Golden Fluid Acrylic Paints

 

Golden paints

Golden Fluid Paints with Mixing Guide

Since I’m teaching a class for the next few weeks, I thought I would address a few of the questions that come up in the class.  One of the first things we discuss is the type of paint we will be using

I ask my students to buy a set (or individual bottles) of Golden fluid acrylics containing the following colors: Hansa Yellow Medium, Naphthol Red Light, Quinacridone Magenta, Phthalo Green (Blue Shade), Phthalo Blue (Green Shade), Yellow Ochre, Titanium White, and Zinc White.  The set comes with a mixing guide that shows you how to mix almost any color from these 8 paints.

These fluid paints are top quality artist paints with a high concentration of pigment that work well for the glazing and watercolor techniques, and can be mixed with higher viscosity mediums textural effects.   We will also use other artist quality heavy body paints in tubes from Liquitex, Golden, and other manufacturers to add texture in the top layers of the painting.

I recommend that you buy the best quality materials (especially paint) that you can afford, even as a beginner.  Student grade paints have less pigment, so they don’t cover well or mix evenly, and you will be frustrated at being unable to obtain the results you expect.

If you want to learn all the technical details about the Golden color mixing guide, here is a link http://www.goldenpaints.com/artist/mixguide.php

Posted in Acrylics, Basics Tagged |

From One Lily Pad to Another

Artists

"In the Steps of Van Gogh": Donna Lynn Gore, Pam Bulak, Barbara Yongue, Glenda Keyes, Lucinda Howe, Roy Paschal

Thanks to everyone who walked with us “In the Steps of Van Gogh” this weekend.  It was a splendid exhibit of paintings inspired by the hill towns and vineyards of southern France by Donna Lynn Gore, Pam Bulak, Barbara Yongue, Glenda Keyes, me, and Roy Paschal (l to r in photo).  We had a great turnout for the reception, saw old friends, made new friends, and sent several Provençal paintings to new homes.

As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, February is exceptionally busy for me.  Beginning with the exhibit of water lily paintings at The Village Artists (still up through February), and continuing with the show this past weekend, I have felt like a frog hopping quickly from one lily pad to the next.

Now I’m getting ready for the first  session of my acrylics painting class at the Village Artists on Wednesday evening.  If you are thinking about joining the class, it’s not too late.  Sign up today!  Even if you don’t have all your supplies for the first class, we’ll get started and work with whatever we have.  Have you guessed that we’re starting with a waterlily painting?  Hop on in and join us for some fun.  Rrribbitt!

Posted in Acrylics, Business Tagged |

Walk in Provence February 10-12

I would like to invite you to walk “In the Steps of Van Gogh” at the opening reception this Friday evening, February 10, 6-9 pm at my studio.

In a recent trip to the Provence area of southern France, a group of artists visited many of the locations where Van Gogh lived and worked.  Each town had unique architecture and character, and inspiration for painting was everywhere.  After returning home, six of us decided to create a group exhibit inspired by the trip.

I’m fascinated by the stories of how Van Gogh’s palette brightened as he encountered the Impressionists, modern pigments, and a warmer climate.  In creating pieces for this show, I wanted to observe how the experience of Provence would change my work.  I combined my on-location drawings, photos, and memories with texture mediums and some new techniques.  I found that my pieces have less intense colors than my usual palette, reflecting the patina of the historical architecture.

As we assemble the show, it’s fun to watch how the other artists have produced different interpretations of similar locations.  Come join us!

In the Steps of Van Gogh Invitation

Posted in Business, Studio Tagged |

Waterlilies at Sandhill

As a landscape painter, I want my paintings to have sense of place.  Each location affects me differently and affects the outcome of the painting.   I try to communicate the feeling of the location in a way that feels familiar to the viewer.

In my exhibit at The Village Artists this month, I’m celebrating Clemson’s Sandhill Research & Education Center (REC).  A few years ago, Clemson sold part its land to be developed into what is now The Village of Sandhill.  The property on the other side of Clemson road is maintained as a wildlife habitat with walking trails around the small lakes.  It’s a wonderful green space in the middle of a densely developed area.

Within the property are pine woods, hardwood wetlands, and a stand of cypress trees.  The lakes have waterlilies that bloom in the summer.  Watching the waterlilies float on the calm surface is calming and has been the source of inspiration for many of my paintings.

If you love waterlilies as much as I do, please join me for the First Friday wine and cheese reception February 3rd, 6:00-8:30 pm at The Village Artists.  Bring your questions.  I’d love to tell you more about my inspirations and techniques.  If you can’t make it Friday, the exhibit will be up through February.

 

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3 Steps to Jump Start Your Creativity

In an earlier post, I asked what you would like for me to write about.  One of the requests I received was for a creative jump start.

Over the years, I’ve read many books about increasing creativity.  I have found three things that appear in all of them.  Try these steps the next time you want to start a new project.

BREATHE – Breathe deeply and exhale slowly.  Whether you call it meditation, prayer, or yoga, following your breath helps you relax and tap into the wordless, holistic part of your brain.

SCRATCH – In her book The Creative Habit, Twyla Tharp talks about “scratching” for ideas.  You can scratch for ideas in nature, books, music, museums or shop windows. Take photos, write down snippets of conversation, observe connections between things. Don’t edit, just take it all in.  Think about possibilities for your project.  Think about how to transform or recombine your ideas.  Then let it rest and go for a walk.

MOVE – Movement, particularly rhythmic movement, seems to reset our normal pace and flow of life when we get out of kilter.  Walking, swimming and other sports provide movement.  The rhythm can also come from playing a musical instrument or doing a routine activity like ironing, raking, or knitting.  During this time, just enjoy the movement and let your subconscious process your ideas.

Now it’s time to take action.  Go to your studio, seize your materials, and START!

Posted in Basics Tagged |

February Art Events

You know how everything seems to happen at once?  Well, February is shaping up to be one of those times for me!  I have several events I would like to invite you to attend….

First Friday at The Village Artists, February 3
Featuring my Waterlily Paintings
 
In the Steps of Van Gogh, February 10-12 at my studio
Paintings by Six Artists Inspired by Provence
 
Acrylic painting class, six weeks beginning February 15
Your opportunity to create your own paintings
 
See details below.  I hope to see you at all of these events!
 
June Lily

June Lily, 24x24", Acrylic on cradled panel, by Lucinda Howe

First Friday Wine and Cheese Reception, February 3, 6-8:30 p.m.

The Village Artists, Village at Sandhill, northeast Columbia

Featuring the abstract acrylic paintings of Dawn Faber, photography of Renee Ittner-McManus, and my waterlily paintings inspired by Clemson’s Sandhill Research & Education Center.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the Steps of Van Gogh

You’re invited to attend the opening reception for “In the Steps of Van Gogh” on Friday, February 10, 6-9 p.m. at my studio.  If you can’t make it Friday evening, please stop by Saturday or Sunday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Get Your Brushes Wet!

Acrylic painting class starts February 15 at the Village at Sandhill.  Click here for more information.

Posted in Acrylics, Business, Studio, Uncategorized Tagged , |

In the Steps of Van Gogh

Posted in Business Tagged |

How Can I Help You?

A while back I mentioned that I identify myself as a Renaissance Soul.  I’ve studied many (seemingly) unrelated things during my life, mainly because I love learning new things, but there are some common themes.  Most of my favorite subjects have physical manifestations…gardening, interior design, fashion, painting…and share common elements of color and design.

The best part is that I love these subjects so much that I get in “the flow”, a total engagement of my mind that stills the worried voices, and exercises the part of my brain that sees the “big picture” and connectedness between humans and the natural world.  The times in my life when I was distressed over a loss or worried about the future are the times that art meant the most to me.

I would love to help you learn more about this connection between art and mental well-being in my articles this year.  Use the comment section below to tell me what you’re struggling with so I can get started.

What areas would you like for me to explore?  Do you want articles or classes about the technical aspects of drawing and painting?  Do you want some resources for kick starting your creativity?   Do you want to know more about how to connect with other artists?  Let me know what art questions you’d like answered, and I’ll do some research and provide some answers!

If you would like to experience being in “the flow” in person, please join me for a class in acrylic painting techniques beginning February 15th.   Click here for more information about the class.

Once again, submit your question below.

Posted in Acrylics, Blog Tagged |

Why Use a Square Format?

Monet

Vétheuil, 1901, by Claude Monet at The Art Institute of Chicago

I hope you have enjoyed the holidays with family as much as I have.

Along with everything else going on in December, I had the good fortune to make a quick trip to Chicago and was able to spend an afternoon in the Art Institute of Chicago visiting some of my favorite Impressionist and Post Impressionist works.

The description of  Monet’s Vétheuil, 1901, included the comment,  “As he did for numerous works, beginning with canvases for the series Mornings on the Seine…, he used a nearly square canvas, so that the decorative effect takes precedence over the details of the scene itself.”

I’ve been taught that the horizontal format typically used for a landscape painting is serene while a vertical format is dynamic.  The square is supposed to be stable and balanced.  But I had never considered that using a square format removes the meaning normally associated with the format.  However, I do use a square format for my waterlily paintings, and I’m experimenting with using it for other subjects.  I’m also paying more attention to how the format affects the meaning of the work.

Do you believe the format of a painting affects its meaning?  Do you use a square format?  If so, what type of subject works well with a square format?

Posted in Basics Tagged , |

Happy Holidays!

Wishing you a warm and happy holiday season!

Aruban Delight

Aruban Delight, 24x30", Acrylic on gallery wrap canvas, by Lucinda Howe

Posted in Acrylics