Painting Primarily with the Three Primaries

A Reference Photo

Hi-
In my last blog I blogged about primarily using the basic three primary colors—only—for your paintings.

Today, I’ll tell you why.

In keeping with the back to basics theme, I’ll keep it short and sweet, as they say.

Simply, there are three reasons for painting primarily with the three primaries—red, blue and yellow:

They’re (almost) all you’ll ever need. All other colors come from these three. Mix and match them as much as you like. Lighten them, darken them, neutralize them. Add white and you have many, many more combinations.

Color harmony. This is actually, I think, the most important reason. Using these three you won’t make mud unless you try to. Because there are only three, that means two are always combining in one direction or the other on the color wheel. They will always “go” together. Compare a painting with a limited palette to one that isn’t, and you’ll see what I mean. Color harmony makes all the difference.

Cost. This is probably not a factor for most painters at all, but if you only need to buy a red, a yellow, and a blue (along with white and maybe the occasional green), then you’re bound to be saving some money.

Today’s image is a reference photo for my current acrylic in which I’m using a limited palette—the three primaries, plus white and permanent green.

Happy Painting.

Until next blog…

Back to Basics - Painting with 3 Primary Colors

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After a couple of blogs in which I talked about painting the way you want, I thought I’d better get back to business. That is, today’s blog is a little more practical, at least I hope so.

You probably already know about the three primary colors—red, blue, and yellow, right?

These are the only colors you’ll ever need to paint with, no kidding—with a caveat or two that I’ll throw in later.

If you are a beginning artist, or maybe just an adventurous one, you probably love to:

a) roam the aisles of your art supply store (or its equivalent online) scanning all the colors available to purchase and buying at least one per trip

b) collect as many colors of paint as you can afford

c) use all of your colors in your "masterpieces"

d) all of the above

I am guilty of d), and I admit it. If you are doing any of these, stop it!

I’m not sure when one stops being a “beginning” artist, but I did this (d) for the first three years of painting. And, just so you know, although I think of myself as adventurous, deep down I know that I’m really not, but that’s OK.

But I digress, back to the three primary colors.

Start with the three and practice, practice, practice using them exclusively. I suggest an ultramarine blue, cadmium red medium, and cadmium yellow light.

The caveats are this:

1) in oil or acrylic painting, you’ll need to add titanium white to lighten the hues

2) in oil, acrylic, or watercolor, you will eventually need to experiment with different blues and yellows to achieve the right shade of green you need (especially landscapes) and/or you can add a Hooker’s green to jump-start the process.

Other than that, you’re good to go.

The key to this, like a New Year’s resolution, is to be diligent and don’t cheat. Use only these three colors, and none others, for the next three months or until the colors in your paintings match your motif.

Now that I’ve told you what to do, next blog I’ll tell you why.

Happy Painting.

Until next blog…

Paint The Way You Want To Paint

Adobe Afternoon
Acrylic on Canvas
Copyright 2008

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I’m following up on my last blog, which was a follow-up of my previous blog where I suggested that painters should go with the flow of paint and their own personal vision. (If you can follow that.)

I said rather loudly it’s OK to paint the way you want.

I asked you to ponder if your artwork was:
- some other artist’s work (style, technique)
- how you THINK your art should look or should be

I wondered if your art were really your own if you were taking or had taken art classes or art lessons.

I did not mean to give (or leave) the impression that I don’t support art education in all realms, from art history to fine arts to specific techniques and genres. I support education for all in whatever field of endeavor, especially art, and far be it from me to cast aspersions on art education.

My presupposition about art education is that all types, genres, techniques, and styles are equally relevant in art schools. It’s wise to learn different techniques, to study the masters’ paintings, to try different mediums as part of an educational curriculum, process, or art class.

That does not mean you should have to to paint the way any other artist paints. Does it? Paint whatever way you want to paint, and let it be your own creation.

Artists and painters, I believe, should create whatever vision they conjure for the viewer. They should not be constrained by any particular style, general consensus, by critics, by anyone’s moral compass, by ethics, or mores of society. I do acknowledge the gray area of artistic content deemed acceptable in society and who decides because of legal, ethical, or other constraints. But that is the subject of another blog for another day.

And it’s beside my point, which is to simply to encourage artists to paint the way they want to paint.

(Today's image is an acrylic of mine that I painted the way I wanted to.)

Happy Painting.

Until next blog...

"Is It Really Your Art - Is It Really?"

At The Plaza
Pastel on Paper
Copyright 2008

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I guess I’m starting out 2011 with a challenge to myself and to you.

I’m following up on my last blog to discuss more on why I think it’s really important for you to be true to your own style as an artist.

By that I mean, IT’S OK TO PAINT THE WAY YOU WANT TO PAINT!

And, yes, I am yelling by using ALL CAPS above. I’ll calm down, but you shouldn’t. I see what has happened here.

Art is your passion, or at least it’s right up there on your list. You spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about your art, learning about your art, practicing your art, actually creating your art, telling others about your art, showing your art. If it’s not your full-time job, it might as well be.

Isn’t that nice.

The question I have for you is, “Is it really your art?”

“Is it, really?”

Or did you learn how to draw, paint, etc. at art school? Do you or did you or are you now taking art lessons? If so, then I wonder how much of what you’re producing is really your art.

Or could it be that it’s merely your rendition of: 1) some other artist’s work (style, technique), and/or 2) how you THINK your art should look or should be?

Ponder that, and I’ll get back to you to discuss this some more in the next blog.

(BTW, today's image is a pastel I did a few years ago when I didn't know how my art should look or be.)

Happy Painting.

Until next blog…

A New Year's Art Blog

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What will the art year bring?

I have high hopes. I’m hoping my technique and creativity will find a following, even if it’s only a few like-minded people.

I’m not out for fame or fortune, although a little of each would be fine. To be sure, I’m not expecting either.

No, I’m trying to look at the big picture; that is, the big and long picture. I’m realizing that the works of most artists are appreciated (truly appreciated) only after the artist has long passed. There are obvious exceptions, but generally speaking, that’s the truth of it.

Not to be discouraging, but that’s what makes living and painting in the here and now more challenging, don’t you think?

That’s why as painters, I and probably you, too, should toss our art inhibitions out the proverbial window and go with the flow of paint and your own personal vision.

Then live with it. Nurture it. Encourage it. Grow it.

But don’t try to change it.

In other words, let your art be what it wants to be. You will then find true happiness and contentment.

Happy Painting in 2011.

Until next blog…

Painting Light

Rehearsal Dinner
Watercolor
Copyright 2010

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I’m blogging about painting light today. It seems appropriate as the lights are quickly dimming on the old year but with a new light on January 1st. Yes, I know that’s corny—but whatever.

To me painting light is the most intriguing aspect of painting in any medium, really—watercolor, oil, pastel, or acrylic.

The Impressionists certainly thought so. Their new-fangled way of painting was all about just that--painting light

It’s what I notice first when I look at a painting. It’s not that I consciously think, “Now where is the light source coming from?” or anything like that.

But the light is what illuminates the objects in a painting, of course. It’s what sets the mood. It tells the viewer almost everything he or she needs to know about the painting. Is it day, night, dusk, dawn, inside, outside, sunlight, moonlight? How bright is the light? What kind of shadows and reflective light are there?

I would go so far as to say that light is the most important thing in your painting. More important than hue, value, composition, or even the motif itself. Now that’s saying a lot, but I do believe that.

Just think about some of the paintings you most admire or some of the paintings of your favorite artists. You probably think the style or technique is what draws you to them. But I would venture to say it’s the light.

For example, as you know, Edward Hopper is one of my favorite painters. He is famous for painting light and shadow. Think about his famous painting, Nighthawks. It’s that eerie light emanating from overhead, with its yellow-y glare, juxtaposed against the darkness outside the diner that makes that painting what it is. That’s why it’s enduring.

Light can be soft or dramatic. The effect is what you’re after. Light will make or break your painting. Learn to paint it well.

Happy Painting!

Until next blog…

What IS the Purpose of Art?-Part Deux

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A couple of months ago, I wrote a blog I called “What IS the Purpose of Art.” The list of purposes I provided was anything but complete. They were merely the ones that came to me directly off the top of my  head.

As the weeks passed since that blog, other purposes came to mind as I was painting away day after day.

So, I’m adding to the original list with “What IS the Purpose of Art?-Part Deux."

Art emotes.

Art stimulates.

Art simulates.

Art emulates.

Art challenges.

Art advocates.

Art enhances.

Art signifies.

Art engages.

Art enrages.

Art awes.

Art bothers.

Art enthralls.

Art reveals.

Art overwhelms.

Art insinuates.

Art portends.

Art mesmerizes

Art endures.

And Art matters.

Thank goodness!

Until next blog…

Why You Must Make Painting a Priority

Cochabamba
Acrylic on Paper
Copyright 2010

Hi-

It’s a busy time of year for everybody. For artists, it means making time for your art along with everything else that needs to get done.

That’s not always easy at any time of the year, but it’s especially difficult to make/find time during these weeks in December.

But I did. I finished my latest acrylic. Do you remember? I showed you the reference photo I was using for the painting in my November 29, 2010, blog.

I hope you like it. I do. It’s a busy street scene in Cochabamba, Bolivia; hence the title, “Cochabamba.”

It’s today’s image. It’s acrylic on 300-lb. Arches watercolor paper. If you follow my blog, then you know that recently acrylic on paper has become my medium of choice (at least for now).

During all the hustle and bustle I was able to set aside time on several days to get it done. That’s what you must do during busy times—make painting a priority. If nothing else, it’s for your mental health and well being.

You will find, I believe, that the time you set aside for painting allows you to put everything else you must do into perspective. That is, while you’re painting away, back there in the recesses of your brain, the gears and synapses are whirring away figuring out everything else that’s going on in your life.

And--as if by magic--everything you are worrying about and how to accomplish everything will fall neatly into place—like placing that very last puzzle piece in a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle.

Imagine. Solving all your problems while painting. What a deal.

Happy Painting.

Until next blog…

If You Shop, Shop the Art Supply Store

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Artists are not known for their shopping habits. We’re not known necessarily as browsers or mall-rats either.

Be that as it may, it is gift-giving time in many parts of the world, so even we artists must grin and bear it, as they say.

So I visited one of the local art supply stores in our corner of the suburbs the other day to do a little shopping.

Compared to most stores this time of year, it was relatively empty. Not that there wasn’t anyone else in the store; on the contrary, there were probably 15 or 20 others roaming around, which is more than you usually see in the store, but not at all like the hordes across the street at the mall or the big-box electronic outlet (thank goodness).

Oh, I know, I could always shop online. But, a website is so sterile. If I know exactly what I want, then it’s just a matter of finding the best deal. But where’s the fun in that as I like to say?

So today I was an artist/shopper shopping like artists shop--walking up and down the aisles looking at the abundant stock of brushes, of paper and canvases, of watercolor, of acrylic, of easels, of palettes, of carrying cases, and anything and everything else an artist could possibly want.

I saw some new products, too. Like pastels that look more like powder for ladies’ facial make-up than for art. It appeared you just dip your fingertip in the round, plastic disc and then paint with your finger. (Nothing wrong with that, I often paint with my fingers, don’t you?) But, of course, they were also selling little bitty brushes that looked like swabs, or whatever, for an additional price, of course.

I also spent time in the book section, thumbing through books on how to paint with watercolor, how to draw with colored pencils, how to paint portraits, how to draw and paint horses and trees and seascapes. If only it were as easy as the authors of these books make it sound.

Anyway, I was simply looking for a couple of small gifts that were just right, and which I did find, I’m happy to report.

The take-away of today's blog is, if you must get out and shop this time of year, then let it be at an art supply store.

And what do you know, I may have even found a gift for myself!

Until next blog…

Using Acrylic Just Like Watercolor

This Was My First Acrylic on Paper
May, 2010

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I’m still working on the acrylic I blogged about last week. It’s coming along quite nicely, and I believe it will be finished soon. I will show it to you at that time. Today's image is the first painting where I painted acrylic on paper.

Today I want to briefly discuss with you how I am using acrylic these days. The more I work with acrylic, the better I like it. It’s so versatile, which is not necessarily new to anyone, it’s just that I keep discovering acrylic’s qualities of which I was previously not aware.

In the past, I had painted acrylic on canvas using it the same way you use oil; that is, I was not diluting it with water too much (similar to diluting oil with odorless mineral spirits) and painting with visible brushstrokes and even impasto.

Now I am using acrylic with water. Just so you know, I have used acrylic with water before, but in my current painting, I am using it just like watercolor.

I mean just like watercolor. As I said, I now paint acrylic on paper rather than canvas.

And, in my current painting, I am using acrylic wet-in-wet. I dab out the acrylic(s) on my palette and mix the color I want with water and/or retarder, then I dampen the paper and apply the acrylic paint.

It flows--and the results are (almost) just like painting with watercolor. You do have to compensate and mix the colors slightly lighter than you desire because acrylic dries slightly darker. I have found that using more water mitigates this somewhat.

When it’s dry, you can then apply a thinned wash of color to change or enhance the look of your work if need be.

I’m not trying to disparage the beautiful paintings that watercolorists produce, I’m just telling you, you can get fantastic results with acrylic without all those rules you have to follow explicity with watercolor.

I find it easier and invigorating, and I am happy with my own results.

Until next blog…