Advice for a beginner? - Page 2

*dee* · #16 10-30-2009, 01:58 PM

Oh..I meant to add...most colored pencils have (I believe) wax in them, and could keep the paint from adhering. Watercolor pencils don't, they would work fine for a starting sketch.

Nilesh · #17 10-30-2009, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weedsndust

Hello!

I've been looking at the acrylic and gouache forums, and acrylics won out for now because I have better set up for them. I've spent many many hours looking at wip's and sticky threads, I'm hoping that people would be willing to take the time to tell me what threads or other web sites have good beginning exercises. I have found some here, but I get distracted by lookng at the projects that are far too advanced for me.

(Some fantastic work here!)

Thanks for your time!

(I appreciate any input - I had to throw away the landscape I painted yesterday.....don't think the world needs Cezanne with a dash of Rocky and Bullwinkle. I'm pretty sure about that.)

Good beginning exercises?: You might check Frank Clarke's step-by-step projects. He has a talent for making things very simple and clear. And even the watercolor projects on his site can be done in acrylics.

There is a monochrome watercolor landscape on his site that makes for a refreshingly simple beginner's project. There are others that are also good, both in the acrylics section and in the watercolor section -- and in the oil section as well. All can be done with acrylics:

http://www.simplypainting.com/Free-P...t.asp?itemID=5

Another area could be an exploration of more freedom for the Rocket J. within:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQoHAXs0s0c

weedsndust · #18 11-08-2009, 01:01 PM

Hi Nilesh - I''ve bookmarked both sites, and I have to say I got quite the kick out of the youtube painter! Thanks so much.

Dee, you are fantastic. I can't thank you enough for your advice. I bought some watercolor pencils and have been using your payne's gray technique. Everything you've said has come in handy. Sorry I didn't get back to thank you sooner - it was a hectic week, but I've been getting some time in and I can see improvement. Thanks again Dee, and I so hope you get your light soon!
Ann

mickeyw3340 · #19 11-09-2009, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Einion

During your learning phase (as well as later!

) you can always paint over something that didn't work out right; lots of people will apply a couple of coats of 'gesso' over an unsuccessful painting to get the most value from the canvas or board.

Have a second support handy, same background color as your project. Practice things on the practice board before laying them down on the project. When this project is over, gesso over the practice board and use it for practice on the next project. This has worked well for me in the effort to paint keepers instead of wall leaners.

YLCIA · #20 11-09-2009, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mickeyw3340

Have a second support handy, same background color as your project. Practice things on the practice board before laying them down on the project. When this project is over, gesso over the practice board and use it for practice on the next project. This has worked well for me in the effort to paint keepers instead of wall leaners.

You may economize this way but in my experience " wall leaners " are great "how not to" refferences

Julia

mickeyw3340 · #21 11-09-2009, 04:42 PM

No No No Julia....

I meant to recycle the practice board, not the wall leaner.

YLCIA · #22 11-09-2009, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mickeyw3340

No No No Julia....

I meant to recycle the practice board, not the wall leaner.

Sorry

weedsndust · #23 11-18-2009, 01:02 PM

Great tip Mickey. That helped quite a bit - I was sad at the thought of painting over the baked meringue meteorite that was supposed to be a rock outcropping, and it is now preserved (in a disembodied way) on another canvas. (winces...)

It is getting better, and this site has been tremendously helpful. Thanks to those people that posted on this thread, and all the others who have posted their works and advice. I wouldn't be able to try this without all of the resources here. One day I'll have the courage to post something I've done. (!)
cheers to you all!
Ann

Katwyld · #24 11-18-2009, 01:15 PM

Never be afraid to post what you've done! We learn best through our mistakes. And yes, acrylic is forgiving in that you can paint over what ya screwed up fairly quickly. heh

How and what you want to paint makes a big difference. I've learned a lot from just doing 'abstracts' on canvas panels (cheap at most art stores) and getting a feel for how the paint moves, how it mixes when wet, how it looks when dry and what all the different brushes look like when used. These kinds of paintings are good for you to hang in your art area to look at, too, for reference.

And, well... sometimes it's theraputic to just move paint around without direction, too.

As far as learning, most of mine has been trial and error (and error and error and error

), as well as some of the references in the Info Kiosk up there. I've also come to love Lee Hammond's books, and I credit her a lot for me being able to get past my 'Wow, this looks like crap!' block. heh

Good luck, and share some stuff! We're gentle in here, and you're likely to learn more when you can say 'what did I do wrong here?' rather than 'how do I do this?'

weedsndust · #25 11-19-2009, 10:07 AM

Hi Katlee - I bought a Lee Hammond and it was very helpful. I did some of the beginning exercises and I really liked the depth of shading in them. I am far too controlled with the paint right now, and I think it's from drawing in graphite and colored pencil for so many years. I really need to smoosh paint around and learn to relax a little with it. I've been watching videos on famous artists (in the hopes of some close up on the artwork rather than hours of footage of some pensive narrator looking at the painting I want to see!) and occasionally, I've gotten a decent look, and I'm always surprised at the loose thickness I see.

So hopefully I'll get to smooshing today. I did try to scan a piece, but everyone's a critic. The scanner made those kakking hairball noises. (sigh.) I'll try again....we can all use a good giggle!
;-)

aspenman · #26 11-19-2009, 11:22 AM

http://www.chromaonline.com/media_li..._ composition

Try the above link - when I was starting out many, many years ago, I found it helpful to watch others paint and learn from their movements and presentation. This fellow paints wet into wet which I also do. The trick here is get in and get out quickly so you don't create mud.
Hope you enjoy this video - not long but I feel very informative as to style.

weedsndust · #27 11-19-2009, 02:11 PM

Hi Richard....sadly, I don't have the latest flash player, so I can't watch this. (boo hiss!!) I'd really love to watch someone work in the chroma paints....been reading what people have to say about them, and it's very intriguing.

I think the greatest help has been from videos. There's nothing like watching what someone does with a brush. I found one guy on youtube that's pretty amazing. His name is Tim Gagnon. Some of it isn't all that helpful - he does a series of speed paintings that are entertaining, but they're not great for instruction. I'll have to see if the chroma piece is somewhere like youtube so I can watch it.

Thanks for the input!
Ann

weedsndust · #28 11-19-2009, 02:51 PM

I found it on youtube! I've watched the first part, and I love it. I have to say, just out of gratitude I'd buy the chroma paints. It's nice to have so much information.

For those people who don't have the latest flash player, I'm posting the youtube link. Tons of other related videos as well. Thanks, Ricchard!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUMFY_mpy3A

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