Day 21 Chanel on a bed of Roses

I need a break from the dark paintings.  I like them, I like painting them and my eye doctor is going to be thrilled that I probably need a new prescription from the strain.

It is fun and freeing painting all the swirls in the jar.

Chanel on a Bed of Roses

 So here is Chanel on a bed flowers but it sounds better on a bed of roses.

Here is a studio hint. Run to the hardware store and get a drywall t-square. I can't remember how much it cost but it wasn't that much and it comes in handy drawing straight lines on a large canvas especially if you have a crooked head like I do.  You can also  use it as a straight edge to cut brown paper for wrapping.  I think it would be expensive at an art store but hardware stores are so much cheaper. Here is Gerry demoing it -  he is fake drawing.  I had a great teacher who used to say to students that claimed they couldn't draw a straight line - get a ruler.  This is a very big ruler.

And you always do some drywall.

what if I painted up close

This is another Rembrandt portrait this time working enlarged.  His texture is wonderful.  I can't get the texture  in a quick painting in acrylics but I still enjoyed trying.  

This is the weekly hint from my other blog art by the books

David Kassan is an amazing artist who is now having a Kickstarter fundraiser for a palette

palette kickstarter

If I were an oil painter I think I would get it because I love new things for my art.  His palette is unusual in that it is vertical.  His point is, a vertical palette means the light falls in the same manner on the palette as on the painting.  I am not comparing myself to him and I really don't think that having his equipement is going to instantly make me as good as him but then you never know.  I have a little palette which I now keep vertically and it is easier physically so you don't twist to get at your paint.  I am now very aware of how repetitive motions come back to bite you.  

Watch the video - I think the palette is a  brilliant design. And since I know you are going to ask because I did -  the paint does not drip down but the glaze does so I just put that on the bottom.  

What if I paint just in blue

I have a wonderful hint for you if you are an acrylic painter but you have to read the whole blog.

This was a tricky painting because the cups were cobalt blue and they had weird reflections but I painted it all in blue (with a little yellow).  

To thank you for your patience here is a great hint.  You can wash out dried acrylic from brushes and clothes with plain old alcohol.   I know sounds too simple.  I always knew that if you want to tell if your walls were painted with oil or acrylic you take a dab of alcohol and see if it comes off.  Than I had a Homer Simpson moment - doh - if it comes off old walls it should come off everything else and it does - even off the only pants I have that shouldn't have paint.  Soak old brushes in alcohol and eventually they are good again.  

You can thank me later.

Day 20 Sitting on the Dock of the Bay

There are some moments that you wish you can just keep forever.  We had rented a cottage and our children flew in and we were a complete family living under one roof for five days. Five days is the perfect amount because we don't fight - any longer and who knows.  The kids left and it was just me, my husband, Mully and the ball.

Here is a hint for any artist's studio.  Take one husband, train him for over  30 years and he might make you a brush stand just like this one.  I couldn't believe how many brushes I had until I had a place to put them.  I think he did a great job - many thanks.  Maybe I'll even start cleaning my brushes - nah.

Please join me in my new blog ArtbytheBooks.blogspot.com where we will work through how to books and improve our art skills

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