Anyone who's done any research quickly learns that there are some structural problems that can happen when oil paintings are varnished before the three to six month drying time.
Of course, as artists that sell work, this is somewhat problematic. We don't necessarily like storing pieces for that long. Fortunately, times change. New studies and experiments happen. While I'm not a chemist or materials expert, I am a researcher-type and I'll share some art "street talk" about it here.
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Looking for quick advice on how to choose a panel or canvas for oil painters? Read the post and click the blog post title to get to the video link.
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Special price opportunities, a bit about Sir William Nicholson, and digital marketing- all strangely in one blog post!
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So... I look up more about him, and sure enough, he was an art forger before he hosted his TV how-to show. I should have known. I have a "thing" for British art forgers, artists, and gardeners I guess. The accent, the paints, copying old masters, the flowers... ah... all so peaceful. And there's always Bob Ross:)
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Old masters' oil painting techniques fawn over the creamy, textural properties of white paint that contains lead. It dries quickly, has dreamy body (yes, still talking about oil paint), and has a certain warm silver cast to the color that adds an old master's look to your work. I was taught to be afraid of the paint interacting with other, synthetic paints, like cadmiums, but...
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Free ebook downloads at the Getty Museum website.
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What one does on a plein air painting retreat!
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In addition to painting, I love reading and growing plants. I used to read a lot when I was young. My backup career ideas as a teen were Library Science and English Literature. Like some of you may have, I quit reading fiction when I got BUSY. A few years ago, my mom gave me a hardcover copy of “I Capture the Castle” by Dodie Smith (who also wrote the original 101 Dalmatians story and hit plays for the London stage), and I got re-hooked!
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I almost have the feeling that he would set about to paint something and honestly not know how he was going to pull it off. I don’t think he had any doubt in his ability to pull it off, it’s more that he was unafraid of different techniques and even rather unconventional points of view- odd angles, even including rather odd items or compositional elements. His unique perspective makes his work feel fresh to me.
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The title quote is in reference to the oil painting, High Cliff, Coast of Maine,by Winslow Homer. Apparently, he had showed this painting a lot for 9 years before it found a buyer. It contributed to his frequent questioning of himself in his mid-life sales slump. In his frustration he asked his gallery in Chicago, "Why do you not sell that "High Cliff" picture? I cannot do better than that. Why should I paint?"
Look at this beautiful commissioned floral!! I love the colors in this piece. This was a painting where I was invited to the collector's home to see where a floral would hang and make my own judgement on colors and composition based on their other art and furnishings.
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It's a good month for them. For changes.
I decided to simplify my life and forget about a "website" for a while. I have the worst luck building or having one built for me. It seems too personal to have someone else do without having too many of my own opinions about the layout And when I do it? It looks like I did with all of the little technical know-how I have within me.
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I consider myself a sensitive person (or a highly sensitive person!). I’m often overwhelmed with the size and number of the world’s problems. I try to live in such a way that I effect positive change and it’s these little tasks, the joy of family, and the beauty of art and nature that keep me from stumbling over the sorrows outside of my sphere of influence.
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Updated April 2023!
Thoughts on why lead white paint is so useful, how you can handle it more safely and what are your options.
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My second day in Florence, I was stumbling about my new surroundings with jet lag in my head and surprisingly, I saw a familiar face.
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I have once again fallen behind terribly at updating the blog. There are so many things to juggle in life, not to mention actually painting!
After getting back from Italy, Joseph and I bought a little brick house that we fell in love with, our teenage daughter got Chicken Pox, and we had to have one of our dogs put to sleep. Then of course we get to settle into the new old house and repair some things.
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