Developing your own style

February 8, 2016

When I painted these tulips today I was thinking about how there are little pieces of things I have learned from taking workshops, looking at DVD's,  and studying online blogs. 

These are things I was thinking about today and yesterday doing these two paintings: 

Robert Johnson - put a brush stroke down once and leave it alone  (scrape it off if it looks wrong and start again rather than messing around with it on the canvas.

Qiang Huang - just watched his new DVD which is terrific.  I like the brushes he uses, too.  Qualita from Jerry's Artarama.  Awhile ago I bought the 1-inch angular one that is very versatile.  I recommend his DVD.  Great info about value and basics of oil painting!

Nancy Franke - starts on a white canvas but retains her darks so well.  Use big brushes.

Dreama Tolle Perry - having a transparent dark underneath to help retain the darks.  Use color like confetti.

Every teacher I have ever had emphasizes darks and artists I have studied online also do this.

Carolyn Anderson - don't paint up to the lines (from original drawing), but over the line and inside the line.  She is a great person to study regarding edges.  Think of shapes, not lines. 

Somewhere I read that using red, yellow and blue in the background gives it luminosity.  There is also a lot written about pulling colors of the painting into the background.  Color is in the air.

Study the work of other artists

Artist to Admire



Carol Carmichael  is another artist to admire.  Check out her work at her blog and at Daily Paintworks.  She has over 700 paintings listed with lovely brushwork.    She very generously shared what she learned about an artist she admires named Nancy Franke, someone  I would like to take a workshop from, too.  Click on her name here which will take you to her blog. 

Keep painting.  Mine from yesterday shown here.  (very loose brushwork)

Inspiration from other Artists

June 16, 2014

I had the chance to listen to "Artist Helping Artists" this weekend.  An artist named Bill Davidson was interviewed who was very inspirational, but also gave some very practical advice.  I'll include a link to the show.  His blog is even more inspirational.  All this makes me want to take one of his workshops.  So far there are two workshops on my wish list:  Nancy Franke and Bill Davidson.  (There are many more now that I think about it).

http://billdavidsonstudios.blogspot.com/

This quote was in one of my sketchbooks and a good reminder.  I think it is from Richard Schmid.

"Talent is hard work sustained over a long period of time"    This is from memory so it may be a little different, but the message is there. 

Ready for another workshop.

I probably should take one in watercolor.  I keep playing around with it, but don't show much improvement. 

http://artistshelpingartistsblog.blogspot.com/    (Link to radio show)