Advice for a beginner?

[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.)

[big daddy]

Visual Arts Network has some good stuff to look at and learn......

[*dee*]

Welcome weedsndust!

I had to throw away the landscape I painted yesterday..

We ALL have some very unsuccessful paintings from time to time (sometimes more in our own eyes than in others').

One of the wonderful things about acrylics is that "fixing" is pretty easy...ya just paint over the part(s) that don't work. And for those times that the whole painting is "awful" .....a layer of gesso brings it back to a blank canvas.

Personally, I prefer to keep my "wall-leaners"...so I can look at them occasionally & note the progress I've made.

Every month we have the "Different Strokes" challenge...it was an especially wonderful learning experience for me when I first started here. And its so much fun to see how we each "see" & "depict" the same reference photo.

And we have the "Member-To-Member" classrooms every couple of weeks...great opportunity to learn from each other!

Both of those threads are archived for future reference. Even though the original participants might not be available when you "revive" them, there will be others around who can help answer questions or resolve issues.

What's On Your Easel is another great learning tool. Each week a new thread is started, its a place to post pics of our work in progress. We get advice, encouragement, suggestions....great feedback!

[Sassafrassa]

Originally Posted by weedsndust

...don't think the world needs Cezanne with a dash of Rocky and Bullwinkle. I'm pretty sure about that.)

Don't know about the world...but I'd love to see it, dah-link!!

[weedsndust]

Thanks, Big Daddy! I'm basically grateful to you for giving me the opportunity of saying "Thanks Big Daddy"! I went to the Visual Arts Network, but unfortunately, my Mac refuses to play the type of video they use. I have to figure out how to fix that. Looks like a great site.

Hi Dee - thanks for the encouragement! I'm going to try to re-work a recent attempt, one that's a bit more salvageable than yesterday's (shudders) folly. I think I get overwhelmed at all the information....I have seen some amazing threads, and people are so kind about sharing and answering questions. I think I need to try some very basic color studies, and will keep searching.

Hello Sassafrassa - you seem like such a nice person....I don't want to scar you! It's sitting next to 'Study in Mud #1' , 'Study in Mud #2' as well as my latest composition, simply entitled 'Dirt'. (Got lazy with the titles. Tsk, tsk.) Hoping tomorrow is a better day!!

Thanks you all!

[*dee*]

weedsndust....the "Study In Mud" titles have me wondering....are you working wet on wet?

I've not had much success with that myself...though some do. I find it easier to paint thin layers, allowing drying time (doesn't take long) in between. You might want to try a few small pieces using different techniques, to see what works best for you.

[Artchrispy]

Many recommend starting by practicing painting simple shapes like cubes, cylinders, and pyramids. Also, great comprehensive resource: Check out Charles Sovek's free "Lessons from the Easel" on his site. He used to write for art magazines and conducted workshops. He startes with the basics and gradually covers more complicated subjects. http://www.sovek.com/ (see lessons from the easel)

[weedsndust]

You're so right Dee. I've been trying to blend wet on wet, and it isn't working for me right now. I've heard people talking about glazing, and I need to try that. I think I get really impatient too....do you have a couple of pieces going at the same time? I may need to start a rotation. :-)

That's a good site, Artchrispy - thanks! I'm going to try a few of the lessons there. I managed some studies of shapes, but I think I need to work on that some more.

I appreciate the help!

[*dee*]

I often have several going at a time...but not always. When painting in thin layers it doesn't take long for paint to dry. I also have a hair dryer that I use to dry the paint faster (I can be very impatient). Also my work light puts off considerable heat & hastens drying. I use a "clamp lamp" with a Reveal 45w spotlight....though an Ott lamp is on my "wish list".

Right now I'm working on a set of 3 paintings. I started them all the same time, but I moved faster on one, & now I'm directing most of my attention on the second..while the third lags behind. But this time I chose to work all three at once so that I keep colors & style unified throughout the 3...not so much for the drying issue.

[LavenderFrost]

I get overwhelmed easily too. That's why I like this site, you can just look every day and slowly soak it all in.

[Einion]

Originally Posted by weedsndust

(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.)

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.

Basics
You might have seen this Classroom thread already in the IK but in case not, Supports and their preparation.

If you want to paint realistically then don't neglect your drawing - this is a fundamental skill that's too often overlooked by learning painters. Most everyone could benefit from drawing more regularly! (Every day if you can manage it.)

Palette
I'd advise not getting too hung up on palette selection early on, unless you want to build a set now that you have some confidence will do pretty much permanently (so that you can start to familiarise yourself with it ASAP). There are numerous threads here and in the Colour Theory forum on fav palettes which can help to give you more options to choose from, here are just two for a taster:
basic palette colours please
color palette choices

Brands
If you're currently using student/studio paints then definitely try a tube of this and that, see what higher-end paints have to offer in terms of coverage, consistency and other features; this is the best way to find out what suits you. Even if you're currently using a single brand of artists' acrylics do be sure to try others now and then as you may find something you prefer.

There are lots of previous threads on favourite brands to find if you do a search; in addition to looking for favourite / favorite and brand it's worth also trying a separate search that includes a few of the big brand names, e.g. Liquitex, Golden and Finity (W&N's previous name for their artists' acrylics).

Einion

[Einion]

Here's another good thread, about book recommendations, with links on to others:
books recommended to a newbie to medium.

Einion

[weedsndust]

Oh Dee.....do you mind if I grill you a little? Do you sketch in your work with charcoal (as I've heard of people doing) or do you sketch in with paint first? I've drawn in graphite and colored pencil for years, and I found that neither is a good choice for laying out a design. (At least for me - the graphite pops up no matter what I cover it with!)

I watched a 'Simply Painting' dvd, and I thought he was using the hair dyer for watercolor, but my husband swore it was acrylic paint. So I think he was right from what you've written about using the blow dryer. (Most of the dvd's and videos I've watched were either oil or watercolor, and that's confused me to no end! I had to stop watching them anyway - most were from the early 80's and the camera work was terrible. I was yelling "move to the left MOVE TO THE LEFT hurry get off the back of his head geez oh hurry HE'S LAYING THE FIRST WASH HURRY aw dang! The neighbors keep asking me if my team won. Much confusion for all.)

Lavender, if those are your paintings on your tag line....wow. That's great! They look so beautiful.

Thanks again, Dee. I'm so grateful that you are taking the time out to write. And I do hope Santa is reading this (as he should) and that the Ott lamp will be making an appearance soon!

[weedsndust]

Hi Einion - thanks for all the info and advice! That's so kind of you! I've spent hours and hours these last two months looking at the various sections, but I really needed a little direction. (Okay, a lot of direction!) I'll check into those threads that you've posted, and the book recommendations will be great.

I like what you've said about trying professional grade paint. That's the one thing I haven't been stingy about. Somehow it made sense to me to start with really good quality paint. If I can learn to paint and be good at it, then the investment will be worth while. And if I continue to stink, at least I'll be giving some decent quality paint away!

Thanks so much Einion! Back to slathering!

[*dee*]

I use a graphite pencil...lightly! I only sketch in very basic lines...I use the pencil sketch as a "landmark map".

If I'm doing a landscape I'll mark the horizon and just a very few suggestive details of features....just so I keep perspective and general placement the way I need them.

For portraits I usually use a projector to get the image on the canvas. Again though, I only sketch in "landmarks"...the overall shape of the face, placement and shape of eyes, ears, nose, mouth..and a few creases.

Then I'll mix gloss medium & paint (usually paynes gray) about 50/50, and paint over my sketch marks...sealing them in.

For landscapes I just start painting..sky first, horizon, mid-distance and foreground.....I always paint the furthest away things first and "paint towards me".

For portraits (people or animals), I add a bit more gray paint (or whatever color I'm using) to the "sealer mix" and finish the sketch (without the projector) referring to the ref pic (usually on my computer monitor so I can zoom in when I want to). If I haven't already painted the background I paint that..then paint a grisaille (grayscale painting) of the subject. I get all but the finest details laid down in the grisaille. Then I apply very thin glazes of color..building up the color until it is where I want it (the grisaille, with its details & shadowing shows through the translucent layers of color).

I take photos of my paintings frequently as I'm working on them. If my color "shifts" in a direction I'm unhappy with I can see my mistake, how I made it & usually can figure out how to fix it before it gets worse. I learn a lot from my WIP pics.