General chat 2012

Where did 2011 go? Anybody know.

I hope everyone had a good holiday and that 2012 brings many new, exciting and profitable things to you. I also hope it allows for some more free time for all of us for painting.

See you in the Forum.

Judy

I guess we don't have a monthly general chat section anymore. Well, we're going to be moving to Ft Worth, TX and will be out of touch for a while (no internet until we get settled in). I'll miss you all.
See ya soon.
Dayle

Hope all goes well with the move. Activity has been very low and no one bothered to go onto the chat from January, so I stopped doing them. Reconnect with us when you get settle in. I look forward to hearing from you again.
Judy

Hi Crystal or should I say neighbor.

I live in Dallas and Fortworth is a city connected to Dallas. Welcome to Texas.

Take Care

Thanks everybody! Look forward to getting back, ASAP.
Dayle

Time for general chatting again. My wife and I had new lighting installed in our studio a few week ago. It was a big expense, but well worth it. I researched lighting and found that artists were using flourescents! But not the typical flickering office building type, these were Philips bulbs with very high colour index rating.
So, we hired an electrical contractor to put 15 overhead fixtures in, and it has made an enormous difference. I could say 'night and day', but you know what I mean;)

We are also varnishing and framing 37 paintings these days to get ready for our first public show, in a very visible area of our local public library. They have professional display panels in their atrium, close to some corporate and government offices in a large office complex.

So, lots on the go, not as much actual painting right now, but lots of painting related activity.

Would love to hear what everyone else is doing these days! What are you all painting or thinking of painting next?

Hello WMG:

Nice to hear your light setup in your studio has come along nicely. I love visiting your blog, from time to time and for inspiration... . I wanted to leave comments, but could not?

Your wife Helen is a wonderful painter as well. Why is she not on this forum? I am looking forward to the new work both of you will be creating under your new lights.

I am planning to take a workshop at the end of april with Michelle Dunaway (http://dunawayfineart.com/) who is coming to Texas Hill country (Fredricksburg) for a 5 day workshop. She is a magician and I love her work so it would be a treat to get some tips from her. This will be my first workshop ever, so I am looking forward to see how real artists paint...

All the best with your upcoming art exhibit. I wish you and your wife tons of success...

Take Care

Hi Alan,

It sounds like you have been very productive in using your time over the past few months and have some exciting things coming up on your plate. Best of luck to both of you at the show.

Ft, Your plans sound really exciting also. I've never taken a workshop with an experienced painter and envy you. I know you will learn a lot and also contribute a lot to the experience.

I've been busy learning to use Corel Painter 11 for producing artwork. I have taken two computer classes at Digital Art Academy and start another one next week. It is amazing how they have developed so many tools to mimic the real brushes. It has been helpful with keeping my allergies at bay because there is nothing to be allergic too, and there is no cleanup. I'll have to start posting some in the digit art forum here. I still have plans for WSO paintings but right now the computer courses have me pretty busy.

Best to both you in the weeks to come.
Judy

Thank you both for the kind words. I'll pass the compliments along to Helen. She finds that she doesn't have the time to join the forum, but enjoys seeing the work here.
As for our blog, I like to post our progress on our paintings. Like most people with 'day jobs', we are active painters some times, and less active at other times. The blog is a fun way to show our work to anyone who seems interested in oil paintings.

I disabled the comments on the blog as a pre-emptive measure against spamming, as I don't have a lot of time to moderate or watch the site. But I have recently been reconsidering. Helen and I probably lose out on the opportunity to read interesting reactions and comments by being overly cautious.

Food for thought.

Best of luck Judy with Corel Painter 11 and ftariqtx at your professional workshop! I just checked out Michelle's site and she does tremendous work. ( And runs in a very elite group of painters!)

We are lucky to be in the US. We have some great artists who are teaching and sharing all over the US.

I am taking art very seriously now. Hopefully, I will be selling in the near future. These days I am doing very tiny sketches 4inch by 4inch of various stuff around the house to get the Water mixable paint down and get my values down. There are lots of artists who talk about daily-painting to improve. If you guys have not already seen the books by Kevin Macpherson. I would recommend it. Both his books are really good, especially "Landscape painting Inside and out". (I beleive the other book is just a subset of this book).

Alan, I know spamming and bad folks leaving nasty messages can be a pain in the neck and since we all have day jobs we don't want fun hobbies turning into something distracting.

Judy, Are you learning Corel Paint to get away from WMO? Or are you just expanding your horizon?

Just expanding my horizons. I've been trying to get more abstract in my colors and and more impressionistic and Corel is making it easy for me to experiment with things like that. Once I feel easier about changing my style, then I'll start trying to duplicate it on canvas with the WSO's.

Here is a sample of a painting I did on Corel based on a photo that had the usual grey rocks. I did more work on it after this mainly on the left lower quarter. It is really quite a hugh leap fro me from my traditional work.

Hi Judy:

Very nice... so soft and welcoming... . I can see how this may help you with your WSO.

Have you tried the Holbein WSO paints? I am struggling with the Yellows with the W&N Artisan... I am thinkig of trying Holbein.

Thanks

I like the Holbein Duo's because they tend to be creamy right from the start. With W/N, I have to use either the thinner or walnut oil to get them creamier (thinner for under painting and walnut oil for top layers.)

I keep looking at the painting above and am tempted to start painting it in WSO. I just seem to have so much on my plate right now that I hesitate to start it.
Judy

Thanks for the tip on the Holbein. Where do you buy yours from. At Asel they are soooo expensive.. ouch!

Sure you can do a WSO. Do a small painting and spread it out over a long period. This painting would come out fantastic.

Where exactly is this place?

Ft

This was from a photo from Johannes's painting class on waterfalls. I don't remember where he said it was but he does a lot of photography from across the US and Canada. My paint brushes are getting demanding, calling to me to start painting again. I bet if I just pick one up and start painting, it will be done in no time. Thanks for the little push.
Judy

Thanks for the encouragement. Actually I finally started it yesterday after reading your prompting. I don't do small anymore, however, so this one will be 24 x 30" which was what I had on hand. You can follow the progress on the forum at https://watersolubleoils.forumotion.com/t780-wonderous-waterfall#9584

It looks pretty weird right now but it will get better I'm sure.

I buy my Holbeins at Arizona Art Supply which is here in southern Arizona. I teach there so I get a discount, but usually they have good sales also. They do have a website where you can order over the internet. Here's their link.
http://www.arizonaartsupply.com/

Judy

Yeaaa!!!! ... good for you judy. The world needs more artists, like us, in this world painting. I will cheer you on.

Thanks for the Holbein information.

FT

Well, we're starting to get settled in here in Texas. Went to my first art class here last Wednesday, but only to observe. Still need to finish unpacking and set up a painting area. We still have too much junk to get rid of.

I tried to catch up on all the news from the time I've been gone, but got the internet disconnected, so couldn't see it all. Looks like everyone is staying busy and having fun.

Good to be back online with you.
Dayle

Glad to see you back. Don't work too hard unpacking. Leave some time for fun.
Judy

Well, our painting exhibit is up and going. We had an opening on May 2, at noon. About 40 or 50 people were able to attend, even during a noon hour, which was very flattering. So far, four paintings have sold out of 34 that are available (three are not for sale, just on show).

Ironically, we could have sold one or two of the paintings several times, which is of course frustrating. Some don't sell, and everyone wants the few that do sell!

We sought out press coverage, and were interviewed by the local daily paper plus a weekly entertainment paper.

Plus, we had a chance to speak at a musical event (long story in itself) on the weekend, and I "invited" all 200 people in attendance to go and see our paintings next week. Maybe some will.

All in all a good 1.5 week start to our 4 week exhibit. A chance to meet other artists, the public and potentially a few buyers. And good experience in assembling and installing an exhibit.

You have my best wishes Alan. Hope you sell more and many success.

take care

F Tariq

Hope the next few weeks are as good as the first one or better.
Judy

hmm, sounds like spam. What a pity.

Thanks Alan,
All taken care of. The spam has been removed and member has been banned.
Judy