Paint Brush Dictates Outcome of Works of Art

You can shop at a discount store and buy a dress and even find a "designer" in the clothes rack. It might have been worn once and there you are ready for the perfect evening in the ideal outfit. This is not the case when shopping for a good paint brush. Good paint brushes don't usually find themselves in discount stores. They might get willed to some other artist, but they are precious commodities. Have you been using a cheap brush hoping to find out if you can paint? A cheap brush may look like a paint brush, but it does not act like one. The cheap brush will "lie" to you. Believing it was your skill the painting turned out poorly can happen when the brush sabotages your efforts. I am not advocating you to go out and buy the most expensive brush to get the right results. On the contrary, the less expensive one might work nicely, but the care of the brush can also bring less desirable results in your painting.

In the next few series of my blog, I will give you information on what exactly is a good working brush. Hopefully, I can give you enough information to aid you in your important purchase of the tool of the painting trade. This does not apply to the house painter. I will only be advocating to the fine artist in this blog. Sorry, summer college workers.

The artist brush that I will be helping you to find is for the artist that wants to paint traditional style art. Contemporary art can be helped with this tool, but experimental art that uses other means to apply paint will not care about the brush. Maybe the artist that tried experimental art might have used a poor quality brush which "inspired" the idea to use something else! I have heard of cats painting, or even a summer slug sliding across the canvas in a multitude of slithery pigment (sorry Doug). Skilled artists that take themselves seriously, in a traditional sense, know about brushes.

New Beginnings

It is the time of year to remember a lifetime. Remember the first time you drove a car without an adult watching every move? How about the memory of sleep overs when no one actually slept? Well, remember the time when you got your first invite to "go out"? There are so many memories to linger over and sigh about days gone by so quickly. As a graduating senior those days of memories will now turn into days of making a future for yourself and not look back at what was then. Life will be too full to stop and take the time. So now, it is a good time to take the time and remember.

Plans for tomorrows may stray from what you hope, so with that, plan to be flexible and face change with a smile, because you can't do much about life anyway. Life has a funny way of just happening. Enjoy the journey wherever it may take you and always bring your sense of humor and a smile to share for everyone including yourself and you will be making the kind of memories that you can look on later in your life that you won't regret.

I am proud of all the graduates I know. It is a milestone and it was all uphill from the start. There is no better accomplishment so far in your life and I take off my hat to you! Every step forward from here is self motivated. It is a new beginning to a lifetime of memories. Once you get a vision on your future there is nothing stopping you from being successful.

For me success is not the toys you collect, but success is the people you touch in a positive way along your journey. May you be successful and remember the things that matter most!

June Cheers the Heart!

It is 5:15 am on June 1st and the frogs are taking a rest from the songs in the night. The birds are talking excitedly of the day ahead and I am meditating on my pillow about the bright day that is beginning to spring out from behind the mountain peaks. The alarm will go off in about fifteen minutes and then begins the paced frenzy to get out of the house to begin a new month of adventures. My body is charged from the splash of sunlight that has permeated every cell with renewed energy from the weekend. The day ahead brings fresh experiences ridding the cold gray days of winter behind.

Sketches of beach balls and sea shells in Prisma colored pencils and palm trees swaying in the breeze of an ocean sunset (done in the same medium) come quickly as the day brings hope of warmth and outdoor activities. The class I am helping in has about thirty middle school students. They are finishing their self portraits in colored pencils after the first sketches done in graphite pencil. It is near the end of the school year and the energy is popping and shows in the splendid works of art. The sample drawings of the beach scenes help to show the steps to building up the color.

The countdown is on until the last day of school. That day will pour me into my own portrait work in my own studio! From sun up to sun down, I will be focused on what I have been planning in my mind's eye. It is not about if I can draw my face, but what I will say with the design that tells you about me. If I can capture the feeling of my life in a picture, it will say enough.

With hopes of tomorrows and long days of sunlight, the month of June cheers the heart!

Memorial Day 2009

As this Memorial Day 2009 comes to a glorious end, we will remember not only that it did not rain, but that we had peace because of what our military forces have worked hard to achieve. We thank them most hardily and thank those who serve us even now.

To those who have gone on before us, we remember with our hearts thankful , the memories we have to hold. We will someday join them at the sunset of our own lives and thank them once again. While we still have this moment to live, may we do it to the best of our ability. Time is our gift and this is why we call it the "present". Live your life to give and you will live with no regrets. Then you too, will hear those words: "Well done".

Today brought a time to remember loved ones that gave to us in order that we would have a brighter, better future. My hope is that we remember not to give up hope when life gets hard. Do not give up on your hopes and dreams.

The next few months will be a time to work on a part of the art learning that I have avoided in the past. When I first began a formal training in the art field, I made only one line study self portrait drawing and put it away quickly. It felt very self indulgent and frivolous. I have learned that it is just another integral part of the painting process and I will again begin to delve into this part of my studies. I love to paint portraits and hopefully will get to work in sculpting heads in the future. It is only a logical part of the learning process to use my head, so to speak, for studies. I will keep you informed of the process. It is my dream to be an artist.

What are your dreams? What do you want to achieve? Begin, continue and/or complete your dream this year! There is no time like the present!

Mother's Day Miracle

Mother's Day was not a day that I would have planned, but it turned out wonderful. The weekend was filled with not very good surprises and news. Family members were tackling difficult times and most plans for fun this last weekend were put on hold. It is always good to have plans that can be adjusted and flexible for situations that are out of the ordinary. This was just that type of time.

When the Sunday afternoon unfolded I had my family near and that is all that mattered. The meal was postponed for an hour later and was prepared and ready to serve right when the guests arrived. One son was on the couch resting while everyone else was gathered around the dining table. It was my "Mother's Day Miracle". Oh, and yes, it did not rain until after the luncheon meal. What more could a mother ask for?

Now that the weekend has come and gone, I sit and reflect about how things played out and wonder about how I even managed to get through. Someone said that it was amazing to see the peace on me in spite of the circumstance. My answer was that it was from a power that was not my own. That power is what generates my inspiration for painting, writing, or just plain living. My life is just like a lamp that cannot be used without the cord plugged into the outlet. I do not use music, meditation, or some outside the body experience for my life and work. My inspiration comes from a source of words spoken and living that have no end. It is the secret to life.

To all the Moms in the world: Thanks for being there!

This could be the location of your outdoor "plein aire" painting this summer in the Pacific Northwest! Fresh air, sunshine and birds singing are just a few of the pleasures enjoyed by outdoor painting enthusiasts. Don't forget the bug spray and suntan lotion when going out on location. A small container of distilled water for painting in watercolor is what I use when on location. Some have used the local water sources available, but deposits from minerals or live critters (smaller than can be seen by the human eye) can leave acidic deposits on the surface of your paper and ruin an otherwise marvelous experience.

Whatever you pack in on your day outing, make sure you leave it better than when you showed up to paint. No one will ever complain about the artist who takes care of the environment! Early morning starts can also surprise you with some unexpected wildlife, so be cautious not to disturb or get too close. Remember to bring a camera to capture the lighting for future studies from the outing.

You can make a view finder by cutting out old mat board the shape of the paper you will be painting. Hold it out a arms length and look through the "magic" window to discover all the possibilities of layouts. Look for large shapes that will dominate the design. You can add the details later or paint small studies of textures that will compliment the finished work. Remember to note if the piece will be dominate warm or cool. Work quickly once you have decided on the composition. My motto for art: "Look long and produce a little" Have fun!

End of April Showers

Wow, this has been the most spectacular floral start to spring I can remember! The late winter storms have made the land so rich in moisture that the rhododendrons are bursting with blossoms. We trimmed back the azaleas that were starting to blossom and created a special floral arrangement that continued to bloom for a long time. It is a great time to get the dust off the paint box and brushes and capture the beauty right in front of your eyes!



Every spring brings new and fun ideas for subjects for the painting class. This watercolor was done for class and the print used for the sample was taken by someone out of the display. I took it as a compliment. Thankfully, I still owned the original painting. I guess you could say it "quacked me up"!

So, these little white daisy type flowers are everywhere the dandelions are blooming in the grass and I have no idea what their real name is called. Anyone know? Let me know.