tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17252081636414836732024-03-08T22:05:24.637-08:00The Artist's Life ExperimentThe Artist's Life Experimenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11009902581375900822noreply@blogger.comBlogger192125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725208163641483673.post-47230527736325330302024-02-27T14:39:00.000-08:002024-02-27T14:39:50.041-08:00January Blooms<p> <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBRTaMrz_t0Z5Muv6zceoYNYCjxo-fr6Jg9Lu8pzOhbhEElxcy27OMbRtL_QSwXVVhbENAoY73VbzCDvtv4P0xsPNzBAl3yv0PeSrasjjyFw-vHYNbG-XSLQg0wYsesmNw6kN7yjyaVBQHQXwe3VgmMcraL6LlLGTyzGcXyCsyybRM56RjEUCjKtUaS4Q/s720/2024%20Feb%20Geranium%20in%20Process%20%C2%A92024%20TinaM.Welter%20small%20file.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The creative process rarely goes in a direct line." border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="720" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBRTaMrz_t0Z5Muv6zceoYNYCjxo-fr6Jg9Lu8pzOhbhEElxcy27OMbRtL_QSwXVVhbENAoY73VbzCDvtv4P0xsPNzBAl3yv0PeSrasjjyFw-vHYNbG-XSLQg0wYsesmNw6kN7yjyaVBQHQXwe3VgmMcraL6LlLGTyzGcXyCsyybRM56RjEUCjKtUaS4Q/w400-h200/2024%20Feb%20Geranium%20in%20Process%20%C2%A92024%20TinaM.Welter%20small%20file.jpg" title=""Geranium in Process Collage" ©2024 TinaM.Welter" width="400" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The creative process rarely goes in a direct line... </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ27wzVVoRZCdKhLNyikzx5JN4wiSIOU1xIg3Gq7wPH2Ug_M7bp2lugZkXvPLx1ZqzrEZKWkOm3bHumAe73LeNrxpkyAAmSkq6H4h4ov3KrM8rinxAMG4irM72UadWaeAjhTWJ0o5nGiHmikYnHpkVBl5_-RkP6a-aPKeztqT2SmBQas0_UVRUbfdD9iQ/s1152/2023%20Jan%2018%20group%20298KB.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bloom wherever you are planted." border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1152" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ27wzVVoRZCdKhLNyikzx5JN4wiSIOU1xIg3Gq7wPH2Ug_M7bp2lugZkXvPLx1ZqzrEZKWkOm3bHumAe73LeNrxpkyAAmSkq6H4h4ov3KrM8rinxAMG4irM72UadWaeAjhTWJ0o5nGiHmikYnHpkVBl5_-RkP6a-aPKeztqT2SmBQas0_UVRUbfdD9iQ/w400-h300/2023%20Jan%2018%20group%20298KB.JPG" title=""Petite and Pink in a Row" Photo ©2023 TinaM.Welter" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">In the spring of 2023,</span> I started 3 mini-geraniums from seed. They bloomed so well all summer that I didn't have the heart to let them die in the fall, so I brought them inside to my studio.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> I was amply rewarded because when the snow was at it's deepest in January, they were blooming with all their hearts. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_oILiiUbh8qyDWJwmrlTZeqon6WALijkKe15tutHAq84u77dZhgPOHI7IwOB9WyF2U95ZBNKRVw_d5vUi2N8HkCGOS_Q0rPpUhWo45Dt1uRCKFw0JHy4g8E4FHlF7iyH1VYSHLnV_m_LYRrFnQM3Hu3vq8ccRd6Sbgw81Cfr-oksopfzmD7U2S2Bb78M/s1152/2023%20geranium%20with%20snow%20284KB.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Summer in Winter" border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1152" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_oILiiUbh8qyDWJwmrlTZeqon6WALijkKe15tutHAq84u77dZhgPOHI7IwOB9WyF2U95ZBNKRVw_d5vUi2N8HkCGOS_Q0rPpUhWo45Dt1uRCKFw0JHy4g8E4FHlF7iyH1VYSHLnV_m_LYRrFnQM3Hu3vq8ccRd6Sbgw81Cfr-oksopfzmD7U2S2Bb78M/w400-h300/2023%20geranium%20with%20snow%20284KB.JPG" title=""Summer in Winter" Photo ©2023 TinaM.Welter" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The low winter sun shining through their petals was such a boost to my winter time blues, I wanted to make at least one painting of them, to try a capture some of that summertime beauty. <span style="color: #cc0000;">This winter I was determined to make that wish happen.<br /></span></span><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPx910_zf-LSLKOc0XG-F4COi_aIMjtVNq8-HCyddB6O0qTof4QDIr782Zoi2hPbKXkeUnKB8b_gxn5qye3-QcIlMU3RPO-ta5n9n32hYvPaCpCjMPosVSu1xk74Zd7yz8BdXDOmp51Oe3vBnDvFu94kpneJkWp8I2viog8-Aly2cUNOlR38YkNccZJuQ/s768/2023%20Jan%2018%20Perfect%20Lighting%20%C2%A92023%20TinaM.Welter%20116KB%20copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The perfect side light highlights the star." border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="576" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPx910_zf-LSLKOc0XG-F4COi_aIMjtVNq8-HCyddB6O0qTof4QDIr782Zoi2hPbKXkeUnKB8b_gxn5qye3-QcIlMU3RPO-ta5n9n32hYvPaCpCjMPosVSu1xk74Zd7yz8BdXDOmp51Oe3vBnDvFu94kpneJkWp8I2viog8-Aly2cUNOlR38YkNccZJuQ/w300-h400/2023%20Jan%2018%20Perfect%20Lighting%20%C2%A92023%20TinaM.Welter%20116KB%20copy.JPG" title=""Perfect Lighting" photo ©2023 TinaM.Welter" width="300" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I set one of the potted geraniums down onto my office chair and was able to take this wonderful photograph. The way the sunlight made the petals and leaves glow was very inspiring to me.<br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgnx1EdhG3T0JmAiQF_X1Srlvbp3llUiUhfD0fO6c96tkKNnpuITNVDPwxUrhx6w2VebglZlmYF0MrniV3WUvKc2qeX4S8EN1Gvy_Af4YW0OcoEylDprvBS7nxC36dfA70n5QrZqJtcubp47Mt_hQqyO3AOLz0aOzRlyya9w9zcoZeEKR-n3gKL-DYjks/s648/2024%20Jan%2017%20sketchbook%20and%20painting%20%C2%A92024TinaM.Welter.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Practice makes progress." border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgnx1EdhG3T0JmAiQF_X1Srlvbp3llUiUhfD0fO6c96tkKNnpuITNVDPwxUrhx6w2VebglZlmYF0MrniV3WUvKc2qeX4S8EN1Gvy_Af4YW0OcoEylDprvBS7nxC36dfA70n5QrZqJtcubp47Mt_hQqyO3AOLz0aOzRlyya9w9zcoZeEKR-n3gKL-DYjks/w400-h300/2024%20Jan%2017%20sketchbook%20and%20painting%20%C2%A92024TinaM.Welter.JPG" title=""Mini-Sketches and Painting" photo and paintings ©2023 TinaM.Welter" width="400" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Several small practice attempts in my sketchbook this year led to the 6x8 inch painting on the right, but unfortunately, I didn't feel like I came close to expressing what I was after, <span style="color: #cc0000;">I know I've missed something when the photograph is better than the painting!</span></span><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7lt-plmDXrU0hCfi6a7dwYxRvfYS-AtMm6W6X5PCguAuK8O-iFvrzDA-_Qh4UTSt2Wo2ot3Mos2skAOWtFCTKFjEpsC5AVOlQofx6TBP-D5hr3lEpAe8xZx5yYgNoSD1toLrH5bS2rQ2B4FBvFb31PsC5f_f8R8Eyey9aafyBW4PcaUpgYwJdWdNmnt8/s672/2023%20Jan%2018%20Single%20Bloom%20%C2%A9TinaM.Welter%20114KB%20copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="When one stands out from all the others." border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="504" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7lt-plmDXrU0hCfi6a7dwYxRvfYS-AtMm6W6X5PCguAuK8O-iFvrzDA-_Qh4UTSt2Wo2ot3Mos2skAOWtFCTKFjEpsC5AVOlQofx6TBP-D5hr3lEpAe8xZx5yYgNoSD1toLrH5bS2rQ2B4FBvFb31PsC5f_f8R8Eyey9aafyBW4PcaUpgYwJdWdNmnt8/w300-h400/2023%20Jan%2018%20Single%20Bloom%20%C2%A9TinaM.Welter%20114KB%20copy.JPG" title=""Single Bloom" photo ©2023 TinaM.Welter" width="300" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> I went back and studied more of my original photos from 2023 of the flowers against the snow and tried again.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIb5Bq4ILSZnMcBlacOtZUjMHNSoRJ_rO0TP23142yMIcP7VJfJsznPQ8gPLnGea5wKu1l_95hDvN0pgbfnYfYgK3K524jjsR3dT8L-m1HGw5OURcC8a7ncMqcHqgv8iW4ticoe9LhWHKGLOlnwWVFC6a846xhsv_8z-9AmM8c8oeLqtuECjFFe5TZWQE/s576/2024%20Feb%208%20Summer%20in%20January%20%C2%A92024%20TinaM.Welter%2094KB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="All that vivid pink against the snow makes my heart glow.." border="0" data-original-height="401" data-original-width="576" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIb5Bq4ILSZnMcBlacOtZUjMHNSoRJ_rO0TP23142yMIcP7VJfJsznPQ8gPLnGea5wKu1l_95hDvN0pgbfnYfYgK3K524jjsR3dT8L-m1HGw5OURcC8a7ncMqcHqgv8iW4ticoe9LhWHKGLOlnwWVFC6a846xhsv_8z-9AmM8c8oeLqtuECjFFe5TZWQE/w400-h279/2024%20Feb%208%20Summer%20in%20January%20%C2%A92024%20TinaM.Welter%2094KB.jpg" title=""Summer in January" 5x7 inches, acrylic on 185lb paper, ©2024 TinaM.Welter" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /> This painting is much, much closer to the feeling I was hoping to express, so it was definitely worth trying again. I think there may be an even better painting waiting to come into existence, but I won't know until I give it another try. <span style="color: #cc0000;">It's a zig-zag journey from one painting experiment to another.<br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Happy creating! </span><br /></p><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">>^-^< Tina</span><br /><br />The Artist's Life Experimenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11009902581375900822noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725208163641483673.post-91274262064515930792024-01-04T17:26:00.000-08:002024-01-04T17:26:25.384-08:00Oh, Christmas Tree! Revisted<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiApmhGqaFNgOUNBagUcjvmbsxZZml9cB-nYbR-hmHqYXFwKrtPzPCviIYhPXqDbSbjSFugqKR0WxcU1v3pQOZhTXC9LvLPGbvXaGKsDN4G_hSFUew0PmMKksAsa4b9-WDBFt4i4sHtAnJFxf5NyW9h642pqHrb2RbtKLY5tbnGhug1-hPiJAXBBTvl1t4/s2985/December%20Evening%20Then%20and%20Now%20compare.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Practice can make improvement!" border="0" data-original-height="2099" data-original-width="2985" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiApmhGqaFNgOUNBagUcjvmbsxZZml9cB-nYbR-hmHqYXFwKrtPzPCviIYhPXqDbSbjSFugqKR0WxcU1v3pQOZhTXC9LvLPGbvXaGKsDN4G_hSFUew0PmMKksAsa4b9-WDBFt4i4sHtAnJFxf5NyW9h642pqHrb2RbtKLY5tbnGhug1-hPiJAXBBTvl1t4/w400-h281/December%20Evening%20Then%20and%20Now%20compare.jpg" title=""Then and Now" acrylic on paper, ©2023 TinaM.Welter" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Which one do you resonate with? Honestly, I like them both, but it was an unsolved puzzle that made me want to revisit this painting.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwAnu5zyAN3oghJ0x3w7cS8KVn6nC4H35uOpOnQdP155YZGkVcarb1K_-8ToC5mAmeskusP-9OoNldkAeRWyrYepIOp8gTy0ZDeWr-R2r8JmrrZC29CzGA4WDzBF5ZFnAgoIBL3tc04ePC-JvsGtsz7NcbSDCtHJP_7ajKXVDM0qfTOspX4vr0puS4tzM/s576/2020-2023%20Then%20and%20Now%C2%A92023TinaMWelter%20desktop%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Practice can make improvement!" border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="576" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwAnu5zyAN3oghJ0x3w7cS8KVn6nC4H35uOpOnQdP155YZGkVcarb1K_-8ToC5mAmeskusP-9OoNldkAeRWyrYepIOp8gTy0ZDeWr-R2r8JmrrZC29CzGA4WDzBF5ZFnAgoIBL3tc04ePC-JvsGtsz7NcbSDCtHJP_7ajKXVDM0qfTOspX4vr0puS4tzM/w400-h318/2020-2023%20Then%20and%20Now%C2%A92023TinaMWelter%20desktop%20copy.jpg" title=""Now and Then" acylic on paper, ©2023 TinaM.Welter" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br />The key to solving that puzzle was found in that black and white drawing on the upper right hand side of my sketch book, plus going back to the original source material.<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1krQgdONHUGlSueoYTmjot9vAw_HDtK4li-Prl1K4NZuMJAika23eXBhEBhsH2zgs7IRzlHhzfnwYdnV3DjorK0iMkB0mLX9kkKXbae4f5o4cUtnJED_pvcq4PEIEIQQYQGEGVWAvQS-pJQHgR29fB1ruXrexKMDOeAy8WGnmQAbdfsK8uVGqi0wbKY/s576/2020%20Nov%2028%20card%20inspiration%20tree%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Even one light in a dark night warms the soul." border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="432" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1krQgdONHUGlSueoYTmjot9vAw_HDtK4li-Prl1K4NZuMJAika23eXBhEBhsH2zgs7IRzlHhzfnwYdnV3DjorK0iMkB0mLX9kkKXbae4f5o4cUtnJED_pvcq4PEIEIQQYQGEGVWAvQS-pJQHgR29fB1ruXrexKMDOeAy8WGnmQAbdfsK8uVGqi0wbKY/w240-h320/2020%20Nov%2028%20card%20inspiration%20tree%20copy.jpg" title="Light in a dark night warms the soul." width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">This was the original inspiration, and even though my painting from 2020 is nice, it has bothered me since then that I didn't capture that same sense of winter magic, I wanted my lighted tree to glow at night too, dang it! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">(Note, I would give credit to the artist if I could find them, if you know, please tell me.)<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitBs0hgsBlrJvOdXDGxaKzXkl6lzRGB4QioVH5U3Gx2LIwLTYS70JSdJM-uSJxpwIj_aMionDpBNURsQRL2I5lbaZuMtGCXvYJDvdBpU1QD51CVmWIc0_Yh6p0iuypCt5u39kvWLiPn96XU9t0nsD2wj1RN7CYo-6RvdJ6vUymIWDbuNqN3BnqZbNvD8I/s663/2020%20Nov%2028%20card%20inspiration%20tree%20values%202%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Lovely even in basic black and white." border="0" data-original-height="663" data-original-width="496" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitBs0hgsBlrJvOdXDGxaKzXkl6lzRGB4QioVH5U3Gx2LIwLTYS70JSdJM-uSJxpwIj_aMionDpBNURsQRL2I5lbaZuMtGCXvYJDvdBpU1QD51CVmWIc0_Yh6p0iuypCt5u39kvWLiPn96XU9t0nsD2wj1RN7CYo-6RvdJ6vUymIWDbuNqN3BnqZbNvD8I/w239-h320/2020%20Nov%2028%20card%20inspiration%20tree%20values%202%20copy.jpg" title="Still lovely even in basic black and white." width="239" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> What helped me see the solution was dropping all the color out of the original so I could get my brain to register how truly dark that background sky and foreground snow really is. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib8OgNKXM8SPzXH-uiO54V-_7cdRce4hRUc7WMpVXXCz4YMjlLSxQpZpjzg-8M9dT9D7pJltpptfJeimvpBDouaNcuBZHcS3tU6rl802p2AXnOvyLE2MXHMUcchK-exM6TMlP-ITdUOlYv_dShJr4xM7Ceq6SWK8b2LXEyTJOOh6r9RzH2F2z6f7OPXUg/s576/2020%20%22December%20Evening%22%20sketchbook%20%C2%A9TinaM.Welter%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Organizing my palette and ideas." border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="576" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib8OgNKXM8SPzXH-uiO54V-_7cdRce4hRUc7WMpVXXCz4YMjlLSxQpZpjzg-8M9dT9D7pJltpptfJeimvpBDouaNcuBZHcS3tU6rl802p2AXnOvyLE2MXHMUcchK-exM6TMlP-ITdUOlYv_dShJr4xM7Ceq6SWK8b2LXEyTJOOh6r9RzH2F2z6f7OPXUg/w400-h333/2020%20%22December%20Evening%22%20sketchbook%20%C2%A9TinaM.Welter%20copy.jpg" title=""December Sketch No.1" acrylic on paper, ©2020 TinaM.Welter" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The irony is, this is my first sketch in 2020 and I had the right idea. It's a mystery to me that I ended up with such a different final painting. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJedtLR4S7e_BNEi4qOmC1RIiwNDYzm2DZu9vbEaq7r_4kJcsmtJzAWZfmgnZ9sTUG8veWLA5jV-bT5QDdWUm9KT5G_Tk8M8gxXrewBxWTVD7IlNyb5iPJWE7CYyVW5s0gJ8mkcSMNF17LTBBzc-VCTRLKqIGg3pOLGQeMry4Ggi02vVwmc89LM3qslOI/s498/2020%22December%20Evening%22%20%C2%A9TinaM.Welter%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Calm, peaceful, twilight." border="0" data-original-height="498" data-original-width="342" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJedtLR4S7e_BNEi4qOmC1RIiwNDYzm2DZu9vbEaq7r_4kJcsmtJzAWZfmgnZ9sTUG8veWLA5jV-bT5QDdWUm9KT5G_Tk8M8gxXrewBxWTVD7IlNyb5iPJWE7CYyVW5s0gJ8mkcSMNF17LTBBzc-VCTRLKqIGg3pOLGQeMry4Ggi02vVwmc89LM3qslOI/w275-h400/2020%22December%20Evening%22%20%C2%A9TinaM.Welter%20copy.jpg" title=""December Evening" acrylic on paper, ©2020 TinaM.Welter" width="275" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I do know that even as a beginning artist, I always struggled to get the dark values truly dark. My brain seems to default to seeing a lighter value unless I consciously remind myself to triple check.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglinTRE3WAHnQhtVHQp9D2zKqPF6WeUMRk9z2MXwqwUAIvJMZeUYHfqWdtxBu2cJNUy0ApQ-rbmFnPlEC3u8mGXmfiSEfUKr4fN8XJM9iBJRFsLgz7TDvpjEU2f1D7G6z9eqSrgwjLy2iorgqoaA9coscnSQ9h2530V_FGehOoyy5UkbG0ywhq4VsTECI/s900/December%20Evening%20ll%20%C2%A92023TinaMWelter%20in%20process%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Everything in life is a process." border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="900" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglinTRE3WAHnQhtVHQp9D2zKqPF6WeUMRk9z2MXwqwUAIvJMZeUYHfqWdtxBu2cJNUy0ApQ-rbmFnPlEC3u8mGXmfiSEfUKr4fN8XJM9iBJRFsLgz7TDvpjEU2f1D7G6z9eqSrgwjLy2iorgqoaA9coscnSQ9h2530V_FGehOoyy5UkbG0ywhq4VsTECI/w400-h186/December%20Evening%20ll%20%C2%A92023TinaMWelter%20in%20process%20copy.jpg" title=""December Evening ll in process" acrylic on paper, ©2023 TinaM.Welter" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Even with this year's painting, I wish I had taken a photo of how light in value that first sky background was at the start. It took at least four more layers of ultramarine blue and purple to get that value dark enough!<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> I'm pleased to say that now I feel that wonderful sense of completion from finally solving a puzzle. After the success of this experiment, I'm always going to make a value sketch of every subject before I start painting!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOEEZK4BhLumhNc-EKVq96YO2LCGfCKd9u3YsXPQSIDI583WGYydlLIDZ42GV-30BTLa0FekudbYDxh5c2_BmykjlTftV-luzIZtKG9bw5UxaD04phBYmtKUk3r5yXBh7U-qZrvR8D95jbX0tNEjLXuBb4xKSRS-unPVFcmbXcYC3358VqKvLB_eAlz4/s576/2023%20%22December%20Memory%22%20sketchbook%20%C2%A9TinaM.Welter%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="What dreams lie in our minds eye?" border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="576" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOEEZK4BhLumhNc-EKVq96YO2LCGfCKd9u3YsXPQSIDI583WGYydlLIDZ42GV-30BTLa0FekudbYDxh5c2_BmykjlTftV-luzIZtKG9bw5UxaD04phBYmtKUk3r5yXBh7U-qZrvR8D95jbX0tNEjLXuBb4xKSRS-unPVFcmbXcYC3358VqKvLB_eAlz4/w400-h330/2023%20%22December%20Memory%22%20sketchbook%20%C2%A9TinaM.Welter%20copy.jpg" title=""December Memory" acrylic on paper, ©2023 TinaM.Welter" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /> For example, here's an interesting exercise I created for myself. I made the value sketch first from an idea in my mind, no reference photos, gasp! Next I did my best to match those values in color, it's not an amazing painting but I think I matched the values well. I'm determined to train that brain of mine!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Happy Creating!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">>^-^<</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Tina </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">P.S. One of my favorite things for making those value sketches, besides plain black acrylic paint and water, is a water soluble graphite pencil. The brand is "The General's Sketch and Wash" No links to sponsors or anything, I just wanted to share.</span><br /></p><p></p>The Artist's Life Experimenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11009902581375900822noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725208163641483673.post-80657056383147040292023-11-30T13:51:00.000-08:002023-11-30T13:51:15.946-08:00A Tale of Two Kayaks<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIs-rKR-XvVFPOeZp81nK_TDSrDkfZy2Ea3QHKbYacIPO8cI0qJD-yIOAQ-gnRz3xNU1Rf2ytOgR4w0evfitftT9yTXJAXJe2yXe_0VR8MZFuEJSQXSfuRA8OKGMA9bSxqg3Oymu3xAv33Nk1AGbhDNF2jBllaEbHbzVkGkxEk4VCln6tShZpMD-rCHuo/s1200/a%20tale%20of%20two%20kayaks%20blog%202023%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Dipping deep into the wet landscape." border="0" data-original-height="892" data-original-width="1200" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIs-rKR-XvVFPOeZp81nK_TDSrDkfZy2Ea3QHKbYacIPO8cI0qJD-yIOAQ-gnRz3xNU1Rf2ytOgR4w0evfitftT9yTXJAXJe2yXe_0VR8MZFuEJSQXSfuRA8OKGMA9bSxqg3Oymu3xAv33Nk1AGbhDNF2jBllaEbHbzVkGkxEk4VCln6tShZpMD-rCHuo/w400-h297/a%20tale%20of%20two%20kayaks%20blog%202023%20copy.jpg" title="Dipping deep to move forward. ©2023 TinaMWelter" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /> <span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">It's November and another free class </span>taught by artist Chris Fornataro becomes available. I almost didn't sign up again because there is so much to get done in putting the garden to sleep for the winter and Thanksgiving just around the corner, but at the last minute I decided I really need the practice with landscapes.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjlKkKNttLRNMUDaBoiY2UVZ-Umqkl5QEvI9tIJEgM1LN4ElgdTu6A6hyiS_uDeGM6y25U0ENLLLGEELKFaFnbRBnTfUTcPAwK42LhYQUVmJn3WB0Zk33kkHb-Sirith0DscXgWiS40faBlOJPNMjRfCha-VkwnGRzkNQmsjAOUfYsV8gSrgMahfW04po/s720/1%20Mangroves%20Chris%20Fornatero%20copy.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mangroves photo ©Chris Fornataro" border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjlKkKNttLRNMUDaBoiY2UVZ-Umqkl5QEvI9tIJEgM1LN4ElgdTu6A6hyiS_uDeGM6y25U0ENLLLGEELKFaFnbRBnTfUTcPAwK42LhYQUVmJn3WB0Zk33kkHb-Sirith0DscXgWiS40faBlOJPNMjRfCha-VkwnGRzkNQmsjAOUfYsV8gSrgMahfW04po/w400-h300/1%20Mangroves%20Chris%20Fornatero%20copy.JPG" title="Florida Mangroves - photo©Chris Fornataro" width="400" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Again, I wasn't exactly thrilled with the reference photo, but I knew from the last class in March that it is still possible to end up with a decent painting even with a less than inspirational photo.</span></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuxk4votr9qqg-ET1GbSxUyfpb7uWYVaiQ4m1gtYvUd-f4gPcGsxlvhJc5lwpO1r3WDciRD6hno8lBDHmTa47SBnwrGmWQgChxPl_0a_caS3vOkQ2iIPqI3UKHJ3Jnrn8u_0AcSyEAnlxHrTwyjyOVcDgyVm6uWw61EHNEqJKU2CoVTlrkQ_o0vwEiwrE/s720/1%20Mangroves%20large%20shapes%20%C2%A92023%20TinaM.Welter%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Big values, big shapes!" border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="720" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuxk4votr9qqg-ET1GbSxUyfpb7uWYVaiQ4m1gtYvUd-f4gPcGsxlvhJc5lwpO1r3WDciRD6hno8lBDHmTa47SBnwrGmWQgChxPl_0a_caS3vOkQ2iIPqI3UKHJ3Jnrn8u_0AcSyEAnlxHrTwyjyOVcDgyVm6uWw61EHNEqJKU2CoVTlrkQ_o0vwEiwrE/w400-h306/1%20Mangroves%20large%20shapes%20%C2%A92023%20TinaM.Welter%20copy.jpg" title="Getting the values in order! acrylic on paper ©2023 TinaM.Welter" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The first lesson was breaking the landscape into large value shapes and not getting stuck in the details which is great practice for me. I already like where this painting is going better than the photo.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhnI4ph69t9nxGtQHVetzQxw2XYg1M7lJXFFFilyAhWt0aHBfvJ7OOlsJIjDv2lfaRB9v0lEaPjHzFuFSEI0H2GwMDz2cYkf22cb6JrsiaFA83JHbw9IXZ6MoGqWTElB-PpstBj0tCt9s7vOcEIPNJywVEY2PIW2XMFCByIQOHJL9RleVqav1iueOYS2c/s648/2%20Mangroves%20is%20it%20done%3F%20%C2%A92023%20Tina%20M.Welter%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The details can really drive you crazy." border="0" data-original-height="491" data-original-width="648" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhnI4ph69t9nxGtQHVetzQxw2XYg1M7lJXFFFilyAhWt0aHBfvJ7OOlsJIjDv2lfaRB9v0lEaPjHzFuFSEI0H2GwMDz2cYkf22cb6JrsiaFA83JHbw9IXZ6MoGqWTElB-PpstBj0tCt9s7vOcEIPNJywVEY2PIW2XMFCByIQOHJL9RleVqav1iueOYS2c/w400-h303/2%20Mangroves%20is%20it%20done%3F%20%C2%A92023%20Tina%20M.Welter%20copy.jpg" title=""Lazy Afternoon" first version, 6x8 inch acrylic on paper ©TinaM.Welter" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Here it is with all the steps completed, but the water reflections and getting that illusion of sand underwater in the foreground didn't look right to me.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zuXWp7_ZkKihfH_BF_uCOEwLUpXL70klgN2Y6C2Uc-jrThrqhvYUU1ce25U4Htfw_BBvewXdyBtPCBZrtQHvpBRaFs5BENJRIQFe9Z97EejZ_g84fbdKpAMomzJwYN8wQ0mU48u468z_RprzcX7rwC9K2HtDdcOM4aqMMu0UBUCp5xqnb_AwAhedgDc/s612/3%20Mangroves%20cooler%20%C2%A92023%20TinaMWelter%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sometimes less detail is more." border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="612" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zuXWp7_ZkKihfH_BF_uCOEwLUpXL70klgN2Y6C2Uc-jrThrqhvYUU1ce25U4Htfw_BBvewXdyBtPCBZrtQHvpBRaFs5BENJRIQFe9Z97EejZ_g84fbdKpAMomzJwYN8wQ0mU48u468z_RprzcX7rwC9K2HtDdcOM4aqMMu0UBUCp5xqnb_AwAhedgDc/w400-h301/3%20Mangroves%20cooler%20%C2%A92023%20TinaMWelter%20copy.jpg" title=""Lazy Afternoon" second version 6x8 inch acrylic on paper ©2023 TinaM.Welter" width="400" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I decided to forget the sand under the water and make the side canal more still and reflective, but I'm still not certain this choice was an improvement. ???</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">One of Chris's tips was to remove detail and add more blue grey color to the background trees to get a deeper sense of depth on the painting. You can see the difference between the two paintings above, I found that suggestion was very helpful and I loved how that little change made such a difference. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> *****************<br /></span></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7QaBpvRcMdwuuYH_V7UiYELXMd53ivSK8_Lx2841IKE4kenPUomdgdvBlxgEI8LxpVEoCI1vT507oOr9x5rAAcTqnzo5N4UB_WLNlY609AKfdDF615DUCU5CX2OW_VlhlX04PYjLYqBTUc6jwyZO2_fS5Oz2eYoH78OihtqZsV8K2bhmlnLrJpIW80Ag/s648/Morning%20Kayak%20Sept%202019%20photo%C2%A9TinaMWelter%20copy.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Paddling a kayak and taking photos is difficult." border="0" data-original-height="498" data-original-width="648" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7QaBpvRcMdwuuYH_V7UiYELXMd53ivSK8_Lx2841IKE4kenPUomdgdvBlxgEI8LxpVEoCI1vT507oOr9x5rAAcTqnzo5N4UB_WLNlY609AKfdDF615DUCU5CX2OW_VlhlX04PYjLYqBTUc6jwyZO2_fS5Oz2eYoH78OihtqZsV8K2bhmlnLrJpIW80Ag/w400-h308/Morning%20Kayak%20Sept%202019%20photo%C2%A9TinaMWelter%20copy.JPG" title=""Nova Scotia - Sept 2019" photo ©2019 TinaM.Welter" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Next I decided to challenge myself </span>to see if I had really learned the skills from class </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">by painting from a photo I took of Jeff kayaking Sept of 2019, <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3-n66tG6-tPjJBobioxjLsnr-uzO99P1XtaMhgj9OXETJrjs9xSIbU5fWrOOHCv0LKcpDORBYi4Rtsmm-c3Wr2RKBFa7A0trZb7ohfElP_TllacIaHCZakk1CbPGBfNy4MnB3yzZCaSdLEJaSZIn7XrzU7paFOabwLnZmKW2vdOCwA60C0XIGIq9__ME/s504/A%201%20Morning%20Kayak%20sketch%C2%A92023%20TinaMWelter%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mapping out where you want to go is important." border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="504" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3-n66tG6-tPjJBobioxjLsnr-uzO99P1XtaMhgj9OXETJrjs9xSIbU5fWrOOHCv0LKcpDORBYi4Rtsmm-c3Wr2RKBFa7A0trZb7ohfElP_TllacIaHCZakk1CbPGBfNy4MnB3yzZCaSdLEJaSZIn7XrzU7paFOabwLnZmKW2vdOCwA60C0XIGIq9__ME/w400-h325/A%201%20Morning%20Kayak%20sketch%C2%A92023%20TinaMWelter%20copy.jpg" title=""Mapping out a Painting" 3x4 inches, graphite on paper ©TinaM.Welter" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">First step, start with a value sketch. Second, adjust the design to feature your main focus. </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I wanted to showcase the sunlight through the trees and also extend the land more than the photo so that I could practice adding visual depth.</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzlug_lBZMrh1UtySmuJW-TBVqLGIFFIN3lM3E_Uc_xXd8g-dhBhSckeL4XtK6iQAbbBlEq3CAA4ZLFfFI6jPRzfy7NrWjHaU26fHyGjPE1kIkzb4iKVjO48BC40zNKZ2V7dxeRn7hliqXP8i7s9AvvMLzDNohLVr-aQHeGwCtF3df-_MuR2W2v2g-FYs/s720/A%20Morning%20Kayak%20Shapes%20%C2%A92023%20TinaM.Welter%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Structure holds up everything." border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="720" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzlug_lBZMrh1UtySmuJW-TBVqLGIFFIN3lM3E_Uc_xXd8g-dhBhSckeL4XtK6iQAbbBlEq3CAA4ZLFfFI6jPRzfy7NrWjHaU26fHyGjPE1kIkzb4iKVjO48BC40zNKZ2V7dxeRn7hliqXP8i7s9AvvMLzDNohLVr-aQHeGwCtF3df-_MuR2W2v2g-FYs/w400-h297/A%20Morning%20Kayak%20Shapes%20%C2%A92023%20TinaM.Welter%20copy.jpg" title=""Structure is Key" 6x8 inch, acrylic on paper ©2023 TinaM.Welter" width="400" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Blocking in the shapes, I added an extra step by adding an under-painting of yellow and orange just because I wanted to try it out.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgECEQ4HV66bYuzbjWSKtElCl3aMR-8VnYFESkcjulLof26VtdJiwdV67uztMWPF_QjhvzaXj0FvvTxOQfKFyAH76dCcOLiZSbF7w6_O-GDKJiPryKHETdMM-ZCm2frggvyoAkTfOWiK0u33a6pMntYElGv4M33mF8ex3ZqbemO13v3P9PWgcyrF5V3zMA/s720/B%20Morning%20Kayak%20first%20sky%20%C2%A92023%20TinaM.Welter%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Wow, that sky is not right!" border="0" data-original-height="535" data-original-width="720" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgECEQ4HV66bYuzbjWSKtElCl3aMR-8VnYFESkcjulLof26VtdJiwdV67uztMWPF_QjhvzaXj0FvvTxOQfKFyAH76dCcOLiZSbF7w6_O-GDKJiPryKHETdMM-ZCm2frggvyoAkTfOWiK0u33a6pMntYElGv4M33mF8ex3ZqbemO13v3P9PWgcyrF5V3zMA/w400-h297/B%20Morning%20Kayak%20first%20sky%20%C2%A92023%20TinaM.Welter%20copy.jpg" title=""Weird Sky at Morning, take Warning" 6x8 inch, acrylic on paper ©2023 TinaM.Welter" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Adding the darker colors of the water and trees went well, I wasn't too keen on the sky and had to go back and fix that!<br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW2-9gWCJuYNhM9knb2LS89E_sDrVRNg5L2P47rtiCHpiLSImA0gnRDMHrnqWKvjj-fVyzNftAq72B-s2-pPkHngL66NM5297yJoRtXCcFKWBeP1aUuCdjW7_foFJvX9Sf2Q8BQ0ON8dXE0-IU71CF76yKALacUdZZJVERikd90hWiZqlGyPi4pxjSAuo/s648/C%20Morning%20Kayak%20water%20issues%20%C2%A92023%20TinaMWelter%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Finally, some visual balance." border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="648" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW2-9gWCJuYNhM9knb2LS89E_sDrVRNg5L2P47rtiCHpiLSImA0gnRDMHrnqWKvjj-fVyzNftAq72B-s2-pPkHngL66NM5297yJoRtXCcFKWBeP1aUuCdjW7_foFJvX9Sf2Q8BQ0ON8dXE0-IU71CF76yKALacUdZZJVERikd90hWiZqlGyPi4pxjSAuo/w400-h296/C%20Morning%20Kayak%20water%20issues%20%C2%A92023%20TinaMWelter%20copy.jpg" title=""Almost there, but those waves!" 6x8 inch, acrylic on paper ©2023 TinaM.Welter" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The sky is much improved, but the water reflections don't look correct to me yet, too bright, the lake water isn't that choppy, also not enough shadow on the vest or kayak.<br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9yMfYKL2V2z7R98vIudV-SpCIiPFJ5aXY5oqL3_nw5Q-KPdG3b_zbmGx9dSkjQS1CNWEsAsuv45cMZ7dIaKOo8LjFhjBiVzn95I3STEUcryIHWDNpI69FHdako8EvX59Qm0zx32BS5unKs9ibDFtn2psp0zOMztpbiXfhf7HYC4QLpCzRyMG9sfM1Pt8/s648/D%20Morning%20Kayak%20Done%3F%20%C2%A92023%20TinaM.Welter%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Early morning bliss." border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="648" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9yMfYKL2V2z7R98vIudV-SpCIiPFJ5aXY5oqL3_nw5Q-KPdG3b_zbmGx9dSkjQS1CNWEsAsuv45cMZ7dIaKOo8LjFhjBiVzn95I3STEUcryIHWDNpI69FHdako8EvX59Qm0zx32BS5unKs9ibDFtn2psp0zOMztpbiXfhf7HYC4QLpCzRyMG9sfM1Pt8/w400-h309/D%20Morning%20Kayak%20Done%3F%20%C2%A92023%20TinaM.Welter%20copy.jpg" title=""Solitude" 6x8 inch, acrylic on paper ©2023 TinaM.Welter" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Greying down the water reflections and adding shadows to the vest and kayak helped a lot, but I still don't think the water looks right. Obviously I need more practice understanding how to paint light on water.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Overall, I'm thrilled with most of it, I improved on the photo, I got the depth and "atmospheric perspective" looking pretty good and I resisted the urge to do anymore detail on the trees which is a big win for me, "Miss Fiddle-brush." <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I'm glad I did the class, even though it was very similar to what we did in March, I know the repetition really helped some concepts sink in for me! Practice makes progress...<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Happy Creating!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">>^-^<</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Tina</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> Here's a sample of Chris's teaching style on YouTube: <a href="https://youtu.be/JMx23tPXLEE?si=rqGieNQN6MBewp6v" target="_blank">Click to watch 10 Tips to Improve Your Landscape Paintings</a></span></p><p></p>The Artist's Life Experimenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11009902581375900822noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725208163641483673.post-35838269892516482023-09-30T13:28:00.000-07:002023-09-30T13:28:30.868-07:00A Royal Visitor<p> <br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfw_X0LRCRncVHUD1dte_-WhCO4BLt5d85SBLM3ab__EAKInhKif_InWeT0l2O6JmsrSSOYr5hDNrKHByqMzW2KkP4G9sDMvRxge3XSCRrLejGfJ_SFocKNyfsmi66_Dj1x5e_l05tSmfGfgUcpHaYkIlWzcG1Eujg7Fh98_32nrA-0WFixTIgCoVJVTM/s768/Late%20Season%20Butterfly%20Blog%20half%20views%20%C2%A9Tina%20M.Welter%20211KB.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="You never know when they might appear. ©2023Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="525" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfw_X0LRCRncVHUD1dte_-WhCO4BLt5d85SBLM3ab__EAKInhKif_InWeT0l2O6JmsrSSOYr5hDNrKHByqMzW2KkP4G9sDMvRxge3XSCRrLejGfJ_SFocKNyfsmi66_Dj1x5e_l05tSmfGfgUcpHaYkIlWzcG1Eujg7Fh98_32nrA-0WFixTIgCoVJVTM/w438-h640/Late%20Season%20Butterfly%20Blog%20half%20views%20%C2%A9Tina%20M.Welter%20211KB.jpg" title="Detail from two 5x7 inch acrylic paintings ©2023TinaM.Welter" width="438" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Top "A Mid-Morning Snack" Bottom "A Royal Treat"<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I have been waiting for five years to see a Monarch butterfly in my garden. They were always a favorite, and I especially learned to love them in grade school. In third grade we spent a lot of time learning their life cycle and were encouraged to bring the boldly striped caterpillars in with plenty of milkweed leaves to feed them. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">There was an excited pause in the regular school day when one of them would emerge out of their chrysalis. We waited impatiently for them to pump up those collapsed wings and for our teacher to say it was safe to escort this wonderful new creature outside. If concentrated kid love and energy could protect anything, our class butterflies were triple wrapped for a safe, long journey!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNHgL83HYoMIm2rDC_dFI8-9lnGclnOI2JK_0rjCuEi0b5Fd1Cx8Uj7hLPaU9SAQ909lnTNe0dmIWAJ8ojbAP28cvBlwdv09wxwsICpJ7yszxhZ6UZmIIUa9LMHPtCy4xXA0kmzIZylk1XpICWJpWknFJIxqeUJxYmyT49juDiW5J2MVkgJ6EL91GNB4M/s400/2023%20Sept%20Monarchs%20and%20New%20England%20Asters%20%C2%A9Joanna%20Katzen%20facebook%2082KB.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Stunning photo reference for my painting "A Royal Treat"" border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="300" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNHgL83HYoMIm2rDC_dFI8-9lnGclnOI2JK_0rjCuEi0b5Fd1Cx8Uj7hLPaU9SAQ909lnTNe0dmIWAJ8ojbAP28cvBlwdv09wxwsICpJ7yszxhZ6UZmIIUa9LMHPtCy4xXA0kmzIZylk1XpICWJpWknFJIxqeUJxYmyT49juDiW5J2MVkgJ6EL91GNB4M/w300-h400/2023%20Sept%20Monarchs%20and%20New%20England%20Asters%20%C2%A9Joanna%20Katzen%20facebook%2082KB.JPG" title="Stunning photo ©2023 Joanna Katzen, used by permission." width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Photo ©2023 Joanna Katzen</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Earlier this year I read a long news article about how there are less oyamel fir forests in Mexico and less Monterey pines and cypresses in California for the Monarchs to hibernate in, and less milkweeds for the hungry caterpillars to eat so there are less Monarch butterflies, around 80-90 percent less since the 1990's! Honestly, I was so surprised and saddened that the numbers have dropped so much in my lifetime, no wonder I haven't been seeing them in my garden.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-h3s4n_YE9zDwnOWXLalJf7TYbRdD_IpLJ47udGK9B9jT6tkFSO5LMTujicfZtWnWvMbuA1XWVA_tJar14WC3jZ0_2msPFTlkIulb4UBKo228fedBz7G0N7JomCQD5uXcawvJYLGMtuTAilMYxIPUIQnQoz2ma0a6gTIWCkRcj_bG0IldhQQornWS8U/s630/2023%20Aug%2018%20painting%20inspiration%20-%20photo%20%C2%A9Tina%20M.Welter%20139KB.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Butterflies can be particular about what they eat too." border="0" data-original-height="541" data-original-width="630" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-h3s4n_YE9zDwnOWXLalJf7TYbRdD_IpLJ47udGK9B9jT6tkFSO5LMTujicfZtWnWvMbuA1XWVA_tJar14WC3jZ0_2msPFTlkIulb4UBKo228fedBz7G0N7JomCQD5uXcawvJYLGMtuTAilMYxIPUIQnQoz2ma0a6gTIWCkRcj_bG0IldhQQornWS8U/w400-h344/2023%20Aug%2018%20painting%20inspiration%20-%20photo%20%C2%A9Tina%20M.Welter%20139KB.jpg" title=""Choosy Eater" photo©2023 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">She seemed to like the plain yellow ones best!<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The morning of August 18th this year, I was looking out the dining room window and happened to catch a flash of orange out in my sunflowers, could it be?!? Grabbing my iPhone I carefully and quietly walked out into the yard, hoping I wouldn't scare this visitor but definitely wanting some photos before they might flit away. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">This monarch was ignoring the zinnias, cosmos and blanket flowers but seemed to be enjoying the sunflowers. I held still as I could while snapping photos as she floated round and round, tasting and sipping her favorites for a magical 15 minutes and then she was gone. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGbdQmO_FoCnh14GKo-eEzVhkpNDd62OISfEv4mWk-vAbugMWldnn_Q-xTMsd_zF4yZ7P45s0e26vV8cjLaE1_jAgUKu2PF8wRUX4gT5qtIEVm331qi7lDj6iEdSHUn-y7RC9-AIZiaKTyjE3vFLyVn6KsweVFDKDfNvmyyDE09HGK1KIn5DqkfAPosY8/s424/2023%20Mid-morning%20Snack%20acrylic%20painting%20%C2%A9Tina%20M.Welter%2084KB.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Happy to provide nectar for a long distance traveler!" border="0" data-original-height="424" data-original-width="300" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGbdQmO_FoCnh14GKo-eEzVhkpNDd62OISfEv4mWk-vAbugMWldnn_Q-xTMsd_zF4yZ7P45s0e26vV8cjLaE1_jAgUKu2PF8wRUX4gT5qtIEVm331qi7lDj6iEdSHUn-y7RC9-AIZiaKTyjE3vFLyVn6KsweVFDKDfNvmyyDE09HGK1KIn5DqkfAPosY8/w283-h400/2023%20Mid-morning%20Snack%20acrylic%20painting%20%C2%A9Tina%20M.Welter%2084KB.jpg" title=""A Mid-Morning Snack" 5x7 inch acrylic on 185lb paper, ©2023Tina M.Welter" width="283" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">"A Mid-Morning Snack"<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Even though I want to, it's probably not sensible to try and grow milkweed in my tiny garden, but I also learned that sunflowers and asters are a good nectar source for adult Monarchs, so at least I got that part right in providing a mid-morning snack for one!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">What beautiful thing do you wait to see every year?<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> Happy creating!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">>^-^<</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Tina </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">This isn't the exact article I read, but it is still very helpful.<a href="https://xerces.org/monarchs/conservation-efforts">More information about the Monarch Butterfly.</a> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The stunning photo of the Monarchs sipping from New England asters was taken by a friend on Facebook, Joanna Katzen, she kindly agreed to let me use her photo for reference, thanks so much Joanna! </span><br /></p>The Artist's Life Experimenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11009902581375900822noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725208163641483673.post-17143188637241329602023-08-30T17:28:00.001-07:002024-01-04T17:42:24.549-08:00Sunflowers in Series for August<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfpfjsksnYPDPWyT42VSCKTXt4nWk6TMFv4yKSQSYm8u6iAes2KlbbXpQg1Z9uZdpEKFZHXPHth-5ksP--mtqEPv5CAVySiVfWfGR7P_kvwzDAQEUvewsQW0oyyvtpC0Qo1Yk7xUfo8lit7mTTiGdPCfk8OshOFaAWhoo6kcMRbBcl3eApI-V5pAgvQ4U/s864/Aug%2021,%202023%20Sketchbook%208%20small%20file.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Designing in Series, a wealth of ideas." border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="864" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfpfjsksnYPDPWyT42VSCKTXt4nWk6TMFv4yKSQSYm8u6iAes2KlbbXpQg1Z9uZdpEKFZHXPHth-5ksP--mtqEPv5CAVySiVfWfGR7P_kvwzDAQEUvewsQW0oyyvtpC0Qo1Yk7xUfo8lit7mTTiGdPCfk8OshOFaAWhoo6kcMRbBcl3eApI-V5pAgvQ4U/w400-h300/Aug%2021,%202023%20Sketchbook%208%20small%20file.jpeg" title="Designing in Series, My Sketchbook ©2023 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"What a surprising group of lovely suns!"<br /></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I haven't designed many paintings in a series, I think the last time I attempted it was back in 2010-2011 when I made five 5x7 inch oil paintings of swans. I remember each painting took me many days to complete and I became a bit burned out on the subject.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In an attempt to paint more with less anxious fussing around about the details, I made eight little 2.25 x 3 inch rectangles in my sketchbook and chose the glorious sunflowers in my garden as my subjects. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">I have to say, I even surprised myself with this result!</span> I hope I can capture the same energetic brush work when I try to paint them in a larger size. Now I have a new problem, which design do I want to spend the time and effort to paint larger?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Here is a closer look at my favorites:</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv-kIMWRrnfYvtQsjfVG_fjO2_dfL6kt7jhKQDU3TNJr0jsSRnF5KHwax9uIuIuLcbZs49M46dMRz6-Rt-HxNtXI7uTSQhune74Ekel3m3Y4HVWYFKM_ijx4QPksjhkJOTKVSApk1CFht4GR18_I2eYTDBv6qmkDRvQTeM783jVmo5lR62YRnPFYTZsX4/s382/1%20Bouquet%20of%20Suns%20small%20file.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Could it be a family resemblance?" border="0" data-original-height="382" data-original-width="288" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv-kIMWRrnfYvtQsjfVG_fjO2_dfL6kt7jhKQDU3TNJr0jsSRnF5KHwax9uIuIuLcbZs49M46dMRz6-Rt-HxNtXI7uTSQhune74Ekel3m3Y4HVWYFKM_ijx4QPksjhkJOTKVSApk1CFht4GR18_I2eYTDBv6qmkDRvQTeM783jVmo5lR62YRnPFYTZsX4/w301-h400/1%20Bouquet%20of%20Suns%20small%20file.jpg" title=""Bouquet of Suns" 2.25 x 3 inch on paper ©2023 Tina M.Welter" width="301" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Bouquet of Suns"</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I really like how this group relates to each other, </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I planted the original seeds two years ago, one seed packet was burgundy brown and the other pale yellow.</span></span> These volunteer "grandchildren" plants are interesting, some of them have deep red brown centers with gold edges and others are pure yellow with green centers. <br /> </span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjjaiw3OqtpZDIbdHxiNK0Brcfye8XhPgSp5RwJVWNgbQmzwe5rFjQvkj628OCX9j3Y4wf-SJe5so6tOWmSOGarTnAL6wkJ54PLJ35yMzkC65mPIS9MckXNNIyupB7mXC-2xEUoQtpVhVbzXq1MEj5F9fdWJb82W8k-cg9gZBeZOBRbFwY6bNXxNHMD5s/s384/2%20Happy%20Bee%20small%20file.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Some repeat visitors are welcome." border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="288" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjjaiw3OqtpZDIbdHxiNK0Brcfye8XhPgSp5RwJVWNgbQmzwe5rFjQvkj628OCX9j3Y4wf-SJe5so6tOWmSOGarTnAL6wkJ54PLJ35yMzkC65mPIS9MckXNNIyupB7mXC-2xEUoQtpVhVbzXq1MEj5F9fdWJb82W8k-cg9gZBeZOBRbFwY6bNXxNHMD5s/w300-h400/2%20Happy%20Bee%20small%20file.jpeg" title=""The King and Bee" 2.25 x 3 inch acrylic on paper ©2023 Tina M.Welter" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"The King and Bee"</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The bees and butterflies have been having a grand time sipping and zipping around the garden, this was my tallest and largest sunflower and that white bit is a quick shorthand for a bee.<br /><br /></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKisbP7GRqYQ56XgDpVp0h_3C9UTeoBZknFj-h68USoAOs3CH-rmdg0cABXGJ3on7dJiYzq593xf-gC8i-lNmLY0bTR-7u9ZvfIy0rCEgcps25QuT63wHEg2NVSmqizibY4eBlgImiIhvRrPKprtG58Yp1cof677XRIHccHdbHRbyiFNhSDMet2cx6scs/s384/3%20Blondie%20and%20Friend%20small%20file.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Friends large and small are great." border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="288" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKisbP7GRqYQ56XgDpVp0h_3C9UTeoBZknFj-h68USoAOs3CH-rmdg0cABXGJ3on7dJiYzq593xf-gC8i-lNmLY0bTR-7u9ZvfIy0rCEgcps25QuT63wHEg2NVSmqizibY4eBlgImiIhvRrPKprtG58Yp1cof677XRIHccHdbHRbyiFNhSDMet2cx6scs/w300-h400/3%20Blondie%20and%20Friend%20small%20file.jpeg" title=""Blondie and Friend" 2.25 x 3 inch acrylic on paper ©2023 Tina M.Welter" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Blondie and Friend"</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I was calling the sunflowers that were all yellow with green centers the "Blondies," I wanted to be certain to get a portrait of them.<br /></span><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtFED2BbhaAAtMDDgjtrdqnj_HAW_eEz6bCJaAsO3u6TNygeU0X0os4qbdwOzwnIH0PI-GuyuSdF44a08_M3sB2aDyhMRc3himZ1sfmHYXt3MxcTDigWpf4kpWjN1mPc70flqpT2hbSSc1wGVIrB7ZmLCPVPXMLJvY9PxKpl-xIW3LrOgqgNrpdoWcq_0/s374/4%20Sunburst%20Afternoon%20smaller%20file.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="You never know when a sunburst will surprise you." border="0" data-original-height="374" data-original-width="288" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtFED2BbhaAAtMDDgjtrdqnj_HAW_eEz6bCJaAsO3u6TNygeU0X0os4qbdwOzwnIH0PI-GuyuSdF44a08_M3sB2aDyhMRc3himZ1sfmHYXt3MxcTDigWpf4kpWjN1mPc70flqpT2hbSSc1wGVIrB7ZmLCPVPXMLJvY9PxKpl-xIW3LrOgqgNrpdoWcq_0/w308-h400/4%20Sunburst%20Afternoon%20smaller%20file.jpeg" title=""Sunburst Afternoon" 2.25 x 3 inch acrylic on paper ©2023 Tina M.Welter" width="308" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Sunburst Afternoon"</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I tried several times of day to get the perfect photo of this sunflower, the afternoon photo turned out to be one of my favorites.</span></span><br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_oWC06FcFiqagYQrhMyn1OmPiCb2L69ZV21iiSuNEFkJpVWZOidDpLEK61G08-5eD6YMUvUh9Med5hU29TJW4fvzudiijZ-JrVxwzBZe-gqT5YuDeTiZWu6FWvP2jFpFWSMU_hVripW40rk1bhfuYpW5NKWQKtN9BdZdiav0BR-6YTgoqD89MPLkMUDw/s388/5%20Solo%20Sun%20small%20file.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sometimes going it alone it the best way to go." border="0" data-original-height="388" data-original-width="288" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_oWC06FcFiqagYQrhMyn1OmPiCb2L69ZV21iiSuNEFkJpVWZOidDpLEK61G08-5eD6YMUvUh9Med5hU29TJW4fvzudiijZ-JrVxwzBZe-gqT5YuDeTiZWu6FWvP2jFpFWSMU_hVripW40rk1bhfuYpW5NKWQKtN9BdZdiav0BR-6YTgoqD89MPLkMUDw/w298-h400/5%20Solo%20Sun%20small%20file.jpeg" title=""Solo Sun" 2.25 x 3 inch acrylic on paper ©2023 Tina M.Welter" width="298" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"Solo Sun"</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Since the sunflowers this year are all volunteers from seeds from the year before, some of them were scattered by the birds and it was surprising where they popped up, like this solo beauty standing by itself. </span></span><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbt4mZSjRwvBshUuGiYPLOZ3d7A88pGpKF4MqUEo8n08P0LMCSt_c0Ph0ma0Zsd_Lao4UFl8srQXB1fz-4GkZ-rMo6-1990wpjr9L692RRAYxX4YCegGluw4eZvgngQcRlaBidkxJi8msSp1Lv-pVFnJEMbCLLOKNVLdJ9Z2wuMGcCoZUfKPm9M3Z2Se8/s384/6%20Warm%20Heart%20small%20file.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Who can resist a warm heart?" border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="288" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbt4mZSjRwvBshUuGiYPLOZ3d7A88pGpKF4MqUEo8n08P0LMCSt_c0Ph0ma0Zsd_Lao4UFl8srQXB1fz-4GkZ-rMo6-1990wpjr9L692RRAYxX4YCegGluw4eZvgngQcRlaBidkxJi8msSp1Lv-pVFnJEMbCLLOKNVLdJ9Z2wuMGcCoZUfKPm9M3Z2Se8/w300-h400/6%20Warm%20Heart%20small%20file.jpeg" title=""Warm-Hearted" 2.25 x 3 inch acrylic on paper ©2023 Tina M.Welter" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"Warm-Hearted"</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"> My attempt to capture some of that wonderful warm sun glow through those gold and red brown petals.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Which one of these charming sunflowers would you pick?</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I'm reminded of that very expressive German phrase "Die Qual der Wahl" which means the "the torture of choice." That sounds a bit dramatic, but it's a great phrase to try to convey that predicament of having too many good choices.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Happy Creating!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">>^-^<</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Tina </span></span><br /></p>The Artist's Life Experimenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11009902581375900822noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725208163641483673.post-13555729014605854962023-07-29T17:41:00.002-07:002024-02-27T14:47:56.161-08:00Why Crocus in July?<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I had great plans this spring, I was going to paint and post flowers that inspired me as they bloomed in my garden, beginning with some lavender crocus that bloomed on Easter morning.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> I set out with brushes in hand and a new book to inspire me, <span style="color: #cc0000;">"How to Paint fast and loose and bold" by Patti Mollica, <span style="color: black;">d</span></span>etermined to get my art process loosened up and faster so I could keep up with my flowers.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpx351hKCWpK-lf-nnK4m2pKajeP6FVbSWqXDMaSCwbtQTBKex4tE3Y5_gTRBfFcIdf_qXWVMRtGf2Pnfh8-BKYxy-hDORwdpRwXagVeIXG3lmZN6451H8BHweR_4GuSuLfgu9_4I0y4nLbqRes6wp452AKwV5yljzvSasuMz1TeBaHdiO335o-CH-E1k/s864/April%209,%202023%20Easter%20Crocus%20%20375KB%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="I wait all winter for the first hints of color from the earth." border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="864" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpx351hKCWpK-lf-nnK4m2pKajeP6FVbSWqXDMaSCwbtQTBKex4tE3Y5_gTRBfFcIdf_qXWVMRtGf2Pnfh8-BKYxy-hDORwdpRwXagVeIXG3lmZN6451H8BHweR_4GuSuLfgu9_4I0y4nLbqRes6wp452AKwV5yljzvSasuMz1TeBaHdiO335o-CH-E1k/w400-h300/April%209,%202023%20Easter%20Crocus%20%20375KB%20copy.jpg" title=""Easter Crocus" photo ©2023 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">April 9, 2023- Easter morning awakens.</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I started off okay with a clever
type of value study I learned from Patti's book. Look at each line
horizontally and notice how the same color looks so different on each
different grey background. <span style="color: #cc0000;">A color can shout out "here I am" and then
almost disappear </span>depending on the background behind it.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbb8aRwphjcH1xSZRYwXJwxRLh8YZ4NMv-MBgqju3ZWujx3VDGCEO77f5bFbUR2wxQkTVWixntcUwMV66tamQ5FBhwBmf0B2cxmGtSdlAnuW6wEcnP3axLlQ0wKFouP_Twqz6x9el6A9F3d3jdiv-aqVjglNpT4WN8ZWDtfWiuIF3aQrawqzMw66-yvXg/s864/10%20Value%20study,%20color%20test%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="We need contrast to understand what we are looking at." border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="864" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbb8aRwphjcH1xSZRYwXJwxRLh8YZ4NMv-MBgqju3ZWujx3VDGCEO77f5bFbUR2wxQkTVWixntcUwMV66tamQ5FBhwBmf0B2cxmGtSdlAnuW6wEcnP3axLlQ0wKFouP_Twqz6x9el6A9F3d3jdiv-aqVjglNpT4WN8ZWDtfWiuIF3aQrawqzMw66-yvXg/w400-h313/10%20Value%20study,%20color%20test%20copy.jpg" title=""Three Greys" ©2023 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Background color sets the mood!</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I painted a couple of small color studies to test out my color choices. Note the May 13th date on the left hand page, I'm all set to go for finishing a painting for my May blog post. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Then I decided on a last minute whim to go visit family on Memorial Day weekend and ended up with a surprise, <span style="color: #cc0000;">an extreme allergic reaction </span>to what the doctor thinks were 6 mosquito bites, seriously?!? Whatever it was, I did not feel well for over two weeks, I felt fatigued and my balance was off.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNbOcqTcKQeP8GB6gFxey7kKm4bQ5E-CYKrnrtJrOgymvFy6Lvtlz3XbO-exLCnyoo-LAbOpxYXOL2nChzXYzhjAXhh_knlvSvFAOgMlRjAwlCOgWZ8E-KbmN3ihNLR2035PM8OyPtuiNbQXYfGf_NS4rK9_HrrPPUicsVEz5zxgf0nYRwpd0iMP2H1hU/s1152/Tina's%20Sketchbook%20-%20Crocus%20Value%20study%20%20May%2013,%202023%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="You can't really know anything unless you test it out." border="0" data-original-height="824" data-original-width="1152" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNbOcqTcKQeP8GB6gFxey7kKm4bQ5E-CYKrnrtJrOgymvFy6Lvtlz3XbO-exLCnyoo-LAbOpxYXOL2nChzXYzhjAXhh_knlvSvFAOgMlRjAwlCOgWZ8E-KbmN3ihNLR2035PM8OyPtuiNbQXYfGf_NS4rK9_HrrPPUicsVEz5zxgf0nYRwpd0iMP2H1hU/w400-h286/Tina's%20Sketchbook%20-%20Crocus%20Value%20study%20%20May%2013,%202023%20copy.jpg" title=""Testing, Testing!" ©2023 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Testing, testing, testing!!</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Now it's June and I'm feeling mostly better. My plan on this painting was to follow Patti Mollica's advice and try to use more paint and fewer brush strokes, really think about how I'm going to be efficient and not overwork the paint. <span style="color: #cc0000;">Here I go, all on the same day...</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvARyeNKPTT1uExoYWmQoSJZ3y_g5N_AaJ2QrFZ8f2F6_77TFCx1N1XcJR946Xbc4e2cu4mNm4d7scla0j4Y-r-CeK5PBmaMzCF7CGKJpQyI6duW0K7-tZH4jNHZc0Kemx4Jf9p_J8W-MXjzxToQt1XaZr0Qwc40UndJ0G3rmuiu1dyTP2bqnWJz_JcHA/s864/2%20First%20background%20wash%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Everything needs a background." border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="864" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvARyeNKPTT1uExoYWmQoSJZ3y_g5N_AaJ2QrFZ8f2F6_77TFCx1N1XcJR946Xbc4e2cu4mNm4d7scla0j4Y-r-CeK5PBmaMzCF7CGKJpQyI6duW0K7-tZH4jNHZc0Kemx4Jf9p_J8W-MXjzxToQt1XaZr0Qwc40UndJ0G3rmuiu1dyTP2bqnWJz_JcHA/w400-h300/2%20First%20background%20wash%20copy.jpeg" title=""Everything needs a Background" Acrylic ©2023 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Background wash, one brush!</span><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"> <br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBA-YdPk3gpstZZOeT4vlcOG0oD2LIi_IIvwGHtTLpt9NzVKUv4TWkdKBz9Ns-dEVMIUoPynRr3QoWhwKB3M6tbarBF804MhxyEGsIsRUkwfLBUkCuMkpVPrhvNmmH8InkIsd64D6Wc0hXmrCSiygSQum8vTCkPEBzjUsBJ4XyI8EfvSuW6piu15Acf-g/s864/3%20first%20shadow%20wash%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Dark defines the light." border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="864" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBA-YdPk3gpstZZOeT4vlcOG0oD2LIi_IIvwGHtTLpt9NzVKUv4TWkdKBz9Ns-dEVMIUoPynRr3QoWhwKB3M6tbarBF804MhxyEGsIsRUkwfLBUkCuMkpVPrhvNmmH8InkIsd64D6Wc0hXmrCSiygSQum8vTCkPEBzjUsBJ4XyI8EfvSuW6piu15Acf-g/w400-h300/3%20first%20shadow%20wash%20copy.jpeg" title=""Dark defines the Light" Acrylic ©2023 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Darkest value defines the light.</span><br /></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM9Gr1WAKGOrDpnyIsL_IkbfRb-cX-tUbAU2gqBIsBezr3-s8HcQzf1JAdTTenLjgbCxBEQdXSQbAUquGO0I8fW4js9-F3-VHdjUvisBVjABwhBqo2F7-UnQ1OAAs5hfvyE8Y3z11advVjh7HMi1h4HkRiY6Mi7L2fe0tkqIJ3Cs6_AsqQPFZWcMdAlOY/s864/4%20green%20leaves%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Green means Life." border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="864" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM9Gr1WAKGOrDpnyIsL_IkbfRb-cX-tUbAU2gqBIsBezr3-s8HcQzf1JAdTTenLjgbCxBEQdXSQbAUquGO0I8fW4js9-F3-VHdjUvisBVjABwhBqo2F7-UnQ1OAAs5hfvyE8Y3z11advVjh7HMi1h4HkRiY6Mi7L2fe0tkqIJ3Cs6_AsqQPFZWcMdAlOY/w400-h300/4%20green%20leaves%20copy.jpg" title=""Bring on the Green" Acrylic ©2023 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Bring on those green leaves!</span><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlzLueNFy6KZ_JJouLpq6PuDOiWc5imMcAEqSf97q1BsbGv__NBj38_tIjLlkgwNH_TUMY7yTkSpTE8E02E_PJ-FqsTlV1Q4v1RIS_kpVZLiHrIotRpguLeFIbrb-vCk5MSx-FAQuscHCs9ERJ_ixTEXM4_MbinPSFinVXPVIckEFNGatmIh3T97hK61I/s864/5%20purple%20petals%20one%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Lavender Lights up the Room." border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="864" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlzLueNFy6KZ_JJouLpq6PuDOiWc5imMcAEqSf97q1BsbGv__NBj38_tIjLlkgwNH_TUMY7yTkSpTE8E02E_PJ-FqsTlV1Q4v1RIS_kpVZLiHrIotRpguLeFIbrb-vCk5MSx-FAQuscHCs9ERJ_ixTEXM4_MbinPSFinVXPVIckEFNGatmIh3T97hK61I/w400-h300/5%20purple%20petals%20one%20copy.jpg" title=""Lavender Lights up the Room" Acrylic ©2023 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">All dressed up in lavender.</span><br /></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Boom, layer after layer going on, valiantly resisting the urge to touch up any of the brush strokes and then my painting time is up that day. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">We had made plans to go camping for two nights, something we haven't done in years. We have a grand time getting there, camp site is great, all is going pretty well until evening and then I don't feel well, I feel so dizzy. I can't sleep all night, the next day we hike a little but I am getting worse. We go home and I try to figure this out, I've had these attacks before, and I try all the things, but this just wants to hang on and on and on! </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">No painting happening, I don't have the energy or focus for it. </span>June passes by and now it's July before I finally feel up to figuring this painting puzzle out.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn3Qxj3luUK48GVy2FzMebC4aOfJGTa4UkgeyRYKIxmvHJXKLrynrks63oAx9TCmlpBASndHS7jQCnhOdifDuJUatEE9sGclkWqpH-DCMGwq_z-osHpnzBSxWcqKf2pGYjyCdepy4XXJyp_koAO1J50qaUv_wEkhjd2JJOWztkCIbeb8lopenwB71BPh8/s864/7%20orange%20centers%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Orange centers are delicious." border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="864" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn3Qxj3luUK48GVy2FzMebC4aOfJGTa4UkgeyRYKIxmvHJXKLrynrks63oAx9TCmlpBASndHS7jQCnhOdifDuJUatEE9sGclkWqpH-DCMGwq_z-osHpnzBSxWcqKf2pGYjyCdepy4XXJyp_koAO1J50qaUv_wEkhjd2JJOWztkCIbeb8lopenwB71BPh8/w400-h291/7%20orange%20centers%20copy.jpg" title=""Orange completes the Look" Acrylic ©Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Orange completes the look!</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I wasn't certain how I was even going to
finish this painting, I felt so discouraged about all the set backs and
then I didn't really like how it was looking! <span style="color: #cc0000;">I couldn't quite put my
finger on what was bothering me, all the brush work looked pretty good
and the values are right, I think... </span>then I compared it to my photo and
realized the foreground is a bit too bright for the flowers to really
stand out, so I broke the "fast and loose" ideals and painted over the
foreground again to darken it. <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOF9l6ZAs7seGlOeEAMUXbhM1idayEIgp3mQRRgL4fiQ3fKVUrpoDPKlQIzW8AsCS9jOK425Ut-b0GNByfnzd_ba3Vw8gZ63LwVlnpvxHCzPCHrdov11E6NoRoU6dlAVsf0VqJTrV34zTF-aEZ3UZt0fEyJ4XJF_ECW6I37zLEnEIQONeWM9o-tV8c9TA/s720/10%20Foreground%20-%20Final%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Let there be more dark." border="0" data-original-height="514" data-original-width="720" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOF9l6ZAs7seGlOeEAMUXbhM1idayEIgp3mQRRgL4fiQ3fKVUrpoDPKlQIzW8AsCS9jOK425Ut-b0GNByfnzd_ba3Vw8gZ63LwVlnpvxHCzPCHrdov11E6NoRoU6dlAVsf0VqJTrV34zTF-aEZ3UZt0fEyJ4XJF_ECW6I37zLEnEIQONeWM9o-tV8c9TA/w400-h285/10%20Foreground%20-%20Final%20copy.jpg" title=""Awakening" 5x7 inches, Acrylic on 140lb paper ©2023 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">No shining stars without the dark.</span><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">What a journey, and I still can't decide if I like this painting or not, the brushwork in the foreground isn't as nice and the crocus look too stiff and heavy to me. At least I learned some new techniques and it is done. I don't like to leave paintings half done because they haunt me, seriously, they do!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Happy Creating and Persevering... <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(Sometimes creating involves not giving up, even when you want to.)<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> >^-^<</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Tina </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">p.s. I am feeling better, not 100 percent, but better. Possibly some sort of virus messing with my inner ear and taking it's sweet time to heal. Thanks for reading! </span></span> <br /></p>The Artist's Life Experimenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11009902581375900822noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725208163641483673.post-80021316540972464622023-04-30T17:25:00.000-07:002023-04-30T17:25:02.389-07:00Going from Weird to Wow!!<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5eKZRCCUgWnJiFQIfxGn69ZErmK1vDJaCXvZJxBvEAxxT7JjawOu7jl5EAHCC5FrI6xzSSafu7eWGxyPmoJV3uhnV3z2prC4AQGM1VSLap6kFAvBSEMhYcEfEHrj2ws6-IGjGb8USbD2LDOBxBl84ArToykDD9KfcNHJuAJhnOeGft3sfGIDectv/s1888/Ugly%20Duckling%20to%20Swan%20505KB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Weird to wow, what a difference!" border="0" data-original-height="1888" data-original-width="1008" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5eKZRCCUgWnJiFQIfxGn69ZErmK1vDJaCXvZJxBvEAxxT7JjawOu7jl5EAHCC5FrI6xzSSafu7eWGxyPmoJV3uhnV3z2prC4AQGM1VSLap6kFAvBSEMhYcEfEHrj2ws6-IGjGb8USbD2LDOBxBl84ArToykDD9KfcNHJuAJhnOeGft3sfGIDectv/w342-h640/Ugly%20Duckling%20to%20Swan%20505KB.jpg" title="Weird to Wow, what a difference! Paintings and photo ©2023 Tina M.Welter" width="342" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">What a journey!<br /></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I signed up to take a free painting class from Chris Fornataro, an artist who I admire and follow on YouTube.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The emphasis of the class was practicing how to use large value shapes as a foundation for better paintings. I don't usually paint by following another artist step by step, so this was definitely going to be an interesting hands on look into his process. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The beginning of the first lesson, a still life, was a little strange looking...</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL9UeW_H-RFsghwLBjc6He5j23BVlEFSuheisLNdWd7GNpjzfnMaxtkwoAa_xPk3fpK5jBCjT5OgeH3m4FadeU6_vX_04bZ3z-GYEoU4pX7WW4LJ1xIb3lgD69ocy4i4RS4DaCji0p993oUrv_NIpWebScuCcigLCDc3__q-kxSjMwHPbsuK60nOLH/s576/2023%20March%2015%20apple%20cherries%20large%20shapes%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Wow, that pimento is extremely large." border="0" data-original-height="572" data-original-width="576" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL9UeW_H-RFsghwLBjc6He5j23BVlEFSuheisLNdWd7GNpjzfnMaxtkwoAa_xPk3fpK5jBCjT5OgeH3m4FadeU6_vX_04bZ3z-GYEoU4pX7WW4LJ1xIb3lgD69ocy4i4RS4DaCji0p993oUrv_NIpWebScuCcigLCDc3__q-kxSjMwHPbsuK60nOLH/w400-h398/2023%20March%2015%20apple%20cherries%20large%20shapes%20copy.jpg" title="Is that a pimento? 6x8 inch, acylic on paper, ©Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Is that a huge pimento?<br /></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">We began with painting the subject by only representing the largest basic shapes of light and dark. Jeff told me he thought I was painting a giant pimento olive, not a very promising start! <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">What I did like was watching how efficient Chris was in mixing his colors using a limited palette, this painting only used ultramarine blue, cadmium red, cadmium yellow and titanium white. </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">For example, he would start with the basic color, mixing blue and red for the purple background and then adding a little of the yellow to "de-saturate" the purple to make it less vivid and more natural looking. He did the same thing for the apple, blue and yellow to make a medium green and then a bit of red to tone it down a bit. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Chris also emphasized how we can simplify mixing color by focusing on the primary colors and asking ourselves, does this mix need more blue, more red, more yellow?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDyeqY3yPENCNrESaQ035iqx8aK076rThBJCMUDv_m45Lmn8gOWvICrSPZH3u7x1Zb29dKAn_0dt6hsj3mVwP0Wvz2B8-9fcPbWp2igFoXraduzyoIqansTH-r8DzWl74dM3cA9qtZmsBZfDX3tMM-zC1MlAdYtoJZBWz1KksNXsYIhUfA0MNp0LRL/s2400/Apple%20Cherry%20Big%20Shapes%202%20copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2400" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDyeqY3yPENCNrESaQ035iqx8aK076rThBJCMUDv_m45Lmn8gOWvICrSPZH3u7x1Zb29dKAn_0dt6hsj3mVwP0Wvz2B8-9fcPbWp2igFoXraduzyoIqansTH-r8DzWl74dM3cA9qtZmsBZfDX3tMM-zC1MlAdYtoJZBWz1KksNXsYIhUfA0MNp0LRL/w400-h300/Apple%20Cherry%20Big%20Shapes%202%20copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Second round of shapes, lesson example.</span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Next, we painted smaller shapes onto those larger mid-tone light and dark sections using the same color mixes, but adjusting them by adding some white or yellow to lighten or some mixed purple to darken the colors or add shadow.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span> <br /></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT7kpF_oJ8UUGqnh8wCxXvJqKlexPIdfwstkABomNvAxg6BuieR4ZkUL1jPEK7Sl6YaA5GJwoakpnywyvZATQ3PGYOFKh3NkFEj4F8AJA1GD6hYe36lY6z7L8qwoWXCUvIdVrXH2Qrrq0rwMn5ExxVqg4x3Yj2NyLOAAJ0kE-75KE3kvT7assywTB-/s576/2023%20March%2015%20apple%20cherries%206x8%20inch%20acrylic%20on%20paper%20%C2%A9Tina%20M.Welter.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="What a difference refining layers can make." border="0" data-original-height="416" data-original-width="576" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT7kpF_oJ8UUGqnh8wCxXvJqKlexPIdfwstkABomNvAxg6BuieR4ZkUL1jPEK7Sl6YaA5GJwoakpnywyvZATQ3PGYOFKh3NkFEj4F8AJA1GD6hYe36lY6z7L8qwoWXCUvIdVrXH2Qrrq0rwMn5ExxVqg4x3Yj2NyLOAAJ0kE-75KE3kvT7assywTB-/w400-h289/2023%20March%2015%20apple%20cherries%206x8%20inch%20acrylic%20on%20paper%20%C2%A9Tina%20M.Welter.jpg" title="Snack time! 6x8 inch, acylic on paper ©Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Snack time!</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">As I added more refining shape layers, I was so relieved to watch the painting begin to take form. The class was taught using oil paints which stay "wet" and are easy to mix for a long time. I didn't know if I could make his process work with acrylic paint, which even with extenders, dries very quickly. I was very happy and excited to try another subject after I ended up with this first result.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The second assignment was a landscape. Here is the reference photo we were given to work from.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamj9_Csa5RRRpStRLrO4-MNlTRQhvgA0pShssbix9MdRJjyXDhXpyZG6dBuKoyq5Hm99rNWXrsa3NMWJ7isfeVg-JWDJqTWAAcESiu8NV70v_iL1TEibQaH3BHEI20iTvkSXFHGcdLA9VJhZV0EZGSMHYg3pWxkwsx-DECdEzbRVBnXMdjslCSLGx/s2400/Beach%20Photo%20%C2%A9Chris%20Fornataro%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Not my idea of a good photo." border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2400" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamj9_Csa5RRRpStRLrO4-MNlTRQhvgA0pShssbix9MdRJjyXDhXpyZG6dBuKoyq5Hm99rNWXrsa3NMWJ7isfeVg-JWDJqTWAAcESiu8NV70v_iL1TEibQaH3BHEI20iTvkSXFHGcdLA9VJhZV0EZGSMHYg3pWxkwsx-DECdEzbRVBnXMdjslCSLGx/w400-h300/Beach%20Photo%20%C2%A9Chris%20Fornataro%20copy.jpeg" title="Oof, those trees are not inspiring! photo ©Chris Fornataro" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Beach photo © Chris Fornataro<br /></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I was rather disappointed when I saw this photo, it was not my idea of an inspiring subject. I would never pick a photo with lighting that it would make trees look like a huge block of uniform green. The cast shadow across the beach and into the water was nice, but still!!<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The first blocking in of the large mid-tone value shapes was not great to look at either. Some of the students called it the dinosaur stage, I thought mine looked like a duck with big hair!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBqt5dAOCKesCDRL3IDArP9thzZ2I74dnSNNzs0uibzxzye0siEkLL-hl1XAsgu3zcfuUfi_3Qbo4YPd-lzGV7EXLcArxYVuBiBmnwWqXd8WQxUXSAzKtxhEd0sz1EjFP15Ch0IXCN_DVLd3xAJYFYpZojkMLPlQHy9A3jm17mHVhZAjeh5H681H7W/s720/2023%20March%2018%20Landscape%20large%20shapes%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Weird, weird shapes man." border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="720" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBqt5dAOCKesCDRL3IDArP9thzZ2I74dnSNNzs0uibzxzye0siEkLL-hl1XAsgu3zcfuUfi_3Qbo4YPd-lzGV7EXLcArxYVuBiBmnwWqXd8WQxUXSAzKtxhEd0sz1EjFP15Ch0IXCN_DVLd3xAJYFYpZojkMLPlQHy9A3jm17mHVhZAjeh5H681H7W/w400-h296/2023%20March%2018%20Landscape%20large%20shapes%20copy.jpg" title="Hello Ducky! 9x12 inch, acrylic on canvas ©2023 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Hello Lochness, I think I found your monster!</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I could understand what he was trying to teach though, seeing the large blocks of color and value to build a good foundation for the painting first, then adding smaller value shapes on top to create form. I intended to follow exactly what the instructor was asking us to do, hoping that some how I could eventually make it come out alright.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw7BnN5xOn4pYz-mwFOEaDzwbU-viTv-2cjN7TDKLJtB75d6Dec1nIccxsSFTcIk4Y4fVER9Bt6g_EmE7Ipyy75UpCv8k-a5SE2oQcIMrLlxpf36ZDDXNAbjuw45BTUpdtE76XPrkRfQiqlv2zNjN-YOuAWln8HTVVIdLwMH5Nh-Rbu6uV4Ve_2RJ_/s720/2023%20March%2023%20landscape%20almost%20done%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sometimes more is better." border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw7BnN5xOn4pYz-mwFOEaDzwbU-viTv-2cjN7TDKLJtB75d6Dec1nIccxsSFTcIk4Y4fVER9Bt6g_EmE7Ipyy75UpCv8k-a5SE2oQcIMrLlxpf36ZDDXNAbjuw45BTUpdtE76XPrkRfQiqlv2zNjN-YOuAWln8HTVVIdLwMH5Nh-Rbu6uV4Ve_2RJ_/w400-h300/2023%20March%2023%20landscape%20almost%20done%20copy.jpg" title="Sometimes more detail is better. 9x12 inch, acrylic on canvas, ©Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The secret is all in the layers!<br /></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Adding the second layer with the smaller value shapes did help. It took me a lot longer to get the acrylic color mixed and in the right places, but I could see the finish line now.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUc9MHfMh5pdNBISP2R6ddcwbooVnauYgTaWVgOIH33vNf8bEbab0K3gEdhKjGLyXeXG8Fo50ArIK8Qn5JeTDg2TWhOrIH9bWaGLUcXH2_FW6BI9k-qgTmL2NgSBEx7s7ozZ8YeZFOy4XqRctS_JMgz-uKQqcNqlXC1nihXAmfrbgJuZQ-pLUNMSv2/s648/2023%20March%2026%20Beach%20Comber%209x12%20inch%20acylic%20on%20canvas%20%C2%A9Tina%20M.Welter.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="I could imagine myself here afterall." border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUc9MHfMh5pdNBISP2R6ddcwbooVnauYgTaWVgOIH33vNf8bEbab0K3gEdhKjGLyXeXG8Fo50ArIK8Qn5JeTDg2TWhOrIH9bWaGLUcXH2_FW6BI9k-qgTmL2NgSBEx7s7ozZ8YeZFOy4XqRctS_JMgz-uKQqcNqlXC1nihXAmfrbgJuZQ-pLUNMSv2/w400-h300/2023%20March%2026%20Beach%20Comber%209x12%20inch%20acylic%20on%20canvas%20%C2%A9Tina%20M.Welter.jpg" title=""Beach Comber" 9x12 inch, acrylic on canvas, ©Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I could imagine myself here after all!<br /></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The final little details brought it all together and it was a logical way to paint, going from large shapes to small. I am curious how it would have looked if I had used oil paints instead. I suspect it would have been faster! It took me a lot of extra time to remix and blend my fast drying acrylic paint.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Overall, it was a good class and I would recommend him as a teacher. It wasn't anything I didn't know, but it was valuable practice and I gained some insights into mixing color that I'm going to use going forward with my own work. Sometimes it is so worth while to see the world through some one else's eyes.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Happy creating! </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">>^-^< Tina </span></span><br /></p><p></p>The Artist's Life Experimenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11009902581375900822noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725208163641483673.post-61631268121173919142023-03-04T22:30:00.001-08:002023-03-04T22:30:40.434-08:00Lost in the Shadows<br /><p> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMQAme-i-LeUZQaNmAp1FTZj0ODpyvZslRwfrTHCmSXRqXN1uShGHbdUFekQQr8d2wSeHzU__75YHw1hJewn-TyoabovHSbMSOci7gIFu82nGkk9lLEHLvDK4TZwSLZji5kEUjEKiFcQaIqGa_2lvcp9lnCUxZ4Ag_Fz3quOGzNbAH_sRPftiwPdWc/s1200/2023%20The%20Kiss%20digital%20sketch%20only%20detail%20darks.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sweet pixel love at harvest time." border="0" data-original-height="821" data-original-width="1200" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMQAme-i-LeUZQaNmAp1FTZj0ODpyvZslRwfrTHCmSXRqXN1uShGHbdUFekQQr8d2wSeHzU__75YHw1hJewn-TyoabovHSbMSOci7gIFu82nGkk9lLEHLvDK4TZwSLZji5kEUjEKiFcQaIqGa_2lvcp9lnCUxZ4Ag_Fz3quOGzNbAH_sRPftiwPdWc/w400-h274/2023%20The%20Kiss%20digital%20sketch%20only%20detail%20darks.jpeg" title=""Digital Kiss" detail, digital drawing ©2023 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></span></div><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> As an art student, I wasn't always excited about making still life paintings. We did several of them in school, but I didn't feel compelled to make any more after I graduated. </span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Lately though, I am appreciating the wisdom in regularly practicing this style of art work. <br /></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I recently set up a simple still life of two Bosc pears, my goal was to practice blocking in color more efficiently.<br /></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HhMRXM9VIv9_NZ5RzduTkg9FSwvYKS2whDNaOKZCOZIhMCvZpZdy5zrFU5gtoCSuXif8WWPDDTyI0OddfS1xac5CiCt0xNQriX9VNun5_-alphQod3fkJkUnl0lnN2MBLlBo-hNf52m-dTHnuh2OYkfv4DGQPbtUpfZAmsXxj1dZfaQtV_KJgDYL/s529/2023%20Feb%2016%20%22The%20Kiss,%20or%20Perfect%20Pair%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sweet love at harvest time." border="0" data-original-height="529" data-original-width="432" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HhMRXM9VIv9_NZ5RzduTkg9FSwvYKS2whDNaOKZCOZIhMCvZpZdy5zrFU5gtoCSuXif8WWPDDTyI0OddfS1xac5CiCt0xNQriX9VNun5_-alphQod3fkJkUnl0lnN2MBLlBo-hNf52m-dTHnuh2OYkfv4DGQPbtUpfZAmsXxj1dZfaQtV_KJgDYL/w326-h400/2023%20Feb%2016%20%22The%20Kiss,%20or%20Perfect%20Pair%20copy.jpg" title=""The Kiss" photo ©2023 Tina M.Welter" width="326" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"The Kiss"</span> <br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> In support of this goal, I decided to make a drawing from my photo in digital form on my computer to pre-block out the colors. I thought this would make them easier to see and help me make better color value decisions.<br /></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1dzBzlpIw482OuPh3f2jBb_rrXt-7R64TAUcZ3l8sEGYng3NLXXR7GUkrs04SrBViolscYZ2lNcg1-9bcAzbc4m3Y4U9O13MXrZkzLRtk3S2wyIZVXN113XjSfybH6J_Np9G8mthAhjyCB6cdUU6HUa8Pbr332d4MHCAJ2QNnj5x-bqa-gLI4Uuiy/s736/2023%20The%20Kiss%20digital%20sketch%20only%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sweet pixel love at harvest time." border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1dzBzlpIw482OuPh3f2jBb_rrXt-7R64TAUcZ3l8sEGYng3NLXXR7GUkrs04SrBViolscYZ2lNcg1-9bcAzbc4m3Y4U9O13MXrZkzLRtk3S2wyIZVXN113XjSfybH6J_Np9G8mthAhjyCB6cdUU6HUa8Pbr332d4MHCAJ2QNnj5x-bqa-gLI4Uuiy/w326-h400/2023%20The%20Kiss%20digital%20sketch%20only%20copy.jpg" title=""Digital Kiss" digital drawing ©2023 Tina M.Welter" width="326" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Digital Kiss"</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></span><p></p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Everything was going smoothly, the 8x10 drawing and complementary color under painting came together nicely and I thought once I had those dark and light values in place, I could just charge ahead with the final color. Imagine my surprise when I suddenly felt stuck! </span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2rH4ETxBykF9UT6aGGaYTo0bz27VNsRYdgboi6kHGReGNq2l9P8oqLxgBuVqIO0tjj_L_4D_Y1Ltv8HemYGIT5-mtYBN-C6kPuhzfw2pcq4TpAPErgr_GwsNiUf_NhqQv5nXYP5jKLv_4eCpMdxBuPP99rRgg1hMrqOCA4YSqmEaluNlNMHgA2K2C/s541/1%20The%20Kiss%208x10%20underpainting%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Opposites attract, sweet love at harvest time." border="0" data-original-height="541" data-original-width="432" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2rH4ETxBykF9UT6aGGaYTo0bz27VNsRYdgboi6kHGReGNq2l9P8oqLxgBuVqIO0tjj_L_4D_Y1Ltv8HemYGIT5-mtYBN-C6kPuhzfw2pcq4TpAPErgr_GwsNiUf_NhqQv5nXYP5jKLv_4eCpMdxBuPP99rRgg1hMrqOCA4YSqmEaluNlNMHgA2K2C/w320-h400/1%20The%20Kiss%208x10%20underpainting%20copy.jpg" title=""Complementary Kiss" 8x10 inch, acrylic on 185lb paper ©2023 Tina M.Welter" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Complementary Kiss"</span><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> My color blocking plan had been too successful, I could see so many colors in the shadows of my digital sketch that I wasn't certain how to mix them to get all those subtle shifts! </span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I usually only use a limited palette to mix my colors so that the painting feels cohesive. </span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The
bright oranges, yellows and greens where the sunlight was hitting the
objects were not a problem, I wasn't
certain how to mix that wide range of browns that varied from tones of
green, deep orange to red violet from a limited palette.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMQAme-i-LeUZQaNmAp1FTZj0ODpyvZslRwfrTHCmSXRqXN1uShGHbdUFekQQr8d2wSeHzU__75YHw1hJewn-TyoabovHSbMSOci7gIFu82nGkk9lLEHLvDK4TZwSLZji5kEUjEKiFcQaIqGa_2lvcp9lnCUxZ4Ag_Fz3quOGzNbAH_sRPftiwPdWc/s1200/2023%20The%20Kiss%20digital%20sketch%20only%20detail%20darks.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Focused in on sweet pixel love at harvest time." border="0" data-original-height="821" data-original-width="1200" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMQAme-i-LeUZQaNmAp1FTZj0ODpyvZslRwfrTHCmSXRqXN1uShGHbdUFekQQr8d2wSeHzU__75YHw1hJewn-TyoabovHSbMSOci7gIFu82nGkk9lLEHLvDK4TZwSLZji5kEUjEKiFcQaIqGa_2lvcp9lnCUxZ4Ag_Fz3quOGzNbAH_sRPftiwPdWc/w400-h274/2023%20The%20Kiss%20digital%20sketch%20only%20detail%20darks.jpeg" title=""Digital Kiss" detail of digital drawing, ©2023 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Digital Kiss" it's all in the details.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Mixing colors is usually the part of painting I love the most, it was weird to feel so stuck. <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">So before putting another brushstroke on my still life, I went to my tried and true anxiety calming back-up, testing out color mixes in my sketchbook.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-GJheYB3UfUojmBOvTLIh1aivDy43L68QYttRHH8um4FknBk-yncpiJa4lYBENSY2OaILTtKevBLLk8lwYpQsWVlS_2VTL9roqYetUWX70zqX59A_tMvL5Uav3bzD5So08EQfCny8vDrIrz4VHhmrjYX_sxL-eccX34RmmPZ9GdYlqxdb2T2kDKa/s695/3%20The%20Kiss%20Sketchbook%20Color%20tests%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sweet anxiety relief mapped out in tiny colored squares.." border="0" data-original-height="695" data-original-width="504" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-GJheYB3UfUojmBOvTLIh1aivDy43L68QYttRHH8um4FknBk-yncpiJa4lYBENSY2OaILTtKevBLLk8lwYpQsWVlS_2VTL9roqYetUWX70zqX59A_tMvL5Uav3bzD5So08EQfCny8vDrIrz4VHhmrjYX_sxL-eccX34RmmPZ9GdYlqxdb2T2kDKa/w290-h400/3%20The%20Kiss%20Sketchbook%20Color%20tests%20copy.jpg" title=""The Kiss" color tests in my sketchbook, 7x10 inch acrylic, ©2023 Tina M.Welter" width="290" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Anxiety reliever.</span><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Six hours of mixing and painting later, I finally had some answers. <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">My great light-bulb moment came when I finally figured out how to mix a wonderful range of related of browns by adding a little blue to cadmium red light or cadmium orange.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I was surprised that even using different blues still increased the color range without looking out of place. <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOubI3A7yQD_anzb29ekDqXUMXcDJRhbqbBKC9PvkckUVxiWSdxrBNcc4P7s08xH21dKOYLICa6qb5stQ7p_stdysY7lRCufoYwZFOD2HJvPQSNxtvekchouGzJyrW6RGu21RYyh0qUjWYIgumI_Xy26mA7KwgERh3pyJOyKMu1GeLNe5-pQ5sN3BC/s627/4B%20Color%20test%20detail%20red%20and%20blue%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sweet Georgia, I figured out Brown!" border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="504" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOubI3A7yQD_anzb29ekDqXUMXcDJRhbqbBKC9PvkckUVxiWSdxrBNcc4P7s08xH21dKOYLICa6qb5stQ7p_stdysY7lRCufoYwZFOD2HJvPQSNxtvekchouGzJyrW6RGu21RYyh0qUjWYIgumI_Xy26mA7KwgERh3pyJOyKMu1GeLNe5-pQ5sN3BC/w321-h400/4B%20Color%20test%20detail%20red%20and%20blue%20copy.jpg" title=""Hearts and Stars" sketchbook, acrylic color tests ©2023 Tina M.Welter" width="321" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Hearts and stars marking my favorite mixes.</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> That little 2.75 x 3.50 inch color study took so much work, but I feel like I can paint the larger 8x10 with a lot more confidence now, since I've mapped out how the color temperature and value changes as it wraps around the pears and across the plate. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Painting such a subtle shift in colors in the shadows added so much interest and richness, I really loved the effect. </span></span> I know I will be thinking more about what is going on in the shadows of the next paintings I make. <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKvHLfTvI73eThMZLXhq3x7_I2xjFiMREP7vbWQUiGsuj9HZlerEIJk3PJ6pJLXYgMwXeuT0yYQVIyHzjRs-G28dq_GkhGxgaIEC7rl-l-ArYT3QNIAuhn5dmHqJa8JiZMiS4QF2iMGkEJTPrj20lwYwQ-cQCi0BaLfQEjokZVdQYMGKAL6WOlN9H/s539/5%20The%20Kiss%20minipainting%202.75x3.50%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A little sweet love at harvest time." border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="432" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKvHLfTvI73eThMZLXhq3x7_I2xjFiMREP7vbWQUiGsuj9HZlerEIJk3PJ6pJLXYgMwXeuT0yYQVIyHzjRs-G28dq_GkhGxgaIEC7rl-l-ArYT3QNIAuhn5dmHqJa8JiZMiS4QF2iMGkEJTPrj20lwYwQ-cQCi0BaLfQEjokZVdQYMGKAL6WOlN9H/w320-h400/5%20The%20Kiss%20minipainting%202.75x3.50%20copy.jpg" title=""Little Kiss" 2.75x3.50 inch, acrylic ©2023 Tina M.Welter" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Little Kiss"</span><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Here's to the wisdom of going back to practice the basics. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Happy Creating! </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">>^-^< Tina </span></span><br /></p><p><br /></p><br /><br />The Artist's Life Experimenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11009902581375900822noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725208163641483673.post-81578366939810189742023-01-31T23:04:00.002-08:002023-01-31T23:04:43.686-08:00Transformation<p> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> <br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB94vXT1J0RXOTgmUobv8gZmPybgwHXkwDj_Nh3u-jhzTVGyUwk0FzRNdKAPhbCM0xqbPAmUqdk2I7XmtZ871ZVNuDgp8HmucFttjPRYowtnCENFp0rsrFl1xtDNOKYL4h45gEsjvZoaAn1D9WZl59Md-T19OkUCU9xBICLsJv6fRwJgl4tliZwbFK/s864/2023%20Poinsettia%20Transformation%2064KB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Painting over time compilation." border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="864" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB94vXT1J0RXOTgmUobv8gZmPybgwHXkwDj_Nh3u-jhzTVGyUwk0FzRNdKAPhbCM0xqbPAmUqdk2I7XmtZ871ZVNuDgp8HmucFttjPRYowtnCENFp0rsrFl1xtDNOKYL4h45gEsjvZoaAn1D9WZl59Md-T19OkUCU9xBICLsJv6fRwJgl4tliZwbFK/w400-h266/2023%20Poinsettia%20Transformation%2064KB.jpg" title=""Transformation" painting over time ©2023 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Transformation</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I've had in mind for several years now to make a poinsettia painting to hang up for the holiday season, the last week of December I finally decided to give it a try. I have a favorite photo of mine from January 2013, the winter we spent in Dresden, Germany. Yes, that is my suitcase in the photo.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKbKgeTA0cd0K9jwluVYm5R9Rn-LFijQYbTvZwOWKomcMNk0eclQQjW3YMi4EvyHbddwBD8g-R6L6fFJSNP-U62Sqwl31V_9LO8tQweNWA-frOHztV0Y3x5Us_xItbFk7I-YWHBTi0Wann74d88l6-ikS2dcbeJOVUr6dRNKoimxqtXT8BMdDCkBm/s504/2013%20Jan,%2026%20Dresden%20poinsettia%20copy%20105KB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="404" data-original-width="504" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKbKgeTA0cd0K9jwluVYm5R9Rn-LFijQYbTvZwOWKomcMNk0eclQQjW3YMi4EvyHbddwBD8g-R6L6fFJSNP-U62Sqwl31V_9LO8tQweNWA-frOHztV0Y3x5Us_xItbFk7I-YWHBTi0Wann74d88l6-ikS2dcbeJOVUr6dRNKoimxqtXT8BMdDCkBm/w400-h321/2013%20Jan,%2026%20Dresden%20poinsettia%20copy%20105KB.jpg" title=""Holiday in the Hallway" photo ©2013 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Brilliant color lingering on... January 26, 2013</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I chose a 20x20 inch canvas and several days later I had a pretty good painting, but I wasn't happy with the shadow color behind the poinsettia. I had tried various color mixes, but the result kept feeling so drab and flat, it really bothered me.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_itBG_lWaSsGSIxGF3oxCdRBbJ-xmuUKSiWPBr4oFylHRCoIFeSCG_UzZf_Q9gvWXJzy7l6lt68ZG6XfdWHZ4u1eqj4n5-CzaChDBsb9m9aWJxTLIok1GERRqjux0h3ZQWm32uJvaMzPYj7yP8VhOXtkdVvopybHgRmpHnkpBWfdUrUAEmD1ylis/s504/2022%20Poinsettia%20C%20copy%2093KB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Brilliant colors lingering on after the season has past." border="0" data-original-height="496" data-original-width="504" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_itBG_lWaSsGSIxGF3oxCdRBbJ-xmuUKSiWPBr4oFylHRCoIFeSCG_UzZf_Q9gvWXJzy7l6lt68ZG6XfdWHZ4u1eqj4n5-CzaChDBsb9m9aWJxTLIok1GERRqjux0h3ZQWm32uJvaMzPYj7yP8VhOXtkdVvopybHgRmpHnkpBWfdUrUAEmD1ylis/w400-h394/2022%20Poinsettia%20C%20copy%2093KB.jpg" title=""After Party" 20x20 inches, acrylic on canvas ©2023 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"After Party"</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I was so annoyed that I used some
flat white gesso and just covered up all that grey. It looked better to
me but I didn't want to leave bare gesso like that, plus I didn't like
that I couldn't solve this problem!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQmAs-7EqEFCOVNaESieZSihQF02nk5ENWkVDzulpzkUNkjnnSqgIzSKWwbhEj_k5nY-rQ9bqvnIZ7GRQ7ODJl1XtjASUmqpAVN-tjUpQhAnTymWdGIVnXMcOcGFr9lv46zVlwkhga4cdybjrEa-acWqsqyTtCEBAE8w162BqtrpABcaN_PONjm-rl/s504/2023%20Poinsettia%20D%20copy%20105KB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Brilliant colors lingering on after the season is gone." border="0" data-original-height="502" data-original-width="504" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQmAs-7EqEFCOVNaESieZSihQF02nk5ENWkVDzulpzkUNkjnnSqgIzSKWwbhEj_k5nY-rQ9bqvnIZ7GRQ7ODJl1XtjASUmqpAVN-tjUpQhAnTymWdGIVnXMcOcGFr9lv46zVlwkhga4cdybjrEa-acWqsqyTtCEBAE8w162BqtrpABcaN_PONjm-rl/w400-h399/2023%20Poinsettia%20D%20copy%20105KB.jpg" title=""After Party in White" 20x20 inches, acrylic on canvas ©2023 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"After Party in White"<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Looking for ideas, I watched some acrylic painting videos on YouTube. I finally found inspiration from the artist Ali Kay, she always makes a vivid underpainting in a complementary color, so I decided to give her strategy a try...</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHmHU-YMO7A1ZMzcxooQJisnlv_Q8UW7aZeYs-tJTgzq3r6ID2V1lTv3bf_zP-KpoH0i4MwaxGt2Dv0kpBCDgfvgKqWS2d-_UmGyXTyn3v4HdhOmODx5tGec7QYtbdxljMWeWk_mVzybOrrgUwOT5LrD32gbsFiG326qnDcOfnepevXzLyA1Csh6Cp/s504/2023%20Poinsettia%20F%20copy%2077KB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Brilliant colors lingering on after the season is gone." border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="504" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHmHU-YMO7A1ZMzcxooQJisnlv_Q8UW7aZeYs-tJTgzq3r6ID2V1lTv3bf_zP-KpoH0i4MwaxGt2Dv0kpBCDgfvgKqWS2d-_UmGyXTyn3v4HdhOmODx5tGec7QYtbdxljMWeWk_mVzybOrrgUwOT5LrD32gbsFiG326qnDcOfnepevXzLyA1Csh6Cp/w400-h396/2023%20Poinsettia%20F%20copy%2077KB.jpg" title=""After Party on Fire" 20x20 inches, acrylic on canvas ©Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"After Party on Fire"<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Wowza! Very fiery, but I was pleased that my overall design still looked good even in orange.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc86hwV1HmqdMukzOCMeAwkEtDFVkfhIpEPMesCd3hw2X83pdnBfHw-d4_IB2C-I4GfKGGRAkXj4BWjbRuJutPrBqtZDqasjKKcJ_ggWBFeMPiU3RKmTrM6Z8ZaUn62SorUpafcK9qdJw91EuHo8CSBiG1yGhsSU1eS-TSV5tp6pIynZ23PGh6oEl_/s515/2023%20Poinsettia%20G%20copy%20106KB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Brilliant colors lingering on after the season is gone." border="0" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="504" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc86hwV1HmqdMukzOCMeAwkEtDFVkfhIpEPMesCd3hw2X83pdnBfHw-d4_IB2C-I4GfKGGRAkXj4BWjbRuJutPrBqtZDqasjKKcJ_ggWBFeMPiU3RKmTrM6Z8ZaUn62SorUpafcK9qdJw91EuHo8CSBiG1yGhsSU1eS-TSV5tp6pIynZ23PGh6oEl_/w391-h400/2023%20Poinsettia%20G%20copy%20106KB.jpg" title=""After Party in Purple" 20x20 inches, acrylic on canvas, ©2023 Tina M.Welter" width="391" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"After Party in Purple"<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I really liked how the purple grey I painted the background was warmed by that intense orange underneath. Plus, I left the brush strokes more visible to add some lively energy to the scene. I liked the warmth so much, I thought I would try some more!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjocEPLP6D2JTpI-X_HlXmc9k2SZx7ry7p9tzWheiMTw0xCMp2ONixujipSclPQEMejL9OH9pD3glkWwOB2iIIBuZA7afYqExu64OzRXnEz2U27B2I4EzSJXg6KXTUxXcljBQAbhT24hxV3cu54btaw84cuzWAdGh2y_oEwpMQ-ABgePdcfxMqJBFhg/s510/2023%20Poinsettia%20H%20copy%20103KB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Brilliant colors lingering on after the season is gone." border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="504" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjocEPLP6D2JTpI-X_HlXmc9k2SZx7ry7p9tzWheiMTw0xCMp2ONixujipSclPQEMejL9OH9pD3glkWwOB2iIIBuZA7afYqExu64OzRXnEz2U27B2I4EzSJXg6KXTUxXcljBQAbhT24hxV3cu54btaw84cuzWAdGh2y_oEwpMQ-ABgePdcfxMqJBFhg/w395-h400/2023%20Poinsettia%20H%20copy%20103KB.jpg" title=""After Party - Awkward moment!" 20x20 inches, acrylic on canvas ©2023 Tina M.Welter" width="395" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"After Party - Awkward Moment!"<br /></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yikes! This was a very unappealing step and I moved on as quickly as I could from this seriously awkward stage.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHZ69xwxJUu5WCMqrYJ7Nib1HMidv_q-6TqDyWtKq_GumGuI8u77QSxhtZeIFEd-66WChGQk2AjYNTB_LfVM61nPYtXnXP52po3D0MwcfmDZUGPLO4Z9yKmphL-hUnt7tztn-cc6asROljkDW0b18Ff040P4AgS_zj2V5Np19Idgq-Ej0CDe0PBcG/s504/2023%20Poinsettia%20I%20copy%20104KB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Brilliant colors lingering on after the season is gone." border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="504" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHZ69xwxJUu5WCMqrYJ7Nib1HMidv_q-6TqDyWtKq_GumGuI8u77QSxhtZeIFEd-66WChGQk2AjYNTB_LfVM61nPYtXnXP52po3D0MwcfmDZUGPLO4Z9yKmphL-hUnt7tztn-cc6asROljkDW0b18Ff040P4AgS_zj2V5Np19Idgq-Ej0CDe0PBcG/w400-h393/2023%20Poinsettia%20I%20copy%20104KB.jpg" title=""After Party in Progress" 20x20 inches, acrylic on canvas ©2023 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"After Party in Progress"<br /></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">This time, I'm not certain the orange changed the blue table that much and I felt a bit discouraged that I had wasted my time! </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">After a break, I reminded myself that while repainting the table I had reshaped the bottom leaves and by adding more of the bright green where the sun light was bouncing off the leaves it improved the illusion of depth.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">The painting isn't quite done yet, but I wanted to share how learning from other artists and taking a creative risk can get you unstuck on a project.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Happy creating!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">>^-^<</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Tina </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://youtu.be/5CSk30zI4jA" target="_blank">Ali Kay's wonderful "Holiday Lights" paint along video.</a> This is the first painting video I watched of hers that inspired me to try a different solution to my painting problem. Thanks Ali Kay!<br /></span></p>The Artist's Life Experimenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11009902581375900822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725208163641483673.post-89395603252435715392022-09-30T22:18:00.001-07:002022-09-30T22:18:41.702-07:00Striking it Rich, hello Yellow!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCktkf5pzXYCtl15IyO2mQ_8B8GpriilUPHryVG6DI3wrKx_sHYvMt-fFDgu261-yKMiEa6_uDN5jHeW7C-dCQA-SUpgwDVr3CWTtq9PzXLAnIIEAc2lMTljo9Cl86xzN1mVD1jlBCi9mmbKT3RS1zNSgjkDN-XYRsKZtEh9DwoYn19JpK87ztw-Ya/s576/2022%20Yellow%20Sapphire%20painting%20cooler%20pen%20sign%20121KB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0x-4dslD3m67d-h0841hiwkfaDn0zmH3k6cc1VEDS_AJi_PeKn7pgGJVufmHqPRaiP2r6HD6Jfu4GGfue4J76-aryFItbquLtAZcdGBhcaKU6g3vVfHpf0SlwxxtmwUVkBLOij61dCeT3Z-eSGVnfiwF-py7qWZ6qXfhRyKwrRnvTRNtK4a4I3dAc/s576/2022%20Yellow%20Sapphire%20favorite%20photo%2091KB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Yellow sapphire painting using only yellow and white paint.©2022 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="576" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0x-4dslD3m67d-h0841hiwkfaDn0zmH3k6cc1VEDS_AJi_PeKn7pgGJVufmHqPRaiP2r6HD6Jfu4GGfue4J76-aryFItbquLtAZcdGBhcaKU6g3vVfHpf0SlwxxtmwUVkBLOij61dCeT3Z-eSGVnfiwF-py7qWZ6qXfhRyKwrRnvTRNtK4a4I3dAc/w400-h300/2022%20Yellow%20Sapphire%20favorite%20photo%2091KB.jpg" title=""Yellow Sapphire" 4.25x5.25 inches, acrylic on 140lb cold press paper, ©2022 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Yellow Sapphire painting<br /></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Since I started an in-depth color by color exploration of the paints in my paintbox back in January of 2021, <span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">I've found it's quite a challenge to figure out a subject I can paint using only one color family.</span> </span>I bent the rules a bit this summer when I reveled in the color green while painting trees and grass, but I did not stick to the one color family rule. </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuglXoOszTf8C00i2EMCNkWt1Cgox_7wjZK8uX9S3j0-gSYAlmGdlbSes93RHquiIAuZMeezgJNC3-k3kG2S-Yz8waZ4EdO9WZZe0AiamVqzTIz71PabH_pwZE8UgXirs_4_5XRiOp7Fu8Abl7bXDX9dz-yRAGlW1DkfghlTU0Q7cBuRuryHUzd3i9/s1119/2022%20yellow%20color%20swatches%20302KB%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Thirteen different yellow acrylic paints from my paint box plus white." border="0" data-original-height="714" data-original-width="1119" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuglXoOszTf8C00i2EMCNkWt1Cgox_7wjZK8uX9S3j0-gSYAlmGdlbSes93RHquiIAuZMeezgJNC3-k3kG2S-Yz8waZ4EdO9WZZe0AiamVqzTIz71PabH_pwZE8UgXirs_4_5XRiOp7Fu8Abl7bXDX9dz-yRAGlW1DkfghlTU0Q7cBuRuryHUzd3i9/w400-h255/2022%20yellow%20color%20swatches%20302KB%20.jpg" title=""Yellow Color Swatches" 8x12 inches, acrylic on paper, ©2022 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: times;">Thirteen different yellows plus white.</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> I was able to use all my blues to make a believable night-time landscape, but I've found that painting nature believably generally requires at least a minimum of two colors, often the primary and it's complimentary color are necessary, except when it comes to recreating gems. <span style="color: #b45f06;">So far, I've been able use this single color gem solution twice, once with purple and now happily with yellow.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilziXIbMLp_3lwWzcSFoY0I44hRjVPo5wlfYA5SW0bPve4SimWt9NuZCRk1x7pSA-sJ2VHbzca4UREaM00pF2tPAuko4ck2Oodt1BoGjU54PBM9okxyUGt2qjUjdMkufAj32r32Gmp3QaVoO8gcOxs8emB3WpdpNxPZR-qIAXU8JgRbBOEzPIAywTS/s1004/2022%20Yellow%20paint%20tubes%20used%20for%20painting%20325KB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Seven varieties of yellow I used to create the "Yellow Sapphire" painting. ©2022 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="764" data-original-width="1004" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilziXIbMLp_3lwWzcSFoY0I44hRjVPo5wlfYA5SW0bPve4SimWt9NuZCRk1x7pSA-sJ2VHbzca4UREaM00pF2tPAuko4ck2Oodt1BoGjU54PBM9okxyUGt2qjUjdMkufAj32r32Gmp3QaVoO8gcOxs8emB3WpdpNxPZR-qIAXU8JgRbBOEzPIAywTS/w400-h305/2022%20Yellow%20paint%20tubes%20used%20for%20painting%20325KB.jpg" title=""Only Seven" photo ©2022 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: times;">The seven yellow paints I used to make my gem.</span><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I wasn't certain at first if I could get some of the greenish yellow tones I would need, but combining burnt umber with a cool cadmium yellow light and some white was the answer. <span style="color: #b45f06;">One of the best pieces of color mixing advice I ever received</span> was to include burnt umber, which normally looks like a dark cool brown, in the yellow family.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5C7GJFl3ZnjfdkmKp7x8XKctNkjzJ9Jn2XP-Qsvf9LTLj4zyExoyIxlhQvVRXAwB8fND7yyrrsj9RWdPcU1SqsFHM0VzF0Si3xtQ_vALIjWQ73zAPJRicpna025ZAgPVnJoomt1dVjkAo5SKQ2ZXD0gFrNq8MzLibxpL2F_q7jQ-8bUGkW_FxpAdt/s960/2022%20color%20swatch%20detail%20burnt%20umber.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Detail: burnt umber and gold variations plus the thirteen types of yellow in my paintbox. ©2022 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5C7GJFl3ZnjfdkmKp7x8XKctNkjzJ9Jn2XP-Qsvf9LTLj4zyExoyIxlhQvVRXAwB8fND7yyrrsj9RWdPcU1SqsFHM0VzF0Si3xtQ_vALIjWQ73zAPJRicpna025ZAgPVnJoomt1dVjkAo5SKQ2ZXD0gFrNq8MzLibxpL2F_q7jQ-8bUGkW_FxpAdt/w300-h400/2022%20color%20swatch%20detail%20burnt%20umber.jpg" title=""Surprising Differences!" Detail of color swatches, acrylic on paper, ©2022 Tina M.Welter 2022" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: times;">Detail: burnt umber and gold variations.</span><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">I've learned so much doing these color swatch studies and find that I refer to them again and again when choosing colors for a painting.</span> This time I learned that the two different brands of burnt umber I own look very different on paper, Liquitex brand is much cooler and the less expensive Daler-Rowney is much warmer. Also, I didn't know that adding white to the iridescent gold colors would make such pretty opaque cream colors. The shiny reflective quality goes away, but that cream color could be handy.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">It takes a little extra time and effort, but I highly recommend going on this useful color exploration journey. <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Happy Creating!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">>^-^<</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Tina<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Links to my other single color family deep dives:<br /><a href="https://tinawelter.blogspot.com/2021/" target="_blank">Into the Deep Purple</a></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://tinawelter.blogspot.com/2021/01/" target="_blank">Shades of Blue landscape</a> </span></span><br /></p>The Artist's Life Experimenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11009902581375900822noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725208163641483673.post-11542648846552882322022-08-31T22:33:00.000-07:002022-08-31T22:33:42.488-07:00A Walk In the Park<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">We feel very lucky to live in a neighborhood that has a nice large park within a few blocks of our apartment. There is a baseball diamond and a soccer field, but <span style="color: #cc0000;">my favorite feature</span> is the groups of trees planted around the edges of the park. <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiit4wsEn1Wlp0hVcQV1IUedO06XAs9gPlgGcRgl9W3grOsg4KKBcxplb26-z07HBE53wzlJDe8k53BeiIoy1te0t8wxTEHw3SVtqDcWln-tDP7_NqD9dsEcga7ALfLUm6mIkiSU9_rgh9SXGCepQ6EU0P0Ofx7_Yfzk0cy3jWxWt-NyEj_qrxGwdYl/s640/Sketch%20and%20Final.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Photo of sketch and final painting together. ©2022 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiit4wsEn1Wlp0hVcQV1IUedO06XAs9gPlgGcRgl9W3grOsg4KKBcxplb26-z07HBE53wzlJDe8k53BeiIoy1te0t8wxTEHw3SVtqDcWln-tDP7_NqD9dsEcga7ALfLUm6mIkiSU9_rgh9SXGCepQ6EU0P0Ofx7_Yfzk0cy3jWxWt-NyEj_qrxGwdYl/w300-h400/Sketch%20and%20Final.jpeg" title=""A Walk in the Park" sketch and final painting©2022 Tina M.Welter" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Beginning and the End</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"> I have always been a great admirer of trees.</span> As a young child I imagined the large ones growing on our farm had personalities, mostly friendly, but some seemed so old and ancient I often felt a bit anxious if I walked too close by them! All worries vanished at the end of the day though, when tucked in bed and listening to the soothing conversation of their rustling leaves at night, then it was only sounds of comfort and home.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2wdMBdv-2tY1-F7RjpPdYxZtnGIv2IISKtxx7MhgK7fFVsX-2K_yXaSqJnJQ1sv5-h0OHbnXrtCUu60qdjF5imQ4EL4JsUxRzN7LGwI66oFfiImoC7L5T27-vZdLDWl3hFXAJ4ujnzG0g5UaxY7rz7ILUqcJKMmHVA6CBzcN0HQsS-oeHEuUVuRKL/s640/IMG_9032.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Beginning a painting by blocking in the background colors. ©2022 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="463" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2wdMBdv-2tY1-F7RjpPdYxZtnGIv2IISKtxx7MhgK7fFVsX-2K_yXaSqJnJQ1sv5-h0OHbnXrtCUu60qdjF5imQ4EL4JsUxRzN7LGwI66oFfiImoC7L5T27-vZdLDWl3hFXAJ4ujnzG0g5UaxY7rz7ILUqcJKMmHVA6CBzcN0HQsS-oeHEuUVuRKL/w290-h400/IMG_9032.jpeg" title="First Brush Strokes, 5x7inches acrylic ©2022 Tina M.Welter" width="290" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In the beginning...</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> On one of our early morning walks around the park this summer, I had another one of those <span style="color: #cc0000;">"I must paint this moment"</span> inspirations. I came home and sketched out a drawing from the photo I took, I liked it so much I could envision a whole series of "A Walk Around the Park" paintings.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQW84IRExYaGI0q5n2ajyjHmpWaaB_sZ9b3SQWmwzWTEuSyms52lkf8K9qG1hqgsl4J938h0L5y5KwPIo_pUEgQtPgzptlWn3YLReFimFLguCMum2043A4K_HsRyCs9OQbZHUdQQyMrdgn6nn83yzR1rsffuvKn68kc0qRwA1Nna_sezzGaKIiajzW/s640/IMG_9033.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Almost every painting goes through an ugly stage. ©2022 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="462" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQW84IRExYaGI0q5n2ajyjHmpWaaB_sZ9b3SQWmwzWTEuSyms52lkf8K9qG1hqgsl4J938h0L5y5KwPIo_pUEgQtPgzptlWn3YLReFimFLguCMum2043A4K_HsRyCs9OQbZHUdQQyMrdgn6nn83yzR1rsffuvKn68kc0qRwA1Nna_sezzGaKIiajzW/w289-h400/IMG_9033.jpeg" title="Almost every painting goes through an ugly stage! 5x7 inch acrylic ©2022 Tina M. Welter" width="289" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Underlying structures often look strange.</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Life being life though, a previous commitment to finish a set of illustrations that are due this fall didn't leave me much time for personal painting projects.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-gimaGzl7z5gis_F16AvC9ajx7gXm3eTHB8omL4gyLAULTIc-8vcpmEyiieD9nBzJhhD_wUMFFt1lL-i888UW8y0UYZYN4jWi7VKEw278_x7-HWMwLmA8NWG8VeRTyNQ-9vxYSRNbRAkzP3-IICcwiyCIrXtKEczFhxT6J3IUw0QW6FGqe4VbySR-/s640/9037%20Mid%20tones%20in%20place.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Building up the layers of green on my acrylic painting. ©2022 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="460" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-gimaGzl7z5gis_F16AvC9ajx7gXm3eTHB8omL4gyLAULTIc-8vcpmEyiieD9nBzJhhD_wUMFFt1lL-i888UW8y0UYZYN4jWi7VKEw278_x7-HWMwLmA8NWG8VeRTyNQ-9vxYSRNbRAkzP3-IICcwiyCIrXtKEczFhxT6J3IUw0QW6FGqe4VbySR-/w288-h400/9037%20Mid%20tones%20in%20place.jpeg" title="Building up the color is my favorite part. 5x7 inch acrylic, ©2022 Tina M.Welter" width="288" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Putting more layers of color on those bones.</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I was determined to not let this sketch end up on the "projects that are never going to happen" pile, so </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I rearranged schedules and crammed in some precious painting hours. The laundry is still waiting...<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKRkXeARG8R6EfpOgra_ZaeSCXfCfUjkVcmNns0H1cO6vZRNf8iUjwmUx6RPMk87PEFxPrv561yyzM4-VZwz5o7UoFa3ebJb5ygoLmZw9BfJZcP-3QnxnWQkbJRcpCL7cpY1DTHNZHDSiq33gHaunvvJ9U-CFVoBZBFvkA5vyiTDvNVGzyNepYt3bY/s640/IMG_9042.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Painting of green summer trees in the park almost finished. ©2022 Tina M.Welter." border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="475" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKRkXeARG8R6EfpOgra_ZaeSCXfCfUjkVcmNns0H1cO6vZRNf8iUjwmUx6RPMk87PEFxPrv561yyzM4-VZwz5o7UoFa3ebJb5ygoLmZw9BfJZcP-3QnxnWQkbJRcpCL7cpY1DTHNZHDSiq33gHaunvvJ9U-CFVoBZBFvkA5vyiTDvNVGzyNepYt3bY/w298-h400/IMG_9042.jpeg" title="The finish line is close! 5x7 inch acrylic ©2022 Tina M.Welter" width="298" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Almost there!</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In honor of the last days of summer and all the lovely green world that inspires me, I'm happy to share with you "A Walk in the Park."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY2DFBYeFEtKPle4nXO8Mr9jCEaBqHPL1wAV4UkDerWGO-M5ps1EeKVXT2rPUO9IiaBMWMt9YTX7Lej-tfnhj3w6h3Sap8gohhDobpJOn3o_bBoNs1DPvow916B21JrYgSGdnI0oXSrlAdNiaBDTeSCnM-1A_9fGMI0_0maWbdr0NT3iBfQJfE9zJ0/s640/IMG_9047.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Painting of early morning sun through summer trees at my local park. ©2022 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="458" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY2DFBYeFEtKPle4nXO8Mr9jCEaBqHPL1wAV4UkDerWGO-M5ps1EeKVXT2rPUO9IiaBMWMt9YTX7Lej-tfnhj3w6h3Sap8gohhDobpJOn3o_bBoNs1DPvow916B21JrYgSGdnI0oXSrlAdNiaBDTeSCnM-1A_9fGMI0_0maWbdr0NT3iBfQJfE9zJ0/w286-h400/IMG_9047.jpeg" title=""A Walk in the Park" 5x7 inch acrylic ©2022 Tina M.Welter" width="286" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Shadows and light dancing!</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">This scene still makes my heart sing, even as a rushed, imperfect artwork interpretation of that lovely summer morning.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Don't let go of those moments that inspire you!<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Happy Creating >^-^< </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Tina<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span><br /></p>The Artist's Life Experimenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11009902581375900822noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725208163641483673.post-79578644944133657502022-07-31T22:43:00.002-07:002022-07-31T22:43:57.199-07:00Learning to Love Landscapes<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ1_qkTrHPuMcwbySjXGNIcmoXGXnyKpDfl7XQ55H1-QkGFP3XtxkhsfPsTmn24cOw_qOyhfNAq-2FyrmfIvoO7fESzb7p7NiSm9nV-Vmkxh4-cDRNJgVyJFg_2WfXIvrHgUsZM5kOhk4tuH0CAFrlFGrew7any6I2m8Q79BXVD1O9B33rqXL49OLU/s450/2022%20June%20View%20From%20My%20Kitchen%20Window%20painting%20136KB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Summer morning light casting shadows from trees. Acrylic painting ©2022 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="321" data-original-width="450" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ1_qkTrHPuMcwbySjXGNIcmoXGXnyKpDfl7XQ55H1-QkGFP3XtxkhsfPsTmn24cOw_qOyhfNAq-2FyrmfIvoO7fESzb7p7NiSm9nV-Vmkxh4-cDRNJgVyJFg_2WfXIvrHgUsZM5kOhk4tuH0CAFrlFGrew7any6I2m8Q79BXVD1O9B33rqXL49OLU/w400-h285/2022%20June%20View%20From%20My%20Kitchen%20Window%20painting%20136KB.jpg" title=""View from My Kitchen Window" 5x7 inch acrylic on canvas panel, ©2021 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Unlike many artists, I rarely felt the desire to paint landscapes,</span> I'm actually not certain why. I've taken many photographs of wonderful views but haven't very often felt that irresistible pull to put paint to canvas to capture it. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I have painted a few okay landscapes over the years, but also a couple attempts in the past led me to decide that landscape painting was just not my thing. A particular sunrise sky with clouds comes to mind...ugh, I never got that thing right!<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4q5FmNY8iNeIoenfNGW-3FIVJ6HQY62YE5xgVcAmXf1QqqgtGhD3qlGWAbqILfr03kl_pSDMlE1T4oQrzNK1oBs8QxiKr5-LiMS-fDB4lpL3rIvB_z8Fuokfg7vb2m4og3Z281cIXaZb6_DtXDp0KhpNzpebfd7Ynh01yHmJeujSlbREbf-v7Qlam/s736/2021%20Landscape%20photo%20from%20Alan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photo of green and yellow fields and blue sky. ©2021 Alan Manning" border="0" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="736" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4q5FmNY8iNeIoenfNGW-3FIVJ6HQY62YE5xgVcAmXf1QqqgtGhD3qlGWAbqILfr03kl_pSDMlE1T4oQrzNK1oBs8QxiKr5-LiMS-fDB4lpL3rIvB_z8Fuokfg7vb2m4og3Z281cIXaZb6_DtXDp0KhpNzpebfd7Ynh01yHmJeujSlbREbf-v7Qlam/w400-h266/2021%20Landscape%20photo%20from%20Alan.jpg" title="Summer fields and sky photo ©2021 Alan Manning" width="400" /></a></span></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Last fall, my brother asked me to paint a landscape for him from this photo. With only one point perspective, no buildings and no trees, I felt I could manage it although the clouds did make me a bit nervous.</span></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheC9hXze4NV8bsrRtrxmv7x-rwnPmaFxuPcB_ftMPii7197J3eRHuisI2eLQW66KzRsHNUfFG6WhE1A3xpU1g7I_tv955ZED2yoJowDq-_jfOPCrT0fki6WpNPwxwonqG3SjaDB6Cq9ikr5V84nGWTGBCbhGP8MalhtXz1CISVfAKxpBOaBftDkMsr/s640/2021%20Color%20Sketch%20Happy%20Travels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Color sketch of summer fields and sky. ©2021 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheC9hXze4NV8bsrRtrxmv7x-rwnPmaFxuPcB_ftMPii7197J3eRHuisI2eLQW66KzRsHNUfFG6WhE1A3xpU1g7I_tv955ZED2yoJowDq-_jfOPCrT0fki6WpNPwxwonqG3SjaDB6Cq9ikr5V84nGWTGBCbhGP8MalhtXz1CISVfAKxpBOaBftDkMsr/w400-h300/2021%20Color%20Sketch%20Happy%20Travels.jpg" title="Sketch book, first version of "Happy Travels" ©2021 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /> After making my usual color sketch to figure out the palette and the basic layout I was encouraged. Plus it helped me see where I could improve the painting.</span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirT_q2jazpbCCBkO1IlrWkiZw3SLAp5rNRhDg_IoDiTgnLQD8DFv84-VmV-7vWHaXEI1s4bDlz8fyfrwneOX4xOAw14RoCCzKQqLyz08e8snOZeYq0qt0Rnwvvc6hyWWcg3ovVdwle8jAPYz_VNCLoqq1aUwvckar8quAurfuYA5ky90Y9a6yRIq0S/s504/2021%20Happy%20Travels%20painting%20for%20Alan%2078KB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="One point perspective painting of road, summer fields and sky. ©2021 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="356" data-original-width="504" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirT_q2jazpbCCBkO1IlrWkiZw3SLAp5rNRhDg_IoDiTgnLQD8DFv84-VmV-7vWHaXEI1s4bDlz8fyfrwneOX4xOAw14RoCCzKQqLyz08e8snOZeYq0qt0Rnwvvc6hyWWcg3ovVdwle8jAPYz_VNCLoqq1aUwvckar8quAurfuYA5ky90Y9a6yRIq0S/w400-h283/2021%20Happy%20Travels%20painting%20for%20Alan%2078KB.jpg" title=""Happy Travels" 5x7 inch acylic on 140lb cold press paper, ©2021 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"Happy Travels"</span></span> <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The final painting came out pretty nice. I still wasn't itching to paint more landscapes, but it was a great feeling to know my skills have improved over the years and it was possible for me to paint this simple one successfully.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHQvWTHz0M_n9-isJyCvqljXjsnrbHgBlE2BxKpQsMb52FULG5UlIt4vj2ZoPs_Ltbsfb7d5-XcYfyiC9BodkmGD8dWYjdKxWiTijKVCXIY5k4HVs_I-lK9ijvVExBDe81itxryV_ya7rP0rP3KZ071JnY655ydlO-lHP1j31YjlawBS2c4yYrdrAn/s640/2022%20June%20View%20from%20my%20Window%20photo%20Tina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Summer trees and shadows in the lot across the road. Photo ©2022 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHQvWTHz0M_n9-isJyCvqljXjsnrbHgBlE2BxKpQsMb52FULG5UlIt4vj2ZoPs_Ltbsfb7d5-XcYfyiC9BodkmGD8dWYjdKxWiTijKVCXIY5k4HVs_I-lK9ijvVExBDe81itxryV_ya7rP0rP3KZ071JnY655ydlO-lHP1j31YjlawBS2c4yYrdrAn/w400-h300/2022%20June%20View%20from%20my%20Window%20photo%20Tina.jpg" title="View from my kitchen. Photo ©2022 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></span></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> <span style="color: #cc0000;">June of 2022, I had the strangest thing happen.</span> This early morning view out of my kitchen window captivated me. It was the pattern of shadows and the way the light was making the green tree leaves glow. I finally felt the call of the landscape, I absolutely had to paint it!</span></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN4B3LENvVI5GEL9RJ9a1sTWCzfwOPofm6b_nRvX6QqMNnANQ0RtnRolMyKsXHY5-S31Emz5Y2wef8ib4sNkpiCZnkgJrBAveRhDi8gQlbjxxGKwK7PQQYdw_kwB1hGeISCN9do3dIL3Pk6Ng_l__stw-lNqiT018CJuhNgJ-91W0M_fGuV_HXDZXK/s640/2022%20June%20View%20Pencil%20Sketch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Value study drawing in pencil of trees and shadows. ©2022 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN4B3LENvVI5GEL9RJ9a1sTWCzfwOPofm6b_nRvX6QqMNnANQ0RtnRolMyKsXHY5-S31Emz5Y2wef8ib4sNkpiCZnkgJrBAveRhDi8gQlbjxxGKwK7PQQYdw_kwB1hGeISCN9do3dIL3Pk6Ng_l__stw-lNqiT018CJuhNgJ-91W0M_fGuV_HXDZXK/w400-h300/2022%20June%20View%20Pencil%20Sketch.jpg" title="My sketchbook value study of trees and shadows. ©2022 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></span></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">This year, instead of going straight to color sketches, I have been making simple value studies of all my subjects first. I am finding they are a great tool to simplify and get to the heart of what is working in a composition before adding color. When the black and white sketch still feels interesting, I know I am onto something good!</span></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqPtvOhkjJYNEjCD896cAz9ZGJPF_Icfto83JjO75oZESGOUTOV6F3jfiCZIZ2rVQKIw7iR-pxzJD9uUhc9O-g9Ztz_-0M6ERg2AFAE85NoNK-JnlYJjsOz23ec1GFm_DI-sBH9AAYfolfZ67zdtqJCXWyoold_keObE2rGKA6teW6DVlvKzVQw_Zq/s550/2022%20June%20View%20From%20My%20Kitchen%20Window%20painting%20186KB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Summer morning light casting shadows from trees. Acrylic painting ©2022 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="393" data-original-width="550" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqPtvOhkjJYNEjCD896cAz9ZGJPF_Icfto83JjO75oZESGOUTOV6F3jfiCZIZ2rVQKIw7iR-pxzJD9uUhc9O-g9Ztz_-0M6ERg2AFAE85NoNK-JnlYJjsOz23ec1GFm_DI-sBH9AAYfolfZ67zdtqJCXWyoold_keObE2rGKA6teW6DVlvKzVQw_Zq/w400-h286/2022%20June%20View%20From%20My%20Kitchen%20Window%20painting%20186KB.jpg" title=""View from My Kitchen Window" 5x7 inch acrylic on canvas panel, ©2021 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"View from My Kitchen Window"</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I have also been watching several landscape painting classes on YouTube, specifically Mastering Composition by Ian Roberts. After watching his <a href="https://youtu.be/oarD2omvNIE" target="_blank">How to Use Color Temperature</a> video, I followed his instructions and boom, it actually felt like a bit like magic as this great little painting came together for me. </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">I was feeling so encouraged, I decided to <i>offer</i> to paint a landscape for my sister.</span> She sent me two of her favorite vistas and told me I could choose which one I wanted to paint.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieEutSNy6Q62Lc6hBNBp-cfYacpcNy3TuzcEb7yFJHiKv8a9bew4VjgML1WP45uyfPxknD-DflJhWh267EB_gHVdgwJ-joMgGk326g68M7cJ5BkaFMUTqGNPsPxbwPxnFHiFiWrgEMxqaWuXY9zrJuJsXO4lv2tFREypAkAgff25SjJCzGHsMiHehd/s640/2022%20Landscape%20photo%20%201%20from%20Evelyn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Red rock cliffs and snow capped mountains in Southern Utah. Photo ©2022 Evelyn Waldron" border="0" data-original-height="456" data-original-width="640" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieEutSNy6Q62Lc6hBNBp-cfYacpcNy3TuzcEb7yFJHiKv8a9bew4VjgML1WP45uyfPxknD-DflJhWh267EB_gHVdgwJ-joMgGk326g68M7cJ5BkaFMUTqGNPsPxbwPxnFHiFiWrgEMxqaWuXY9zrJuJsXO4lv2tFREypAkAgff25SjJCzGHsMiHehd/w400-h285/2022%20Landscape%20photo%20%201%20from%20Evelyn.jpg" title="View from Green Springs Drive. Photo ©2022 Evelyn Waldron" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Landscape one.</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPLCZgNq7PW0JqCpJJ6u9_wYmqp7Ile59C7H25nOlKvhfLq96v-qf1vii-eO852ASCaySjTEKsC5I9AJ6rvG9umnOCzc8hoIlYRMlWdYglmA1SObJqwI94DI48QPITr1yixT1itVLAEEAdWWvMmhyMb8BC8DhWkPZ4V90tbqBx08B3l2Bxm1QoZY3/s640/2022%20Landscape%20photo%202%20Evelyn.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Red rock cliffs, snow capped mountain and yucca bush in Southern Utah. Photo ©2022 Evelyn Waldron" border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPLCZgNq7PW0JqCpJJ6u9_wYmqp7Ile59C7H25nOlKvhfLq96v-qf1vii-eO852ASCaySjTEKsC5I9AJ6rvG9umnOCzc8hoIlYRMlWdYglmA1SObJqwI94DI48QPITr1yixT1itVLAEEAdWWvMmhyMb8BC8DhWkPZ4V90tbqBx08B3l2Bxm1QoZY3/w300-h400/2022%20Landscape%20photo%202%20Evelyn.jpeg" title="View from Quail Ridge Drive. Photo ©2022 Evelyn Waldron" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Landscape two.</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> <br /></span></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv8KcX1HPuu75qF5pKB2QWQd0toLeSK3GXjpBLtCdZ7bkhMZwrwdKAEChEQbGv_EMIQ6WFY6dvUZA1zOyGsJS7mL1c88AEZ-IGkUlEJbV4NYEI9cbK8STpsOKpe7slqOHmtOhzkRjGiXS5p8hmwc_nQGzet4UnF5pVYAyxlT6z37D1Yumk5uNN6PEA/s640/2022%20Landscape%20for%20Evelyn%20Pencil%20Sketches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Two value studies in pencil and wash. ©2022 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="411" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv8KcX1HPuu75qF5pKB2QWQd0toLeSK3GXjpBLtCdZ7bkhMZwrwdKAEChEQbGv_EMIQ6WFY6dvUZA1zOyGsJS7mL1c88AEZ-IGkUlEJbV4NYEI9cbK8STpsOKpe7slqOHmtOhzkRjGiXS5p8hmwc_nQGzet4UnF5pVYAyxlT6z37D1Yumk5uNN6PEA/w258-h400/2022%20Landscape%20for%20Evelyn%20Pencil%20Sketches.jpg" title="My sketchbook value studies in watersoluble pencil. ©2022 Tina M.Welter" width="258" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Hmmm, which one to choose! I was having a really hard time deciding between them and the value studies helped me clarify what elements I felt were resonating with me and that made it easier to decide what direction to go.</span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Of course this involved plenty of color palette testing too. <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-SWBMVXRn-2tmeT0FAU4RmgFYiXWgb-nNCyww78ztlHdHHvdojXL9eO4h1OhkUWtQoaRw9oeGcZUGoAKyNJGpN8LukcNviqHPgtBSghCDIO4Qh0KH4ulzJcrpASMO6n84yhtSxNsN8WTMuHTthzu3pN7y-BU_--3bCvKWY1gv-9aZauKWiJcauCU/s640/2022%20Landscape%20for%20Evelyn%20Color%20swatches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Landscape value study and palette test. ©2022 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="640" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-SWBMVXRn-2tmeT0FAU4RmgFYiXWgb-nNCyww78ztlHdHHvdojXL9eO4h1OhkUWtQoaRw9oeGcZUGoAKyNJGpN8LukcNviqHPgtBSghCDIO4Qh0KH4ulzJcrpASMO6n84yhtSxNsN8WTMuHTthzu3pN7y-BU_--3bCvKWY1gv-9aZauKWiJcauCU/w400-h331/2022%20Landscape%20for%20Evelyn%20Color%20swatches.jpg" title="My sketchbook value study and palette test. ©2022 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /> <br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLFstMmmxmeliuMq9RTujDPdsBsB2AwMRe6_mZamZPy_7wJ-N1066yeehjZukxrRoVBHwPP8QM1ocF1lEt3O1ojlXvXaM5HxAOYjdWCtNcRchqkaT4CoW4GBmY_do55YUJAX9dg0SusghTbE9FaXQjrevq4lHCnwWNzvPRlYw1phsAjDt867sYfRP7/s504/2022%20View%20from%20Green%20Springs%20Drive%20painting%20%C2%A92022%20Tina%20M%20Welter%2067KB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Acrylic painting of sage, red rock cliffs and snow capped mountain in Southern Utah. ©2022 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="357" data-original-width="504" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLFstMmmxmeliuMq9RTujDPdsBsB2AwMRe6_mZamZPy_7wJ-N1066yeehjZukxrRoVBHwPP8QM1ocF1lEt3O1ojlXvXaM5HxAOYjdWCtNcRchqkaT4CoW4GBmY_do55YUJAX9dg0SusghTbE9FaXQjrevq4lHCnwWNzvPRlYw1phsAjDt867sYfRP7/w400-h284/2022%20View%20from%20Green%20Springs%20Drive%20painting%20%C2%A92022%20Tina%20M%20Welter%2067KB.jpg" title=""View from Green Springs Drive" 5x7 inch acrylic on 140lb cold press paper, ©2022 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"View from Green Springs Drive"</span></span> <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> My value sketches were pretty rough, but the essence of that wonderful dark and light contrast on the red cliffs still came through as the focal point of the painting. I'm really pleased with the outcome and yes, I think I may be learning to love painting landscapes. I've already had a few more calling to me...</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Definitely a reminder to keep that creative ear open, you might hear an unexpected Muse! </span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Happy creating!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">>^-^<</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Tina<br /> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Ian Roberts Mastering Composition<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://youtu.be/oarD2omvNIE" target="_blank">How to use Color Temperature</a></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Another favorite YouTube Teacher:</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Paint Coach</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://youtu.be/Bsf3zpMmzI8" target="_blank">Seven Reasons Students Struggle Painting Landscapes</a> </span></span><br /></p><p></p>The Artist's Life Experimenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11009902581375900822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725208163641483673.post-27411972587461406122022-05-31T23:45:00.004-07:002022-06-15T13:56:08.883-07:00Focusing on Green - Steps for Dealing with Emotional Overwhelm. <p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH_toZhVY84AvAg0MuH003zvtL1CX28nxHgzCNGS6R7L-sJaH0skuoJVNSyEjJCHGiPcq_GpsVnBWQ8J0G6DmguCPlwmGtjuj62OkfconjZYhlLW3bc29hC8D6NqJINrq6g8LBj3Ao7u0TQ_3g3mjR7J5KliWejgknm-t38xuB8xrFqylLGK2XuvKj/s640/Green%20Leaves%20BW%20only%20%C2%A92022TinaMWelter.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Painting sketch of light through green leaves. ©2022 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="625" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH_toZhVY84AvAg0MuH003zvtL1CX28nxHgzCNGS6R7L-sJaH0skuoJVNSyEjJCHGiPcq_GpsVnBWQ8J0G6DmguCPlwmGtjuj62OkfconjZYhlLW3bc29hC8D6NqJINrq6g8LBj3Ao7u0TQ_3g3mjR7J5KliWejgknm-t38xuB8xrFqylLGK2XuvKj/w313-h320/Green%20Leaves%20BW%20only%20%C2%A92022TinaMWelter.jpg" title="Spring Green 1, painting sketch ©2022 Tina M.Welter" width="313" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Spring Green mini sketch.</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">I only have a very small garden space, but it is a much loved oasis of calm for me.<br /> </span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJ1WBeFTIoYV8Ga9hGQamKP2xrwd46YAaqFTWuJqj2LNjGmRLWmAMaQzgcP2y1CwB-yGQwce5SnJ-xzdN_sa6EZB9nzJxDx5u1slsuf_t-KQEZLUQGQYNwNozi-goRsUyZYy4tw3db1ZHLIUZvq7nQCnGURS7Kank7cJYF_ZvTFX9e5-X3Um8q-AT/s640/Iris%20leaves%C2%A92022%20TinaMWelter.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sunlight through iris leaves, photo©2022 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJ1WBeFTIoYV8Ga9hGQamKP2xrwd46YAaqFTWuJqj2LNjGmRLWmAMaQzgcP2y1CwB-yGQwce5SnJ-xzdN_sa6EZB9nzJxDx5u1slsuf_t-KQEZLUQGQYNwNozi-goRsUyZYy4tw3db1ZHLIUZvq7nQCnGURS7Kank7cJYF_ZvTFX9e5-X3Um8q-AT/w300-h400/Iris%20leaves%C2%A92022%20TinaMWelter.jpg" title="Iris leaves, photo©2022 Tina M.Welter" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Iris</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Artists often have the ability of being very empathetic people which is a great gift to have, but the downside of being an empathetic person is that it is hard not to take in the suffering of others in such a way that you can't function yourself.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqB8eUhKv7amLTDXVlh83YEwhlKUiyStsvGZWtGNUkEAyYrX7cfdrCRDMDl2x4wX3hL5Cfc_JYHr2BNckNkEhSVNpK2vnLw5DTOCb9dBmw22oyO9Wlgjh-dp4LSFV3LKbXoqObUaxRf7mUzVfZLztJ1qHVwVEoP43TYbQYprKVeGHEps4CDmN7gnp/s640/Nasturtium%20leaf%20topside%20%C2%A92022TinaMWelter.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Close up of a stripey nasturtium leaf. Photo©2022 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqB8eUhKv7amLTDXVlh83YEwhlKUiyStsvGZWtGNUkEAyYrX7cfdrCRDMDl2x4wX3hL5Cfc_JYHr2BNckNkEhSVNpK2vnLw5DTOCb9dBmw22oyO9Wlgjh-dp4LSFV3LKbXoqObUaxRf7mUzVfZLztJ1qHVwVEoP43TYbQYprKVeGHEps4CDmN7gnp/w320-h320/Nasturtium%20leaf%20topside%20%C2%A92022TinaMWelter.jpg" title="Stripey nasturtium leaf, Photo©2022 Tina M.Welter" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Nasturtium</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Knowing this about myself, I already try
to limit social media and news time, but sometimes even with those
limitations I still find myself absorbing and getting emotionally wrapped up in the loss and pain going on in the world.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ZgF-w2nnh2rXACievp7WHlQIVt1qstCB4gCvADBHIRnxZ92dDhnJ0sF2Q5Z-sud9oLfmBGCoyh8tyc--zKpCSqqa5jDXMe_UKiSb83o-Ysz0whfYK57hvvk1Gy0qzXuzAAaQMwHsugUuA_laZf1Y_TnwfDAXK4gi0x8bjZW906LjrcbQ-renwZrt/s640/Gallardia%20leaves%20%C2%A92022TinaMWelter.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Glowing sunset light through Gaillardia leaves. Photo©2022 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ZgF-w2nnh2rXACievp7WHlQIVt1qstCB4gCvADBHIRnxZ92dDhnJ0sF2Q5Z-sud9oLfmBGCoyh8tyc--zKpCSqqa5jDXMe_UKiSb83o-Ysz0whfYK57hvvk1Gy0qzXuzAAaQMwHsugUuA_laZf1Y_TnwfDAXK4gi0x8bjZW906LjrcbQ-renwZrt/w300-h400/Gallardia%20leaves%20%C2%A92022TinaMWelter.jpg" title="Glowing sunset light through Gaillardia leaves. Photo©2022 Tina M.Welter" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Gaillardia - Blanket Flower</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I'm used to feeling
sad about things I can't control, but after several awful events these
last couple of weeks I was finding it extra difficult. I felt so
overwhelmed, angry and powerless that those emotions were consuming my thoughts day and night. </span></span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTm7MLUZuQsUZo0LWkGJnpf1qoIP5gIs-cexCfd227-FXAt5CpTbmJ_a_A3U62jqllEz9j5PWiZtHlD3IL38X8Mc9eANlcFM2AyJvDMQ4WsF0S4mT6Ufk_6Kqwuf_nvcqRxqqD0N0CtVCLWrWj1653aGYQPHB03Y_GzeC6GccQu74vOYsLX7gG5q-S/s640/Strawberry%20leaves%20%C2%A92022TinaMWelter.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sunset light through strawberry leaves. Photo ©2022 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="501" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTm7MLUZuQsUZo0LWkGJnpf1qoIP5gIs-cexCfd227-FXAt5CpTbmJ_a_A3U62jqllEz9j5PWiZtHlD3IL38X8Mc9eANlcFM2AyJvDMQ4WsF0S4mT6Ufk_6Kqwuf_nvcqRxqqD0N0CtVCLWrWj1653aGYQPHB03Y_GzeC6GccQu74vOYsLX7gG5q-S/w314-h400/Strawberry%20leaves%20%C2%A92022TinaMWelter.jpg" title="Sunset light through strawberry leaves. Photo ©2022 Tina M.Welter" width="314" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Strawberry</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I realize it seems illogical and a waste of energy to feel so bad when I'm not being directly hurt myself, so it
was actually a relief when I</span></span> happened to see a recent article from the Los Angeles Times that addressed this issue.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here is the actual list I wrote down for myself after reading what the featured therapists had to say. <br /></span></span></p><ol><li><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pay attention to physical and emotional warning signs that you need to take a break. Notice sensations of outrage, terror, overwhelm, despondency or numbness. </span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">You must stop and process these feelings. Don't flood yourself with new images and coverage. <br /></span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Digest the stressful build up of these emotions by any type of healthy movement, writing, talking to people you trust. (For me, a good solid cry also helps.)<br /></span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Take action </u>in positive ways that are within your reach.<br /></span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Do something kind and good where you are.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Start small. </span></span></li></ol><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Since now I know I am not the only person that may be struggling, I decided that sharing what I learned along with featuring some photos from my little green oasis would be one small positive thing I could do. <br /></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivgXIE-dtu_y6id-vDbpES7HIJ0RARz-bfOe4zlFrars1gaAsu3uLr1wGZONLrENm0OD_LNFu0yWD6vkqP3tfWFQCplW3dYFBd7h8nDDPkt02HZkeTd9N648BEf1yfCbHz-cTFNXNtUrvBcq2_kax6_ps8GWXrggPl4Hq8jyaUUxQYQFpyZyI3LKjH/s640/Leaf%20paintings%20in%20notebook%C2%A92022TinaMWelter.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sketchbook, sunlight through leaves.©2022 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivgXIE-dtu_y6id-vDbpES7HIJ0RARz-bfOe4zlFrars1gaAsu3uLr1wGZONLrENm0OD_LNFu0yWD6vkqP3tfWFQCplW3dYFBd7h8nDDPkt02HZkeTd9N648BEf1yfCbHz-cTFNXNtUrvBcq2_kax6_ps8GWXrggPl4Hq8jyaUUxQYQFpyZyI3LKjH/w400-h300/Leaf%20paintings%20in%20notebook%C2%A92022TinaMWelter.jpg" title="Sunlight through leaves, acrylic on paper,©2022 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">My Sketchbook</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">When I feel </span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">distressed it's actually harder for me to make art. My mind bombards me with thoughts that art making is pointless and self-indulgent and does very little to improve this brutal world. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">After processing some of those heavy emotions I could silence some of that negativity and focus on creating again. I like how these little sketches featuring sunlight through green leaves turned out. I would like to make a larger version to go on my wall as a reminder of how the green world calmly goes about growing a little at a time. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Even small changes towards good make a difference.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">>^-^<</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tina <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">p.s. Here is a link to the full article if you would like to read it.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-05-28/from-buffalo-to-uvalde-with-secondary-trauma-of-mass-shootings" target="_blank">Los Angeles Times - Coping with secondary trauma.</a><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p></p>The Artist's Life Experimenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11009902581375900822noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725208163641483673.post-30899702618416692352022-04-30T17:59:00.000-07:002022-04-30T17:59:48.168-07:00A Tale of Two Paintings - Which one would you choose?<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKE3v_yGHJ6TV6yq77gOPb6UIgqLCXCT4PGEr3bpTQHXJdAhzaEJWc3xcHBiLHGhY5ZXXYtRGcBtp6HzcIUI6VYqts4r4nGq37necdRub-E6ts2kkfudrzqqFpNBy8pYYVX5Ow5IW1ErK2R2S9uk81_WlruJmQiI0WN-JI0YUtf2ywGbZxhV3Q3hrz/s1008/A%20Tale%20of%20Two%20Paintings%20Left%20Loose%20-%20Right%20Tight%20JPEG%20327KB%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Comparing two paintings of pink and yellow tulips, ©2022 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="684" data-original-width="1008" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKE3v_yGHJ6TV6yq77gOPb6UIgqLCXCT4PGEr3bpTQHXJdAhzaEJWc3xcHBiLHGhY5ZXXYtRGcBtp6HzcIUI6VYqts4r4nGq37necdRub-E6ts2kkfudrzqqFpNBy8pYYVX5Ow5IW1ErK2R2S9uk81_WlruJmQiI0WN-JI0YUtf2ywGbZxhV3Q3hrz/w400-h271/A%20Tale%20of%20Two%20Paintings%20Left%20Loose%20-%20Right%20Tight%20JPEG%20327KB%20.jpg" title="Spring Color 2.5x3.5 inches Springtime in Oregon 5x7 inches ©2022Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Loose versus Detailed.</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I often make color sketches of a subject before I make a final painting.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_kxbrFbII5_W9pex2didhcyG2814LG9OgqnOwu6DYAEesKj_yY2FOs9mXA8Kd3pw6hxIxwwgFqtCc-jMfU2x-pfERm7FxZXF_rnYMWbZY1MXeDuo86L8LkIC3DOFdYuFeZhXg5538zEc8Cb96Nl3yvxLZTYAE38hhB0-HGY-sotxOxJtMgztwJbC/s1280/Spring%20Color%20and%20Springtime%20in%20Oregon%20paintings%C2%A92022%20TinaMWelter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Comparing sketchbook painting and final painting of pink and yellow tulips. ©2022 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="976" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_kxbrFbII5_W9pex2didhcyG2814LG9OgqnOwu6DYAEesKj_yY2FOs9mXA8Kd3pw6hxIxwwgFqtCc-jMfU2x-pfERm7FxZXF_rnYMWbZY1MXeDuo86L8LkIC3DOFdYuFeZhXg5538zEc8Cb96Nl3yvxLZTYAE38hhB0-HGY-sotxOxJtMgztwJbC/w305-h400/Spring%20Color%20and%20Springtime%20in%20Oregon%20paintings%C2%A92022%20TinaMWelter.jpg" title="Comparing Sketchbook and final painting©2022 Tina M.Welter" width="305" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sketchbook and Final Painting.</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span></p><p><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Overall, I liked how the final
painting turned out, but when I was photographing it in hopes of getting
it printed as a greeting card, I wasn't quite satisfied. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I decided to take a good close-up photo of my sketchbook and compare them.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimh4nPb22iyY2k14wOi9dKTBvSdcsJtnFpZjzLMkHhPYVcYAiwnQvuEjNJj9MCFIKfszVogSnf0o18ajLakTb5JPNccdfFPHH2L-B88kXCUS9BrxyUVSGCBSR_F7XDN-BSvfZ5X6mX1PngrDTjUHkKfKHFMRc4LYMOu6RGGLWjOSckfuq-RMcthn5U/s1008/Compare%20detail%20LsideCard%20JPEG%20257KB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Comparing pink tulip sketch with final painting.©2022 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="785" data-original-width="1008" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimh4nPb22iyY2k14wOi9dKTBvSdcsJtnFpZjzLMkHhPYVcYAiwnQvuEjNJj9MCFIKfszVogSnf0o18ajLakTb5JPNccdfFPHH2L-B88kXCUS9BrxyUVSGCBSR_F7XDN-BSvfZ5X6mX1PngrDTjUHkKfKHFMRc4LYMOu6RGGLWjOSckfuq-RMcthn5U/w400-h311/Compare%20detail%20LsideCard%20JPEG%20257KB.jpg" title="Comparing pink tulip sketch with final painting.©2022 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Soft edges versus lovely color variations.</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Even though I loved
the way I caught the subtle glow of colors on the final painting, I was
completely drawn to the sense of flower-like softness in the sketchbook
painting.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQEk0HUG7NL6GUiSDHm_x6Ty9zlr0OEZXVzAipptN0upXmNmR6tt9Mt_M4Yv-HP2UDbt1peo5AWF8mzOPkOv7sxz3XvrorBD56S1VvupKgGZUcnj8qH1hN1pmZRRz-KLDm2nCvTy5x2cg3WtXSjvCVDIHlcpgaogFdXsPmtXXHZ1gTK78_-uFdPTps/s1008/Compare%20detail%20bottomRsidecard%20JPEG%20214KB%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Comparing pink and yellow tulip painting detail.©2022 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="635" data-original-width="1008" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQEk0HUG7NL6GUiSDHm_x6Ty9zlr0OEZXVzAipptN0upXmNmR6tt9Mt_M4Yv-HP2UDbt1peo5AWF8mzOPkOv7sxz3XvrorBD56S1VvupKgGZUcnj8qH1hN1pmZRRz-KLDm2nCvTy5x2cg3WtXSjvCVDIHlcpgaogFdXsPmtXXHZ1gTK78_-uFdPTps/w400-h253/Compare%20detail%20bottomRsidecard%20JPEG%20214KB%20.jpg" title="Comparing pink and yellow tulip painting detail.©2022 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Impression versus more Realistic</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I do like the
realistic, detailed way I painted the tulip and leaves but I have been
bothered for awhile with a sense of stiffness that I don't like in my paintings. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqXRm8KDamyp4rzPlTmm7oLwpvLVqbTOKfASPNCQp3IzpgYf8aHdNhMVa-8CIREcwYDdS0B6zaRqvEFD2bF8GbtCiGNENtUhMaps_tm72lApNdl4OFj06BofdcP3KkuFWLEQdtmhp82yHffVnyBYBjHwWEJSLY0gFrTOPgW6QQ-pzhQWU_z35KScjy/s1152/Compare%20detail%20TopRsidecard%20JPEG%20248KB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Comparing paintings of pink and yellow tulips.©2022 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="769" data-original-width="1152" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqXRm8KDamyp4rzPlTmm7oLwpvLVqbTOKfASPNCQp3IzpgYf8aHdNhMVa-8CIREcwYDdS0B6zaRqvEFD2bF8GbtCiGNENtUhMaps_tm72lApNdl4OFj06BofdcP3KkuFWLEQdtmhp82yHffVnyBYBjHwWEJSLY0gFrTOPgW6QQ-pzhQWU_z35KScjy/w400-h268/Compare%20detail%20TopRsidecard%20JPEG%20248KB.jpg" title="Comparing paintings of pink and yellow tulips.©2022 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Great brushstrokes versus accurate tulip shapes.</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> I've struggled with
finding a way to address this problem and now perhaps these tiny
paintings have given me a road map to get me going in the right direction.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The question will be if I can learn to let go of painting some of those wonderful details in a larger format! I dearly love painting the details.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">So, which one did you like best? I did choose one to be printed and will let you know how it turned out.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Happy Creating!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">>^-^<</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Tina<br /></span></span></p>The Artist's Life Experimenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11009902581375900822noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725208163641483673.post-19766399086775293132022-03-31T21:43:00.000-07:002022-03-31T21:43:02.675-07:00Remember the Pink Tulip<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgitl9XCRJ9W4dUO-euAwzfYMuP-6OAoBGtFKkEry4THg5eCt2mHChXZT6Uecv4XfbRvPZ4Tu-1DCEygylUlFz3CWd1mZDs3vtacjAP7Cl57WH4b2lYGsJs-Y-5ngxBdriFRMkrKP4INLVd8snN73WxE6flXHXwvp_2PEepy4Cg2mz4BjpjWNu5H8fH/s431/2022%20pink%20tulip%20painting%C2%A9TinaMWelter%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Single pink tulip miniature painting ©2022 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="431" data-original-width="305" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgitl9XCRJ9W4dUO-euAwzfYMuP-6OAoBGtFKkEry4THg5eCt2mHChXZT6Uecv4XfbRvPZ4Tu-1DCEygylUlFz3CWd1mZDs3vtacjAP7Cl57WH4b2lYGsJs-Y-5ngxBdriFRMkrKP4INLVd8snN73WxE6flXHXwvp_2PEepy4Cg2mz4BjpjWNu5H8fH/w283-h400/2022%20pink%20tulip%20painting%C2%A9TinaMWelter%20.jpg" title=""Remember" 2.5x3.5 inches, acrylic on paper, ©2022 Tina M.Welter" width="283" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Miniature painting - acrylic on paper.</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Back in spring of 2019 we bought one of those cute potted tulips at the grocery store. Since I have had pretty good luck saving bulbs from previous spring planters, I looked forward to adding these pretty pinky-purple tulips into my garden.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgop2cNyuTSfShpPe6ZEMOFEPQjCEWHApibR99Q2a4tdlq6PtzYIzbPvje0hWhDQcjlHHc4tFbsE1Sv17qs9NGWtsM9R-FDRVqphlOt0JLVPRmjjcBmYuPSD2l1FE8DEAUr2EkReAIVoMvdbC5OPVWY77iNopvZEAdT0ULQTtlpjrWR7vqsg3tt5v_n/s741/2019%20April%2017%20Easter%20flowers%20cropped.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Pink tulips and Easter lilies photo ©2019 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="741" data-original-width="525" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgop2cNyuTSfShpPe6ZEMOFEPQjCEWHApibR99Q2a4tdlq6PtzYIzbPvje0hWhDQcjlHHc4tFbsE1Sv17qs9NGWtsM9R-FDRVqphlOt0JLVPRmjjcBmYuPSD2l1FE8DEAUr2EkReAIVoMvdbC5OPVWY77iNopvZEAdT0ULQTtlpjrWR7vqsg3tt5v_n/w284-h400/2019%20April%2017%20Easter%20flowers%20cropped.jpg" title="April 17, 2019 Easter flowers photo ©2019 Tina M.Welter" width="284" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">April 2019</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">After the greenery died back, I carefully tucked the bulbs in a mesh bag and boxed them up to rest in a cool dark space until fall.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I was really disappointed months later to find all the bulbs had withered away except two, and one of those didn't look too healthy. I went ahead and planted that one bulb in my garden wondering if it would even survive. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The next spring, I was glad to see it shoot up some green leaves but then I was disappointed because no bloom appeared and last year I forgot to even look for it! The daffodils I had planted nearby had doubled in number and I think that is why I never saw it. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">This spring I was taking photos of those same daffodils and surprise, I was beyond delighted to find that little tulip had finally sent up a bloom!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvn7rGYioAKUNykUawcjQkOGQWqkuAOp6t705CkiUBsVppuk73ILxKO3v-lZbP8XmP0NFiFddp93kJ1Mc0iUkBcskRY_4_A-kwd9GdjekHcJcQ4hIFexfzVDCaSQmOqvvLnY4j-IIuJztVtpPoB81dkxoBbiwugohq8ttTpBOikPZYJKGLGca1XIvS/s640/2022%20March%2028%20tulip.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="March 28, 2022 Early pink tulip photo ©Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvn7rGYioAKUNykUawcjQkOGQWqkuAOp6t705CkiUBsVppuk73ILxKO3v-lZbP8XmP0NFiFddp93kJ1Mc0iUkBcskRY_4_A-kwd9GdjekHcJcQ4hIFexfzVDCaSQmOqvvLnY4j-IIuJztVtpPoB81dkxoBbiwugohq8ttTpBOikPZYJKGLGca1XIvS/w300-h400/2022%20March%2028%20tulip.jpg" title="First early bud, pink tulip photo ©Tina M.Welter" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">March 28, 2022</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">This little flower made my day and reminded me of something very important. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgny9PIH8sQayO_sJDbDIG8b8cmoQ9CXM08XEsDIRi0rz4u3QMh0qM9LE4p4RYOW1NtewxPzu27rj6Dytg4Qf3i_GLBlxsYPEcIAtUnLXZtoEgCao_sqi6KD_K_yh70GPD0Q-w3uIoLUHY5A6O28CyCo1NzzuscWOR2gO30gFFULQgL7wHvpqEypocu/s640/2022%20March%2029.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="March 29, 2022 Early pink tulip bud, photo ©Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgny9PIH8sQayO_sJDbDIG8b8cmoQ9CXM08XEsDIRi0rz4u3QMh0qM9LE4p4RYOW1NtewxPzu27rj6Dytg4Qf3i_GLBlxsYPEcIAtUnLXZtoEgCao_sqi6KD_K_yh70GPD0Q-w3uIoLUHY5A6O28CyCo1NzzuscWOR2gO30gFFULQgL7wHvpqEypocu/w300-h400/2022%20March%2029.jpg" title="Early pink tulip bud, photo ©Tina M.Welter" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">March 29, 2022</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Sometimes it seems like all the effort I am putting into learning how to do this art marketing feels overwhelming. It takes effort to set up new habits, new online strategies and I feel like I am barely making any progress. </span></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigOl3ioTxSSiHh8fXz7Q3xdkxCrIINXDoSxvr5lFslJmVU1TEAKuaA_wvSDPSmV9lmHquNBfrggwYdQc5K0idyHQWt-TGewMybobRSF-OFAEVKAKd1rvKBRDUOpGeO-nN7T6-dkZfnci_FSn8NvI-XczWwPRZ78gDOJlf9lax7Mp7ugk-t9DLdQ-JU/s640/2022%20March%2030%20slim%20look.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="March 30, 2022 All pink, early single tulip photo ©Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigOl3ioTxSSiHh8fXz7Q3xdkxCrIINXDoSxvr5lFslJmVU1TEAKuaA_wvSDPSmV9lmHquNBfrggwYdQc5K0idyHQWt-TGewMybobRSF-OFAEVKAKd1rvKBRDUOpGeO-nN7T6-dkZfnci_FSn8NvI-XczWwPRZ78gDOJlf9lax7Mp7ugk-t9DLdQ-JU/w300-h400/2022%20March%2030%20slim%20look.jpg" title="All pink, early single tulip photo ©Tina M.Welter" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">March 30, 2022</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I decided that when I find myself feeling down about how slowly I am accomplishing my plans, I'm going to remind myself to "remember the pink tulip." </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">It
didn't look like anything was happening for years, but obviously there
was a lot going on under the surface. It simply takes time and continued
effort to grow anything worthwhile.</span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjeiO0Qbwtr1cgiIv7JIN2ibanmov2F0BDS5XXNXYZieBjUKEUESsIw5l_POlSEw3iWPo0NqPYbc2zYDFZaHHvu5IRHq8xAMaYghh_QsN8eGtE8KZYsfXe1FG696yfPez-huTh67kEKY-J99MnrgNulVKIRztrtVLsV2Fkrbo2BayoJDVFTbF5_G9W/s640/2022%20March%2030%20top%20third.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="March 30, 2022 Single pink tulip bloom, photo ©Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjeiO0Qbwtr1cgiIv7JIN2ibanmov2F0BDS5XXNXYZieBjUKEUESsIw5l_POlSEw3iWPo0NqPYbc2zYDFZaHHvu5IRHq8xAMaYghh_QsN8eGtE8KZYsfXe1FG696yfPez-huTh67kEKY-J99MnrgNulVKIRztrtVLsV2Fkrbo2BayoJDVFTbF5_G9W/w300-h400/2022%20March%2030%20top%20third.jpg" title="Single pink tulip bloom, photo ©Tina M.Welter" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">March 30, 2022 - 15 minutes later.</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">This little lovely was worth the wait.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Happy Creating!<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">>^-^<</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Tina </span></span><br /></p><br /><br />The Artist's Life Experimenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11009902581375900822noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725208163641483673.post-89985719615719282652022-02-28T15:42:00.001-08:002022-03-06T15:13:54.459-08:00Finding the Focal Points<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEicqgxxNaeGOZ5Mz1zmJPK6ae30_XYxae59m_KOIE3T_U8rosQkem6DUrhiVAr_i2Dv-ceqcdgocGe0iUOJBd05RfrioBU5QI8ywoAiOCjTWd0EaIQ1T08hb49yCHjKg9rH8VFBkHRL3lorjbc7pinH3tQhP5yzsorfvw-Yfmyk-zJa6Pzw3MofecFU=s360" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="African violets, lavender purple" border="0" data-original-height="252" data-original-width="360" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEicqgxxNaeGOZ5Mz1zmJPK6ae30_XYxae59m_KOIE3T_U8rosQkem6DUrhiVAr_i2Dv-ceqcdgocGe0iUOJBd05RfrioBU5QI8ywoAiOCjTWd0EaIQ1T08hb49yCHjKg9rH8VFBkHRL3lorjbc7pinH3tQhP5yzsorfvw-Yfmyk-zJa6Pzw3MofecFU=w400-h280" title=""Mom's favorites" 5x7 inches, acrylic on 140lb cold press paper, ©2022 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">After spending the month of January researching about how to start a successful art business online, I found myself completely overwhelmed by all the advice and information! Especially after watching several "free" workshops and listening to art marketing podcasts, my anxiety level about attempting this had reached the keeping me up at night stage! Is this why cats stare off into space, their kitty minds are overwhelmed? If so, I can relate.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In an effort to organize this mental mess, I decided to try applying the same step by step strategies I use to focus my mind when making a painting.</span></span> <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgaPI28odMr7w06y4K4eaeIbw3dNGb7Vohu-G1u34xoxZ6Ghf4L9e35WFGaq8v04bI4_7nrhiyyLeWUHTzncb0oF3wjynXS2QVee-1pRdysQ2vIeksQB--SNI4QtiG4N4gxpQ7ZeZbVWf3YeeEsy10sdQULShbC4WwrB4K8pa3546ZvmPYsUqb5u6WW=s1579" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sketchbook drawings, color tests for African Violet painting." border="0" data-original-height="1579" data-original-width="1152" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgaPI28odMr7w06y4K4eaeIbw3dNGb7Vohu-G1u34xoxZ6Ghf4L9e35WFGaq8v04bI4_7nrhiyyLeWUHTzncb0oF3wjynXS2QVee-1pRdysQ2vIeksQB--SNI4QtiG4N4gxpQ7ZeZbVWf3YeeEsy10sdQULShbC4WwrB4K8pa3546ZvmPYsUqb5u6WW=w291-h400" title=""Tina's Sketchbook" 5.5 x 8.5 inches, acrylic and metallic paint on paper ©2022" width="291" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Step 1. Gathering ideas.</span> This it is what I do first for a painting. I find the photos I want to work from, color test my paint choices, make pencil sketches and take notes on what I learn. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">+</span>It's a good way to start, but obviously I needed to start creating some peace and order in the marketing research.<br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjnkVb43xb0kz60jC05WutsgxR6gK3UjGKcA69DMKxMfUPWK2_kwSnYiC_1QfuluxIFSpGYYdmvzKeCHbIlbCQmhlDBowywn1gIdeMtj-FPlVfhZvZKTunZUmDaGaz7UKIEtANPchqY-zJiwSWSpKNiJAqSwQxCw3wxL8UVlvxjw3A91Ze-0IOlRrM9=s576" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sketch in acrylic paint of purple African violets ©2022 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="576" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjnkVb43xb0kz60jC05WutsgxR6gK3UjGKcA69DMKxMfUPWK2_kwSnYiC_1QfuluxIFSpGYYdmvzKeCHbIlbCQmhlDBowywn1gIdeMtj-FPlVfhZvZKTunZUmDaGaz7UKIEtANPchqY-zJiwSWSpKNiJAqSwQxCw3wxL8UVlvxjw3A91Ze-0IOlRrM9=w400-h316" title="Tina's Sketchbook, 5.5x8.5 inch, acrylic sketch of purple African violets in acrylic and metallic paint. ©2022 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Step 2. Sketch out ideas.</span> Usually that means making a loose pencil sketch and then testing out the paint color palette I decided on in the information gathering phase. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">+</span>Figuring out an equivalent for marketing art is a bit trickier, but I think the step 2 here is to decide on an idea for a series of paintings to sell and start making them. <br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEirjHPfAVb_ikmfHywCk6dWCN8hWFKxvPPJvcY1Xc39jGZQDUjI2Td71lVdw3dVHyjMeDoAf4Ic6MUQMm0xfJRII7meE7u0nvPSyOwMBs3s2K7uH5-vFSyvPhnSi-_OPogUXpnmv9zveRTy2t4nE8m8XdjIEz-krMCep3Tkre7tyF4sLups1dKdUaax=s720" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Beginning color washes for African violet painting." border="0" data-original-height="578" data-original-width="720" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEirjHPfAVb_ikmfHywCk6dWCN8hWFKxvPPJvcY1Xc39jGZQDUjI2Td71lVdw3dVHyjMeDoAf4Ic6MUQMm0xfJRII7meE7u0nvPSyOwMBs3s2K7uH5-vFSyvPhnSi-_OPogUXpnmv9zveRTy2t4nE8m8XdjIEz-krMCep3Tkre7tyF4sLups1dKdUaax=w400-h321" title="Blocking in the color, 5x7 inch, acrylic paint on paper ©2022 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Step 3. Plan a foundation.</span> I put down the first washes of color, doing this gives the painting a structure to build on. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">+</span>I think the equivalent is setting up a plan of where and when people can regularly see my paintings and my painting process.<br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLqUXDwnOqxo6mtOHmAfgp-o0OxzNvqQ4lsSQ7jnNLQn1-EgKXUzjI2lC2SMCIVXdFyhJt1nXaEexbw-LCzgJVc1ibEGFhck0e3qamRS6__SgxvxnlIjzjTCIAcyV7HFZFBf7VE9D2HxH3A8gXZ-WyZotiLEkzRZizeGdIYHG0TxSbazfnlsi-FwBN=s720" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Layering color back to front, African violet painting." border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="720" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLqUXDwnOqxo6mtOHmAfgp-o0OxzNvqQ4lsSQ7jnNLQn1-EgKXUzjI2lC2SMCIVXdFyhJt1nXaEexbw-LCzgJVc1ibEGFhck0e3qamRS6__SgxvxnlIjzjTCIAcyV7HFZFBf7VE9D2HxH3A8gXZ-WyZotiLEkzRZizeGdIYHG0TxSbazfnlsi-FwBN=w400-h313" title="Layering color back to front, 5x7 inch, acrylic paint on paper.©2022 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Step 4. Build on the foundation.</span> Working from back to front, I painted the background and then the leaves, getting all those details in place before adding the flowers.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">+</span>It is key to have dependable structures in place for people to buy my paintings.<br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1bi87fwj077ZF9wxsjM1TJaI9Wk8EXpLADFQ3nJadmVHVb-iEbNF2gS0hYXQsPYO1utZfYvrDQj8Wzod4PvkRjNhGx8NtwG-LeVElSWw6l9eOMRyHp0bPWTdhhM6iH59oO2mDgL73_op9n30JOlWD8M03bkVXbuPqnP5x-C1w2TkhgmhEi_2DDq6I=s432" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="African violet painting, blocking the the light and dark flower shapes." border="0" data-original-height="332" data-original-width="432" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1bi87fwj077ZF9wxsjM1TJaI9Wk8EXpLADFQ3nJadmVHVb-iEbNF2gS0hYXQsPYO1utZfYvrDQj8Wzod4PvkRjNhGx8NtwG-LeVElSWw6l9eOMRyHp0bPWTdhhM6iH59oO2mDgL73_op9n30JOlWD8M03bkVXbuPqnP5x-C1w2TkhgmhEi_2DDq6I=w400-h308" title="Block in the light and dark flower shapes. ©2022 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Step 5. Get all the key pieces in place.</span> Now is the time to block in the light and dark shapes for the flowers.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">+</span>Find and connect with people who are interested in the art I am making. <br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgOo2gQKBDFdhFimavXFLiTwFF7SZc0GLFUvpU7IRto-ldAtFfXIs5xGyjVTN7M-J47VI6BHb3eutG_Vpdc9MIhzSoE0Lmcnxkf1MofRI8L11rSZ3u6hGKSQZAVR74d4rSaBiExLQUmG35EkpRrtRmiuEYZuNBA-YvKgsm41AcLS5YgTnx0kr6Sjb2P=s432" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="African violet painting, trying out metallic paints on the blossoms." border="0" data-original-height="314" data-original-width="432" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgOo2gQKBDFdhFimavXFLiTwFF7SZc0GLFUvpU7IRto-ldAtFfXIs5xGyjVTN7M-J47VI6BHb3eutG_Vpdc9MIhzSoE0Lmcnxkf1MofRI8L11rSZ3u6hGKSQZAVR74d4rSaBiExLQUmG35EkpRrtRmiuEYZuNBA-YvKgsm41AcLS5YgTnx0kr6Sjb2P=w400-h291" title="Take a little risk, testing out metallic paints.©2022 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Step 6. Be open to taking a few risks.</span> I took a little risk by trying out a wash of metallic paint on the flower petals, a technique I haven't used very often, but I think is very appropriate on these flowers.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">+</span>Inviting people into my creative space to share more about me and why I make the art I do. For me personally, this feels incredibly risky and scary! <br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7C2u_UqzrU0SuSsGTftqbNiDnK_bS4_2EUKRFRAxVXVHGMF6QPntCzOJ1FKXjj9G2hYDiCxamYUZblYaFIdX1PuaImxBl3_12xxYhhzUA7SNPVZKmSKj2cmBGt6UgtjLe-Dzc85XmfH2664G9G2aFHQXGGcemkzHLC5wdIqWdeu0c53juktBCROxu=s360" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="African violet painting finished after a unifying wash of color." border="0" data-original-height="252" data-original-width="360" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7C2u_UqzrU0SuSsGTftqbNiDnK_bS4_2EUKRFRAxVXVHGMF6QPntCzOJ1FKXjj9G2hYDiCxamYUZblYaFIdX1PuaImxBl3_12xxYhhzUA7SNPVZKmSKj2cmBGt6UgtjLe-Dzc85XmfH2664G9G2aFHQXGGcemkzHLC5wdIqWdeu0c53juktBCROxu=w400-h280" title=""Mom's favorites" 5x7 inches on 140lb cold press paper, ©2022 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Step 7. Final touches.</span> In this case, a thin wash of Quinacridone magenta over the flowers which brightened them up and brought all the hues together.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">+</span>Test out all the marketing steps by actually doing them, then keep refining until everything works together smoothly. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">+</span>The "unifying wash" is my hope that sharing the beautiful little "aha" moments I observe in the world will bring joy to other people.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Even though I have the most awful anxious feeling in the pit of my stomach as I write this, I'm going to sit with my uncomfortable emotions and press on.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Happy Creating! (and marketing?!?)<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">>^-^<</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Tina </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">p.s. </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I illustrated this
blog with steps from a painting I made for my brother's birthday in
January. He requested African violets because they remind him of our
dear mother. She had a real knack of growing these pretty little plants
and usually had several of them blooming all over the house. <br /></span></span></p>The Artist's Life Experimenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11009902581375900822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725208163641483673.post-51302585676962057972022-01-31T18:00:00.000-08:002022-01-31T18:00:38.756-08:00Why Do I Resist Marketing My Art?<p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEikwFASx8BzNhzXvzeMIb3Q9gHjdJ8cpMXu3JtxKJleQdeG4Jrm8mXrKC76IZAB2xuQWhb_5YEOmrYUJ6xlWLT63ETeTsSy5nhETjOaKbwsR1h6-f_jg2jf2VyVYiEjbtGDKjYLUIMlIuZ4SpyZRMkYBRrBRwnc8VUnzNEkOAPHpOref8PvVe0Bfqob=s1440" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Black Cat hiding under peach sheets, digital art ©2015 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEikwFASx8BzNhzXvzeMIb3Q9gHjdJ8cpMXu3JtxKJleQdeG4Jrm8mXrKC76IZAB2xuQWhb_5YEOmrYUJ6xlWLT63ETeTsSy5nhETjOaKbwsR1h6-f_jg2jf2VyVYiEjbtGDKjYLUIMlIuZ4SpyZRMkYBRrBRwnc8VUnzNEkOAPHpOref8PvVe0Bfqob=w400-h300" title="The Safety Zone ©2015 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">The Safety Zone ©2015 Tina M.Welter</span><br /></span></span><p></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">This question has been rolling around like a pair of dice in my mind for some time now. Recently I tossed those dice out onto the table by flipping that question on it's head and asking myself... </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">What is the benefit of not marketing?</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Yahtzee! The answers came tumbling out and lined up to make one word, protection.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I'm protecting myself. </span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">My top 3 monsters.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Dealing with people I don't know.</span> I get why some cats hide under the bed when a stranger comes over, you don't have any idea what odd thing they will say or weird expectation they might have of you. Unfortunately sitting up on the highest cupboard and observing them for shady behavior is not considered good form as an actual human person.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">All the anxiety I experience when packing art to ship. </span>Is this enough bubble wrap? Did I get a strong enough box? What will I do if this package gets lost or stolen by porch pirates! Packing tape that fights back like a snakey demon that would rather stick anywhere and to anything but the dang box. Plus, all the storing of said packing materials. No more closet space, how about the back of the car? Yes, that is where some of it is stored right now.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Worst of all, silence.</span> All the work and effort of creating the art, plus doing all the social media and getting it where people can see it and nothing. I fear that nothing will happen, no sales, not even a mean comment to let me know someone at least had a reaction. It's heartbreaking to work so hard for so little return. Actually, I dread mean comments, avoiding real human trolls is another reason for me to want to stay hidden, yikes!<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">So, why am I admitting to all this? </span>Many years ago I had serious anxiety over creating paintings, that was the issue I was exploring and sharing in the 'Fraidy Cat newsletter. I've realized lately that I no longer have that anxiety! All the step by step frame works I created for myself and kept practicing all these years actually worked! Ta-freaking-Da, today I am officially documenting one huge Artist Life Experiment Success! </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Which leads me to the next big question, can I find solutions for these "marketing my art" fears too?</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">'Fraidy Cat is seriously thinking about coming down from the top cupboard and going on the prowl.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I'll keep you posted, I definitely want and sincerely appreciate your support. <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Happy creating! (and marketing?!?) <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">>^-^<</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Tina</span></span><br /></p><p> <br /></p>The Artist's Life Experimenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11009902581375900822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725208163641483673.post-5496172751373827042021-03-26T18:10:00.002-07:002021-03-31T15:04:15.216-07:00Into the Deep Purple<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM92JHOJZNkBjdfCP288Pn3_kHkx7q-hFB7X4YaP5lDB5eKDPymR6IurpuG6eC0jAQVmJLRJ56HJJ3qRguxxoaMECgV8ksz67KMiv1GyM3Y9q_i9apBZ7uijhamFqwE05LnAC04em_jc0/s693/Amethyst+heart+%25C2%25A92021+Tina+M.Welter+91KB+.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Acrylic painting of purple amethyst stone ©2021 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="693" data-original-width="576" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM92JHOJZNkBjdfCP288Pn3_kHkx7q-hFB7X4YaP5lDB5eKDPymR6IurpuG6eC0jAQVmJLRJ56HJJ3qRguxxoaMECgV8ksz67KMiv1GyM3Y9q_i9apBZ7uijhamFqwE05LnAC04em_jc0/w533-h640/Amethyst+heart+%25C2%25A92021+Tina+M.Welter+91KB+.jpeg" title="Amethyst Heart, 6x8 inches, acrylic on paper, ©2021 Tina M.Welter" width="533" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Amethyst Heart</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Even though it is my favorite color, I don't have a lot of tubes of purple paint in my paint box simply because it is a "secondary color" and it is often easy to mix a wide range of lovely shades from red and blue.</span></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I do have a couple pre-mixed purple paints that I consider absolutely essential though, Dioxizine purple and Acra Violet. Dioxizine purple is a wonderfully deep, sheer purple, it mixes well with other colors and adds shadowy depth. I especially like it for painting dark purple irises. Acra Violet, is an incredibly versatile red purple that can add so much vibrancy to a range of flowers from red, pink and purple.</span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg82DJIFcMsMkGlEQ1jWXDR9LRPRmFQNQmuxNaHbhlzEBhwT_1MqFjX1QV3BX0kv_yiPZwXHzY9YWbr1FFHpQ3PTrQbWFrTkSGF4IA7d2JEE1nm-3_decVaj4BQxKapjpckWX755CTrJ4E/s1280/Color+test%252C+Purple+shades+%25C2%25A92021+Tina+M.Welter.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Purple paint mixed with white, color test ©2021 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="1280" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg82DJIFcMsMkGlEQ1jWXDR9LRPRmFQNQmuxNaHbhlzEBhwT_1MqFjX1QV3BX0kv_yiPZwXHzY9YWbr1FFHpQ3PTrQbWFrTkSGF4IA7d2JEE1nm-3_decVaj4BQxKapjpckWX755CTrJ4E/w400-h271/Color+test%252C+Purple+shades+%25C2%25A92021+Tina+M.Welter.jpg" title="Color test, Purple hues and tints ©2021 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Arranging my purple paints from cool to warm.</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Since I am exploring what the paints in my paintbox can do, I wanted to test out mixing my red and blues to see what kind of variety of purples were possible. I had to start with classifying my reds from cool to warmest so I would know where to start. I already tested out all the blues, see the <a href="https://tinawelter.blogspot.com/2021/01/shades-of-blue.html" target="_blank">"Shades of Blue"</a> blog post from January. Again, I learned you can't judge a color by it's paint tube, some reds I thought were more cool were actually more warm, and visa-versa. After I painted a swatch of color onto paper, it was much easier to classify once I could see the colors next to each other.</span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzcowMeihB_jd98xZoiO2hvCPb4o81-yDbbVS9GaR5dz5ZaBfhvVVGNWrR6zxjTf1tKZjMMRvkg05g19dHRAW4brCty1uLuudN4dcThOn5QPNy31Wohwd66Tz1mTO-vuHy3K1CsZqhFrc/s1280/Color+test%252C+Red+shades+%25C2%25A92021+Tina+M.Welter.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Red paint arranged cool to warm, color test. ©2021 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="743" data-original-width="1280" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzcowMeihB_jd98xZoiO2hvCPb4o81-yDbbVS9GaR5dz5ZaBfhvVVGNWrR6zxjTf1tKZjMMRvkg05g19dHRAW4brCty1uLuudN4dcThOn5QPNy31Wohwd66Tz1mTO-vuHy3K1CsZqhFrc/w400-h233/Color+test%252C+Red+shades+%25C2%25A92021+Tina+M.Welter.jpg" title="Color test, Red hues and tints ©2021 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Re-arranging my red paints from cool to warm.</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigy8VvENQol4nK9-IYVThaMiogO_BZgexeVF7akhN_pEHEAW08qcL4rXO6dNOwb2blwNQIPO5j-n5zUO9fmmgOPvqCpwr7UZ9y0kcbJzggaMrP8sCGZJxZo0udwI2y0pv9A9nEFO1xt9o/s1280/Color+test%252C+Blue+shades+%25C2%25A92021+Tina+M.Welter.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Blue paint plus white, arranged cool to warm. ©2021 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1242" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigy8VvENQol4nK9-IYVThaMiogO_BZgexeVF7akhN_pEHEAW08qcL4rXO6dNOwb2blwNQIPO5j-n5zUO9fmmgOPvqCpwr7UZ9y0kcbJzggaMrP8sCGZJxZo0udwI2y0pv9A9nEFO1xt9o/w388-h400/Color+test%252C+Blue+shades+%25C2%25A92021+Tina+M.Welter.jpg" title="Color test, Blue Hues and Tints ©2021 Tina M.Welter" width="388" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">My blue paints arranged cool to warm.</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">After I sorted my red colors, I mixed my coolest red and coolest blue, then warmest red and warmest blue to see what kind of range of purples I had. The biggest surprise for me was my two warmest colors yielded a dark gray that wasn't very purple at all! Good to know.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnDhturOsMOUjqrYHe7oFfITNAI7MJSgVXoUJjvV9njqqOc3PT3VlMtlc1896lafZifMBs7wNWqg4dBTrHL8Vj4fOu1JgWJdo6Zylz28WKHCBhBFrax1jgzhuMUGRHBe8o3DuCLdrACZg/s1280/Red+plus+Blue+l+%25C2%25A9+2021Tina+M.Welter.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Comparing the extremes, coolest to warmest. ©2021 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="744" data-original-width="1280" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnDhturOsMOUjqrYHe7oFfITNAI7MJSgVXoUJjvV9njqqOc3PT3VlMtlc1896lafZifMBs7wNWqg4dBTrHL8Vj4fOu1JgWJdo6Zylz28WKHCBhBFrax1jgzhuMUGRHBe8o3DuCLdrACZg/w400-h233/Red+plus+Blue+l+%25C2%25A9+2021Tina+M.Welter.jpg" title="Coolest Red/Blue and Warmest Red/Blue color test, ©2021 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Comparing the extremes, coolest and warmest.</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Some of the my favorite purples were mixed from the middle range of warm red+blue or cool red+blue, not the extremes at either end.<br /></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLthBPMZB7fyOGAyl5OXqUI6ZCxkm2EdOHzLx0S3dKGvJ1aczIh88s4-MXlV9_d56stG2rzo1RkM8sRAvgS9C2Glxis1Wlef9iIIBeAnth7_x9DUkVh13okE34l2LDVXzNqtmV0MMiUaE/s1280/Red+Plus+Blue+ll+%25C2%25A92021+Tina+M.Welter.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Nice purple mixes, somewhere in the middle. ©2021 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="1280" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLthBPMZB7fyOGAyl5OXqUI6ZCxkm2EdOHzLx0S3dKGvJ1aczIh88s4-MXlV9_d56stG2rzo1RkM8sRAvgS9C2Glxis1Wlef9iIIBeAnth7_x9DUkVh13okE34l2LDVXzNqtmV0MMiUaE/w400-h228/Red+Plus+Blue+ll+%25C2%25A92021+Tina+M.Welter.jpg" title="Neither too hot or too cold, red + blue ©2021 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Nice purple mixes, somewhere in the middle.</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Next was the painting challenge, what subject could possibly suit this wide range of purples? Eventually I decided on an amethyst stone, which seemed very appropriate since it is often considered a traditional birthstone for February. </span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz2BhtKKhTcQvaHX1XKUWYFLau_vOSLw3JPa-Fnuke68K5jR3_SCaxC4AI60BMwEUQVUEGz1P1fTtIPfXXwkMn6PgWypIYUVr5rEsPMDtDsw3osuYj6yMz_AYCcA0FB-rnJXsAjRqTKnA/s617/Amethyst+Heart%252C+first+paint+%25C2%25A92021+Tina+M.Welter+82+KB.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Amethyst Heart acrylic painting, first layer of paint." border="0" data-original-height="617" data-original-width="576" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz2BhtKKhTcQvaHX1XKUWYFLau_vOSLw3JPa-Fnuke68K5jR3_SCaxC4AI60BMwEUQVUEGz1P1fTtIPfXXwkMn6PgWypIYUVr5rEsPMDtDsw3osuYj6yMz_AYCcA0FB-rnJXsAjRqTKnA/w374-h400/Amethyst+Heart%252C+first+paint+%25C2%25A92021+Tina+M.Welter+82+KB.jpeg" title="Amethyst Heart, the beginning. 6x8 inches acrylic on paper, ©2021 Tina M.Welter" width="374" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Amethyst Heart, first layers of paint.</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Although I was really happy that I was able to use almost all the shades of purple I mixed, including that surprising gray, I really felt like the painting could use more work. Adjusting the values would make it more unified and improve the illusion of a sparkling cut stone. I wrote this blog at the end of February and hoped to post it for that month, but I had to make a decision. Do I post the painting as is and on time, or do I improve the painting to how I envisioned it and post in March? What do you think? First heart above, finished heart below.<br /></span></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSVBcZMnpb0wKwxIwJ97NGY-Q_m9Wb8uF60AjdRWy6kCuRm-d_MHMAic5MMAT1ckuEg6bI_oN2rGEppkJMQt7E5jFkzH81C4H88BbGEZjOnrv3wzF4AQpzUNHbgM9SDdPjfdpg1T6XOrk/s693/Amethyst+heart+%25C2%25A92021+Tina+M.Welter+91KB+.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Amethyst heart acrylic painting, various shades of purple paint." border="0" data-original-height="693" data-original-width="576" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSVBcZMnpb0wKwxIwJ97NGY-Q_m9Wb8uF60AjdRWy6kCuRm-d_MHMAic5MMAT1ckuEg6bI_oN2rGEppkJMQt7E5jFkzH81C4H88BbGEZjOnrv3wzF4AQpzUNHbgM9SDdPjfdpg1T6XOrk/w333-h400/Amethyst+heart+%25C2%25A92021+Tina+M.Welter+91KB+.jpeg" title="Amethyst Heart, 6x8 inches, acrylic on paper ©2021 Tina M.Welter" width="333" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Amethyst Heart, finished!</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I heard an interesting point of view recently from a person I admire, YouTube's Sci-Show host and creator, Hank Green. He said he is able to accomplish so many creative projects because he focuses on getting them to 80 percent perfect and then doesn't worry about that last 20 if it isn't necessary. He is right, that last 20 percent can take a surprising amount of time and may not even improve things that much!</span></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">At first I thought I could move forward and post a painting that I felt was at 80 percent, but eventually I chose not to. Even though I think the initial painting did illustrate what I was trying to accomplish, I honestly really wanted that last 20 percent!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Now </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I'm glad I waited because the finished painting makes me very happy when I look at it.</span></span> I hope you will enjoy this sparkly purple heart in March as much as I do. <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Happy creating!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">>^-^<</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Tina</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-JPBTcUNUJP7V6DyARpfm_3No52m03v6EDjUE9bh5OkyfM8AHtBtIga7L8_hGJdB87Wd9VKqUXXw5CrUNX6Fg9niZCG-UZdbSUSbnBgPThGsrN8kf-krpgUILgFOLoVEvcUeUZJfICcU/s1280/Color+test%252C+notebook+page+%25C2%25A92021+Tina+M.Welter.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Full page view of my notebook with color tests. ©2021 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="925" data-original-width="1280" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-JPBTcUNUJP7V6DyARpfm_3No52m03v6EDjUE9bh5OkyfM8AHtBtIga7L8_hGJdB87Wd9VKqUXXw5CrUNX6Fg9niZCG-UZdbSUSbnBgPThGsrN8kf-krpgUILgFOLoVEvcUeUZJfICcU/w400-h289/Color+test%252C+notebook+page+%25C2%25A92021+Tina+M.Welter.jpg" title="Note book page of color tests, 8.5x5.5 inch acrylic on paper, ©2021 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Full page view of my color tests, 8.5 x 5.5 inch notebook.</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /> </span></span><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><br />The Artist's Life Experimenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11009902581375900822noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725208163641483673.post-62478278033096753392021-01-31T23:10:00.000-08:002021-03-26T15:35:29.831-07:00Shades of Blue<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNMGridE9OXj5vOK0v96vZbKgmjuXGtxVo9ScKcVO81XIiGoCSvpR3oObS_1Zwhu_OfAo5AfYZ4Ej2r9vHjwWll_MY_lxGHjTEHP9ZiJrKNKypaud7RkBB3wSeGAiZF7JFniG9lFdhH4Q/s640/Snow+Bear+Shades+of+Blue+%25C2%25A92021+TinaM.Welter+92KB.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Painting of a snow scene using only blue paint." border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="445" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNMGridE9OXj5vOK0v96vZbKgmjuXGtxVo9ScKcVO81XIiGoCSvpR3oObS_1Zwhu_OfAo5AfYZ4Ej2r9vHjwWll_MY_lxGHjTEHP9ZiJrKNKypaud7RkBB3wSeGAiZF7JFniG9lFdhH4Q/w445-h640/Snow+Bear+Shades+of+Blue+%25C2%25A92021+TinaM.Welter+92KB.jpg" title="Snow Bear in Blue, 5x7 inch acrylic ©2021 Tina M.Welter" width="445" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Snow Bear contemplates the Blue.</span></span><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"> I have several tubes of acrylic paints in my paint box and they are a motley crew! Paint I bought in college, Jeff’s acrylic collection was added to mine when we got married, paint that was inherited from a friend of Jeff’s parents, and a selection I purchased when I was reading Helen Van Wyck’s wonderful book on color mixing. <br /><br />I made a New Year’s art resolution: to have a better understanding of what tools I actually have in my tool kit. The first step I learned from Marie Kondo, get everything out and look at it!</span></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnouzdpkERdo6zPS_3-rczYYvTpkuy9PU8suHMNsMfKgY2vG3nUDBOZGgpIK4zlap394SB88Avv3oX-BYvPBMp3i7G8NtM7wHuHbsllUChvuwaIsrrFnQKeh5PhvXSXG6Z5ZpK5O7_XYs/s640/1+Paint+Tube+color+wheel+.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Acrylic paint tubes arranged in a color wheel." border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="640" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnouzdpkERdo6zPS_3-rczYYvTpkuy9PU8suHMNsMfKgY2vG3nUDBOZGgpIK4zlap394SB88Avv3oX-BYvPBMp3i7G8NtM7wHuHbsllUChvuwaIsrrFnQKeh5PhvXSXG6Z5ZpK5O7_XYs/w326-h319/1+Paint+Tube+color+wheel+.jpg" title="Paint Tube Color Wheel, photo ©2021 Tina M.Welter" width="326" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">All the colors arranged in a color wheel.</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpumUKWZSL48qgo0k_zf8h-_uANvE5Eoi2vH664POnKdSy3l3K3pm1_El2mGMwbjAfwMgrHkqTWYwEKL6uHRMnhKlY6TyDW__8JmPfluxQRx1-EHFtdMwgdZsyMiCI3n-ckDcQ-hXn8zk/s640/2+paint+black%252C+white%252C+gold%252C+silver.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Black,white,gold,silver and irridescent paint." border="0" data-original-height="345" data-original-width="640" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpumUKWZSL48qgo0k_zf8h-_uANvE5Eoi2vH664POnKdSy3l3K3pm1_El2mGMwbjAfwMgrHkqTWYwEKL6uHRMnhKlY6TyDW__8JmPfluxQRx1-EHFtdMwgdZsyMiCI3n-ckDcQ-hXn8zk/w320-h172/2+paint+black%252C+white%252C+gold%252C+silver.jpg" title="photo ©2021 Tina M.Welter" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Black, white, gold and silver in a separate category.</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Looking at the color on the tubes is only part of the story, the next step is to put the paint on paper in it's full strength, then mix with increasing amounts of white and let them tell me something about their personality.<br /><br />Beginning with Blue</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXNSpUU6cC4bF_tVh1k4Obcm_h1bkkfxKRQSNaaBSX20XvC35uPW0loWxUlkNCH0WDYQe2tCCVuAHnC3XMaE0-91mpmEjL87S7kxB8uSiwXBa1nIYAeRyuCW4kNpHAtYodbczb6FEEJ1I/s1280/7+First+Guess+color+order.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Color swatches of various blue paint." border="0" data-original-height="362" data-original-width="1280" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXNSpUU6cC4bF_tVh1k4Obcm_h1bkkfxKRQSNaaBSX20XvC35uPW0loWxUlkNCH0WDYQe2tCCVuAHnC3XMaE0-91mpmEjL87S7kxB8uSiwXBa1nIYAeRyuCW4kNpHAtYodbczb6FEEJ1I/w400-h113/7+First+Guess+color+order.jpg" title="Testing the blues, acrylic paint ©2021 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Initial guess at the color arrangement.</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: georgia;">I arranged the blue tubes in how I thought they would fit on the color wheel, ranging from the most purple/red to the most green/yellow.</span></span><span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> <br /></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I included three sets of the same colors, three ultramarine blue and two cerulean blue from different manufacturers and two cobalt blue tubes that varied in price. I was curious how much difference there be between the low cost vs. higher priced paint.</span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_GC792wpNVSTPhr2abs8ezyE-IWfn7Dgs2HTQHw9QdNrxz3GZnjSaWGMBsyA5xjz2B7x2oVuJOrMcxYhH7BeTEq0OR7xYPKHBq6z3UtHy0cnKvmcLkgYNpmYiNRwHYoIpNBW2y4Onwho/s1280/Twelve+Blues.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Twelve color swatches of blue." border="0" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="1280" height="70" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_GC792wpNVSTPhr2abs8ezyE-IWfn7Dgs2HTQHw9QdNrxz3GZnjSaWGMBsyA5xjz2B7x2oVuJOrMcxYhH7BeTEq0OR7xYPKHBq6z3UtHy0cnKvmcLkgYNpmYiNRwHYoIpNBW2y4Onwho/w400-h70/Twelve+Blues.jpg" title="Twelve Blues, acrylic on paper, ©2021 Tina M. Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Twelve Blues and White</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> I definitely learned a few things I didn’t expect! The Golden brand ultramarine was a shade more lavender than the Liquitex ultramarine. The Daler-Rowney went the lightest lavender when I added the same amount of white. The Liquitex was the most sheer and least opaque of the three.<br /></span><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWndOvNIwI_8p5KH53RcWhuW7phdRYbzvgza9KhlCbcqmEri2eRNwyNsWnnApR89YokEi0ke7dsfmpcN1cS1CLALhAEdC3NRNRtJbzOj69J0mv_bU_iL7sWkt7jx2zOpEPYq5CsbS7UOo/s326/Ultramarine.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ultramarine color comparison." border="0" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="326" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWndOvNIwI_8p5KH53RcWhuW7phdRYbzvgza9KhlCbcqmEri2eRNwyNsWnnApR89YokEi0ke7dsfmpcN1cS1CLALhAEdC3NRNRtJbzOj69J0mv_bU_iL7sWkt7jx2zOpEPYq5CsbS7UOo/w320-h220/Ultramarine.jpg" title="Ultramarine and White, acrylic ©2021 Tina M. Welter" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> The Golden brand Cerulean had a lot more staining strength than the Windsor & Newton, which was much more sheer.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcKtwtfILu9-483RNpW8Xw4AVl1IOh0rwQ1GKctxXju3wSyqdR4SI6HyJelJPwpeHhhfudqn7sBmrb1lV9uOrpcU1sqw6TnOnWilNL9C0PTY1gHrypKPL-uGLkRRRLIssql3FGm1Mi-w/s222/Cerulean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cerulean color comparison" border="0" data-original-height="222" data-original-width="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcKtwtfILu9-483RNpW8Xw4AVl1IOh0rwQ1GKctxXju3wSyqdR4SI6HyJelJPwpeHhhfudqn7sBmrb1lV9uOrpcU1sqw6TnOnWilNL9C0PTY1gHrypKPL-uGLkRRRLIssql3FGm1Mi-w/s16000/Cerulean.jpg" title="Cerulean and White, acrylic detail ©2021 Tina M.Welter" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> The less expensive Daler-Rowny cobalt blue was more opaque and seemed to have some white tint in it compared to the more expensive M.Graham paint. You do get what you pay for.</span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj98EfiiCSh2_TIAarxfA_An8V4Nh329UBbxqLoWnwaZrO4AqMen9PlSbds5-JQzcoaauRSwk35Y7BwLRw62GJ3IpN9IkM2JftIMsxT5fx_d_WdiIJey71Uf3puv1dQ1Dp8h-nQJT3a0VQ/s223/Cobalt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cobalt blue comparison" border="0" data-original-height="223" data-original-width="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj98EfiiCSh2_TIAarxfA_An8V4Nh329UBbxqLoWnwaZrO4AqMen9PlSbds5-JQzcoaauRSwk35Y7BwLRw62GJ3IpN9IkM2JftIMsxT5fx_d_WdiIJey71Uf3puv1dQ1Dp8h-nQJT3a0VQ/s16000/Cobalt.jpg" title="Cobalt and White, acrylic detail, ©2021 Tina M.Welter" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Anthraquinone Blue had a lot more in common with the Prussian blue. I had read that I could swap it out for ultramarine! I don't see how, it is a much more greyed down denim blue than I expected. It's a beautiful color, but I don't see how it would behave the same as ultramarine when mixing it with other colors for a painting.</span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqsI4hLIQTVQ7K7gS2qb-YGE_Sb_QfbyEXeZpkQPcw2jDDUgs5ACcV_BvE7-_kC-s1tjqAsy9TjyAE6b9txt6Y1-aFq_huLTCoHQ9GSmiUw9RBCs-TWwlqTbkJ9YA7AqB0ci2aQeGK3rA/s224/5+Anthraquinone+-+Prussian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Anthraquinone and Prussian blue comparison." border="0" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqsI4hLIQTVQ7K7gS2qb-YGE_Sb_QfbyEXeZpkQPcw2jDDUgs5ACcV_BvE7-_kC-s1tjqAsy9TjyAE6b9txt6Y1-aFq_huLTCoHQ9GSmiUw9RBCs-TWwlqTbkJ9YA7AqB0ci2aQeGK3rA/s16000/5+Anthraquinone+-+Prussian.jpg" title="Anthraquinone and Prussian with White, acrylic detail, ©2021 Tina M.Welter" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I also learned that my initial arrangement of the paint tubes wasn’t correct when I actually got the paint on paper. Phthaloblue is the blue that leans the most towards green/yellow, not cerulean.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtVx4jdF8LuMHvJdNxl5oY-VSV3482-1Wmu-RHYZkj0CEqxHERMbhUtk3-ZX5CZlws44vOP7VNovShpYHGMT-dRuLzES21-J8_Ak255L-N2ipFPygcjvQ-CNRUuCxYeXrDF1E05MvMOL0/s1280/8+Swap+the+pthalo+2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Pie chart view of cool to warm blues." border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1230" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtVx4jdF8LuMHvJdNxl5oY-VSV3482-1Wmu-RHYZkj0CEqxHERMbhUtk3-ZX5CZlws44vOP7VNovShpYHGMT-dRuLzES21-J8_Ak255L-N2ipFPygcjvQ-CNRUuCxYeXrDF1E05MvMOL0/w308-h320/8+Swap+the+pthalo+2.jpg" title="Swap the phthalo and cerulean! acrylic, ©2021 Tina M.Welter" width="308" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Swap the phthalo and the cerulean!</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRDM6gKSvgcot2fAzm276WeOhALzRxWwglq3mJOU6IT_gVXmTf8h0UwiqF233-au0xSwD7y-oFtMX2yoN_l_cv4NNFPePeIW9cuxH_CxG2xGg544K-iGg6MWTwF6o5h4NGkucd7afrCeI/s1280/8+Swap+the+pthalo+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Phthalo by the green where it belongs." border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1242" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRDM6gKSvgcot2fAzm276WeOhALzRxWwglq3mJOU6IT_gVXmTf8h0UwiqF233-au0xSwD7y-oFtMX2yoN_l_cv4NNFPePeIW9cuxH_CxG2xGg544K-iGg6MWTwF6o5h4NGkucd7afrCeI/w310-h320/8+Swap+the+pthalo+3.jpg" title="Phthalo finds it place, acrylic ©2021 Tina M.Welter" width="310" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Phthaloblue finds the right place.</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The last thing I was curious about was to see if I could create a whole painting just using all my blue paint and white. The result was the "Snow Bear in Shades of Blue" painting posted at the first of this entry, I used all twelve blues and I think it turned out pretty good.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I learned a lot from this experiment and it was fun. I would encourage anyone to get out what paint you have become more acquainted with it’s character and personality a little better.<br /><br />Happy Creating!<br /><br />Tina<br /><br />Tip: I learned that drawing a straight line with some equal sized squares makes the color comparison easier to see, plus it just looks nicer.</span><br /><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Ebmi4KOc-_kaTtxUxs_LcW9KX3nK3gJ4fIeYq8ZcJ_7osrHhMx4QOVHoJSsrAQTCcJBh5wE0XkqSFelA1kPEGmU0efKkr-2byk7NUFgyx7YF-uWMWP9lOWJFWTqGwRc8ZqYLLQTP2jU/s1280/IMG_E5985.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sketchbook page with blue color swatch comparisons." border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="978" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Ebmi4KOc-_kaTtxUxs_LcW9KX3nK3gJ4fIeYq8ZcJ_7osrHhMx4QOVHoJSsrAQTCcJBh5wE0XkqSFelA1kPEGmU0efKkr-2byk7NUFgyx7YF-uWMWP9lOWJFWTqGwRc8ZqYLLQTP2jU/w488-h640/IMG_E5985.jpg" title="Sketchbook, testing all my blues, ©2021 Tina M.Welter" width="488" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">My full sketchbook page.</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">P.S. Yes, the snow bear does exist. I built him in celebration of finally getting some more snow! I did use artistic license and remove all the houses in our neighborhood to improve his view of the mountains.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtqEdkaQ7DfrOU_iOMRx41qYiUdlvZDFUYcujDoF6ltjiWfwHRnS8ziDQKpNvaFWcfsnlOGIZVJWmkkSYQUWSmfhROX_BOwIlaNN1OwLaV7oklckX9JmMpngkqBB_8qysIPFegKy7_GF0/s640/Snow+Bear%252C+photo+and+bear+sculpture+%25C2%25A92021+Tina+M.Welter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Snow bear sculpture." border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="516" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtqEdkaQ7DfrOU_iOMRx41qYiUdlvZDFUYcujDoF6ltjiWfwHRnS8ziDQKpNvaFWcfsnlOGIZVJWmkkSYQUWSmfhROX_BOwIlaNN1OwLaV7oklckX9JmMpngkqBB_8qysIPFegKy7_GF0/w323-h400/Snow+Bear%252C+photo+and+bear+sculpture+%25C2%25A92021+Tina+M.Welter.jpg" title="Snow bear in suburbia, snow sculpture, photo and sculpture ©2021 Tina M.Welter" width="323" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /></p>The Artist's Life Experimenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11009902581375900822noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725208163641483673.post-43538814614279063042020-12-31T22:09:00.001-08:002021-01-05T16:39:01.369-08:00Oh, Christmas Tree!<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdM_nlJXepRI5iY-KzCUgNQCfVlFO_I19zUi84HBSCJinqQHglxhLJEUFynF9tFJlLVzAcvQ7TW9s8Ny_77a4G4rQdU1BHk0q7LoatwEFyrzPM__tv_9UYq139oHD8Uwe9czMYrGtofWY/s621/Evening+Christmas+Tree+Card+167KB+copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt=""December Evening" ©2020 Tina M.Welter 5x7 inches acrylic on paper." border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="432" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdM_nlJXepRI5iY-KzCUgNQCfVlFO_I19zUi84HBSCJinqQHglxhLJEUFynF9tFJlLVzAcvQ7TW9s8Ny_77a4G4rQdU1BHk0q7LoatwEFyrzPM__tv_9UYq139oHD8Uwe9czMYrGtofWY/w446-h640/Evening+Christmas+Tree+Card+167KB+copy.jpg" title=""December Evening"©2020 Tina M.Welter 5x7 inches, acrylic on paper." width="446" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">"December Evening"</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">One positive aspect of dealing with a pandemic is that it pushes people to be creative in connecting with each other.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">In November, one of my friends asked if I would try teaching a short mini-class on painting using the App, Marco Polo. Instead of sending texts, this app allows people to leave videos for each other. I've often wondered what it would be like to teach a painting class, so I decided to give it a try. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQKqKalzPk8Jak3x0mJHK08vst6xDxIkcJ1FyVlQi-4ugePblfA_-xWyRsvQ0Pz3jkCOudwHzgjfta-UuiLgzryaKDxMklwE6lOaJM4zVfqt7ni97vl9zg0Ic3yxgsZawgc9r5DOGoDg/s640/Tiny+Sketch+warm+and+cool+palette.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Tiny Christmas tree sketch, 2x2.5 inches, acrylic on paper, ©2020 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="508" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQKqKalzPk8Jak3x0mJHK08vst6xDxIkcJ1FyVlQi-4ugePblfA_-xWyRsvQ0Pz3jkCOudwHzgjfta-UuiLgzryaKDxMklwE6lOaJM4zVfqt7ni97vl9zg0Ic3yxgsZawgc9r5DOGoDg/w318-h400/Tiny+Sketch+warm+and+cool+palette.jpg" title="Tiny Christmas tree sketch, 2x2.5 inches, acrylic on paper, ©2020 Tina M.Welter" width="318" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Tiny Sketch, 2 x 2.5 inches</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I chose a lighted Christmas tree outside with a twilight sky as our subject. Simple, right? Just one triangle shape with a dark background and some lights, how hard could it be…and so began my innocent journey into the thick of the woods.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKY3KKLdgX2vT6JkTdX7hEyd3ZpqgkgxWXg1zJz7HlSwSvtbYA3nZ-t1f10J51JE3jxMPWs3bq6V4zbSZ0Js6fBp2ZfGS70h1k4rwUvc8aRogQYrG9Z2xsntFqWVlB0qaaFoSBKc6m7E/s640/Tiny+sketch+-+Daler+Rowney+more+purple.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Tiny Christmas tree sketch, 1.5 x 2.25 inches, acrylic on paper, ©2020 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="460" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKY3KKLdgX2vT6JkTdX7hEyd3ZpqgkgxWXg1zJz7HlSwSvtbYA3nZ-t1f10J51JE3jxMPWs3bq6V4zbSZ0Js6fBp2ZfGS70h1k4rwUvc8aRogQYrG9Z2xsntFqWVlB0qaaFoSBKc6m7E/w288-h400/Tiny+sketch+-+Daler+Rowney+more+purple.jpg" title="Tiny Sketch 1.5 x 2.25 inches, acrylic on paper, ©Tina M.Welter" width="288" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tiny Sketch 1.5 x 2.25 inches</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> I’ve never actually broken down my painting methods into steps so that someone else could follow me before, and I soon found that taking apart what I do was quite the challenge.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Figuring out the palette is often my first and favorite step, but this time I also had to think about palette colors that would be really common to find and versatile for beginning painters to use. </span></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0CYZ86jNVkFtW-4wvZG8NA3DFW06PhCQZ3gNzAF58VbgGgg4dWY_BJfugat5Ys2V89OPaPBe1k0-CAW46cUAQh5hBXgN0L6ztTksDpwcwRFvMz9P8seL_Uq8D_3aze1ovPKL4SPDocCs/s640/color+palette+cad+red%252C+yellow%252C+ultra-m+blue.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Palette, Cadmium Red, Yellow, Ultramarine Blue , Titanium White ©2020 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="427" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0CYZ86jNVkFtW-4wvZG8NA3DFW06PhCQZ3gNzAF58VbgGgg4dWY_BJfugat5Ys2V89OPaPBe1k0-CAW46cUAQh5hBXgN0L6ztTksDpwcwRFvMz9P8seL_Uq8D_3aze1ovPKL4SPDocCs/w429-h640/color+palette+cad+red%252C+yellow%252C+ultra-m+blue.jpg" title="Palette, Cadmium Red, Yellow, Ultramarine Blue, Titanium White ©2020 Tina M.Welter" width="429" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Cadmium Red, Cadmium Yellow, Ultramarine Blue, Titanium White</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I painted a couple of sketches using the basic colors of Cadmium Red, Cadmium Yellow, Ultramarine blue, and Titanium White. Then I went on-line and looked for paint sets that would include those colors, but many used Cobalt blue instead of Ultramarine blue and the red and yellow were listed as “primary” colors. Goodness, what should to tell people to buy?</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0UuwxpKFLjCOpQONUzi3OiY5BNBYK9wGML6AeWD0GwH1IqbUj9NBtXoOAEgTR6M3Sr_9VyWzdeWE0cY2SFwXLPF1dnfHnIh6AeXnHl8Xlz2RFvUk5rrE6yfiwaw1LsB4tg0hjd3nAzU/s640/Tree+Sketch+with+Cobalt+Blue.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="December Evening painting sketch, 5x7 acrylic,©2020 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="457" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0UuwxpKFLjCOpQONUzi3OiY5BNBYK9wGML6AeWD0GwH1IqbUj9NBtXoOAEgTR6M3Sr_9VyWzdeWE0cY2SFwXLPF1dnfHnIh6AeXnHl8Xlz2RFvUk5rrE6yfiwaw1LsB4tg0hjd3nAzU/w456-h640/Tree+Sketch+with+Cobalt+Blue.jpg" title=""December Evening" painting sketch, 5x7 acrylic,©2020 Tina M.Welter" width="456" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Painting Sketch, 5x7 inches, using Cobalt blue.</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">This led me to make more sketch paintings using Cobalt blue to see if it that color would work instead. Soon I found myself down a whole color theory rabbit-hole, testing out “color bias” combinations of warm red, yellow and blue compared to using a set of cool red, yellow and blue. This topic deserves a whole blog post of it’s own.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH_wCKiWlNfmTgIzFUH-GHouMPsyU9fPpMKWdGruJbAIf3t1YSkqW_8FNrcqe8Y64nTFdCdtTnzfCmLASIUohuyNc8wBem0bYQQnhBDRp_-w3rDu5TFfMehVEQCfgvUwjX_qRTOlSghi0/s640/All+Warm+color++bias+palette+with+mini-tree.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Warm biased colors, Cadmium Red, Cadmium Yellow and Phthaloblue ©2020 TinaM.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="341" data-original-width="640" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH_wCKiWlNfmTgIzFUH-GHouMPsyU9fPpMKWdGruJbAIf3t1YSkqW_8FNrcqe8Y64nTFdCdtTnzfCmLASIUohuyNc8wBem0bYQQnhBDRp_-w3rDu5TFfMehVEQCfgvUwjX_qRTOlSghi0/w400-h213/All+Warm+color++bias+palette+with+mini-tree.jpg" title="Warm biased colors, Cadmium Red, Cadmium Yellow and Phthaloblue ©2020 TinaM.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Warm biased palette.</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJH-fhWDAV4iGvS2kSPFrcN2wjbX4BYWRr1z3KZMfia41RLFm11jvgdtxt4H97dE6-_X-g58MXd44LQuM3clzLieOtBXB9toovBkxzHafV3h9FpSng0gwk7QEcT4oRhz80ErkMewwhSZk/s640/All+Cool+color+bias+palette.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Cool biased palette, Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Yellow, Ultramarine Blue ©2020 TinaM.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="310" data-original-width="640" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJH-fhWDAV4iGvS2kSPFrcN2wjbX4BYWRr1z3KZMfia41RLFm11jvgdtxt4H97dE6-_X-g58MXd44LQuM3clzLieOtBXB9toovBkxzHafV3h9FpSng0gwk7QEcT4oRhz80ErkMewwhSZk/w400-h194/All+Cool+color+bias+palette.jpg" title="Cool biased palette, Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Yellow, Ultramarine Blue ©2020 TinaM.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cool biased palette.</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">My biggest concern being that my initial palette choice was wrong and would make painting harder for other people because I used a “cool” blue with a “warm” red and yellow. Seriously, this kept me up at night and I wasn’t happy until I had tested all the options. It turned out that I still liked that initial palette best after all, even if it didn’t follow the “color bias” theory. Well, that is creativity, sometimes breaking the rules makes the best art.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirmd3h7FqdBgIFcX-v_LOC1l4Pv6YQ6HMbzyF4LCBedILx0jEDTCCfftMIi7vl7lX9Dd2lqXp0toi-USS62gLqy-uyzGWiWizGDRz2cuGpY790lYcwRshroWssgogvKc9P-knLFkgJldE/s640/Tree+Drawing+darker.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Pine Tree Basics, 5x7 inches, pencil drawing ©2020 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="511" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirmd3h7FqdBgIFcX-v_LOC1l4Pv6YQ6HMbzyF4LCBedILx0jEDTCCfftMIi7vl7lX9Dd2lqXp0toi-USS62gLqy-uyzGWiWizGDRz2cuGpY790lYcwRshroWssgogvKc9P-knLFkgJldE/w320-h400/Tree+Drawing+darker.jpg" title="Pine Tree Basics, 5x7 inches, pencil drawing ©2020 Tina M.Welter" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Pine Tree Basics</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /> Next, was breaking down the drawing. One friend said she could barely draw a circle, so I told her not to worry because we would be making triangles! I measured and marked every shape so that I could explain how to get the tree and it’s branches placed correctly.<br /><br />Since we were only using red, yellow and blue, I made one video on color mixing. I was amazed that it took 40 minutes to explain and my poor iPhone got really hot doing all that recording! <br /><br />Then, it was the painting steps. Goodness, I think I made three or four sketch paintings to make certain I could explain and show everything in order. Yes, I wrote the steps down, I needed those reminders for when I actually made the final video.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAo3S4QApgwXUmCwoqniae441ElpRxASuUrRhR_MbuVh2ai77oHF4SzPL9ROeKkV42SwJwaR5zVkmIUUesy48jRAC9nukSPj3o-v6zeiAgAfAgfSA9ComytfHdDR1LOwYzWqe0u8JsqtA/s640/Three+trees+-+figuring+out+paint+order.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Three pine tree sketches, figuring out the steps, ©2020 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="416" data-original-width="640" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAo3S4QApgwXUmCwoqniae441ElpRxASuUrRhR_MbuVh2ai77oHF4SzPL9ROeKkV42SwJwaR5zVkmIUUesy48jRAC9nukSPj3o-v6zeiAgAfAgfSA9ComytfHdDR1LOwYzWqe0u8JsqtA/w400-h260/Three+trees+-+figuring+out+paint+order.jpg" title=""Figuring out the steps" 9x12 inches, acrylic ©2020 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Figuring out the steps!</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">As a side note, I believe that some of the quick, tiny sketches I threw together are much better paintings than the larger sketches I spent a lot of time making. It is annoying to me that I have a hard time capturing that spontaneity in larger artwork. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX9n8e5glgQn4SvmAgMG36qG-gIZSRLQs8h9BElmfDj-Sgl_yDIhofsSnO6aLwYtD-f8O04wjRcjD6KAmiaQYNYUIfJPwOTHOoXYsLFIvD5jb5WrIkVp5kmlNgSQVpyrjAqmKF731MuB8/s640/Tiny+Sketch+-+Daler+Rowney+more+yellow.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Tiny Christmas tree sketch, 1 x 1.5 inches, acrylic on paper, ©2020 TinaM.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="453" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX9n8e5glgQn4SvmAgMG36qG-gIZSRLQs8h9BElmfDj-Sgl_yDIhofsSnO6aLwYtD-f8O04wjRcjD6KAmiaQYNYUIfJPwOTHOoXYsLFIvD5jb5WrIkVp5kmlNgSQVpyrjAqmKF731MuB8/w283-h400/Tiny+Sketch+-+Daler+Rowney+more+yellow.jpg" title="Tiny Sketch, 1 x 1.5 inches, acrylic on paper, ©2020 TinaM.Welter" width="283" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tiny Sketch, 1 x 1.5 inches</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I did feel the pressure when making the final painting on camera, it was an odd feeling to be watched while doing something that has always been a solo project. Overall, I'm pleased with how the video and painting turned out, although the next day I could see the blue shadows should have been darker on the snow. So far, I have resisted the urge to repaint that section. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I've certainly gained an appreciation for all the extra work those artists I grew up watching on t.v. must have done to make painting on camera look so easy. A respectful bow to Bob Ross, Bill Alexander and Helen Van Wyck!<br /><br />Happy Creating! <br />>^-^<</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Tina<br /><br /></span></p><p></p>The Artist's Life Experimenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11009902581375900822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725208163641483673.post-7593186459247383082020-08-31T21:58:00.003-07:002020-08-31T22:09:02.094-07:00Summer Sketchbook Tour<p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Summertime and the flowers are blooming! Perfect for inspiration, sketching and testing out ideas. Often I will have other creative friends comment that doing my detailed type of sketching process takes too much time. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">They are partly right and I used to skip over it myself because it is incredibly tempting to just start putting those wonderful colors down on paper or canvas. <span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">Admittedly, I <i>still</i> skip sketching sometimes</span> </span>if I'm pressed for time or feeling particularly confident, but I know full well there may be consequences in the form of frustration, wasted art materials and lost time trying to fix mistakes. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Even a simple palette color test is worth the time</span> because of that nice feeling of certainly going forward, plus I think they are fun to do.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here are some of my color sketches from this year and what I learned from making them...</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAlUMbW88exVOQnC7wueaB2HZoxQ2vOz6oJrHxZ2yeN6XeOaH_ubKIgiqHIOXYb9eLN-ys8tsliRTTfbeGa33_HgNob-alnPOTMeQ34XtnrofAbMKd8YsjufcfUraSVKwjXJ5w0lFB5sg/s1280/2020+Aug+Sunflower+%25C2%25A92020+TinaM.Welter.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sunflower Sketch ©2020 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="1239" data-original-width="1280" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAlUMbW88exVOQnC7wueaB2HZoxQ2vOz6oJrHxZ2yeN6XeOaH_ubKIgiqHIOXYb9eLN-ys8tsliRTTfbeGa33_HgNob-alnPOTMeQ34XtnrofAbMKd8YsjufcfUraSVKwjXJ5w0lFB5sg/w512-h496/2020+Aug+Sunflower+%25C2%25A92020+TinaM.Welter.jpg" width="512" /></a></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Yellow flowers are my
nemesis,</span> for some reason I always struggle with getting the right
shadow color to get the sense of light shining through their petals. I
thought a simple palette of Benzidrine Yellow, Cadmium Orange, Burnt
Sienna and Cobalt Blue would provide enough shadow depth, but the flower
still looked flat. In essence I had several "yellows" and a blue, and
it took adding a "red," Alizarin Crimson to finally get the deep warm
brown I was looking for.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicAcJOeRrMxJQrD-I5Zy9plAr55SjGYLQcAA0kyCQFzWL3gSpXlqSdJW8qdWNA41sdhoUV7kJAhsZkl2DA-69Uh6wuEwqd2qYo-XJ0ytQ5hVOEdWHAfWdjRUWZ2R-eBqmuLKcWggUsYZ4/s1280/2020+May+Three+Roses+%25C2%25A92020+TinaM.Welter.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pink Roses Sketch ©2020 TinaM.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1061" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicAcJOeRrMxJQrD-I5Zy9plAr55SjGYLQcAA0kyCQFzWL3gSpXlqSdJW8qdWNA41sdhoUV7kJAhsZkl2DA-69Uh6wuEwqd2qYo-XJ0ytQ5hVOEdWHAfWdjRUWZ2R-eBqmuLKcWggUsYZ4/w530-h640/2020+May+Three+Roses+%25C2%25A92020+TinaM.Welter.jpg" width="530" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Figuring out what color combination I like the best <span style="color: black;">is another way I use my sketchbook.</span></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Did I want to use Napthol Red to make the peachy tones in the pink roses or would I be happier with mixing Permanent Rose and Cadmium Yellow? </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">I circled the Green Gold, Sap Green and Prussian Blue after I decided they were my favorite mix for the leaves. This sketch also helped me notice that the greens were a bit cold and I would need to mix them with some Permenant Rose to warm them up a bit.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_bnxkNkWoldzFYnwxnwV7jbRC_2LKrmN9toBMpexJc6NUvsbaJnOTCDmaUhjxYvENqEOzcjLXsPEZZT0lDcUeiM5bKPaXu2TEb_uDdZEGuRztM9sMX8XqICVngx4X9e_juHzWtJq-zig/s1280/2020+July+Dark+Angel+Iris+sketch+%25C2%25A92020TinaM.Welter.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Dark Angel Iris Sketch ©2020 TinaM.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1204" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_bnxkNkWoldzFYnwxnwV7jbRC_2LKrmN9toBMpexJc6NUvsbaJnOTCDmaUhjxYvENqEOzcjLXsPEZZT0lDcUeiM5bKPaXu2TEb_uDdZEGuRztM9sMX8XqICVngx4X9e_juHzWtJq-zig/w482-h512/2020+July+Dark+Angel+Iris+sketch+%25C2%25A92020TinaM.Welter.jpg" width="482" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">My goal here was to
practice </span>painting a really dark purple iris. I thought I knew what
colors would get the result I wanted, but I was rather disappointed with
the lack of depth and the whole thing felt too cool. I knew adding
yellow to warm things up would only make the colors gray, so I turned
the page and tried again...</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrjaEROHWJdzDVyiiXMGt8dD6cc1-86r7EamUc8pdCo9e89fzAMqcZUY8TMDI3oBsWmhRjadYQhl0CLjpgP-wcPeREfQU8Ii2Hvbr53pH5o0KN474wu7kOKjIkd8AwOLJBRAwzalh26QQ/s1280/2020+July+Dark+Iris+ll+%25C2%25A92020+TinaMWelter.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Dark Iris Sketch ll ©2020 TinaM.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="1090" data-original-width="1280" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrjaEROHWJdzDVyiiXMGt8dD6cc1-86r7EamUc8pdCo9e89fzAMqcZUY8TMDI3oBsWmhRjadYQhl0CLjpgP-wcPeREfQU8Ii2Hvbr53pH5o0KN474wu7kOKjIkd8AwOLJBRAwzalh26QQ/w512-h436/2020+July+Dark+Iris+ll+%25C2%25A92020+TinaMWelter.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="color: #cc0000;">I searched on-line
for a little bit of help</span> and had a genuine "aha" moment when I saw the
suggestion to mix the purples with Burnt Sienna! Of course, a warm deep
yellow/red that was a perfect solution!</span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZQgDoPhfoDbhKmh5kHPzjuSu2l28MgMaglSwaf_aET94QrVXoROirBbSjV__79wWhreuI24800m20Yo9rKLG157TwrVbY0SYiuKsyv3FwxYbudM0lAxzVuyozbMeixmlcbIndEx4f1z4/s1280/2020+March+Pink+Iris%25C2%25A92020+TinaM.Welter.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pink Iris Sketch ©2020 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="946" data-original-width="1280" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZQgDoPhfoDbhKmh5kHPzjuSu2l28MgMaglSwaf_aET94QrVXoROirBbSjV__79wWhreuI24800m20Yo9rKLG157TwrVbY0SYiuKsyv3FwxYbudM0lAxzVuyozbMeixmlcbIndEx4f1z4/w512-h378/2020+March+Pink+Iris%25C2%25A92020+TinaM.Welter.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Here's an example of my color mixing instincts being right on target.</span> I wanted to be certain to mix the correct greyed purple for the shadow side of the pink iris petals. The first combination I tried were Cadmium Red and Prussian Blue and they were exactly what I was looking for. Adding Benzidrine Yellow made it possible to mix a light green and the right shade of orange and peach. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">I love it when a palette comes together so easily and with only three colors plus white. It feels like an elegant solution.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb4RNPC1ZWONX36vx9ZZxylZeRjJocmgVUeWoxa0Qp3KYoq5XUlItefafiB4_RMWsy2nqogise90zwYO7OazT42kHhaayjFSzk_yO3povdRQDOm-pLjWdlOMKWTx-NRXLkKNXdVDMC6zY/s1280/2020+Jan+Family+of+Pines+%25C2%25A92020+TinaM.Welter.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Winter Pines Sketch ©2020 TinaM.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="944" data-original-width="1280" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb4RNPC1ZWONX36vx9ZZxylZeRjJocmgVUeWoxa0Qp3KYoq5XUlItefafiB4_RMWsy2nqogise90zwYO7OazT42kHhaayjFSzk_yO3povdRQDOm-pLjWdlOMKWTx-NRXLkKNXdVDMC6zY/w512-h378/2020+Jan+Family+of+Pines+%25C2%25A92020+TinaM.Welter.jpg" width="512" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">I was feeling very
uncertain</span> about which paints to mix for an evening winter scene with
pine trees, so I created this little grid to solve my problem.</span></span> <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">The top row has the colors I was fairly certain I wanted to use. The second row mixes all those colors with Cobalt blue and Titanium white. The third row mixes all the top row colors with Pthalogreen and Titanium white.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Having these colors to refer to was really helpful in making my final painting.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwTKX4-QJ01OkBCcY8XxaeFMAKOlcfqsHHkemhD1f4OGNb7kpGJNKUrORAA_OnSJt4ByugFjAUNi5Gw1TA6-wQxCsU5yfpPFh1Yf3P1ZuvOba3pLPu_GMsP9lYl43kfwY7a6ibURjtCzI/s617/2020+June+Neon+Glow+leaves+darker+108KB+%25C2%25A92020+Tina+M.Welter.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt=""Neon Lights" darker ©2020 TinaM.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="617" data-original-width="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwTKX4-QJ01OkBCcY8XxaeFMAKOlcfqsHHkemhD1f4OGNb7kpGJNKUrORAA_OnSJt4ByugFjAUNi5Gw1TA6-wQxCsU5yfpPFh1Yf3P1ZuvOba3pLPu_GMsP9lYl43kfwY7a6ibURjtCzI/s16000/2020+June+Neon+Glow+leaves+darker+108KB+%25C2%25A92020+Tina+M.Welter.jpg" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Here it is, an
example of me diving head-first <span style="color: black;">into making a painting without a
"sketchbook first" test.</span></span> This photo doesn't really capture it, but I
originally painted the shadow colors over the bottom rose petal and
leaves way too dark and I was really bummed when I realized what I had done.</span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZT_OG-EEpNJYZgZS8r3SXpySTC0ZZLgMrPZ7Am6rkLRhdCwkq4WJ-U0uG2cg2nbu4GnrSaZ6CSHvTFrJqVZd8WOG5hDXOxvhnsIr-78OJmiDaz2smXMQ01V4cOR_wbS85xA5vJ2EFvQ/s613/2020+June+Neon+Glow+leaves+lighter+110KB+%25C2%25A92020+TinaM.Welter.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt=""Neon Lights" lighter ©2020 TinaM.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="613" data-original-width="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZT_OG-EEpNJYZgZS8r3SXpySTC0ZZLgMrPZ7Am6rkLRhdCwkq4WJ-U0uG2cg2nbu4GnrSaZ6CSHvTFrJqVZd8WOG5hDXOxvhnsIr-78OJmiDaz2smXMQ01V4cOR_wbS85xA5vJ2EFvQ/s16000/2020+June+Neon+Glow+leaves+lighter+110KB+%25C2%25A92020+TinaM.Welter.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">No one will notice now, but I can tell you <span style="color: #cc0000;">I spent a lot of time repainting </span>with lighter colors and glazing over those areas with thin color washes to lighten up that dark section. Acrylic paints are so forgiving!<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">I hope these few examples have demonstrated how fun and helpful solving creative problems in a sketchbook can be.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Happy Creating!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">>^-^<</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tina</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">p.s.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">For those of you wondering what happened with my eyes,</span> the good news is the medicine helped and by May my right eye was better. Hurrah. Then in July, the same flock of floaters showed up in my left eye! Sheez! At least I knew what it was and was able to start the same treatment quickly for my left eye. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">After dealing with too many other bizarre health issues all spring and summer to mention here, I was finally diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis in August. There may be some connection to that auto-immune disease affecting my eyes. I am hopeful that now I am getting treatment for that, my eyes will be healthier too. <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br /></p>The Artist's Life Experimenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11009902581375900822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725208163641483673.post-82915635521773992482020-06-28T17:21:00.000-07:002020-06-28T17:21:20.253-07:00One Magical Night in June<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAWsi76HQ_ksDIrOz1ODVkDX2DwHUFTbwDB8bdyE9m7fbG8Yt2f7E_Brbkl8KKtcyQYPuqiKocJAIMW2Ss5jC8UkdHuhhAU8Z4bj1jtH0KiBRSHmNRi7o2pEQjYA-BO93tTNNzHunsQTQ/s1600/Photo+single+mountain+primrose+%25C2%25A96.3.2001+TinaM.Welter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Tufted Evening Primrose, NewMexico Photo ©2001 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="838" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAWsi76HQ_ksDIrOz1ODVkDX2DwHUFTbwDB8bdyE9m7fbG8Yt2f7E_Brbkl8KKtcyQYPuqiKocJAIMW2Ss5jC8UkdHuhhAU8Z4bj1jtH0KiBRSHmNRi7o2pEQjYA-BO93tTNNzHunsQTQ/s400/Photo+single+mountain+primrose+%25C2%25A96.3.2001+TinaM.Welter.jpg" title="Tufted Evening Primrose, NewMexico Photo ©2001 Tina M.Welter" width="261" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> One of my great joys of living on a mountain side was getting acquainted with the wild flowers that naturally grew there. Living at 8,000 feet has a demanding set of growing conditions: hot in the day, really cool at night and a short growing season.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I found this entry in my journal from June 9, 2001 and decided this was the perfect time to share it with you. The sketches and painting were created this spring.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"...I sat outside the other night and just loved the moonlight on the wild white primroses. They only bloom at night and are so heavy sweet and exotic that they don't seem to belong on this dry mountainside.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJme77uyVC0WoebM6NAlHTN4s-7nypbYkyfat35-Uj7qqe1Oknp62xkidJoZYtNgUm8HaFYrtfY0vbzyfCsFGMUKuSPBMqIJAdp_VCNd3thohlmcJNyrjWgg_kSvGmaWFPcDxBcE4blPI/s1600/Photo+Mountain+Primrose+hillside+%25C2%25A96.3.2001+TinaM.Welter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Tufted Evening Primroses, NewMexico Photo ©2001 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="867" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJme77uyVC0WoebM6NAlHTN4s-7nypbYkyfat35-Uj7qqe1Oknp62xkidJoZYtNgUm8HaFYrtfY0vbzyfCsFGMUKuSPBMqIJAdp_VCNd3thohlmcJNyrjWgg_kSvGmaWFPcDxBcE4blPI/s400/Photo+Mountain+Primrose+hillside+%25C2%25A96.3.2001+TinaM.Welter.jpg" title="Hillside of Blooms, Photo ©2001 Tina M.Welter" width="270" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Yet, they are part of this place, like the surprising sweetness of these mountains distilled into those little golden hearts, </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0xZvwe0sC0ULBUdS8R_V_V3YqaePKj6p24RNVIF4cyfYjTNzO3dKO_YnTaxMB5sHTb5Zhidcwow8ojdlfIbvo7koh02j5tlFsvFic3bCgN07tBNs9c38rwpeinpnvANkINMmYWBO_Lk/s1600/Photo+mountain+primrose+group+in+tire+%25C2%25A9+6.3.2001+TinaM.Welter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Tufted Evening Primroses in tire, NewMexico Photo ©2001 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1280" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0xZvwe0sC0ULBUdS8R_V_V3YqaePKj6p24RNVIF4cyfYjTNzO3dKO_YnTaxMB5sHTb5Zhidcwow8ojdlfIbvo7koh02j5tlFsvFic3bCgN07tBNs9c38rwpeinpnvANkINMmYWBO_Lk/s400/Photo+mountain+primrose+group+in+tire+%25C2%25A9+6.3.2001+TinaM.Welter.jpg" title="Opportunists, Photo ©2001 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">...but they close and wilt with the heat of the morning sun, they can only be enjoyed in the cool of night.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_1ssKe2-AoniB_OfLbQXR_AoAHhyphenhyphenSAZ0hncLIKjQXwmJPW0ICTbvQqDZ5fh650sP_s2TAOmOBQ2uOUfi5sH5j_VayuQX42KL4Dsvgle8hZHWYmTAn4gk0OX_pjp3EGTJG7eFkDNlBP3s/s1600/Mountain+Primrose+Painting+Sketch+%25C2%25A92020+TinaM.Welter+189KB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Tufted Evening Primrose, Sketchbook painting ©2020 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="648" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_1ssKe2-AoniB_OfLbQXR_AoAHhyphenhyphenSAZ0hncLIKjQXwmJPW0ICTbvQqDZ5fh650sP_s2TAOmOBQ2uOUfi5sH5j_VayuQX42KL4Dsvgle8hZHWYmTAn4gk0OX_pjp3EGTJG7eFkDNlBP3s/s400/Mountain+Primrose+Painting+Sketch+%25C2%25A92020+TinaM.Welter+189KB.jpg" title="Tufted Evening Primrose Sketchbook Painting ©2020 Tina M.Welter" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If I didn't live here, I wouldn't know about them. They are a bit of a hidden secret.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZFAHfzGb0ci0Ew3HtoaxC7Z8Z2cOWhd-W3agm4jmf1bj8zgAF1b3LnPG79SNxnRiD-C2XNbREjkOdCawC0KUW4lJ18FVHXUmmb68cxVrjMgH94b8vUH5NLOjrzGXQhACRRzzItNbDgI/s1600/Mountain+Primrose+Drawing+%25C2%25A92020+TinaM.Welter+182KB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Tufted Evening Primrose, Pencil drawing ©2020 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="1190" data-original-width="864" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZFAHfzGb0ci0Ew3HtoaxC7Z8Z2cOWhd-W3agm4jmf1bj8zgAF1b3LnPG79SNxnRiD-C2XNbREjkOdCawC0KUW4lJ18FVHXUmmb68cxVrjMgH94b8vUH5NLOjrzGXQhACRRzzItNbDgI/s400/Mountain+Primrose+Drawing+%25C2%25A92020+TinaM.Welter+182KB.jpg" title="Tufted Evening Primrose, Pencil drawing ©2020 Tina M.Welter" width="290" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As I came up the steps to the studio that night, the little glow worms were out, another bit of mystery. They glowed a beautiful neon green like little runway lights guiding me on my way to my room.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheckrY1s5AnRMtWkbgzNnAxjonMWYKV8Vxcz5oQ_Ys9Z3GY0ZdK3BimhpAdLKTow3gGKezH2mT5pgbyUT9jpOfRczLWGj9lDw8RZJ9nccIwdLcJF4eVYLAiRctgjiJwUNTRqnKVgdbDds/s1600/Mountain+Primrose+First+Paint+%25C2%25A92020+TinaM.Welter+210KB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Tufted Evening Primrose, Painting begins ©2020 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="1188" data-original-width="864" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheckrY1s5AnRMtWkbgzNnAxjonMWYKV8Vxcz5oQ_Ys9Z3GY0ZdK3BimhpAdLKTow3gGKezH2mT5pgbyUT9jpOfRczLWGj9lDw8RZJ9nccIwdLcJF4eVYLAiRctgjiJwUNTRqnKVgdbDds/s400/Mountain+Primrose+First+Paint+%25C2%25A92020+TinaM.Welter+210KB.jpg" title="Tufted Evening Primrose, Painting begins ©2020 Tina M.Welter" width="290" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It was a magical moment and I rejoiced in the beauty of that night."</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd5jZEA5E9inHyZbIOnTfinQI3CwhL7b3DnEuKlusdgAnnL4pdbD8RNLJNXxP3pSPtDw5qpk5i9QMhHlnWt6gZEc4eJp-ExX2lQko4FZAVHpHZHb_C0wpW4YDizJfRtY5qZYi5DAwI5DI/s1600/Mountain+Primrose+%25C2%25A92020+TinaM.Welter+169KB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Tufted Evening Primrose, Finished painting ©2020 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="906" data-original-width="648" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd5jZEA5E9inHyZbIOnTfinQI3CwhL7b3DnEuKlusdgAnnL4pdbD8RNLJNXxP3pSPtDw5qpk5i9QMhHlnWt6gZEc4eJp-ExX2lQko4FZAVHpHZHb_C0wpW4YDizJfRtY5qZYi5DAwI5DI/s400/Mountain+Primrose+%25C2%25A92020+TinaM.Welter+169KB.jpg" title="Tufted Evening Primrose, Acrylic on paper, 5x7 inches, ©2020 Tina M.Welter" width="285" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">"They Only Bloom at Night" ©2020</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Happy Creating!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">>^-^<</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Tina</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">p.s. </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There
are a surprising number of variations of Evening Primrose growing in
the southwest! This link goes to the variety that looks the closest like
the flower that grew on our mountainside, Oenothera Caespitosa, <a href="http://southwestdesertflora.com/WebsiteFolders/All_Species/Onagraceae/Oenothera%20caespitosa,%20Tufted%20Evening%20Primrose.html" target="_blank">Tufted Evening Primrose</a></span></span></span></span>The Artist's Life Experimenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11009902581375900822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725208163641483673.post-85106528186885308532020-03-31T23:49:00.000-07:002020-04-01T11:25:29.379-07:00Little Trouble Maker<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH28eO6zSc82eXsQhaq6CgH7PfKz2mSb3ScKNlh_pPcZZYzWKKqJ4KnXG6iy4FCoMmijIu-CN7FR499yOlx0CPsrfUuB4q-UWMp7zWQs-J5-JMSHMlSYvw_Juoy5eNANAESZ8zx5omt68/s1600/Home+Sweet+Home+1972+Prowler+Trailer%252C+1997+NM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="1972 Prowler RV trailer, photo ©1997 TinaMWelter" border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="1152" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH28eO6zSc82eXsQhaq6CgH7PfKz2mSb3ScKNlh_pPcZZYzWKKqJ4KnXG6iy4FCoMmijIu-CN7FR499yOlx0CPsrfUuB4q-UWMp7zWQs-J5-JMSHMlSYvw_Juoy5eNANAESZ8zx5omt68/s400/Home+Sweet+Home+1972+Prowler+Trailer%252C+1997+NM.jpg" title="Home Sweet Home, 1972 Prowler RV trailer, photo ©1997 TinaMWelter" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Home Sweet Home</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">I remember how nervous I was about moving onto our new piece of land in the mountains of New Mexico in 1996.</span> I was excited to live in the forest, but also nervous about bears and possibly mountain lions confronting me on the way to the outhouse. It seems funny looking back now, because we did see a bear occasionally but we never had a mountain lion or even a bobcat bother us, what I should have been worried about were the much smaller animals!<br /><br />One late fall afternoon, I had the door to the trailer open to enjoy the mild weather when I noticed something about the size of a small cat with tan brown and white fur scurry across the ground outside. It went from under one of our vehicles to hide behind some plywood we had leaned against the storage shed. Jeff was outside, so I asked him if he saw it. He moved some of the plywood and out popped this animal I thought looked like a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinchilla" target="_blank">Chinchilla</a>. It had large eyes and ears and a somewhat fluffy tail. <span style="color: #cc0000;">It was kind of cute, but what in heaven’s name was it? </span><br /><br />To get a better look at this critter, Jeff set out a few pieces of cat food in a dish and we quietly waited to see if it would come out from under the VW bus and eat the food. It did come out, and quite brazenly too, especially since it was late afternoon and it would have been highly visible to any hunting hawks.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZI28yL3rK3NejB78axRdf7_49uQImqYruzcXwUt4dbVbzPiMhtFh3PguJCrcZMTHmVlHh94nJ_ySNf9DgIh0dw81g62TOSFak7Wras8UyVQxEP_9i2oFAm-VYKJH3uDkmphrvtuC7zw8/s1600/Wood+Rat+quick+sketch+%25C2%25A92020+TinaMWelter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="White-throated Woodrat, ink pen sketch ©2020 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1104" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZI28yL3rK3NejB78axRdf7_49uQImqYruzcXwUt4dbVbzPiMhtFh3PguJCrcZMTHmVlHh94nJ_ySNf9DgIh0dw81g62TOSFak7Wras8UyVQxEP_9i2oFAm-VYKJH3uDkmphrvtuC7zw8/s400/Wood+Rat+quick+sketch+%25C2%25A92020+TinaMWelter.jpg" title="White-throated Woodrat, ink pen sketch ©2020 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">White-throated Woodrat, quick sketch </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Even after a good look, neither one of us was completely certain what it was, so the next time we went down to town to use the computer at the library we searched on-line. </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">(Note:
At this point in time, we didn’t have a phone line to our property,
there wasn’t cell phone service and we certainly didn’t have a personal
computer.)</span></span> <span style="color: #cc0000;">We found out it was a white throated wood rat, often called a pack rat.</span> They could be found living at high altitudes, in rocky terrain and ponderosa forests. Okay, we could check all three of those boxes! Now we knew what the critter was, but we had no idea that a battle of wits had just begun. <br /><br />One night about 3:00 am, we heard loud scratching noises in the ceiling just above our heads. What was that? Jeff went outside to check but couldn’t see anything. He banged on the ceiling and the noise stopped for awhile but soon those scrabbling noises started up again. It sounded way too loud for a mouse, good heavens, could that possibly be the wood rat? <br /><br />The walls and ceiling of the 1972 Prowler RV trailer we were living in were made of thin plywood with about a 2 inch layer of insulation between that plywood and the outside metal skin, even rain and hail storms were noisy, but good grief, it was hard to sleep with some large rodent up there making those annoying sounds just above our heads. <span style="color: #cc0000;">It would settle down and we would drift off to sleep, only to be awakened again by that scratching! </span>I still remember the vivid dream I had one night of seeing that wood rat’s face peering down on me after I dreamed it had gnawed a hole through the ceiling. Yeeesh.<br /><br />The next morning Jeff went on the roof and noticed that the vent for our propane stove was the entrance point. He had put window screen over it previously to keep birds out, but this animal had chewed right through that, so he cut a small sheet of expanded metal mesh and attached it over the vent. Perfect. <br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">That night, the scratching sounds started again! Good grief, we had inadvertently trapped the thing in!</span> Sigh, we hadn’t given enough thought about this being a nocturnal animal. We couldn’t use poison, we didn’t want it dead in our walls, so how were we going to get it out? Jeff took the metal screen off and then spent the next few nights waking up at 3am to put it back on after all seemed quiet. We thought he could block the wood rat out after it had gone out to search for food. Nope, nope and nope! <br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">Eventually Jeff came up with a different tactic. </span>The pilot light for our propane fridge was accessible from a small hatch on the outside of the trailer. This hatch was long and narrow, about 16 inches long and 4 inches wide. When he took the hatch off, we could see by the poo-pellets left behind that our wood rat had been to that part of trailer. Great! Jeff decided to leave the hatch off hoping the wood rat would leap the 4 feet to the ground or jump over to the small juniper tree trunk that was only a little over a foot away from the side of the trailer. Problem solved. <br /><br />Nope. That night we could still hear our unwanted “upstairs” neighbor moving around in the ceiling! <span style="color: #cc0000;">That wood rat had moved in with us and wasn’t taking any of our hints to leave.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFx77c05PbGb0bTLiQlBnOGyT5gfbd0Glsfa7VEYzO8IAGm6UJ_SpLP51NOYHjAucNmie00PNHO2BTJGutx4Us3hPAjUvZaDgbfnrrWX5o1PqDYLmZyxsd6WBA6g99AETF04HklZBUWuk/s1600/Follow+the+Trial+%25C2%25A92020+TinaMWelter+187KB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Pencil drawing of a Woodrat" border="0" data-original-height="521" data-original-width="864" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFx77c05PbGb0bTLiQlBnOGyT5gfbd0Glsfa7VEYzO8IAGm6UJ_SpLP51NOYHjAucNmie00PNHO2BTJGutx4Us3hPAjUvZaDgbfnrrWX5o1PqDYLmZyxsd6WBA6g99AETF04HklZBUWuk/s400/Follow+the+Trial+%25C2%25A92020+TinaMWelter+187KB.jpg" title="Follow the Trail, please! graphite on paper ©2020 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Follow the Trail, please!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Jeff wasn't defeated yet, he took that long hatch door from the trailer and made a temporary bridge by balancing one end from a knot on the juniper tree’s trunk and resting the other end on the lip of the open hatch on the trailer. Then the best idea of all, he put a line of dry cat food pieces along his makeshift gangway.<br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">We got into bed carefully that night, making certain we didn’t shake the trailer too much and undo Jeff’s handiwork.</span> Generally, it’s not great to be awakened at 3:00 am, but it was the best thing in the world to hear that small piece of metal slap the side of the trailer and fall. After a few moments of celebration, we debated if it was worth going outside in the cold to put the cover back on the hatch. Jeff decided he wasn’t taking any chances and went outside and put the hatch cover back in place. Thank heaven he did.<br /><br />We had just settled back down under the covers and started feeling sleepy when we heard the most unsettling thing of all, the sound of a wood rat’s tiny toenails scraping down the metal siding of the trailer! <span style="color: #cc0000;">It was trying to get back in by leaping from the juniper tree and aiming for the once open hatch! Yikes!</span><br /><br />It gave me such an eerie feeling that this animal was so determined to get what it wanted and it was my first inkling that I had underestimated what the smaller wildlife we were sharing this mountainside with were capable of. <br /><br />Happy creating!<br />>^-^<<br /><br />Tina</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">p.s. My right eye has been fairly stable as long as I keep using the steroid eye drops, still no diagnosis as to why I have this condition. I only have the MRI test left to do, but with the current Covid-19 virus trouble, that may take awhile to schedule.</span></span>The Artist's Life Experimenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11009902581375900822noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725208163641483673.post-45750411477727536062020-02-29T19:16:00.000-08:002020-02-29T19:16:40.721-08:00A Change of Vision<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjScPk_AO-kgu0ueN-nDcdkoS_9sCIC_tCoN0De-eyhxBM5jXsgVI1ulFIZXbkcvl1C2_-eTFdf4jfV2qNkZdBTzuRumEjoKGezIW6YY9P53q0cFWXYcd88CVkYmI40wUPWwQO38xg2bow/s1600/Change+of+Vision+-+orignal+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sunny Winter's Day in Nevada photo ©2020 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="1600" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjScPk_AO-kgu0ueN-nDcdkoS_9sCIC_tCoN0De-eyhxBM5jXsgVI1ulFIZXbkcvl1C2_-eTFdf4jfV2qNkZdBTzuRumEjoKGezIW6YY9P53q0cFWXYcd88CVkYmI40wUPWwQO38xg2bow/s400/Change+of+Vision+-+orignal+photo.jpg" title="Sunny Winter's Day in Nevada photo ©2020 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Normal view, driving on a sunny winter's day in Nevada.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">February 7th I was working on some sketch ideas for my brother who had asked me in December about illustrating a short story-poem he had written. I was making some mini test paintings and as the room I use for my studio filled with bright afternoon light, it seemed like something was going very wrong with my eyes. <br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">There was an unusual amount of black dots, <span style="color: black;">“floaters” is what they are often called, appearing in my right eye.</span></span> It seemed like I was looking through a strip of black pepper flakes. Plus, everything seemed more blurry, like I couldn’t quite focus my eye.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxyfxr3vFbg0vlVtXcxPJEq8AIDz_KCcTRN_L_E_G135yOSKDQn5-SYwN1zyXh77qzXF0vuQGJYkb-DkejGJgOHMh7f6KWY6oIr5NYaqHEPFJHAhMVdt4ks-EwWqUGOBxzz8mEMvKygsA/s1600/Change+of+Vision+-+Feb+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Floaters and Blurring from Uveitis, Photo Illustration ©2020 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="1600" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxyfxr3vFbg0vlVtXcxPJEq8AIDz_KCcTRN_L_E_G135yOSKDQn5-SYwN1zyXh77qzXF0vuQGJYkb-DkejGJgOHMh7f6KWY6oIr5NYaqHEPFJHAhMVdt4ks-EwWqUGOBxzz8mEMvKygsA/s400/Change+of+Vision+-+Feb+8.jpg" title="Floaters and Blurring from Uveitis, Photo Illustration ©2020 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Illustration of the floaters and blurring inside my eye.</span></td></tr>
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<br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> My heart was racing as I called the ophthalmologist, of course this had to happen after office hours on a Friday. I left a message and tried not to panic. <br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">Last spring while dealing with the usual round of allergies, I had my first change of vision.</span> I woke up one morning with what looked roughly like a faint circle of black dots suspended in a kind of thick gel in my eye. This annoying mass kept drifting in and out of the center of my vision, making it really challenging to see clearly.<br /><br />I made my first appointment with an ophthalmologist in over 30 years. <br /><br />What had happened in my right eye is called a “vitreous detachment”. It seemed terrifying, but it was explained to me as one of those “normal” things that can happen with aging. <span style="color: #cc0000;">Sheez, the things no one tells you about getting older!</span> The vitreous gel in the eye gets thicker as people age and may pull away from the back of the eye. That part isn’t dangerous to the eyesight, only if it manages to pull the retina with it.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5bVaOPPHHxAuVGtQH0OP2JiYWp6L3Vb-Mj9_jyekc8IpfppCbSuclNyzfavMRhEYzQbiyg6BmGfSrJHQ6ZO0zWZAXMYr_cDGeMX6gyxi2vHiX4uCjst47plzT-oLGnSUEMV6Waiemm4/s1600/Change+of+Vision+-+Feb+18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Vitreous detachment photo Illustration ©2020 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="1600" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5bVaOPPHHxAuVGtQH0OP2JiYWp6L3Vb-Mj9_jyekc8IpfppCbSuclNyzfavMRhEYzQbiyg6BmGfSrJHQ6ZO0zWZAXMYr_cDGeMX6gyxi2vHiX4uCjst47plzT-oLGnSUEMV6Waiemm4/s400/Change+of+Vision+-+Feb+18.jpg" title="Vitreous detachment photo Illustration ©2020 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Steroid drops helping, black dots are smaller and there is less visual blurring.</span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> (Looping shape is the right eye vitreous detachment turned on it's side.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> the dark dot on the side is from left eye vitreous detachment.) </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Thankfully, my retina was fine, but the doctor warned me that if I ever saw a “swarm of black dots” that I should contact him immediately. Those black dots are blood cells making their way into the eye. <span style="color: #cc0000;">Before you freak out about seeing those dots in your own eyes,</span> it’s perfectly normal to have a few, just not a whole bunch suddenly appearing all at once!<br /><br />I took a deep breath of relief, it was a nuisance but I could manage since my left eye was still clear. I was immediately disappointed when the doctor told me that this same thing would probably happen in my left eye! Sure enough, a similar thing showed up in my left eye in August. Sigh. <br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">The only treatment besides the controversial laser targeting or risky surgery of having all the vitreous sucked out of your eye and replaced with salt water is patience.</span> Gravity is your friend and over time will eventually pull the annoying things to the bottom of your eye where they are not so much in the way. It looks like they are at the top of your eye because of the way the brain turns the upside down images projected on the retina right side up.<br /><br />By December, I had pretty much gotten used to the inconvenience. Yes, making art was harder. I often had to tip my head to the side to get them out of the way if I was working on something detailed, I cried now and then out of frustration, but dammit, I wasn’t going to let them stop me from making and creating whatever I wanted.<br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">This is why the appearance of that “swarm” of dots in early February was so upsetting. </span>The doctor’s office did call me back and I was able to go in to get my eyes checked on Saturday. The good news, my retinas were fine. The bad news, the back of my right eye was obviously inflamed, which is also a danger to eyesight. The question was why?<br /><br />The name for it is Uveitis, specifically Posterior Uveitis in my case since it is the back of the eye. If you search on-line for what can cause it you will find a long list of about 30 upsetting reasons. I looked them all up, trying to understand what might be going on, but none of them felt like an exact match for me. <br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">The rest of the month of February has been a series of blood tests and doctors visits and medications.</span> The good news is that several of the scary things on that list have been ruled out. I don’t have tuberculosis, lyme disease, lupus or toxoplasmosis. The shingles virus was a real suspect at first, but it’s not that either. I still have an MRI test to do to check for multiple sclerosis or a tumor, which are more scary things to consider, but I would like to know for certain.<br /><br />The only clue I feel I have is that I had a nasty sinus attack Dec. 22nd and then came down with a cold on Christmas day. I was still coughing weeks later when I caught the cold again the end of January and had another painful sinus attack just before this ordeal with my eyes started. Did being sick for so long mess with my immune system and trigger the inflammation in my eye?<br /><br />The steroid eye drops I am taking are keeping the inflammation at bay, which I am truly grateful for, but they are not a cure. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTT8jBU_A-NpOuH7y4OJTn19KUyregr874yEu3SlLA6Ig78yajevDzoigbD6Fojt_4Ofs0g2KsSOT7NR_PKvpUkiZufYfw02wO7WMfRd_ISphXL1lIvAizbAtwR67skT_5q3efx7sgC-s/s1600/Change+of+Vision+-+most+recent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Vitreous detachment both eyes photo illustration ©2020 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="1600" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTT8jBU_A-NpOuH7y4OJTn19KUyregr874yEu3SlLA6Ig78yajevDzoigbD6Fojt_4Ofs0g2KsSOT7NR_PKvpUkiZufYfw02wO7WMfRd_ISphXL1lIvAizbAtwR67skT_5q3efx7sgC-s/s400/Change+of+Vision+-+most+recent.jpg" title="Vitreous detachment both eyes photo illustration ©2020 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Illustration of how it looks currently. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">I debated with myself all month about talking about this on my blog</span>, but as an artist this event really shook my world. The first few days were so very upsetting and I was full of fear of losing my eyesight. I’m still concerned since I don’t have any solid answers yet. I’m grateful the doctor said I could drive again, so that is an improvement.<br /><br />It also feels important to me that I let other people know that if you ever get an unexpected blizzard of little black dots in your eye do not wait around, get to an ophthalmologist as quickly as you can! <br /><br />Hopefully Creating<br /><br />>^-^<<br />Tina</span></span>The Artist's Life Experimenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11009902581375900822noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725208163641483673.post-77821982568118132252020-01-31T23:15:00.000-08:002020-02-05T08:20:41.667-08:00Drawing From Memories<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZeui-oTRikowqexMXBC7uuWqXLHriofcDZgwRDb6PWH3isDcgj6zNhsoHu6IquPfVTkjhQ6iZl65OI82Jv5N4fVM6W3sy22TQzay51coM1uciZeV_SuuFJhZFqsl7wUiJXcAzX8V_Pg/s1600/elk+sketch+four+-+tire+adjusted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt=""Salt Lick" elk sketch 5 ©2020 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="1010" data-original-width="1280" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZeui-oTRikowqexMXBC7uuWqXLHriofcDZgwRDb6PWH3isDcgj6zNhsoHu6IquPfVTkjhQ6iZl65OI82Jv5N4fVM6W3sy22TQzay51coM1uciZeV_SuuFJhZFqsl7wUiJXcAzX8V_Pg/s400/elk+sketch+four+-+tire+adjusted.jpg" title=""Salt Lick" elk sketch 5 ©2020 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I’ve thought a lot about what I want to focus the Artist Life Experiment blog for 2020. I think we are due for some fear facing and experiment doing.</span></span></i></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">It’s time to confess my creative insecurity of not being that great at free-hand drawing.</span> Frankly, it’s embarrassing. I’m great if I have my photo references and my drawing grid all plotted out. There is nothing wrong with using those tools. They make me feel secure and more confident that I will be successful in creating something beautiful. In the past, these tools have often been key for me to have the courage to even start a painting. The downside is that I think my drawings can be a bit stiff at times and I also wonder if my favorite tools have hampered me from developing a unique drawing style of my own.</span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">I know the remedy for stiff drawings is sketching practice.</span> Honestly, sketching practice has never been my favorite thing. It reminds me of practicing the scales for the piano, necessary work but not exactly inspiring.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">If I’m going to do the work of sketching, I will be more likely to practice if I have an end goal in mind rather than just drawing “random things around the house.” I never liked that exercise suggestion! <span style="color: #cc0000;">I’m thinking about making drawings for a book.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">That book would be focused on the fifteen years we lived in the mountains of New Mexico and built our off-grid home from the ground up. Of course we have photos of many of the things we did, but I’m curious to see if I could do some drawings too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">It’s a huge goal and way too much to do in just one year,</span> but “shoot for the stars and hit the moon” or some such inspirational meme. Seriously though, I won't know if this is a good idea or not unless I try it out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">To prove that I am not kidding about my free-hand drawing skills, I’m posting my first attempts at sketching with pen.</span> Yes, pen, ballpoint pen and a little marker to be exact. I know, no forgiving pencil and eraser to cover past sins!</span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I follow the blog of a pen and ink artist, Chris Wilson, who likes to share his knowledge. <span style="color: #cc0000;">Chris claims sketching with pen is the best way to learn to loosen up.</span> He suggests to start by holding the pen farther back and let the lines be less controlled. Also, imagine following the outside contour of the subject to get the overall gesture. This advice sort of works for me, but I already found out I do better if I look for shapes and aim to connect the shapes together, if that makes any sense.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">Okay, here is my first try.</span> Yikes! This looks weird even to me.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJLP2NOSrQ8JglmpV6tZJHzOWSngXAW57N3c9D_P6nTcaVGgQK0tr3bo7K_gjbrZDvIrEeyL8uzpMW14aZpOZfxiPEZ_El5znbPPhunHoUV_blmNXbsxeNcOkhrheivEDUpadRITxSmOQ/s1600/elk+sketch+one.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt=""Cleaning Crew" elk sketch one ©2020 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="640" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJLP2NOSrQ8JglmpV6tZJHzOWSngXAW57N3c9D_P6nTcaVGgQK0tr3bo7K_gjbrZDvIrEeyL8uzpMW14aZpOZfxiPEZ_El5znbPPhunHoUV_blmNXbsxeNcOkhrheivEDUpadRITxSmOQ/s400/elk+sketch+one.jpg" title=""Cleaning Crew" elk sketch one ©2020 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Cleaning Crew</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">and another…wow, a toy truck and giant deer! </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir5nHy0DNytW1HL7xmoIuowsA4QBHl44pCxlHadTbMLna9qV_GzElxRfo3Z-OZQcnaMC4jWQpj4qIbThoi1SlkU4ObSbk31sIs0NtdMOI3oeeJ91RniyoYtntIcou4GP3ry32f2v0FPqo/s1600/elk+sketch+two.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt=""Toy Truck, Giant Deer" elk sketch two ©2020 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="640" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir5nHy0DNytW1HL7xmoIuowsA4QBHl44pCxlHadTbMLna9qV_GzElxRfo3Z-OZQcnaMC4jWQpj4qIbThoi1SlkU4ObSbk31sIs0NtdMOI3oeeJ91RniyoYtntIcou4GP3ry32f2v0FPqo/s400/elk+sketch+two.jpg" title=""Toy Truck, Giant Deer" elk sketch two ©2020 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">That elk in the back looks kinda good though.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8_TP1_PirDcZ3DRX_G25z1xBDBupVqjknMwT0UpVG-yuIVjGGCszNqvnqFGgldX1DQocd2XasggTo1qfzZ1_a9EwY9JuRrLg_3gGLdBRakL1lh35ThGkDOQejzvKdxDDJnOTCVcCbPtY/s1600/Single+elk+detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt=""That Elk in the Back" elk sketch two detail ©2020 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1282" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8_TP1_PirDcZ3DRX_G25z1xBDBupVqjknMwT0UpVG-yuIVjGGCszNqvnqFGgldX1DQocd2XasggTo1qfzZ1_a9EwY9JuRrLg_3gGLdBRakL1lh35ThGkDOQejzvKdxDDJnOTCVcCbPtY/s400/Single+elk+detail.jpg" title=""That Elk in the Back" elk sketch two detail ©2020 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></div>
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Attempt #3. Messed up the placement of the back tire and what is going on with the chin of that little female elk up front…?</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmt9mwHDDe8bnCiNINoyvWReOlv2edojX_Gxl8Rjp3gmkCXFC65xxrT8gT_R6WjapjyrG8oLQu1gNU40dq3dSzzvzB9DyD9QsS0_xPQ4WjKjcBLsYGhNbCHsSrGtv8zG2rzhgtidDXmSk/s1600/elk+sketch+four+-+tire+mistake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt=""Funny Face" elk sketch 5 ©2020 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="640" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmt9mwHDDe8bnCiNINoyvWReOlv2edojX_Gxl8Rjp3gmkCXFC65xxrT8gT_R6WjapjyrG8oLQu1gNU40dq3dSzzvzB9DyD9QsS0_xPQ4WjKjcBLsYGhNbCHsSrGtv8zG2rzhgtidDXmSk/s400/elk+sketch+four+-+tire+mistake.jpg" title=""Funny Face" elk sketch 5 ©2020 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Funny Face</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Oh, they actually have white chins! I looked for more image reference online to figure out what was going on. A big thank you to photographers Robert Harding and"@bingtravelbunny."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0uNBAgD58jNtnRUnwI22cKqf7nGLGqn_C-l88uc52Rdl2NA6X3qNoIDvuR1iY2lT_zqEyXocLtdSZGJx72ZVHAQhlH2kbObYALCBpNBnsJvnPSDavnz9suBPyl63Md9IYBInUZLrL57U/s1600/Lady+Elk%252C+portrait+sketch+%25C2%25A92020TinaM.Welter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt=""Lady Elk" elk sketch 3 ©2020 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="528" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0uNBAgD58jNtnRUnwI22cKqf7nGLGqn_C-l88uc52Rdl2NA6X3qNoIDvuR1iY2lT_zqEyXocLtdSZGJx72ZVHAQhlH2kbObYALCBpNBnsJvnPSDavnz9suBPyl63Md9IYBInUZLrL57U/s320/Lady+Elk%252C+portrait+sketch+%25C2%25A92020TinaM.Welter.jpg" title=""Lady Elk" elk sketch 3 ©2020 Tina M.Welter" width="219" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg78dul2LgmVmn4-dYsI_dLORUAHkYxjGMiPyTGMcIyCFmo48uejM_oobR_rcM7aNWaqpWnkdBVaLEq8-3_WOoYuvqr6lXmYwp3dbvXy34kn0_NLoALTA7HbF3VzdkdS_JkJJK3MBENT7k/s1600/Female+elk%252C+full+view+%25C2%25A92020TinaM.Welter.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt=""Full Figure Lady" elk sketch 4 ©2020 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="860" data-original-width="668" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg78dul2LgmVmn4-dYsI_dLORUAHkYxjGMiPyTGMcIyCFmo48uejM_oobR_rcM7aNWaqpWnkdBVaLEq8-3_WOoYuvqr6lXmYwp3dbvXy34kn0_NLoALTA7HbF3VzdkdS_JkJJK3MBENT7k/s320/Female+elk%252C+full+view+%25C2%25A92020TinaM.Welter.jpeg" title=""Full Figure Lady" elk sketch 4 ©2020 Tina M.Welter" width="248" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Finally, a drawing I’m less embarrassed about! Full disclosure, I covered up that mistake over the back tire with white paint and re-did the pen work.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdg0feXQOlUKG1lbAgzI_PsBJFnjZWCtnZOoMrsfxyIa51xx-sUhtMbFISuJEABY57kYgZoGmYiuqZmenHtEUy311SRr842hyphenhyphenJZIQBc5-B8NuCmzR4eo1RomvqeW5zcwrPI0HNH7PayAg/s1600/elk+sketch+four+-+tire+adjusted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt=""Salt Lick" elk sketch 5 ©2020 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="1010" data-original-width="1280" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdg0feXQOlUKG1lbAgzI_PsBJFnjZWCtnZOoMrsfxyIa51xx-sUhtMbFISuJEABY57kYgZoGmYiuqZmenHtEUy311SRr842hyphenhyphenJZIQBc5-B8NuCmzR4eo1RomvqeW5zcwrPI0HNH7PayAg/s400/elk+sketch+four+-+tire+adjusted.jpg" title=""Salt Lick" elk sketch 5 ©2020 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Salt Lick</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Here’s the story behind the event I am attempting to draw from January 3, 2011.</span><br />
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One Sunday, very early in the morning before the sunrise, Jeff called me very softly out of our nice warm bed. “Hey, you have to see this, elk are cleaning my truck…” <br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Puzzled, I got out of bed and made my way as quietly as I could over to the large east facing window to look, and sure enough, a small herd of elk had surrounded Jeff’s green Toyota Tacoma truck. The metal was coated with salt from the winter roads and these animals were solemnly licking it all over. In our fifteen years living there, we had never seen the elk do that before! <br />
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They must have felt they were in luck to find a tasty treat like that just waiting for them. We don’t know if road salt was safe for them to eat, but they were certainly enjoying themselves, even pushing each other a little, greedy to get to the un-licked spots. <br />
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Eventually they were done cleaning off the truck and started to notice us staring at them, that was their cue to disperse. They casually continued up the mountain side, nosing around for munch-able plants under the snow as they went. We watched as one by one the whole herd quietly vanished in between the trees. Another memorable moment that made our difficulties of living off-grid in the woods worth all the effort.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Just in case you were wondering, the door handles of the truck were not appealing to the touch when we went out to get in it later. Ick!<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">What do you think?</span> <br />
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Here’s some of my original photos, they aren’t great because there was low light and my camera had a hard time focusing through the window. Do you prefer the drawing or the photos?</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpew9JKIJ1HcwIv_m9K4iw3zClGd0HSy5e-wOjKzaxq_EWVCSrmH-ExS8d9ubXHTeSmRGDCEgKSlAEQvf3K9kmTCPTOJrntR7EX_HHd7qpxZaY3eFA8UqmdbF6WaQSgvEIHpTkJ-Djfg/s1600/Elk+car+wash+l+%25C2%25A9TinaM.Welter+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt=""Cleaning Crew" photo ©2011 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="1445" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpew9JKIJ1HcwIv_m9K4iw3zClGd0HSy5e-wOjKzaxq_EWVCSrmH-ExS8d9ubXHTeSmRGDCEgKSlAEQvf3K9kmTCPTOJrntR7EX_HHd7qpxZaY3eFA8UqmdbF6WaQSgvEIHpTkJ-Djfg/s400/Elk+car+wash+l+%25C2%25A9TinaM.Welter+2011.jpg" title=""Cleaning Crew" photo ©2011 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Cleaning Crew</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8R1W6MdOuSxnUXy3Jn97ch_Wp7HW3uqRkft4RgMJZclfRC2eZJUzUUDlhXIhK83SGhrsjfXOhBEcsKsObttqrRBPhzgKuNl3dRekKmMWdUiAO4QysO2I7jFjtHwD74y8bPEiovS33oI/s1600/The+Elk+notice+us+%25C2%25A92011+TinaM.Welter.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt=""The Elk Notice Us" photo ©2011 Tina M.Welter" border="0" data-original-height="874" data-original-width="1209" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8R1W6MdOuSxnUXy3Jn97ch_Wp7HW3uqRkft4RgMJZclfRC2eZJUzUUDlhXIhK83SGhrsjfXOhBEcsKsObttqrRBPhzgKuNl3dRekKmMWdUiAO4QysO2I7jFjtHwD74y8bPEiovS33oI/s400/The+Elk+notice+us+%25C2%25A92011+TinaM.Welter.jpeg" title=""The Elk Notice Us" photo ©2011 Tina M.Welter" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Elk Notice Us</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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Anyone else have a creative insecurity they are hiding? What are you doing to address it?<br />
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Happy Creating!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
>^-^<<br />
Tina<br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Here's a link to a list of Chris Wilson’s favorite books about drawing and sketching:</i> <a href="https://chriswilsonstudio.com/sketching-books/">https://chriswilsonstudio.com/sketching-books/</a></span></span>The Artist's Life Experimenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11009902581375900822noreply@blogger.com0