Category: Uncategorized

  • Titmouse revisited

    Since I am learning acrylics now, after years of working in oils, I decided to re-paint my titmouse painting in acrylic. This was a fun project, and I learned some things about acrylics doing this. As usual, I used a limited palette (titanium white, hansa yellow, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, burnt umber and burnt sienna).…

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  • Trees in Winter

    Because it is winter time, and there’s lots of snow on the ground, I decided to paint an acrylic picture of trees just as the snow has stopped and the sun is getting ready to come out. Trees in Winter, acrylic and sand collage, 2/24/20 painting As usual, I used a limited palette: yellow ochre,…

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  • Bouquet of Flowers: acrylic painting

    I love flowers, and decided to take a photo of some beautiful ones I saw at a friend’s house (with her permission). I found that acrylics are perfect for capturing the lights and dark values. The colors used were ultramarine blue; alizarin crimson; yellow ochre, Hansa Yellow, sap green, titanium white, burnt umber and burnt…

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  • Egret Painting

    I love water birds, and have enjoyed seeing the egrets near Lake Huron in North Michigan. I decided to create a painting to show the beauty of this bird. I used a limited palette (as usual) with this painting: ultramarine blue, Hansen Yellow, yellow ochre, Hooker Green, Titanium white; Burnt umber and burnt sienna.

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  • State Park Painting

    I enjoy hiking, and snapped a photo of a state park (Hocking Hills) last summer. This painting is based on the reference; I am exploring using a more colorist approach in it. I still don’t know how to adjust the color saturation right with my photos (I use paint.net); the original has more colors (blues,…

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  • Meadow Flowers: Learning Acrylics

    As noted before, I am starting to explore acrylics. I love the details and vibrant colors. Below is a 16 X 20″ painting on canvas wrap that I just finished, called “Meadow Flowers”. The actual painting is a lot more vibrant; someday I will learn how to do a proper photo. I used a limited…

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  • Sparrow painting: exploring acrylics

    Recently, I have been experimenting with acrylics, taking a break from oils. I have a friend who is a wonderful photographer, and with her permission used part of a photo she took as a reference (photo was by K. Gasper) for a bird painting in acrylics. My impressions of acrylic versus oils: I enjoyed the…

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  • Park and Stream painting

    I love water, and so chose to paint some pooled water in the streambed of a park nearby. The most challenging part was the reflections, and also creating a sense of depth.

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  • Painting Christmas ornaments

    Happy Thanksgiving! I have been painting Christmas ornaments (using enamel paints) for weeks now. The first set were wild birds (one is pictured above and another below) that I sold at a local art show, and also have for sale at a local store (Wild Birds Unlimited). For those who would like to make their…

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  • Lesson 2: color study

    I have decided to put myself through a course of painting in the basics, as a refresher. In this part, I first did a value painting by: 1.Using burnt umber for the darks 2. Rubbing out my light areas; 3. I then went over it all again to darken the darkest areas, and added a…

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  • Back to Basics: Value Study

    I have been reading some books on painting, and have decided to put myself through a full course of lessons. On this blog, I will share what I am doing, and learning, because I want to improve (and this type of “back to the beginning” will hopefully have that effect). The first lesson involves working…

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  • Sunset Beach Painting

    I spent a couple of weeks in Vancouver, and loved it (especially the good coffee and riding the SkyTrain). Here’s a painting based on a few photos I took of one of the beaches there.  

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