Art with Cynthia

N ature  has always been a favorite source of inspiration for painters, and abstract landscapes are compelling. To create art abstracted from nature you start with something “real” and then pull it and stretch it into something new, in order to express your feelings or your interpretation. Mitchel Albala says,  "There is a great misunderstanding in contemporary abstraction — that because it’s non-representational, anything goes. This could not be further from the truth. Good abstract art employs the same formal principles that great representational art does — line, form, shape, value, movement, composition, color, etc. It is the proper use of these forces that make a work of art successful. The only difference between representational painting and abstract painting is that in abstract work, the subject plays a more recessive role." The first step, then, is to choose a source of inspiration in nature that inspires a visual idea, such as color combinations (where two rivers me...

We've   been talking about brushwork and palette knives, and I want to talk a little about paint application and mark-making. Paint can be applied with so many different tools. We all started out with finger painting, and brushes seem to be an extension of our fingers, but you can put paint onto a ground with a palette knife, old credit card, sponge, roller, etc. And besides the tools you use, you have options with the techniques. I took the following list of paint application techniques from a  Craftsy  Post: 1. Dry brushing: This is where you scrub layers of colors on using small amounts of paint. 2. Washing: This is when you apply a thin layer of diluted paint over the colors already applied. The thin veil of color allows the colors underneath to still shine through. 3. Dabbing: For adding texture. Apply thick paint with a stiff bristle brush or a sponge, with a pouncing motion or with quick dabs. Dabbing can be done in multiple layers to build depth. 4. Detailing: Thi...

Continuing   with the book "Contemporary Landscapes in Mixed Media", by Soraya French, the chapter which covers color through the seasons, I worked on a chart of her suggested spring colors: Top row: Phthalo green, + cadmium yellow light progressing towards yellow. The last is  tint with white. Second row: Phthalo green toned with Quinachrodine red (she suggests Quin magenta), and cad yellow. Third row: Phthalo green + Phthalo blue,  + cad yellow. The last is a tint with white. Fourth row: Ultramarine blue + Qui red + white, + more red, plain Quin red + white, Cad red + white, Cad yellow + white. And here are the two paintings I'm currently working on, with their progressions this last week: Groundless: Rock Garden:

I 've   been reading the book "Contemporary Landscapes in Mixed Media", by Soraya French, and one chapter covers color through the seasons. She says "Each season conjures up specific colors in our mind's eye." I've been working with her winter palette, and wanted to share what I've learned. "The winter palette is all about colorful greys ... easy on the eye, tranquil and beautiful. ... To achieve a range of beautiful grays, mix the complementary colors and vary the proportion, then add white." The colors you see above are: 1 = Burnt Sienna, BS + UltraMarine, BS + UM + Yellow Ochre, the same + White 2 = Phthalo Blue + Cadmium Red, PB + CR + White, the same + more CR, the same + more PB UltraMarine + Quinacidone Red + White, more QR, more UM, and even more UM Cobalt + Teal, Phthalo Blue + Cadmium Red, PB + CR + White, PB + Yellow Ochre

 C hecking in: Some homework for you: Tami:  Your goal is to finish some of your paintings, and you chose your river painting. Practice under-painting and over-painting for your river. - try different interesting underpainting colors, and different kinds of brush strokes for over painting. There are lots of opinions about under painting. I like to have flashes of the underpainting showing through. I often use a complementary color, or a main color from another part of the composition. In my Mt. Pisgah painting (below) I was inspired by the sky in van Gogh's "Women Digging Potatoes" for the red underpainting as well as the brush work in the sky: Becky:   You told me yesterday that you will be in Georgia next Tuesday... I hope you can call in and if so, I'd like to hear a report on some of these tasks: 1. You talked about painting the ocean. Bring a photo of a landscape that means something to you, and be prepared to riff on it in an abstract way. By riffing, I mean it ...

We  are off to a good start! Some homework for you: Tami:  Your goal is to finish some of your paintings, and you chose your river painting. Practice under-painting and over-painting for your river. - try different interesting underpainting colors, and different kinds of brush strokes for over painting. There are lots of opinions about under painting. I like to have flashes of the underpainting showing through. I often use a complementary color, or a main color from another part of the composition. In my Mt. Pisgah painting (below) I was inspired by the sky in van Gogh's "Women Digging Potatoes" for the red underpainting as well as the brush work in the sky: Becky:   1. You talked about painting the ocean. Bring a photo of a landscape that means something to you, and be prepared to riff on it in an abstract way. By riffing, I mean it doesn't have to look like a beach or a landscape, but somehow evoke beachiness. Examples: 2. B uy some new tubes of blue, and paint splo...

Our  assignments last week led us on a rich dialogue! We looked at paintings that inspired you in the New Year.  I was impressed with your choices, and inspired in turn.  After our discussion I set some homework for you: Tami:  1. Work on brush handling. Check out the step by step painting web site for some exercises to try. (She also has a buying guide if you ant to get any new brushes.) 2. Your goal is to finish some of your paintings, so please choose the one you want to work on and be prepared to work on it! Becky:   1. Explore Red.  One of your choices for inspiration was this one, below. Your assignment is to buy some new tubes of red and paint splotches of many different mixtures of red, taking some notes,  and make a list or a chart of colors you like best so you can begin to incorporate them into your work. 2. Bring a photo of a landscape that means something to you, and be prepared to riff on it in an abstract way. Abstract Landsca...