Fine Art Tips and Techniques
Recently, a Fine Art Tips reader asked me to share some tips for painting the sun reflections on water at sunset. Like many, this new painter has been a bit intimidated by depicting reflected light on water. Painting water is a fairly complex subject. Water, is affected by its surroundings, reflections, depth and clarity. The painting of oceans, rivers, lakes and ponds can be beautiful, but managing to get the water and reflections to look … [Read more...]
Marc Hanson is a talented artist friend of mine on Facebook. Marc recently won the Oil Painters of America, 'John Marion Pardy Landscape Award of Excellence' for the painting 'Sunday Morning Frost,' a 16x20 oil. Not only is Marc a world class artist, but also a giving individual. He often shares clever art tips on Facebook with his following of admiring art fans. Marc shared a popular article with Fine Art Tips, "Save Studio Space! … [Read more...]
A few weeks ago I began a series of paintings using a limited palette. The interesting thing about this project is that I limited my palette to only complimentary colors using the ancient 5000 year old Chinese philosophy, the 'balance of opposites' or yin/yang. After reading a favorite book - The Yin Yang of Painting I was so inspired by the artist, Hongnian Zhang, I decided to give this approach a try. I was pleased with my first attempt … [Read more...]
While working on Twitter one day, I discovered the remarkable figurative work of Rob Hefferan. Rob's breath-taking oil paintings of beautiful women range from dark and brooding, to light infused and optimistic. Inspired by the pre-Raphaelites, each elegant scene realistically captures the essence of his favorite subject, the female form. Rob's paintbrush masterfully depicts soft skin tones, graceful movements, and touchable fabrics. Rob … [Read more...]
I am always on the lookout for money saving ideas for the artist. A couple of websites (links below) shared this little creative project which turns an ordinary Altoid mint box into a pocket-sized watercolor travel set... watercolor travel box by Nita Leland Materials: Use an empty Altoid mint metal container Empty plastic 'half-pan' wells for the watercolor paint Hot glue gun Paint brushes (cut the handles to fit in box) Mini squeeze cosmetic … [Read more...]
guest artist/author: Ken Newman As I continue my artistic journey, I am often asked how I do you choose a subject. It is something that continues to evolve as I am a self-taught sculptor. Below is an overview of the steps I follow in creating a sculpture, but the most important part is the concept, which is a reflection of my journey, interpreting the simple and subtle rhythms and textures in nature. The following is an example of my artistic … [Read more...]
Little did I know that my drawing background would give me a good foundation in tone, otherwise known as value. Value is how light or dark that color is. For example: If you took a black and white photograph of your painting, the shades of grey would be the different values or tones within the painting. ("Approaching Shadows" by Lori McNee ©2006) Simply put, value is the lightness or darkness a color or hue. In painting, … [Read more...]
by guest author: Andrew Salmon Love to doodle while on the phone or while trying to stay awake during staff meetings or in class? Well, why not develop that natural talent? Whether you’re looking for a career as an artist or just want to indulge in drawing as a hobby, the internet is a great place to learn the basics or further develop the talent you’re already cultivating. Here are five websites that will help you learn to draw. 1. … [Read more...]
Networking with other artists is just one of the benefits of Social Media sites such as Twitterand Facebook. Recently, I 'met' artist Marc Hanson on Facebook. Marc is not only a talented artist, but a ingenious one at that. My studio storage space is limited, so I really appreciated Marc's simple space saving idea for storing small paintings and drying them too... By guest artist/author Marc Hanson: I thought that you might be … [Read more...]
This past weekend I was feeling unmotivated in the studio. I have just finished painting still lifes for the winter season and now must make the switch to painting landscapes for my summer shows. I enjoy bouncing between the two disciplines, but lately nothing seemed to inspire me. So, here is what I did... I decided to have some fun and experiment with color harmony or complimentary colors. Pairs of colors that share no common elements … [Read more...]
I would like to invite you to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and subscribe to my RSS feed or eNewsletter.
Recent Comments