Three of Us at the Goat
Rose Madder
2 minute video
Thank you Winsor & Newton
Mixing Winter Watercolor Cocktails
This is for all the plein aire folk that like to sit outside in sub-zero temperatures to catch those white on white palettes. Not my cup of tea, but to each their own. There is some interesting info on mixing alcohol with watercolors for preservation and texturing.
Note: There is promo material embedded in the article.
Alcohol as an Antifreeze
Thank you, Artist Network
Top 10 Most Romantic Paintings
For Valentine’s Day (a little late)
Grab a heart-shaped box of chocolates and enjoy this top 10 list of romantic paintings to celebrate Valentine’s Day. It’s a gimmicky holiday to many, but the day set aside to revel in gushiness and goo-goo eyes also deserves a painting spin. Here are the paintings that Cupid, and any romantic at heart, will love…
Let’s Canoodle!
Thank you, ArtistsNetwork
Goat Hill Artist Reception
This is a message from Mike, owner of Goat Hill Pizza and loyal supporter of our group.
"I thought you might be interested in dropping in at (the newly remodeled) Goat Hill and check out the photography of Gordon Brown."
Sunday, February 18 • 2 - 4
Thanks, Mike Monley"
Watercolor Powder Techniques
Intense paint powders that is water-based and non-toxic. The colours are brilliant and transparent with unique qualities that make it a great medium for loose and impressionistic work. Use wet-on-wet, sprinkling, spritzing, and other techniques. It can be used to stain wood and fabric.
There are many brands, with similar qualities, such as Brusho (the one that Joanie and I have been passing around) and Colorburst.
Watercolor Powder Techniques
Goodness Gouache Me!
I am including this article because 1) there has been some discussion lately around gouache and if it's really watercolor, and 2) it's a good, comprehensive introduction on using the medium.
My own experience with gouache is - you get what you pay for. Before you invest in a tube or two, check out the contents. Some brands have a chalk-like filler that will your gouache look very dull and lifeless.
How to Create an Outdoor Still Life
Calligraphy and Drawing Inks
A comparison, with, for me, a surprising result. This video is focuses on light-fastness.
Dye based inks vs pigmented inks
Great Artists, Gorgeous Dogs
Just for fun, for dog lovers, not just watercolor lovers.
We are ringing in the 142nd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show with pups in art. See how portrait greats like John Singer Sargent captured canines and take a browse through the beloved and weird breeds that have made it into paintings.
Celebrating the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
The Color Red
Mostly Sexy, Slightly Sinister — The Color Red
Vermillion, crimson, scarlet, fuchsia—the color red comes in so many different shades. And of all the colors in the spectrum or on the color wheel, it’s the most easily visible. Red is the first color the human eye perceives after black and white. It’s primary, the hottest of the warm colors and has even been proven to raise blood pressure and respiration rates. No matter the hue, if you paint it red, it will command attention.
History, Symbolism and Secret Powers of the Color Red
Composition
Thousands, maybe even millions, of paintings exist. But they all have certain things in common. Those commonalities are relatively few in number: color, style, subject matter and composition. That means they matter — a lot. Put your energy and creativity to making paintings with these strategies on one of the crucial commonalities — composition — in mind.
5 Painting Strategies for Your Best Composition Yet
From the Artist Network Blog
Call for Entries: Splash 20
Creative Compositions
For this year’s theme, we’re celebrating Creative Compositions. the arrangement of the visual elements in your painting. The elements of composition are classically defined as line, shape, color, value, texture, form and space, and these elements can be organized along with balance, contrast, emphasis, movement, pattern, rhythm and point of view in a near-infinite number of ways. How you compose your painting determines the way people will view it and how they will be affected by it emotionally.
Deadline: Jan 29
Creative Compositions
Princeton Brush Exchange
FLAX Fort Mason Store
Ready for a new Brush? Bring us an old, tired brush and through the Princeton Brush Exchange we will give you a brand new replacement! Join us at the Fort Mason FLAX store for this exceptional program courtesy of Michael Hammer-brush expert at Princeton Brush Company. Have any questions for Michael? Wonder if you're taking proper care of your brushes? Want to know the difference in hair, sizes and shapes? This will be your opportunity to talk to our go-to, friendly brush expert for advice.
Saturday, February 10th, 1pm - 3pm
Drop by between 1:00 and 3:00 to meet Michael and find out first hand why we love Princeton brushes. (No need to sign-up for this free drop-in event)
Thank you, Pam
7 Things You Didn’t Know About Gustav Klimt
One of the most popular painters of all time, Gustav Klimt is well known for certain things (gold, gold and more gold) but many interesting and slightly scandalous notes in his bio are often left by the wayside. Here are seven surprises (if not downright skeletons) hiding in his closet … gold-leafed of course.
7 Things You Didn’t Know About Gustav Klimt
Winsor & Newton Masterclass
This video uses oil paint to demonstrate this topic, but it works for watercolor, as well.
Opacity & Transparency
Artists from Daniel Smith
I get emails from DS that highlight watercolor artists. Be forewarned, some are out and out product placement, but still have good info. Here are a few:
Georgia Mansur
"I would like to give you some tips that will prevent you from making some classic Rookie Mistakes and set you up for fast tracking your plein air journey. I want to take the fear out of your outdoor painting adventures and get you comfortable, so you can paint like a pro!"
Plein Air Like a Pro: Watercolor Toolbox Tips
Julie Karlsson
"I discovered a great new way to recycle: I covered over some of my old un-wonderful watercolors with a coat of Mars Black Watercolor Ground. You could do this to recycle both failed and old watercolor paintings."
Recycle a Watercolor Painting, Go Black!
Laurin McCracken
A realist watercolorist whose work is largely influenced by the Dutch and Flemish still life painters of the 16th and 17th centuries.
Laurin McCracken Gallery
Carrie Waller
A watercolor artist working in a realistic, detailed style. With a background in Interior Design and her studies in Graphic design as well as her time spent living in Europe and Asia have influenced her as an artist. Her unique works are bold, vibrant and dramatic.
Carrie Waller Watercolor
Jean Haines
No Painting Time is Wasted: The Mistakes we Make Improve our Work
I think there is a myth that every professional artist only paints a masterpiece every single time they pick up their brushes. And many do. But there are also many artists who enjoy experimenting with technique, or who are not completely satisfied with their results so they bin a painting to start a new one.
Galleries
