All-Mighty Blog & Web-site

If you love Boston Terriers like I do, then you'll know why I fell in love with these sites when my sis-in-law turned me onto them. You must check out this blog and this site which sells all things Boston! Inspired by Mighty the Boston Terrier, this blog is all about the adorable nature of this breed!

Thanks Erica for posting a link about my Zoe book!

Cobalt Jar with Oranges - SOLD

Here's the final image of the painting - just to follow up the demo earlier posted. It's a still life painted from life in acrylics on 12 x 24" canvas and will be framed.

In fact, it was a long, narrow ivory frame that inspired this painting and drove this compositional format.

Cobalt Jar with Oranges - Video Demo

Here's a little video demo of my latest acrylic still life painting. Hope you enjoy!

"Apples in Gold"

I bought this little elongated dish because I liked its golden glow, but especially I liked the shape. Then I found out just how hard it was to set up in an interesting composition for a still life where you could appreciate its shape. You see, the bottom is black, so viewed from the side, you don't get the full glowing effect. So, I set it sort of diagonally on a piece of plain brown craft paper where I could look down on the dish. Five little Gala apples sat neatly in the dish turned different directions so as to enjoy slight variation of forms and catch the golden reflections on their shiny surfaces.

Little did I know just how challenging it was going to be to get the "gold" just right - not too yellow, but still brilliant and glowing. That's where glazing really comes into play as it allows you to alter the colors ever so slightly wherever needed. In these cases transparent colors are so useful so that you can see through to colors beneath. This adds to the depth and brilliance of a piece.

One of my favorite warm colors to use to really make something pop is Napthol Red - I especially like Golden's Liquid Napthol. It's quite powerful so I recommend using it carefully.

I started this painting by coating a 12 x 9" sheet of Canson Montval Acrylic paper, wonderful for use with acrylics, with Golden's Glazing Medium and let that dry. It sort of sealed the surface letting colors nicely build up. The initial layers were primarily Liquitex Heavy-Body acrylics with final layers using Golden's Fluid acrylics mixed with their glazing medium.

A key to creating soft edges with acrylics in not using too much water. When painting on paper, I've found it helpful to wrap & tape brown craft paper around a large drawing board, place that on my easel and then use masking tape to position my acrylic paper at a comfortable height to paint standing so that I can move back regularly to see the work progressing. The added advantage is that you can wipe off excess paint from your brush on the brown paper to the side of your work. It's a great set up for me.

Nandina Berries & Dried Hydrangeas - Sketches

More soapstone and introducing charcoal sketches of things from my yard. Nandina berries are fun to sketch as are dried Hydrangea blossoms.

More Seed Pods - sketches

More soapstone sketches on black card stock. Drawn from life. These organic forms have been fun to sketch the last couple of nights. Don't know what the long vine w/seed pods is, but it bursts open to reveal fuzzy seeds. The other is a "gum ball", not fun to step on!

Rose of Sharon Seed Pods Sketch

It's been such a busy week - not much easel time...but wanted to do a little sketch while relaxing tonight. Soapstone on black card stock - sketched from life. Actually the seed pod was held on the corner of the black paper - thus the reason for the sketch being sort of squished up against the edge! Anyway, it was a nice relaxing exercise. Want to do more sketching for awhile I think.