Let's Inspire each other to be Creative

Very "painterly," Painterly! Impressive, clean yet very natural-looking - including the people. I haven't tackled humans yet, except one studio model, a slight-framed older Jewish man, who came out in my painting looking like a buff young Black man.   Great idea on the koala bears... and I thought for a moment the Siamese kitten was real, ready to jump at those bears.

The succulents are in Old Town San Diego..by one of the restaurants..

I played classical viola from 7-20 then stopped.  3 years ago I started playing folk Irish, violin etc by ear, although I can read.  I stink!  But I love my group of fiddlers. They stink too!

The paintings above are so pretty.  I can't draw or paint.  But to those of you who are also not blessed I have a suggestion.  Finger Painting!  I am not kidding you.  It's awesome and fun.  Just be sure to put a plastic bag down first and if you have kids they can play too.

Hi painterly, I may not finish that one, may paint over it... it served its purpose of getting me started on acrylics. Also, I've been putting together an acrylics beginner's kit for my 43-year-old son, who I'm going to visit on Saturday (also to hear him co-host on a local radio show), and I've been busy getting canvases etc. ready for a 10-week, online/DVD-based still life oil painting class -- 10 paintings in 10 weeks!  This is a guy I've mentioned before, Daniel Edmondson. I have no oil painting classes locally this summer and he offers a payment plan at $67 a month for three months, so I decided to give it a go. I've already told him not to expect a painting a week. (I'll send photos of completed paintings for his critique.)

OK, painterly, you have so much more experience than I do, I'll take your advice. I need to slow down, but I only started painting 3-1/2 years ago and there's so much I want to do and learn.I want the kind of patience you're describing as you learn from your country scene.

I didn't know of Lynne Gertenbach but I found her web site at http://wwwlynngertenbachart.com and her work is lovely. My regular teacher here does beautiful work, though quite different from Lynne's: http://www.lissafriedmanart.com.

that above are unfocused pics of a couple of my paintings.. I used to paint avidly  - had a big show.. sold a bunch.  I kind of quit in '87.... but encourage paintings with my kids who are turning out some really good stuff!  Now it's all I can do to keep up with my musical responsibilities.. (I had a seizure a while back which affected my memory a bit),,, I've gone back to teaching and being a pianist/organist, but I have to practice big time... which I haven't had to do until now. 

I LOVE seeing everyone's works.  I just love how paintings can be so different in style and be so incredible.

(SoCalLisa) - have you heard of Flickr's photostream?  It's a daily or weekly challenge to take a photo of some theme.. I have a couple friends who do it (it's free) and they have really grown artistically.  here's an example of one of my friend's photos

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dolmansaxlil/5974114191/?v=1

She usually just stays in her routine and and finds a way to complete 'the assignment'.  A great way to archive your photos (WHICH ARE EXCELLENT) if nothing else.

Hello all, I ran across this thread and I don't really have anything to add as far as my own talents at this point.  I just wanted to say how much I've enjoyed seeing the talent here.

o wow.. that is one colorful sunset.. a photo?.. and where do you live generally sandymess?

I was never trained as an artist and the dad and child painting was the last big one I did of 50.. I kept is and a few other favorites caurus sunflowers.

Love the sunset

 Mary,

I checked out Lissa Friedman's website....lovely work. Did you see the artists on the gallery who represents her..Corse Gallery? Some great artists there....one of my favourites is Romel de la Torre...he gives a workshop in Florida where I live in the winter...He's not cheap but the experience would be wonderful, I keep promising myself that I will sign up.

Mary...that's impressive!

(Romel comes to Sarasota...he's expensive around $500.00 for 3 or 5 day workshop...I think its 3days)

Re: is the DVD lesson step by step, the answer is "kind of..."  Dan chats as he goes along, didn't send a list of the colors I'd need ahead of time, which didn't bother me because I have a whole range of colors. His approach would be too hard for a beginner, because he'll say "Well, look at this orange. I don't think that's bright enough. I think I'll mix a little cad yellow - just a touch - with some titaniium white. There! That looks better." It's satisfying my desire to see how someone besides my teacher paints, and to motivate me to paint because I'm at the point where I don't think I'll improve unless I paint more. So I have this project of ten still life paintings. Each time, I learn what my eye does and doesn't see. The plate, for example. I'm going to have to paint that upside down.

  milky way over Chicago

and carrots

painterly, the background mixture, I think, was dark blue, with alzarin red and ocre. I still have to deepen it, add more layers of paint, will confirm the mixture when I view the DVD again. Dan gives the details in passing as he paints so there wasn't much time to write them down... I'd just grab a tube as he talked and don't remember the exact mixture now. I do remember he suggested adding a little white on the right side to reflect the plate. I kind of like the dark backgroounds, though they're really difficult to see in normal lighting. I did a still life my second year of painting that took more than a thousand hours and I ended up having to buy a light to set over the frame -- otherwise it's hard to make out the details: