Blog Archives - Kathyglennstudios

A word about 'modern' color

6/20/2016

We are truly fortunate to be painting at this time. Not only do we not have to mix our own pigments but we are being offered fantastic new paints in every catalogue that comes out. Where once we might have worked with a primary triad of red, yellow and blue we now are offered such colors as quinacridone magenta, transparent yellow and cyan. This is a palette that is safe if you wish to have your artwork printed because the colors are nearly the same as the inks used by printers. Much more so than the traditional primary triad.

You'll find many new colors on manufacturer's charts at the art store or in their catalogues. You will recognize them by their jawbreaker names: anthraquinoid, thioindigo, indanthrone, and quinacridone.

A color index/ASTM Chart such as is found in Nita Leland's book, Confident Color is extremely helpful when you are choosing color.

But don't just take the chart at face value: it is a starting point for you to start your exploration of color. Try the paint for transparency, staining, and vibrancy. You work as an individual different from others and you are the best judge of what will work for you and your way of working.

Value Sense?

6/12/2016

Now that we have a color/value wheel how does that translate to our painting? How is it going to help us? Don't we just see the value and add it to our painting?

The answer is no. You are the artist and you should be manipulating colors and values to make a statement. Ask yourself, why are you painting this scene if its just going to be like the one in your photograph? Even if that photograph is a knock out. Because if it is so great, why are you painting it and not just framing the photograph.

I've told you it is alright to use the black/white feature on your camera or ipad to find the values in the painting as a shortcut.
That works if your photograph is value-balanced. But if it isn't, you need to make a quick sketch to improve the composition and tell you where you want to use those values. And as an aside, you should be using your own photographs - the ones you took when you were so excited about the subject.

If you are an advanced watercolorist, you are ready to ask yourself lots of questions about what you are painting. The highest form of expertise in any subject, really, is the ability to evaluate or critique your own work. Some questions you might ask yourself:

Is my technique as strong as I would like?
Do I have a value sense?
Do I understand balance and composition?
Do I know how to use color and value to create a mood?
What am I trying to say in my painting?

From my experience, just when you think you are 'advanced' or 'top of the line' is the time when you should be thinking of what to improve, change, or generally 'grow'. One of the great things about watercolor and art in general, is there is always room to grow!

"Beginning" Intermediate Watercolor

6/7/2016

About now most of you have been working in watercolor for at least a little bit. And now you are ready to do a few extra things:
First: improve in technique
Second: find your "voice" or style
Third: Look ahead to creating work that satisfies you.

Lets start with the last one, which we might also call, "what am I going to paint next!" "Now that I've created a painting that I like, how can I find something else I'll like to paint?" "I want to be Inspired!"
I recently read an article on Facebook from an anonymous artist to a young artist on how to be inspired. And I thought it was such wise advice as well as something I had found in my own life as an artist. That is, you don't wait for inspiratAion. If you do it will be a long time coming. There's been many long times between paintings while I waited for something that would excite me enough to paint.
Rather, just jump in. Pick up the brush - everyday. Even if just for a five minute period. Set a time limit and make sure its on the top of your list that you're not going to go to bed that night if you haven't painted for those five minutes.
Or give yourself a challenge that you will complete a painting every week for a year. It doesn't matter what subject, just put brush to paper.
And somewhere down the line your inspiration will kick in. Something you painted will lead to a different way to look at subjects or give you an idea for the next and the next. Ideas snowball when you are moving, not when you are sitting still trying to be creative.
One of the most inspiration killing thoughts is "Now I'll do something creative."