Canadian Blogger eh!

June 18 2015

I am thankful for dinners with family.

Category Painting

I paint everyday.   I usually get up at five and paint for one to two hours. I haven’t really put together a “painting” per say; but I do paint daily.

I paint with acrylic paint, watercolour paint, and or ink.   I use 8.5 by 11 inches, 110 pound card stock paper, or 100 pound Bristol / vellum Bristol in various sizes, or 140 pound watercolour paper in various sizes.

I research what to paint the day or night before.   This avoids looking at a blank page not knowing where to start. I do my research on the Internet, books, magazines, videos and other sources. I keep my eyes open as I go through my day on what I could paint.

When I first started painting, I started out using low-grade paint and brushes. This is a mistake and can be very disappointing.

Sometimes I start painting and whatever flows onto the paper is what I paint. Other times I find a picture or painting and use that as a reference point.   One of the hardest parts for me is how or what to paint in the background and still have the focus painting shine through. Sometimes I paint onto a blank page with nothing really in mind and use that painting as the starting point or background for a future session.

Really a good painting class would be beneficial. Sometimes I sketch out what I’m painting and sometimes I just paint or ink up the brush and get started.

Currently I paint faces.   I read a few books on anatomy and painting portraits and find the more I read, the more I need to read. I am constantly studying if you will on how to do things better.   All that needs to be taken into consideration, things I never thought about before. So many things to learn, so little time.

This is one of my first paintings.   Titled “Blue Eyed Alien” 2015

Watercolour paint on 140 lb  9in X 12in watercolour paper

Lesson Learned:

• Never start with a blank paper – have something in mind
• If you don’t have anything in mind, get paint on your brush and get started – don’t waste time looking at that blank page
• Check the quality of the paints and brushes before purchasing a paint kit
• Pay attention to details, try to paint what you see or feel – not what you think you see

Final thoughts:

Buy the best quality paint and brushes you can afford.  Do your research on the Internet and or in painting books and consult the individuals in the art stores on what quality of paint and brushes fit your needs.

Do some research on what to paint before you get your brushes out.

I never try to copy a painting, I just study it to come up with ideas and hopefully get some insight into creating.

Draw and or paint daily!

It’s great if others like your paintings, but for the most part paint for yourself. Paint because it’s one of your passions, hours roll by and you get totally absorbed in it.

Beacon Tate