Detail of a Seurat Painting

Georges Pierre Seurat’s work has been a source of inspiration for my Art I classes. I created a power point showing his work and gave a general definition of pointillism. The students were then given an assignment to create a watercolor painting of a flower or butterfly using this technique.

I chose flowers and butterflies as the subject matter because I felt they were well suited for pointillism and relatively easy to draw. I found numerous images on the web of flowers and butterflies. I printed out two photographs of each and made a class set for the class to use a reference. To save on ink I printed them out in black and white with only one copy of each subject in color. The color images were posted on the wall for the students to refer to if they needed help with color choices. Most of my students did not really care about having color influences. They easily came up with their own color themes.

The students drew their chosen subject on a piece of 9 x 12 inch sulphite paper. Then they were told to paint the subject using Q-tips dipped in watercolor. The painting had to be created with dots on the page. This was difficult for some students because it did take more time and patience. The students were also instructed to only use the primary colors. So if they wanted to have green leaves on a flower, they had to paint yellow and blue dots. The combined dots would create the green for them. Many students found this impossible to comprehend and they used the secondary colors in their watercolor palette.  I could easily tell which students followed directions.

All in all the art work produced was vibrant and fresh. I am very pleased with the results of this project and will definitely do this one again next year. I was so inspired by the project, that I started a large watercolor of my own in pointillism. I wanted to see if I could do the assignment myself. I used a paintbrush instead of a Q-tip so I had dots that were much smaller. Plus, I cheated and actually mixed my colors. I have been working on the painting for at least two months now. I really like the way it is coming along. When I get finished I will post it here. In the meantime, enjoy viewing the finished products of some of my students. Maybe you will be inspired to try creating using pointillism.

I love to read. Teaching does not give me much spare time to read, so I usually devour as many books as I possibly can during the summer. I read novels, non-fiction, self-help books, health and diet books as well as ”how to” art books; just to name a few.

I recently finished a book that I discovered in my school classroom. It was left there by a previous art teacher. I took several books home over the summer just in case I found some spare time.  Even though the book is not brand new, it still is full of helpful information.

The book is Colored Pencil for the Serious Beginner: Basic Lessons in Becoming a Good Artist (Practical Art Books)written by Bet Borgeson. Bet has written many art technique books. She has a fine art degree from Portland State Universtiy. I chose this book because I am very interested in colored pencil and improving my own art work.  I also figure that increasing my knowledge about different art techniques will also enhance my classroom teaching as well.

This book was an easy read. Bet Borgeson gives you the basic information such as what supplies you will need to purchase in order to get started and how to set up a studio.  She shows the reader colored pencil techniques such as lifting, layering, and impressed line.

Bet Borgeson discusses how colored pencil is a medium of texture. The texture can be determined by something as simple as how sharp your pencil is. Bet shares her philosophy and insight in how to create beautiful compositions. The book includes several interesting demonstrations of her own colored pencil paintings. These demonstrations allow the reader to follow the thought process from start to finish. 

I have read many art books such as Bets throughout the years. Some books lose me in the demonstrations. Sometimes I end up just looking at the illustrations or skipping them completely. That was not the case as I read this book. I actually read every word and studied every example given.

The book ends with a chapter devoted to encouragement, such as how to handle rejection or self-doubt.  I would suggest this book for anyone that is truly interested in improving their creativity with colored pencil. I would love to hear from you if you have read Bet’s book, Colored Pencil for the Serious Beginner: Basic Lessons in Becoming a Good Artist (Practical Art Books).  What books are you reading this summer?

A painted picture is like a vehicle.
One can either sit in the driveway and take it apart
or one can get in it and go somewhere.

~Mark Tansey, painter

Thoughts:

I enjoyed Mark Tansey’s quote because it made me think about how I react to art. Sometimes when I look at a piece of artwork I become critical looking for things I think are wrong with the work. Other times I will be mesmerized by a painting or piece of art. I may also become emotionally connected to the work and feel as though I am transported to another time or place as I view the work.

What causes my reactions to be so different?  Is it my mind set? Or does it have something to do with the artist and the subject matter? What do you think? I would love to have my viewers share on this subject.

If you get a chance, search the internet and look at some of Mark Tansey’s work. I had never seen any of his work before and I was impressed. I wanted to put one of his paintings in this article but was unsure about copyright issues so I did not. The painting above is one I did while visiting the island of Molokai. When I view that piece I am very much transported to another place, but what about you? I think the way people react to art depends on their personal experiences.

Prayer:

Lord,

Thank you for art experiences. Thanks you for our reactions to art work that are unique and sometimes a surprise. Thank you for artists that create works that transport us to another place or time. Please pour your blessing down on all artists as they work to create. In Christ’s name.

Amen.

You ought to be able to say that a painting is as it is, with its capacity to move us, because it is as though it were touched by God. But people would think it a sham. And yet that is what’s nearest the truth.

Pablo Picasso

Thoughts:

How do you feel about the quote by Pablo Picasso? Reading his quote I have mixed feelings. I am pleased that Picasso saw God’s hand in artwork. I too feel that God is incredibly involved in the creative process. When you have had an experience where your painting seems to paint itself you can relate to what he said.

The statement that people would think God’s involvement is a sham makes me sad. I hope most people do not think that. I also hope I will always keep in mind that the blessing of creativity comes from the Lord God.

Have a great Easter! Enjoy your family. Thank God for your creativity.

Prayer:

Lord,

You are an awesome God. You reign supreme. I am so appreciative of the blessing of creativity. Thank you for your creative touch as I work through a painting, a drawing, an art lesson, or a blog article. Help others to see your influence. Thank you so much for the sacrifice of Your son, Jesus Christ. I pray I can live a life that is uplifting to others and pleasing to You.

In Christ’s Name,

Amen

Starry Night by Van Gogh

 “Just slap anything on when you see a blank canvas staring you in the face like some imbecile. You don’t know how paralyzing that is, that stare of a blank canvas is, which says to the painter, ‘You can’t do a thing’. The canvas has an idiotic stare and mesmerizes some painters so much that they turn into idiots themselves. Many painters are afraid in front of the blank canvas, but the blank canvas is afraid of the real, passionate painter who dares and who has broken the spell of `you can’t’ once and for all.”

~Vincent Van Gogh

Thoughts:

Has anyone felt the same way as Vincent Van Gogh about a blank canvas? I have. I have had those times I was afraid to start a project. The paper intimidated me. Sometimes I worried about the cost or about messing up. But usually once I took the leap and began the painting or drawing the fear disappeared. I thought it was just me, that I was unique in having this fear. I was surprised to find that Van Gogh had written the above to his brother Theo years ago.

What a comfort it is when you find out that you are not alone. I love the idea Van Gogh has of just getting the canvas dirty. The perfect cleanliness of the page whether you are an artist or a writer can cause anxiety. So mess it up with a little paint or whatever your medium is. What a great idea. Another idea, pray before you begin. Praying always reminds me that I am not alone.

Prayer:

Lord,

Thank you for new beginnings. Thank you for the chance to start new creative projects, paintings, and drawings. Remind us to carry on when we get intimidated. Help us to be passionate about our work.

In Christ’s name,

Amen

Flowers exchange hands on special occasions — during weddings, birthdays, congratulatory messages (mother’s day, valentine’s day etc) and condolences to mention but a few. Have you ever thought of giving yourself a floral painting? At times the day to day hassles and bustle might weigh you down to the point of forgetting the importance of treating yourself as you would want others to treat you. Many times, people forget to remember the good in their life and end up concentrating on the stresses of the world.  However, you can look on the brighter side of life and see to it that you can face the future with boldness and confidence in whatever situation comes your way.

A bright floral painting on your office or home wall will take your mind off the ordinary and lift you to an optimistic and beautiful world.  A floral painting on your wall will not only lift your spirits up but also that of your family and colleagues should you strive to present a warm and cheery stance. All you need to look at to boost your spirits up during those times when you feel down in the dumps is the brightness of a floral painting. This will remind you of your past successes and gain the momentum to base your present on those memories as the strength you need for whatever crisis you might be facing at present.

A floral painting can be an enormous canvas with an extensive grouping of flowers or it can simply be an elegantly small painting, just big enough for the bathroom or hallway. You can even imagine yourself sniffing the delicate perfume emanating from such a tiny example of floral painting.  You can also consider placing a floral painting in your kitchen and watch your visitors smile and brighten up no matter the stressful situations they might be going through. Simply put, a floral piece of art is very conducive for serene communication and by extension, to help in digestion because the kitchen is basically where people meet to eat.

About the Author:
Amy C. enjoys designing indoor fountains.  She enjoys finding new and innovative ways to create calming indoor spaces with optimal energy flow and coordination.  She invites you to browse her water fountains blog to learn more about water fountains, health, and spirituality.

Meditation

Have you ever messed up a painting putting in a background? I have. I have ruined many paintings putting the background in last after spending hours or days working on the main subject.

What do I mean when I say “background”? I  mean the area behind the subject in a still life, a floral, or even a portrait.

I don’t know why backgrounds bug me so much. But they do. So, sometimes I paint the background before I paint the rest of the painting. How do I do that?

I paint an abstract underpainting.

What is so great about doing an abstract underpainting?

1. It is fun.
2. It gets rid of the white or blank paper that many artists are intimidated by.
3. It creates a sense of unity within a painting.

How do you do an abstract underpainting?

There are several ways.  Since I am a watercolorist, I am speaking about doing an abstract underpainting with watercolor. So, keep that in mind as you read the rest of the article.

1. You can do a spontaneous abstract underpainting. 

Use a wet in wet technique. Wet your watercolor paper completely, splashing color onto the page. Let colors run into each other. Lift the paper up so the paint will move around the paper. Use gravity. Let the paint drip and roll into other wet areas. Splatter the paint, throw salt, or place crinkled plastic wrap on the paper to create different effects.

Remember this is an underpainting. You are going to place something on top, so do not get too dark in the areas you know the subject will be. If you want to you can draw the subject on the paper before you do the underpainting. I prefer doing an underpainting without knowing where everything is going to go on the page. It keeps the work a little fresher for me with more surprises.  Let the paper dry completely before placing your drawing on the paper.

Examples of abstract underpaintings cut out and taped to drawing paper.

2. You can do a planned abstract underpainting.  Here are the steps I use with this method:

• Limit your palette. I like to limit myself to three colors. That way the underpainting doesn’t get too overbearing.
• Create an abstract underpaintings on a large piece of cheap drawing paper by doing what I suggested for the spontaneous underpainting.
• Let the underpainting dry.
• Look for areas of the underpainting that are desirable by using a mat. Place the mat on the underpainting sideways, upside down, or diagonally. Keep looking for designs your eye likes best. You will know it when you see it. 
• Cut out the designs you like. You may find two or three in one underpainting. Save these for future use. 
• Copy the chosen abstract underpainting on to your watercolor paper. Place the small cut out design next to your work area for reference. I sometimes take these small underpaintings and tape them to a large piece of drawing paper to stay organized and to keep them from getting lost. Try to match the colors, shapes, values, and textures you see in the underpainting. Remember it is impossible to copy the small cut out underpainting exactly. Don’t worry about that.

Once you have your abstract underpainting done you may feel like your painting is almost finished. It will definitely feel as if it is on its way.

The next step would be to place your drawing on the page and begin painting the subject. You may let some of the underpainting show through to give a sense of unity and harmony to the painting. That is what I did with my painting titled Meditation.

Bones and Roses

I want to paint more often. When I don’t paint I get grouchy. I feel out of sorts. Another thing that happens is I have a problem getting back to painting if I stay away too long.

It is strange. Sometimes when I have time to paint, I don’t.  It is as if I have to overcome a fear of failure, a fear of not being able to paint the way I did before. I find myself coming up with every excuse in the book to not paint. I have to do the dishes or pay the bills or go to the store or…… Does this happen to anyone else?

Anyway, I finally got my act together. I grabbed some things from around the house and yard. I put together a still life. It isn’t your normal still life. It is a combination of old vertebrae from a cow (don’t remember where I got them), roses from my garden, and an old antique wooden box.

I love to draw and paint bones. I guess I have been influenced by Georgia O’Keeffe.  I have family members that painted bones also. My great-aunts, Maisy and Elsie, used to do paintings of cow bones and skulls they had gathered from the Arizona desert.  My grandmother, Merle, used to make necklaces out of rattlesnake bones also. Guess I come by it naturally.

Anyway, I finished the painting above and I wanted to share it with you. Now the ideas come rushing in. I can’t wait to start another painting project. Getting into the studio and finishing a painting seems to have lifted a great weight off of my shoulders, my heart, my mind.  It felt great to hold the paintbrush in my hand again and to lose myself in the form, shape, texture, and color.

Hope you don’t mind the short post, I want to get back to the studio. Hope you have a creative Monday!

By the way, if you click on the image above it will take you to my website on Fine Art America.

I am are always looking for activities to broaden my horizon, to expand my artistic knowledge. I happened to discover an art supply store in Portland that provides demonstrations on various media for their customers. The best part about the demos is they are free!  You can’t beat that. The name of the store is Art Media. There are several store locations in the Portland area. You can go on their website to see the demonstration schedule for each location.

Seating for the demonstrations is limited to 25, on a “first come first serve” basis.  So, you might want to get there a little early. So why am I telling you about this?  Hmmm….. Maybe I need to rethink this article.  By the way, I am not getting paid to give this little advertisement.

The store in the Clackamas Town Center area has two demonstrations coming up.  Here is the scoop, which is verbatim from the handout I received at the store:

April 10 – 2:00 to 4:00 pm.  New Innovations in Acrylics.

Corrine Loomis Dietz from Golden Acrylics – Golden Innovation and new technology are changing the options for art exploration!  Discover how acrylics are infinitely more versatile than any other paint system.  This demo packs a ton of valuable information about acrylics, guiding you through the basics while opening up new possibilities: from Open acrylics to the Digital Grounds.

April 17 – 2:00 to 4:00 pm. Watercolor Pure and Simple.

Christine Hanlon from Winsor Newton Watercolors – For artists working in watercolor, this lively and entertaining discussion looks at the history, techniques, and materials that spell success when working in this most legendary of mediums.  Discover which pigments granulate, why some colors stain, and the ideal landscape color palette.  Learn the keys to color permanence and lightfastness.  What mediums will help you capture texture and expressive gesture?  Why do we have Rough Cold Pressed and Hot Pressed papers?  What colors best capture natural light?  What is gouache and can I use it with transparent watercolors?  What are the three benchmarks for fine water media brushes?  How do I care for my brushes and finished watercolors?  These topics and any other questions you bring will be addressed, with all attendees receiving free watercolor samples at the conclusion!

Maybe these demonstrations will be just the thing to get you launched into a new and exciting creative project. Hope to see you there! If there are other free art related activities coming up in your area, please let me know. I would love to get the information out there for all my readers. Talk to you later.