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.

February 28, 2014  (Check back tomorrow for the winner of the February Give-Away








There is a very good article in this month's Artist's Magazine about Qiang Huang.  I have been following his work for a long time because I especially love his brushwork and the abstract quality of his work.  There is a great step by step with photos. He also described his materials and techniques.  You can see hundreds of his paintings on Daily Paintworks.  He uses Robert Simmons Signet brushes that I already have and Creative Mark Quality that I immediately ordered.  There not even expensive. In fact they are a bargain and are on sale at Jerry's Artarama.  I used them today and love them, but will have to see how they hold up. 

Here's a photo of the brushes: (note: the handles are short)

 

 

 

I will post it on Daily Paintworks. ( Another poor quality photo, still not sure what I do wrong)

 

There are some places where there are soft edges that mingle with the background.  I'll probably do this again because I am not satisfied with the edges. 

 

Painting Studies

January 14, 2014

I am always  inspired by the work of Qiang Huang.  I subscribe to his blog and look at his paintings on DPW.  He likes to take one subject an do multiple studies of it.   These are one of  the type of flowers he studied.  I'm on the second study and since I bought a big bunch I will do a few more.  I think I will try different ways to begin, e.g., white canvas, toned, darks first, etc. 

Photo of still life

 

 

Started on white canvas, painted light of flowers first

 

 

 

Final Study

 

 

PS - I dropped off more magazines at LibertyTown, Studio 26.    This is includes my supply from the basement so I am nearing the end of my collection.  Sad to good-bye, but I have read them all and thank them for the help.  Please help yourself.  They are on the table in my studio.  The whole first batch is gone.