Most of you know that artists tend to be ‘right-brain’ thinkers. But in school, left-brain strategies are still the ones that are most often used in the classroom today. Right-brain students sometimes leave their school experience feeling inadequate - did you? Each individual person has a right, a left and/or a middle-brain ‘neurological style’ preference in which they view the world. By understanding the processes at work in our own … [Read more...]
Feeling Blue in the Studio?
March 11, 2009 By 12 Comments
Why am I feeling blue in the studio? I just had a successful gallery show and sold a lot of paintings in spite of the slump in the economy. I am grateful for my successes, but I still feel letdown, grumpy and just plain, blah! And worst of all – I can’t seem to drag myself back into the studio to paint. I don’t want to face those blank canvases! Maybe it is that typical, self induced artistic temperment we all suffer or indulge … [Read more...]
Breaking the Rules in Art
March 6, 2009 By 18 Comments
Picasso’s, “Dora Maar with Cat” sold for $95 million in 2006! Were you one of those kids who carefully colored inside the lines, careful of breaking the rules? I was. As a small girl, I remember taking pride in my perfectly colored pages. Teachers, parents and restaurants alike still encourage and glorify these early crayon versions of paint-by-numbers by taping them to their bulletin boards, refrigerators and the walls at Apple … [Read more...]
How to Gesso a Masonite Hardboard Panel
March 4, 2009 By 17 Comments
First of all…what is Masonite? Masonite is brand of hardboard that was invented in 1924 and was originally used for many construction applications. It is formed using the Mason method of compressing and blasting wooden chips with steam and then forming them into boards. No glue of other material is added. Only natural ingredients are used which makes it an environmentally friendly product. Although I still call it Masonite, I have been told … [Read more...]
Attitude – It’s Your Choice
February 27, 2009 By 2 Comments
Life is full of choices. I ponder that sometimes while I am sitting at a red-light in town getting ready to turn left for home – but, what would my life be like if I turned right? That is a seemingly small choice to make, but it would affect my life. If I turned right, maybe I would get a flat tire, pick up a hitch-hiker, or decide to go to Starbucks on the next corner and meet Mr. Right…well, you get the idea. As artists … [Read more...]
A Favorite Book – “The Art Spirit” by Robert Henri
February 22, 2009 By 9 Comments
A few summers ago my life was full of changes and challenges. I was newly separated from my husband of 23 years and then my oldest son was graduating from college. So, in early June, my two younger kids and I loaded up the truck and drove from Idaho to St. Louis, Missouri to watch their big brother graduate from college. It was the first time I had ever driven that far without another adult driver in the car with me. At first I was a bit … [Read more...]
What I Know for Sure – by Oprah
February 20, 2009 By 5 Comments
I believe art IS inspiration. So anytime I read inspiring words of wisdom from successful people who I admire, I take heed. The truth is, as we all work to better ourselves as human beings on this beautiful planet, we can’t help but to better the quality of art we produce. Art begins with the head not the hand! Recently, I really enjoyed reading Oprah’s November column so I clipped it out of the magazine and taped it to my Subzero … [Read more...]
Create Texture & Application in Paint using Yin/Yang
February 19, 2009 By 10 Comments
For generations, oil paint has been admired for its impasto effects with texture and application. Yet, many artists forget that oil paint can be applied thinly, much like a watercolor-wash. In fact, I use glazing successfully in my own works using water soluble oils. This technique can create beautiful glazes that add effects much like stained glass. Rembrandt mastered these effects in his own works. But, little did he know, he was using … [Read more...]
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