Art Tip #127

Notan

Notan comes from the Japanese and it roughy means the play between light & dark.  I use a 2 value notan to help me simplify & see if there is a strong & pleasing design.  I rarely paint in 2 values but it's a very quick exercise. If the composition works in black & white, then I'm good to go.  To take less than 5 mins. to do a simple exercise to avoid a bad composition, seems to me a no-brainer. I believe it's an invaluable tool & should be part of your painting process.

Art Tip #108

In the Black

I use a limited palette which doesn't include black.  I make my own for several reasons.  One, I can control the temperature of my black.  From the photo, you can see the the cooler black/greys on the left with the warm version on the right.  I also find that tube black can be such a dead color & my blacks have life to them.  My standard mixture is 2 parts Ultramarine to 1 part Burnt Sienna (this will vary with the brand that you use).  This is also the base for my green (mother color) mixture which will be my next art tip.  I make just about every green that I need from this main color.  Hard to believe but greens are never an issue for me.  

 If you struggle with mixing believable & harmonious greens be sure to catch next Tuesday's post.  Happy weekend.

Art Tip #107

Favorite Bedtime Reading

The Language of Drawing

by Sherrie McGraw

There are 4 books that are always by my bedside.  This is my favorite even though it's not about oil painting.   The book is more about seeing rather than about actual rendering. Translating the information in front of her, Sherrie is able to capture the lyrical nature of her subject.  Simply looking at her drawings makes me what to capture what she captures, which to say, the essence & beauty of her subject.  While it is not a new book, I believe it deserves a place on any artist's bookshelf.  

Check back to see which are some of my other favorite bedtime art books.

Art Tip #105 - Demo "Kiawah Marsh"

Marsh Demo


I hope you enjoy and gain a bit of insight on my process.

Art Tip #104

Butter!!!!

Several people have asked what the warm yellow is on my palette.  It's Indian Yellow.  If you are unfamiliar with Indian Yellow, let me introduce you to the wonderful possibilities of this tube of paint.  It's a transparent warm yellow which compliments the opaque Cad. Yellow Light on my palette. 

Mixing Ind. Yellow w/ Titanium White and call it my BUTTER.  It's an ideal way to lighten colors without adding pure white, it's the base of my transparent "mother color" green mixture (another tip for later) & it mixes to the most natural yellow that I seem unable to sufficiently achieve with the Cad. Yellow colors.  Many years ago, I realized that my palette was heavily weighted with opaque colors & in the process of switching out for more transparent paints, I discovered Indian Yellow.  I only use Gamblin Indian Yellow.  There is such huge swing in the quality & color with other brands.  

 I find Gamblin's Indian Yellow to be the most pure hue.  It's such a personal preference but if you aren't happy with your paint...what's the point?

Do you love Indian Yellow as much as I do?