It is interesting how things turn out sometimes... I didn't win at the art show, I got something much better!! A visiting couple saw my painting and asked me to paint their historical home in Washington! Wow, didn't see that one coming! I will be receiving their photos shortly and I am looking forward to the challenge!
Also, my other painting I had to enter, "The Sentinel" has been sold. It is traveling to New York. Bon Voyage!
Now, for the teaching. As I mentioned in my last blog, UNDERPAINTING is MANDATORY!!!
Without it, the painting never quite achieves proper depth and the 3D effect we need and desire! In the painting, "Top Hat and Tails" even the horse and buggy that are white, ESPECIALLY WHITE, must be underpainted in a darker color. In the case of white, it is done with grey. You use either a warm grey (browns, reds or yellows) or cool grey (blues or purples with greens) depending on whether your painting is warm or cool. Then when layering on top, of course, we NEVER cover all the grey. That is how we achieve the 3D. The grey remains as the shadows of the object. Again, in Acrylics, the colors always dry darker, so we go back several times lighter and lighter each time to finally achieve the brightness we want. We also always tint the white with another color to keep white from looking chalky. If we want a warm white, tint with yellow or tan, if a cool white is desired, then tint with the blue or green family. It takes very little to tint the white!! Just enough to bring it down from stark white. Only the final highlights can be done in pure white and even then use only touches for "sparkle"
Another important factor to consider is your composition!! This is paramount in a painting!! Without proper composition, a painting falls flat no matter how well it is painted! I will discuss some of the different composition types in my next blog!
See you soon!
Also, my other painting I had to enter, "The Sentinel" has been sold. It is traveling to New York. Bon Voyage!
Now, for the teaching. As I mentioned in my last blog, UNDERPAINTING is MANDATORY!!!
Without it, the painting never quite achieves proper depth and the 3D effect we need and desire! In the painting, "Top Hat and Tails" even the horse and buggy that are white, ESPECIALLY WHITE, must be underpainted in a darker color. In the case of white, it is done with grey. You use either a warm grey (browns, reds or yellows) or cool grey (blues or purples with greens) depending on whether your painting is warm or cool. Then when layering on top, of course, we NEVER cover all the grey. That is how we achieve the 3D. The grey remains as the shadows of the object. Again, in Acrylics, the colors always dry darker, so we go back several times lighter and lighter each time to finally achieve the brightness we want. We also always tint the white with another color to keep white from looking chalky. If we want a warm white, tint with yellow or tan, if a cool white is desired, then tint with the blue or green family. It takes very little to tint the white!! Just enough to bring it down from stark white. Only the final highlights can be done in pure white and even then use only touches for "sparkle"
Another important factor to consider is your composition!! This is paramount in a painting!! Without proper composition, a painting falls flat no matter how well it is painted! I will discuss some of the different composition types in my next blog!
See you soon!
