Essential aspects of artworks
Painting isn’t just brushing around. Many different things go into a single painting. That’s why nobody can learn painting within a few hours.
Painting process includes idea, concept and composition, choosing and mixing colors or deciding on palette, paint application using different tools and brushes of all types, brushstroke, blending and creation of values, contrast and adding highlights. The painting process also includes understanding of abstracted parts and backgrounds, ability to see and understand what is more important and what should be left out of painting. Each one of these aspects involves continuous work and ongoing elaboration.
Loose isn’t sloppy
I sometimes get the impression that by liking loose painting style, it is understood that we can apply sloppy, coincidental and not targeted brushstroke (when there is a brushstroke). In fact, any part of putting paint on canvas must be targeted and have some intention behind it. Moving paint around is probably the worst habit one can have or develop. The first step is always to learn practical use of brushes and tools. That refers to painting in any medium.
Flat brush for acrylic painting
Flat brush is magic in that regard that it can carry out numerous functions. Flat brush has a few surfaces and edges. We can make it work fast and create smooth color and values transitions. We can use two different colors or shades of them on each side of the brush. We can draw thin lines using the edge of flat brush and holding it so that it is perpendicular to canvas. We can use it for easy blending with clean water and as a dump brush. We can use any edge or side of it to paint small parts. I assume a decent flat brush an essential tool for acrylic painting,
Fan brush, sponge and paper towel
Any of these tools can be used for textured prints and also for quick cover of large areas. It makes sense to learn using fan brush in a sensitive way. Most people won’t rotate fan brush and won’t use just a part or corner of it, We use in classroom fan brushes which I have specifically cut out with scissors to create more impressive prints. Such brush also controls amount of paint better. Paper towel is our best friend with any medium. It is very important to have many sheets of paper towel around the painting surface as soon as you start working.
Understanding values, contrast and direction of light
If somebody has done a lot of drawing and sketching to establish the composition, focal point and also value pattern in a painting, they will understand these aspects much easier. I find that a value sketch is probably the most useful. Once we have done a value sketch, we do not need even a photo reference. Value sketch will identify all areas which are of great importance. I know that most beginners assume ability to draw and creating value sketches in color a waste of time. Yet, I can honestly say that nothing else helps more than such sketch.
The most important part of painting
The most important part of painting is decision making. When somebody has plenty of experience, they apply paint in an automated manner. It is predictable what each color combination, each type of paint application and each element of composition will do for our painting. Until we have gained sufficient experience, it is mostly guessing whether something will work well in your painting or not.
Layer it on
Acrylic is a friendly medium. Acrylic paint can be applied (in fact, should be applied) in many layers. Each layer will bring out more or neutralize colors and values appearing underneath. If canvas fabric is visible in the final version of painting, it is clear that one has used too less paint and too few layers. That is a common beginners’ mistake: to believe that one layer of paint will do. One layer of paint is not sufficient, especially, because acrylic paint becomes flatter as it dries. We have to go over and over some part of painting for a few times until we have established the correct proportion of colors and values.
More about recent acrylic painting: Paintings in progress
Sign up for art classes: Art classes, schedule and registration
Thanks for reading! Enjoy!
Beautiful..
Thanks a lot!
Awesome.. 😊😊😊👍🙏💙💙💙
Thank you Craig! I appreciate.
Thank you for sharing your advice, Inese. Beautiful paintings 😀
Thank you, Irene! My advice usually follows observations during art classes. Realistically, the problematic things are always the same. It is great that you think you could benefit from such advice, too. Most artistic people probably would.
When we are open-minded, it is possible to collect new ideas for later use, Inese.
That is a great attitude. I can completely agree with that.
You can delight me. I am very impressed
Thank you very much!
Thank you so much that I can see it
Always my pleasure!
😊👍
test 2, Inese. Please let me know if my website link works on this one. Then delete. Thanks.
Just replied.
test 3, Inese. Please let me know if this comments has my website link. Then delete. Thanks.
Yes, I can get back straight to your blog and website. Can you just post some like under whatever post? I’d love to see what the notification link is?
All my “likes” seem to pull my “Gravatar” ID. It’s a WordPress setting and I don’t know how to fix that yet. I’ll work on it. Thanks for the feedback.
You have to try a few settings. I believe this might depend also whether you use some plugins, like Jetpack, Akismet or Yost. I believe it’s Jetpack that stops trash and I believe I could not comment or aprove comments on my website until I bought Akismet which I later got via Jetpack professional because it was less expensive. Something like that. It was more than 4 years, I cannot really recall every step. Internet probably has advice on anything, and I find WordPress.org help is also good. Upon I transferred to website I used to communicate every item which was problematic with these guys. It’s just so that you probably don’t have much time to deal with this. Good luck!
Love reading your thought processes, Inese! Esp with all the visual examples! I haven’t used acrylics since the 80s, but I read more artists are using them as the value sketch they oil paint over. Have you tried that also? Thanks so much! 😊
Thanks Felipe! I don’t do that. I discontinued using oil paints some 20 or so years ago since I became totally allergic to them. Therefore, acrylic works well for me. Watersoluble oil paints still cause bad things for me, therefore, I use only acrylic paints, or pastels or watercolor.
Totally understand 😊 some of the water soluble thinners smell a little strong to me still. I’ve always admired watercolors, but wish they didn’t need to be on paper, so fragile. Or are there other surfaces more durable?
Watercolor is best done on paper, thick watercolor paper. It is very expensive, however. I regret that, too, because they still need to be hang somehow or framed, that is one more minus. I am still doing watercolor because simply love it. Acrylic is very easy to hang, and that is a plus.
Yes! Acrylics are super easy to hang, and they dry so quick, less of a smearing worry like oils 😊
Certainly. I also think that it is possible to paint with acrylic as good as with oils. It only might take more time.
True, and they cover other colors more cleanly & quickly. Do you create texture w/values, or add either medium or marble, or both ways, ie, value and bulk materials? I have some acrylics from the 80s that we’ve kept whose colors are very close to when I painted them!
It always depends how and what. On my own paintings, I have sometimes textures underneath since they need a lot of time to dry. I tried that for classes, it took abnormal time in preparation for me, but students didn’t have enough painting skill and courage to apply paint nicely and expressively, so, that doesn’t work for class. Many of my paintings are done for class demo purposes, and I sort of feel like I should finish at least some of them. I also paint over previous paintings sometimes when I need canvas and do not have a new one, especially large size canvas, That creates extra effects. Textured paintings are difficult to photograph because of how camera captures the higher ground. In reality, they look very good and change color depending on light.
Paints were much better quality even 10 years ago. Every time when I buy acrylic paint now, I can see how it just has more and more fillers and binders and less and less pigment. Many years ago, one could use even student grade paints and colors didn’t fade one small bit. I have wasted a lot of money recently with artist grade paints and they just were not up to any artist grade standards.
So true on many levels, Inese! Re: “Textured paintings are difficult to photograph because of how camera captures the higher ground. In reality, they look very good and change color depending on light” – I’ve found this to be very true! A multi-laser scanning process has been really good at capturing my more textured work, but it was pretty expensive, even 20 years ago, I haven’t done more. I’ve become more and more tempted to use pigment to make my own colors, but don’t want to start yet, I figure I’d be pretty time & space intensive, lol! Thank you for all your feedback & info, very helpful 😊
Old masters created their own paints, and whether they had all colors or not also showed on their works. They all had different formulas, etc. I think it would be difficult, expensive and certainly messy, but it would definitely give you unique colors and most likely strong colors which would never fade or change over time. That is probably the reason we need to use acrylic in many layers. One layer just doesn’t do anything.
One student said she never imagined that painting takes many days, weeks or months sometimes. She was under impression you just sit down and get it painted in a few minuted or hours. I wonder whether that comes from watching speed paintings on You Tube or paint nights where they just quickly smear something on canvas?
I’ve only been able to do a finished work in one sitting once in a great while, usually a loosely impressionist work in oil, or, in the 80s, a loosely abstract work in acrylics. I’ve watched some very talented artists finish his or her art piece in one sitting, but the good ones almost always point out they know exactly how they’re prepping their canvas, and how they’re going to proceed with executing their work, and it’s nice. And some will even point out they need to let it dry so they can add highlights after. And I “believe” Renoir did a lot of early work that way, though the movie I just saw of him near the end of this career he was obviously extending his time on a given canvas quite a bit. I used to be able to do an acrylic in one layer/sitting, but I had “lots” of ground material mixed into it so it was very textured in different ways. Lot of fun 😊
It is possible to a painting, especially small size all in one sitting. I usually do not have enough time fore that because of interruptions. I have done it sometimes, too, but I don’t think it’s the best way for acrylic. It will dry darker and flatter and allowing acrylic work to dry brings out the areas which need more work.
That student had no experience at all. I have not seen anybody who goes from zero skill to great painting in a few hours.
Demo paintings are different, and I can do these quick, as well, but I usually add something afterwards anyway.
Art creation involves a lot of decisions and preferably planning which I never have time for.
If your style involves abstract parts and you like it, why not? Such art is very fresh.
I personally could not spend the entire day painting even if I wanted. There are always some things which need to be addressed immediately.
Sounds like a good life, Inese ❤️
Yes, it is. We can make our own life the way we want. Thanks for all great comments!
Enjoyed this post and the sections/headings made it flow really well. You have such seasoned info and exhaling things in a way that is digestible 🙂
Thanks! It’s great that the article makes sense. I sometime think after classes that the average student nowadays has way more expectations.
Nobody wants to hear that painting is time-, energy- and effort-consuming thing. It’s now enjoying the process much less and wanting immediate results. We usually start quite a big group and while we get to seeing good results, there is just 1 or 2 left.
I mean, patience and commitment are also important.
I suppose people just want rather to take pills for their brain and not do things that make our brain stay young much longer. It’s a myth that we have to lose memory with age. It is basically the extent to which we use it or do not. With using the brain, I mean extremely vigorous mental and cognitive activity which makes the brain sweat. So, yes, the digital age makes people lose their memory and cognitive function. That involves decision making which is frequently absent.
It actually gets worse every year. There is big difference even between the same things in 2013 and now.
I agree with you on the brain function – and the way our modern culture is pulling from all health. My husband started doing some health coaching last year – he is certified – and his top three things to get away from for brain and body health are – get off sugar – get of the bad, industrial oils that are chemicals, and get off grains that are havoc in the gut. And I think those three things pull from brain health – but you are right about the using it – the challenge you mention -the problem-solving –
and wow – you say you see a big difference just from 2013 – that is six years and is astounding – and scary
Pulling from any health is absolutely correct. As I received one more message that somebody is sick and cannot attend class, I was just thinking: how is it possible that almost everybody has some kind of health issues.
I don’t know whether one diet is better than other because in places like Canada, even organic food isn’t really organic.
I eat everything, a lot of butter and also animal fats, but I don’t like beef. I never had any small bit of overweight, but always loved salty food more than sweets. I think the key is not to consume more chemicals and cook from scratch. The EU health research has proven how gluten-free foods make people bigger and how vegan and vegetarian foods are total no-no for young kids and newborn babies.
I personally can see connection between the brain disorders and lack of Docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA. It is found only in sea and animal foods in a natural way. For about 70 years now people have been avoiding fats as such, but especially animal sourced fats and look where we are. Lack of DHA is literally responsible for development of dementia, Alzheimer’s, lack of efficient cognitive function and memory loss, as well as decision making.
It appears, the results of wrong diets are starting to show the abnormal cognitive decline.
Avoiding vegetable oils and in any way processed foods is great. The question is actually: where do you get clean food? I don’t think we can trust any for profit manufacturer.
I mean it, I work also closely with people, and nothing reveals more their actual mental state and condition than what somebody draws or paints. It’s possible to see anything: what still works and what doesn’t. I also give private art classes to some young people with autism spectrum disorder. It is amazing how some who love drawing, can do so much more than people who are assumed as having no disorders. I relate that to having no precursor to failures which is the main reason for people being scared of making errors. That again is the reason one cannot do anything good in arts.
hi –
“to consume more chemicals and cook from scratch”
so agree with this – and all of your talk about good fats – animal fats and DHA – whew – right up my ally because a few years ago I was sick with a few things – but it related to heavy metal build up and a fungal infection. For a few years I believed the lie that “fat made you sick” and that “fat free was good” – but then later I learned that animal fats do so much – like feed your brain as you noted – and I also learned that good animal fats can help chelate heavy metals from the body! And animal fats (and vitamins and minerals) are keeping my strong today. I also had to use “EDTA” and “Niacin” to help flush out metals – and no sugar – but once you get satiated from real food it is wonderful because you are satisfied and not missing. out.
you are blessed to have liked salty and fat – and it makes me sad when cancer patients are not told to get off sugar (cancer and fungus have similarities and sometimes confused for one another)
anyhow, I bet you KNOW A LOT about people’s psych and wellness levels by seeing their art and the way they go about it….
I believe many people in North America have similar stories and the lucky ones find a way to recover.
I’ve been in medical research for many decades and I also come from a completely different background. Up to age 46, I had only consumed natural food. I did not change much after I moved to Canada. It’s just much more difficult to find natural and clean foods here, so, I grow my own.
I regret that it is allowed to advertise medicine and supplements here. It’s not allowed in Europe. So, people see these ads which are repeated so often and which just give one the absolutely wrong advice. Also, any dietary advice is kind of much related to company’s profits. I will write about that more on lifeschool blog. It is just so that few people read and even fewer believe me as opposed to some celebrity advice. I also have very long experience in comparing results on one’s health.
All the diseases come mainly from our environment and food, plus, damaged genetic settings, and there you go.
I’m also writing on lifeschool blog how we can change our fate if we want to.
I’m glad you got your life back. You also have a knowledge now that will keep you healthy and energetic.
While fish is so good, it’s also so saturated with heavy metals nowadays. Soon we will only have only engineered products if the pollution increases.
I knew a little of your background from other posts a while back ( and how you grow stuff) and I recently learned more about the toxic fish you mentioned – oh my goodness is that bad!
And I am not a huge fish fan – but of what I healed from related to a fish parasite – oh such a long story –
And here in the US- the drug commercials are my pet peeve!
Drug commercials and commercially benefiting advertising of health-related products should be discontinued. It misleads people and gives them the wrong idea.
I am seriously thinking about baking my own bread. They sell here in Canada some kind of sponge-like dry stuff which is called bread.
What kind of bread will you make? Sprouted? Sour dough? Just curious
We got away from bread completely – which I never thought I would do – but I do not miss it at all- when I first was getting off of it – I made almond flour bread – cassava root flour stuff – even tried coconut flour – but then lifestyle changes and so does food that we were used to having – and we did have sourdough on a retreat last month – loads of real butter – crunchy crust! Mmmmmm
But I know the bread you refer to – and there is a book I want to read called “bread head”
—
I intend to make simple dark rye or white bread. I need carbs, so, sometimes it’s difficult if there is nothing quick.
I basically live on potatoes like most people from Latvia. I peel and boil them with garlic and salt and then eat with butter, or what else there is. I love potato pancakes, mashed potatoes which I do differently than people here, potato salads (Latvians have hundreds of recipes), stews with vegetables, meat, lots of soups (we love soups, especially beet and borscht) etc. I rarely eat pasta or rice. When I was young, I did not even touch pasta, I just didn’t like it. Yes, I have always been a potato person, much less bread person. I never have fries or any of that stuff. I peel potatoes extra fast. I peel everything because of the bad stuff in the soil.
I do make my own pastries because the store ones are not eatable, just plain sugar.
I do make our own sauerkraut and pickles. I will make some pickled pumpkin, too, already have it.
I like sour dough bread, but I do not have ingredients and caraway seeds. Well, I eat very simple things, mostly 2-4 ingredients, just probably many kinds of vegetables which do not take much time to prepare. I cook 3 times a day, so, that’s plenty.
People have to eat foods that are traditional and natural in the region where at least 4 generations have lived and been born. For me, it’s Latvia. That’s the food which is genetically compatible with our body and system. That’s why I never follow any nonsense diets or something. I have always loved fat and salt and my blood pressure is on the lower side, but I also do not use any supplements (all the recalls!!!) and practically very little medications. I had the screwed up surgeries and was on antibiotics for a while, but that’s it and long time ago done.
Hi – your good item descriptions has left me hungry! Ha….
And I like the way you said we need to eat food “which is genetically compatible with our body and system”
I have heard people say we should eat for our blood type or for our heritage –
Which was getting really to what you said – what we have in our genes!
I was so stubborn to a lot of supplements and the right ones can be life saving – I know some vitamin and mineral companies are bad news! They had recalls or use inferior products – or with herbs they only have small amounts and they add cellulose. So I have found a good brand (I like “health plus inc” because they are nice price and GOOD…. and logos nutritionals – and Hannah Kroeger herbs.
I am surprised you say Canada has had so many recalls on supplements – my sister lives in Ontario and she loves what she buys over the counter – and my mom sometimes waits to get a couple items there – but I guess they are like everywhere else – recalls happen and a lot of countries have China and Japan making the products and then we slap a label on them.
Anyhow – Potatoes are part of my genetic pool – not nearly like yours (mmmmm) but also beef and cabbage is part of my Irish/polish mix….
And I do really well with chicken (dark meat)
I will have to eat something, too. I got hungry myself.
I think you are on the right path!
I have few blog posts (on the other blog) where I briefly described clinical trials that showed no benefits or bad impact of synthetic supplements.
Well, I have been writing, editing and translating recall info, clinical trial documents, patients’ test results, pharmaceuticals and OTC supplements for more than 35 years. I have access to confidential info which does not get to publication for general audience. That is why my observations are based on what I have found out during all these years. There are a lot of clinical trials which revealed that synthetic supplements ranged from doing nothing to causing cancers, bone fractures, plaque on artery walls, so on and so on. This happens because everything is rushed to the market and truth comes out after some 25-30 years of active use. US and countries like Canada are huge consumers of supplements. I will later publish some more on the other blog. I simply don’t have time, but I have compiled materials.
We have health food stores. They sell naturally sourced things. It’s just so that if it comes in a capsule, it is already modified, some less, some more. I don’t think the OTC doses can save life. Even all iron supplements which they advice for anemia, etc. do nothing much. For treatment, one has to use prescription strength and very specific supplements, vitamins and minerals. I mean, the action is slow, too, compared with really active or i/v administered fluids.
Natural is good. Especially, tea can do a lot. Eating 10 ashberries a day, using apple leaf, plum leaf and similar tea is great. Nettles for some conditions, thistle and dandelion roots, all of that is good. Some say dandelion roots and ashberries can prevent cancer. There are so many herbs which all do something. We just have to know the doses and not overdo with anything.
I agree on everything you wrote!
Esp to go natural and not overdo anything
Also – the IV admin for effectiveness
I follow “orthomolecular” doctors because they usually advise food first and then natural supplements
– recently I have been having liver for a bit of extra iron –
And my “logos” products (that make my body thrive – and sometimes that is the real proof – does someone have good results and they helped me heal-) well they have glandulars and a mix of small things that help the overall system.
Have you heard of Dr Hymanand functional medicine – I think you would like their practice –
And lastly – regarding the cancer thing – I believe the biggest factor is an unhealthy body terrain (from too many antibiotics or eating chemicals) and then sugar eating – I have access to journals too and did you know that in a few cases – a cancer diagnosis was mistakenly made for fungus infection . And often the two go hand in hand.
—
Anyhow – truly enjoyed our comment chat. We were due for a checking in. And I appreciate your time in sharing what you know – you have a lot of knowledge and wisdom and you are not “puffed up” so that is nice …. 😉
That sounds good!
I do not follow any doctors and special directions, but I just follow my senses and what I have seen and observed.
I have medical education and some clinical practical experience, but I never got my papers done in Canada. Well, I moved when I was 46, and I am past 60 now. I decided not to bother.
Cancer cells appear when there are some DNA mutations which cannot be fixed for cells. We have a micro tiny DNA proofreader polymerase (there are a few) which unwind any wrong strain with errors in sequence and prevent wrong replication, thus, trying to fix it. We have so many protective mechanisms and so many tiny things that work very diligently to keep us healthy. As ancient beings, we need to try using things which can be recognized by our body systems.
I adore the human body, but, especially the brain. This is such a miracle in its endless complexity.
It’s detected in the last years that most healing happens in sleep due to immune system activation of specific molecules. Also the previously undetected lymphatic vessels perform direct communication between the brain and immune system, thus, removing all the bad stuff while we sleep.
We can expect many diseases which were assumed to be incurable to be cured thanks to extra activation of lymphatic flow of these vessels which supply and clean the brain. Well, immune system does way more than we assumed before.
Ok, I need some rest and then back to work.
Your closing of the comment reminded me of a ted talk I saw earlier this year – if I ever find it again I will come
Back and share it here
But it talked about what happened in the brain to help that nighttime (sleep) brain cleaning and immune helping…
Hope you have a nice week
That’s no surprise. The discoveries have been around for some 4 years now. However, there also specific particles which play a role.
Unfortunately, I do not watch TV. I simply don’t get time for that, and, so, I better read when tired. Books. Real books, not on computer. I buy them frequently at second hand because I read way too fast.
I do not know this program, but I have heard it being mentioned somewhere.
I heard today when somebody told that we know how humans measure success. And the question was: do you know how God would measure our success? Certainly, totally differently from what we see as important.
I just finished sunflowers which I had started 6 years ago.
You, too, have a great week and stay on good path and be with good ideas.
LOVe that about how God defines our success – That is what I am going with ….
🌻🌻🌻congrats on finishing
Thanks! Makes one think, right?
I am going to finalize the other sunflowers, too, that will take more days, maybe a week.