Looking for the finished painting...

There is a moment when the painting is finished and I recognize it. I'm not sure I can put it into words - but it's a recognizable feeling. Like finishing a good meal. There is a sense of satisfaction. In order to catch the moment though, you have to be watching for it, looking for it.



Too often I see students painting for the entire three hours of a class. Layer after layer of paint, putting it on, scraping it off, putting more on. I'm sure that many good paintings get painted over in this fashion. Because after all, as painters we like to paint! I love moving the paint around, getting excited about getting just the right color, the right shape. But, unless I'm very careful and watch for it, I will miss the completion point of the painting and paint right over it.



So, my recommendation (to myself and anyone else who cares to listen) is paint less and look more. Spend at least as much time looking as you do painting, and probably more. More time looking, less painting. Seems strange for a painter to look more than paint, but really, if we don't slow down, we could just miss the end of the painting.

Looking for the finished painting...

There is a moment when the painting is finished and I recognize it. I'm not sure I can put it into words - but it's a recognizable feeling. Like finishing a good meal. There is a sense of satisfaction. In order to catch the moment though, you have to be watching for it, looking for it.



Too often I see students painting for the entire three hours of a class. Layer after layer of paint, putting it on, scraping it off, putting more on. I'm sure that many good paintings get painted over in this fashion. Because after all, as painters we like to paint! I love moving the paint around, getting excited about getting just the right color, the right shape. But, unless I'm very careful and watch for it, I will miss the completion point of the painting and paint right over it.



So, my recommendation (to myself and anyone else who cares to listen) is paint less and look more. Spend at least as much time looking as you do painting, and probably more. More time looking, less painting. Seems strange for a painter to look more than paint, but really, if we don't slow down, we could just miss the end of the painting.

Art and Surrender

I teach a class called "Painting from the Soul" it is my favorite class to teach. It's a 3-5 day boot camp for creativity and I have seen it change peoples lives. I get fan mail and love letters after people take this class. And I'm only the gate keeper. I just open the door. You can do this for yourself if you have the courage to surrender. Isn't it funny that surrendering requires courage? It really does though. What is it about us as artists that makes us so afraid of failure? After all, it's only paint on canvas. It can always be painted over, gessoed over, cut up and thrown away.

So I'm asking you to play along with me, suspend your judge and jury and go into the studio and dance yourself silly and play with your paint and brushes, lie down on the floor and paint with your toes. Whatever makes you happy. Just surrender.

Let me know how it goes.

Art and Surrender

I teach a class called "Painting from the Soul" it is my favorite class to teach. It's a 3-5 day boot camp for creativity and I have seen it change peoples lives. I get fan mail and love letters after people take this class. And I'm only the gate keeper. I just open the door. You can do this for yourself if you have the courage to surrender. Isn't it funny that surrendering requires courage? It really does though. What is it about us as artists that makes us so afraid of failure? After all, it's only paint on canvas. It can always be painted over, gessoed over, cut up and thrown away.

So I'm asking you to play along with me, suspend your judge and jury and go into the studio and dance yourself silly and play with your paint and brushes, lie down on the floor and paint with your toes. Whatever makes you happy. Just surrender.

Let me know how it goes.

Water and Acrylic Paint

There is a myth out there that it's okay to thin acrylic paint with water. Well it's not the best idea. Here's why:

Water is not a binder. Duh, right? Well if you use too much water in your acrylic paint mixture, you will overthin the binder in the paint (polymer) and weaken the paint film, lessening its adhesion to your canvas (or the paint layer beneath it). If you want to thin the paint, use a polymer medium. This will maintain the adhesive qualities of the paint and the paint film will maintain its integrity.

If you want to thin the paint and retard the drying time, try using Acrylic Glazing Liquid (Golden). This will allow you to make a thin glaze and slow down the drying time.

Party on!

Water and Acrylic Paint

There is a myth out there that it's okay to thin acrylic paint with water. Well it's not the best idea. Here's why:

Water is not a binder. Duh, right? Well if you use too much water in your acrylic paint mixture, you will overthin the binder in the paint (polymer) and weaken the paint film, lessening its adhesion to your canvas (or the paint layer beneath it). If you want to thin the paint, use a polymer medium. This will maintain the adhesive qualities of the paint and the paint film will maintain its integrity.

If you want to thin the paint and retard the drying time, try using Acrylic Glazing Liquid (Golden). This will allow you to make a thin glaze and slow down the drying time.

Party on!

Welcome to my new blog

I'm setting off on this new blog and will copy some of my posts from my old blog. This particular blog is more user friendly and has a nice layout. (I hope you agree!). Stay tuned for updates, subscribe if you like and let me know what you think.

Welcome to my new blog

I'm setting off on this new blog and will copy some of my posts from my old blog. This particular blog is more user friendly and has a nice layout. (I hope you agree!). Stay tuned for updates, subscribe if you like and let me know what you think.