Easter Greetings

Myspace Graphics, Easter Graphics at WishAFriend.com

desparation

Well yesterday was the first nice day in a while. It was supposed to get into the 60's. It was 48 when I set out to paint as it was sunny, I was so itching to get out and do something. Now I only had a short period of time as I had to get home to make a cake(german apple cake for Zacks diversity night). I also had to babysit the kids so I was under the gun. I can say it was practice and stretching my itchy fingers, but it did not turn out to be a good picture. Poor planning and maybe too much desperation that I just kinda didn't do a job that pleased me. I went to Michael's arts and craft store on Sunday. Now I like the store but I picked up a pack of bristle brushes that were only $4.99. Well you get what you pay for. The hairs were trying to come out all over and I was constantly picking stay hairs out. I usually tell people I see in Michaels looking for art stuff to pick the best they can afford. I should follow my own advice. I knew I was under a time pressure so I was careless in planning the position of the shed. Now what do I say about desperation? When does desperation get you into trouble? If you're too desperate to work things out, plan. prepare and make good decisions. Well it was a good exercise, but most disappointed at the outcome. I wonder if Rembrandt had those days. I suppose he did.

seascape

Well I did start this picture last week, but have been busy. I have been puddling around with it this morning. I don't know how I manage it but it always seems that I get the center of interest in the center of the picture. Not sure how I do it. The planning is there but I go and with enthusiasm start painting I just go ahead and do it every time. But in self defense, I am happy that I managed to handle water that has always been an issue with me as I mentioned in the previous post. I love the M.Graham paints by the way!!!!!!

new ol paints

I recently ordered some paints from Dick Blick. I needed some new whites, yellow and a few blues. If you follow my blog the last painting of seascape posted was done with new paints I ordered. I really like Maimeri, but it is very expensive. So considering the current economy I did some research and came up with an artist who has gone into the production of paint making. I can say I am really pleased with the texture and flow of the product. The seascape was done with titanium white, turquoise, manganese blue and cad yellow. The only substitute from the Graham line lineup was Maimeri primary red. I have so many red colors that I really didn't need to buy any, but I can almost wish I did buy some Graham reds. The link is I do so recommend them highly for the colors and flow of the paint. So in essence I feel like I supported an artist instead of a corporation. That made me feel good and I am so glad I made that choice.

http://www.mgraham.com/

new adventure

I can remember when I started painting, water was a difficult thing to paint. Water has such unique qualities. It reflects light and dark. It reflects its surroundings. It is not an easy thing to recreate raw nature. A tree as long as it looks like a tree one will interpret it as a tree. Water and sky there is no faking. It either is or isnt a successful image. At any rate i found this photo on Wet Canvas so I thought I would give it a try. This is the start of the picture. In fact it only took me an hour to get this far.

coming and going

Ok so where do I begin. The first picture is Dylan's copy of my painting. If you follow my other blog, you know that he is so wanting to paint like me. He is only 6 but I think he draws pretty well for his age. He gets frustrated because he cant do it like me. It doesn't help when I tell him it has taken years for me. The last picture was initially my finished product, but if you click on it and look closely at the left side the treeline made a boring hump in the picture. I softened the edge, blending it into the sky for a little more irregularity in the line so it became less of an eye sore for me at least. This was the view from my porch on a rather cloudy morning.

confessions of a plein air painter

I went out on my porch this morning. The moody sky was marvelous, looking toward the railroad tracks. It was not too cold. I bundled up well and had a blanket to sit on. I was trying to capture the dark clouds with breaks of the sky coming through. I think I got a very good start. It took me about an hour to get everything blocked in. I carried the box into the house as there is supposed to be rain off and on today. In trying to set the box up on its tripod stand I lost the whole box. It went upside town on the floor. Luckily the picture did not suffer damage but the container of turpentine dumped on the rug. Happily it was not paint on the rug or I would have had a major scrubbing event. But at least the painting at this stage of the game survived.