Mar 25

Call for Entry

Just a reminder to fellow artists that the San Mateo County Fair is quickly approaching. The fair will run from June 10 - 18 this year. 

All entry forms need to be in by May 9. All art entries are $10 each. A printed guidebook is at the Event Center Office at 2495 S. Delaware St./ San Mateo 94403. Also, check your local main library or community center.

The online guidebook can be seen at How to Enter Your Stuff and it will take you to the Fine Arts Galleria. Remember, this is open to anyone---you don't have to live in San Mateo County. We get entries from as far as Japanand Germany.
Thank you, Jesse.

Mar 18

Ivan Aivaovski

I was just introduced to this painter and found his renditions of sea and sky strongly challenging to the ever-so-popular Turner. Hope you like the Cyrillic alphabet, or your browser can translate for you. And, the music provided under the first painting is a great soundtrack for the images.
Ivan Aivaovski

Ivan Aivazovsky - Wikipedia

Mar 11

Color Palettes

I have recently been expanding my color knowledge, so here are some articles that interested me:

Basic Watercolor Palette: 12 essential colors
A very basic article on how to use the color index 

Colours to Pick for a 12-pan Watercolour Palette
This is an article about the limited palettes for 5 different artists

An article on color mixing
Working with a Split Primary Color Palette

Everything you need to know about my watercolor palette
This person starts with a few basic colors and adds more according to their needs

Limited Palette
This guy works with 2 pigments and a white

PaintMaking
An amazing site for the geekiest of us, especially this page about the history of artists' palettes

A List of Free Color Resources and Color Theory Information for Artists
More resources, if you are interested

Mar 04

The Grid

Hi y'all, 
Have you seen this? You can upload your reference photo and it will apply a grid, squares to your specification, and you can save a copy to print out. Seems like a time saver to me. Check it out. 

Grid Drawing Tool

Thank you, Pam

Ever wonder . . .

How is a da Vinci Artist Brush Made?

How to Make a Paint Brush at Home?

And for the obsessive/compulsive viewer with a lot of time and patience, there is always . . .

How is a Chinese Brush is Made? A Step-bystep Demo by Master Xu

(1/3) 

(2/3) 

(3/3) 

Feb 18

Quotes

For memory has painted this perfect day
With colors that never fade.
Carrie Jacobs Bond

To push the boundaries,
you have to know where the edges are.
Mark Boulton

I was born to make mistakes, not to fake perfection.
Aubrey “Drake” Graham

Abstract Art

I found this very interesting article in the Artist Network's blog:
3 Watercolor Artists’ Approaches to Abstract Painting

Feb 11

Valentines + Watercolors

On Tuesday at Creightons, we exchanged our first Valentine postcards and it was sweet and colorful and beautiful and great. There are two more weeks for you to participate.
Come join the group at Creightons in the Diamond Heights Shopping Center at 10 am. Be part of the fun.


Watercolor Exhibit

Lifescapes: Mixed Media by Myrna Wacknov
Show: Jan 26 to Mar 12 
Reception: Jan 29 from 2-4 pm.
Peninsula Museum of Art
The Intersection of External Experience and Internal Response
Thank you, Avelina

Feb 04

Congratulations Mary C.
💓 Mary sold her painting at the CWA's 47th National Exhibition!

What about Mary Blake?
2 items from Mary:

Half Price Sale:
I'm at a nice juncture in my life where I must re-evaluate my goals. I've decided to try downsizing which means I MUST get rid of a lot of "stuff". Except for my 3 favorite paintings (once I figure out which those are), all my paintings and prints will be half price. Sale starts today and ends March 15.

Email me (marycblake@comcast.net) to make an appointment, bring a friend or two and, if you see something you like, get an incredible deal.

And:

Artful Exchange

First week in March, we're planning an Artful Exchange.

If you have books, magazines, brushes, paints, paper, canvases, frames, pastels, pencils, easels, inks, misters, erasers, smocks, palettes, attic retreats, (you get the idea), bring them to these locations. You might just make someone's dream come true.

Bernal Library - Friday March 03 - 1 pm

Tuesday at Creightons - Tuesday March 07 - 10 am

We'll do the exchange first thing. Stay for the rest of our time together or go when the exchange is over.

See you then, I hope.