Johannes - Student Question, Answer thread

[Johannes Instructor]

Originally Posted by hungry4art

First of all, thank you, thank you Johannes for the wonderful web course! I am not a beginner, yet I have searched for the pesky answers to my questions for years, and you are helping me reach a higher level with my paintings!! Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Perhaps I missed a sentence somewhere, but how can I safely adhere linen canvas to a birch or masonite panel? Is there an archivales glue, or will acrylic matte medium work well enough? Anita

Yes, you use acrylic gel medium which we all know is very archival. That acts like glue when it dries. I prefer birch. Masonite warps too much.

[Johannes Instructor]

Originally Posted by Barbara01

Thanks for the info Johannes, I thought that might be the answer.

Actually I did ask about preparing linen panels but I sure can't find that post anywhere now. But he did say that using Liquitex Matt Gel Medium works fine, here's a link:

http://www.liquitex.com/Products/gelmedmattegel.cfm

So that reminds me, you mentioned some nice panels that Curry's sells and I found these basswood panels, would they be suitable?

https://www.currys.com/catalogpc.htm...0807&NBReset=4


Thanks again Johannes!

Yes, those panels are just great.

[Johannes Instructor]

Originally Posted by teigrelily16

Hi Jo: I noticed that you said in passing that you toned your canvas before sketching in the masses, do you use acrylic or oil? and what color and value? Also, it looked like you used a conte crayon to sketch in the masses. What do you use?

Awesome demo!!!!!! I learn more, faster and quicker when I am able to watch an actual demo. Thank You very much.

Teigrelily

Baroque: when I have no Monet which is most of the time.

I use acrylic and bring the value to about the same as the back of my hand. I use burnt sienna in most cases. I used a pastel pencil to do the drawing.

[Johannes Instructor]

Originally Posted by Cherrie

Do all of the principles apply to watercolor as well? I am particularly referring to massing. The lower portion of the mountain, where you spoke of massing- how woud you have painted that in watercolor?
Thank you for all your hard work in presenting such wonderful lessons.

Cherrie

Yes, principals of design to all mediums. For some reason watercolor allows for more play in the colors and effects and you can still get away with it. Look at paintings from:
Eugen Chisnicean
Trevor Chamberlain
David Curtis (from England)
Watercolorists tend to go a bit more wild with color and it works.
As long as the painting is well structured in its masses and values it will hold together. These principles are universal. Everything I am teaching such as knowing when to crop photos, create lead-ins, use melodic lines, etc should be applied to all mediums.

[LynnM]

Thanks for those artists, Johannes, I especially like Trevor Chamberlain's work, has some of the same simplicity that I like in Wesson's paintings.

[teigrelily16]

Thank you very much for the information. I absolutely love this class.

Teigrelily

[MaryDeCleene]

Thank you for the free classes, and for posting all of these questions and answers for everyone to read!

[B4painter]

You said search and destroy symmentriacal shapes. Watch for these 3 things, "soup bowls", "railway tracks" and what was the 3rd thing?

[valspal]

my computer crashed how can i do the homework?

[Silverlark]

Originally Posted by hewill4giveu

Johannes I have noticed on here there are a lot of beginners like myself. Im wondering if you would ever think about doing some classes for us on the basics.

Hi Teresa,
Composition & seeing abstractly is the most important basic art skill. Please don't get discouraged if you don't understand it at first. Stick with it! You'll understand it over time.

It's like learning to walk. You know how many trials a baby has to go through to walk. But once you learn it, you can hop, skip, jump, dance, and even skate across a canvas.

Or you could say it's like arranging the furniture in a room. Even if the drapes match the couch, if the arrangement of the room isn't pleasing, the room doesn't feel comfortable to be in.

Like Johannes, I wish I'd come across this info years and years ago!
Theresa

[wildlifelover]

I am a newbie so hope these questions are so dumb. 1. Can you use light are a lead-in? 2. In a picture that has only 2 planes (like the picture from today's lesson that contained large red, sandstone cliffs), can you use a dramatic cloud to give it a third plane/background or would it just be too much? Thanks so much for these lessons. Diana

[Banner]

I did not have access to handout for todays lesson I tried to find it in wet canvas without success. Thank you for a most informative lesson you have opened my eyes Banner NZ

[Banner]

Originally Posted by Banner

I tried to access to the handout for todays lesson last week there was an attachment with my reminder for class. I tried to find it in wet canvas without success. Thank you for a most informative lesson you have opened my eyes and I am going to look at photos form now on using an Artist eyes. I look forward to tomorrows gems your session is the highlight of my weekend . Banner NZ

[Valerieart]

I purchased an umbrella for plein air painting and it is all white. Should I spray paint (with fabric paint) the inside grey> If so, Light or dark grey?

[Johannes Instructor]

You should be ok with the white one. As long as it does not have a color that can throw off the paint colors. The idea is to avoid direct sunlight. Is it the Guerrilla brand?