Quotation (22nd February 2005)

"Artists can colour the sky red because they know it's blue. The rest of us, who aren't artists, must colour things the way they really are, or people might think we're stupid"
Jules Feiffer (1929)

Oil Painting Tip Of The Week (20th February 2005)

To add texture to my ‘oil on board’ paintings, I use Hardboard or MDF cut to the required size. I sand down the boards with fine sandpaper and apply one coat of “Acrylic Primer”. When dry, I apply “Texture / Moulding paste” using a 1” brush to give a random texture.
I then apply a second coat of Acrylic primer.
The final finish is then added by treating each board with a thin wash of paint, mixed with lots of turpentine.
The colours I use vary from Raw Sienna, Raw Sienna plus Ultramarine, to Burnt Sienna. It depends on the subject matter, and whether I want a “warm” or “cool” ground.
This process may seem to be quite involved, but all the stages use acrylic coatings, and therefore the application is fairly fast.

Watercolour Tip Of The Week (18th February 2005)

When creating a Watercolour, I always work from light to dark.
Tones can always be darkened, but it is very difficult to lighten them.
Working in this way enables you to capture the 'light' in the early stages and maintain it throughout the painting.

Quotation (15th February 2005)

"I was very embarassed when my canvases began to fetch high prices. I saw myself condemned to a life of nothing but masterpieces"
Henri Matisse (1869-1954)
If only!!

Oil Painting Tip Of The Week (13th February 2005)

Loosely block in the dark & mid tones, then the lights. If possible, apply the lightest lights in an 'impasto' manner in the final stages of the painting, to hopefully add an extra sparkle to your finished work.

Tip Of The Week

We all experience difficulties when learning to paint, I certainly did! So I thought it might be helpful to post weekly tips. I hope to post a Watercolour tip every Friday and an Oil painting tip on Sundays. If anyone would like to add to these tips or comment, please feel to do so.

It's my Birthday today!

Among my presents I received a book of artist's quotations. Over the next few weeks, I thought I might share some with you, so here's the first:
"You can look at a painting for a whole week and then never think about it again. You can also look at a painting for a second and think about it for the rest of your life"
Joan Miro (1893-1983)
How very true!