, at least nothing we understand, and to create something from nothing causes exhilaration beyond explanation.
About the Author
Mr. Dan Pichette is a freelance writer from Alberta, Canada.
Do you want to paint your life? If the answer is a positive one, you must be an art lover. The Internet offers artistic natures the possibility to transform their own memorable moments into real art. This is no programming trick we are talking about, but real portraits made by talented people. Forget artificial art and photography! The website we are talking about involves persons who enjoy creating beautiful memories by using their abilities, photos sent by you and several painting techniques like oil, watercolor, charcoal, pencil, pastel and acrylic. With some effort and creativity, they manage to create wonderful works of art that can be given to friends and family on special occasions as exceptional gifts.Even if an oil painting may seem as the best idea you ever had, a pencil sketch or a watercolor painting can be just as striking and surprising when received as a gift. The graphite portraits drawn from the clients’ family photos or from a favorite baby, pet or landscape are realistic interpretations of the subject, which portray with accuracy the real image. To convince yourself, please visit paintyourlife.com, a site full of beautiful paintings made for several of their clients. Moreover, the special effect of the pencil brings a sort of magic to the paintings, making them particularly charming and attractive. Buying a pencil sketch is less costly than other mediums because its creation is much faster. The oil takes some time to dry, while the pencil is ready to ship out just as soon as the drawing is finished. The making of a pencil sketch involves just pencils and paper. In addition, the ordering of such a gift is quite easy and involves only sending a photo of the person(s) you would like to be drawn. When you place your order, you only have to pay 20% of the pencil sketch’s value; the rest is paid when you see the painting online and approve it. You can also require changes if you like, but we recommend leaving the art to the professionals who know exactly what they are doing. Please also consider that erasing some of the lines from the already made drawing might create an unpleasant result in that area. Leaving this aside, because we think you will not need any changes made, you have many advantages from ordering online. The best one is that you can obtain a very elegant, personalized gift by simply staying in front of the computer, without wasting time for shopping. Clean and expressive, a pencil sketch can be a proof of great sensitivity and of thoughtfulness – something that impresses almost anyone.Graphite pencils are recent. Therefore, in the past, artists often resorted to charcoal portraits or to special paper and a silver stylus. Even if pencils are now available, the special effect given by charcoal is still used and many people buy charcoal portraits from paintyourlife.com preferring them to other techniques. Strong and suggestive, charcoal portraits can depict the most memorable moments from the client’s life: wedding, anniversaries, romantic holidays with the loved ones, adorable hugs of one’s children, happy days spent with friends and many more. They are also appropriate for family portraits that capture the soul and spirit of the family to remind future generations of the loved ones. Of course, a pencil sketch can be just as interesting as charcoal portrait and you can choose the one technique you like most. There are no rules when it comes to taste and the skills of the artists make all the paintings attractive.So, stop wasting time on endless online searches for special gifts because paintyourlife.com is a fantastic resource to buy something extraordinary. Customers benefit from the best work using any technique of choice in a masterful way. On this website, clients receive complete satisfaction and can benefit from many advantages. By: David Yuri
Organizing Your PaletteHere are some general tips for having a clean and organized palette for the best possible success with your oil paintings.
Having a clean organized palette is an essential part of good painting. If you are just starting out with oil painting, these tips will help you get a good start.
You should have the right kind of palette to start off with. Your palette should be non-porous to prevent absorption of oil from the paint. Palettes come in a variety of different materials from glass to wood. My personal preference is the BOB ROSS Clear Palette. I have found this palette the easiest to clean and best for mixing colors.
When you are first starting out, it may be a good idea to start with a fairly limited palette of colors. If you purchase every color under the sun, you may find yourself mixing too many different colors, which will result in a muddy painting. Start off slow in the beginning, then add more colors as you become more experienced. Color choices for a limited palette vary from artist to artist. Here are the colors of my palette: Yellow Ochre, Cadmium Yellow Pale, Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Orange, Phthalo Blue, Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber, Cadmium Red Medium, Phthalo Green, Titanium White, Ivory Black. I recommend purchasing 1.25 oz tubes of all colors except Titanium White. Purchase a larger tube of Titanium White, as you will be using more of this color.
First, you should get into the habit of laying out your colors the same way every time you paint. This is just good practice and keeps the painting process flowing nicely. Arrange your colors along the edges of your palette leaving a lot of room in the center for mixing.
Don't be afraid to squeeze out a good amount of paint, especially your whites. You will be more productive if you aren't continuously stopping to squeeze out more paint.
Make certain to include all of the colors you think you will need to complete that session of painting as well. Again, this will make you more productive.
When adding paint to the palette, I have found that squeezing the paint out in long lines, as opposed to puddles, keeps my colors cleaner. When you have puddles of paint, they tend to get soiled by other colors when mixing. With a long line of paint, you can just take paint from the end as needed and not dirty the rest. Keep some rags or paper towels handy for wiping your palette knife clean.
It's a good idea to continuously wipe your palette clean during the painting process. There is nothing more frustrating then trying to remove dried up oil paint. Keep some alcohol handy so that you can keep the mixing area of your palette clean.
By Ralph Serpe
Published: 2/25/2006
By Simon GoodwinPublished: 11/8/2007 How to Oil Paint - Oil Painting Supplies When you start oil painting it is incredibly difficult to know what equipment you should buy. We all walk into our local art shop and spend a fortune on new paints, brushes and canvas. This quick article was written to give my view on what you need as a hobby artist When you are learning how to oil paint, it can be easy to spend a fortune on equipment. This really is not necessary. Most magazines, books and videos I have read or seen always say that you should buy the best equipment you can. Which is fine if you can afford it, personally I am a working man with a mortgage and bills to pay. Most people have a budget and I would like to share with you how I managed to balance the bills and my hobby. Canvas: Canvases can be bought obviously at art and craft shops, but have a look around, I recently bought some smaller canvases at the local pound shop (small shop where all items cost one pound sterling in the UK). Oh and if you do use an art shop on a regular basis ask them if they will give you some Student discount, I asked and they gave me 20% on everything I purchase. You can also paint on plywood, MDF board, and even hardboard. If you buy from a large DIY store they even have the facilities to cut it to size for you. All of these surfaces must be prepared properly, you will need to rub them down with fine sandpaper and then apply the base coats. Basecoats: A lot of artists use Gesso which is a chalk based white liquid. Gesso has been used for centuries by painters. The downside is it's quite expensive! Personally I use Acrylic primer/undercoat. Available from decorators stores, it's water-based and dries very quickly. I usually put six coats on, gently rubbing down with sandpaper to remove any nibs in between coats. When you go to your local shop simply ask for acrylic white undercoat, and you should find it costs around $5 for a largish pot. Oil Paints The oil paints I use are sold in 38ml , and I generally buy student's quality paint. They are about £3.00 a tube sometimes a little bit more depending on the color. I have found Daler-Rowney to be quite a good compromise in terms of pigment and price. Artists quality oil paint can reach as high as £12.00 a tube. This is because the pigments they use are purer. However for hobby purposes you would not really notice the difference. I have only ever bought the top quality paints for specific jobs or for comissions. If I was buying a set of paints from scratch the ones I would be looking for initially are: Lamp Black Titanium White Flake Yellow (or Cadmium Yellow) Ultramarine Blue Alizarin Crimson Burnt Umber Raw Sienna Yellow Ochre These would probably be sufficient for most painting you will need to do. Brushes I have purchased expensive brushes and middle price ranged brushes and to be quite honest have found no difference in use. Over the years I have collected dozens of brushes but at best only ever use about six to complete a painting, and one of those is a fan brush used for softening edges. Where possible buy student or midpriced brushes they will be more than sufficient in quality terms. Pallets Pallets are sold in varies shapes and sizes oblong, round, and kidney shaped, in numerous materials plastic, wood etc, I've tried them all and while the kidney shaped ones do look very arty, in daily use I find them heavy and cumbersome. The problem with proper palletes is you also have to spend half an hour cleaning them. Now I don't know about you but I cant be bothered, I have a life and a limited amount of time to spend painting. I don't want to spend my time cleaning and scraping. So my personal choice is to use plastic throwaway white plates, the type used at parties. The white helps me to see the exact colour I'm mixing and when I have finished I throw them away, easy huh? Thinners Pure Artist Turpentine is made from pine trees and is sold in small bottles in art shops. It's roughly £3.00 for a small bottle. In the past thinners was used for thinning out your paint, and to make it dry quicker. However nowadays there are better substances for this job. I will discuss these below. Instead I buy turps substitute for a £1 a bottle, I mostly use this to clean my brushes not to thin my paint. You can buy turps substitute from your local DIY or hobby shop Mediums - And I'm not talking Doris Stokes Mediums are used to thin oil paint and make some lovely glazes, the medium I use is Liquin Original, it's great in use and also helps the paint to dry quicker. Available from art shops in small and large bottles (brilliant stuff), and much less expensive than buying pure turps. This should get you started on your first paintings, always remember to clean your brushes properly, and take your time, it doesn't matter if it takes six months to do your first picture!
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