Artist Spotlite - Nicole Roy

Artist: Nicole Roy

Location: Chelmsford Ontario, Canada

Title: “Zindy”

Medium: Charcoal on Canson paper

Dimensions: 6″ x 8″

Website: http://www.artbynicole.4t.com

Comments From The Artist: My first love is drawing people and/or pet portraits in charcoal…I welcome commissions and enjoy the reactions of clients… I love to paint landscapes (and the likes) in acrylics on a variety of items and surfaces (canvas, rocks, leaves, seashells etc…) I anticipate challenges big or small!
Recently, I’ve started to experiment with soft pastels, which I like very much… My work space is my cozy Studio/Shop which is my haven. I am self taught and also enjoy teaching painting.

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Artist Spotlite - Veronica Fortune

Artist: Veronica Fortune

Location: Baltimore MD

Title: “Pond House, circa 1732″

Medium: Pastel Pencils on Cardstock

Dimensions: 4″ x 6″

Comments From The Artist: I have a line of greeting cards, which I customize to fit the situation, so they are wordless, initially - blank greeting cards.  I started painting on my own about 30 years ago.  Totally self-taught, talent God-given, I also teach.  I work in just about every medium - tried them all years ago, thinking I’d settle on one - I settled on them all!  I work from my own photographs.  I am also known as “the Red Lion”, and “Rtiste”.

Interview With Artist Julie Blight

Artist Statement

Today we are bombarded with so much ugliness in the world; through my art I try to portray the calming beauty I feel from nature. My passion is painting Realistic Animal Portraits, especially Dogs, Cattle and our vibrant Northern Territory Landscapes, Flora and Fauna.

My favourite medium is Matisse Acrylic Paint and also work in Inks, Wax, Rice Paper and Graphite Pencil.
I attained my Visual Arts Diploma many years ago and have continued my art education with the school of life, through trial and error.  After years of exhibiting, travel teaching nationally and internationally I now enjoy the layback life style of the Territory. I paint under the Nom de Plume “Siani Walsh”.

The photo submitted is of my young Rottweiler Sharny and is called “Who Me”.  To her the world is her play ground she is either going into mischief or coming out of it and has the most expressive face of any dog I have been guardian to. She is an absolute joy to share my life with.

Q: What medium or mediums do you work with?

A: Acrylic Paint, Inks, Wax Rice Paper and Graphite Pencil are the Mediums I mainly work with, and will paint on any surface that stays still long enough.

Q: How long have you been an artist? How did you get started?

A: Art become important to me as a child, living and growing up in the country meant you had to find ways to occupy your free time. Sketching and Water Colour painting of animals and the landscape become my passion.

Q: Do you have any formal training or are you self taught?

A: My formal training consists of a Visual Arts Diploma, study with Russian Master Artist Slava Letkov and American Artist Sherry Nelson.  I attained my teachers Accreditation and have been a published Artist by Express Publication since 1997. My art education continues with the school of life, through trial and error. After many years of travel teaching Nationally and Internationally I am enjoying the lay back life style of the Northern Territory and only teach two Acrylic Painting courses a year in my home town of Katherine.

Q: Do you have any favorite art supplies that you would like to recommend?

A: Matisse Derivan products are my favourite art supplies. Matisse is an Australian owned company since 1964 and has been committed to providing the arts community with the worlds finest Professional quality Acrylic colours and Mediums. Their vibrant, exciting colours are formulated on our Australian Flora, Fauna, Sea and Landscape colours.

Q: Do you work with any specific styles or subject matter?

A: Most of my subject matter is Australian Flora, Fauna and Landscapes; my passion is painting Realistic Animal Portraits of Dogs and Cattle. I feel painting is a gift to be shared, the bonus for me is when someone else finds a connection with my work and appreciates it too.

Q: Can you recommend any books, videos or other resources that will help new artists?

A: There are many great books and DVD’s available for the beginner artist. It is just a matter of finding what will suit you as an individual.

Q: How do you get ideas to create a piece What inspires you?

A: My greatest inspiration to create a painting arises from the peaceful beauty I find around me in Nature. We are confronted from so much ugliness from the World on a daily basis; I feel I have to balance that in my life by portraying the quiet beauty I find in Nature.

Q: Are there any artists that have influenced you and why?

A: There are many beautiful and varied artists around today, to look at their work and read their Artist Statements can be very uplifting. I wouldn’t say they have influenced the style of my work but I love to read how another artists mind works in regard to their art.

Q: Do you have a website you would like to share?

A: I have a website www.julieblight.gempton.com which I really must have updated and a www.PictureTrail.com/siani which is up to date.

 

Q: Finally do you have any last words of advice for beginner artists?

A: My advice for beginners is to practice, practice, practice and enjoy to the maximum what you are doing.

Plain Paint or Gesso?

Today’s question comes from Soroya and she asks:

“Is it ok to use plain paint prior on canvas or do you have to use Gesso? If so why. I am an American living in the UK and I find art supplies very expensive here. The gesso that is of a good quality is expensive, so I thought primer is not a bad cost why not? Thanks for any help in this matter.”

Do you have any information that might help Soroya?

Please leave your response below under the “Comments” Section. Thanks!

Artist Spotlite - Bernie Rosage Jr.

Artist: Bernie Rosage Jr.

Title: “A Tribute to Gold Star Moms”

Medium: Oil

Dimensions: 10×8

Support: Linen

“A Tribute to Gold Star Moms”

For me, as an artist, painting is a struggle. Struggle in the sense that I force myself to adhere to an almost daily routine of painting. Too many times life gets in the way and painting has to take a back seat… but sometimes life gets in the way and inspiration comes. When this happens it’s as if the painting takes on a life of its own. It’s as if divine intervention takes over… this painting has such a story.

“A Tribute to Gold Star Moms” by Bernie Rosage Jr.
En Plein Aire, April 2008.

The painting started from a typical monthly “Paint Out” with a group of plein air artists that gather once a month to paint scenes form our county. We call ourselves OOPS… Onslow Outdoor Painters Society. We live in a military conscious area… home of Camp Lejeune Marine Corps base. Our April “Paint Out” was at the Beirut Memorial… a beautiful and significant spot.

The OOPS artists were scattered throughout the site painting from various vantage points… I opted for a close up of the statue’s boots. Since I was positioned at the focal point of the memorial I had the opportunity to meet many nice people. Two of those people opened my eyes and broke my heart.

Let me explain…

Two ladies approached me, commented on my painting and one asked for a business card… as we talked she told me… “my son is buried over there”… motioning to the Veterans Cemetery adjacent to the memorial. I was taken back… she was my age and her son was close in age to my three oldest children. I’m used to burials of WWII, Korean, and Vietnam veterans over there… older veterans who lived full lives… not someone my children’s age. She (wish I could remember her name) mentioned her son was killed in 2004 and that her friend’s son was killed less than a year ago. My eyes were opened to how real this war is and my heart ached for these two ladies.

I noticed one lady wearing a “Gold Star” necklace knowing well what it represented since my wife’s grandmother was a Gold Star mom… losing her oldest son in Korea in 1950. When I got home… I added the necklace to my painting as a tribute to these two anonymous ladies, their impact on me, and Gold Star moms everywhere. I have four children of my own… my mind can’t even imagine what Gold Star moms and families go through… please accept my humble tribute to you.

Artist Spotlite - Linda Remington

Artist: Linda Remington

Title: “Newlyweds”

Medium: Prismacolor Pencil

Dimensions: 9″ x 12″

Support: Bristol Vellum

Comments From The Artist: This is my second portrait in pencil. I named the work newlyweds. I am now retired and have the time to draw and really am enjoying myself. I keep two size drawing journals that I work in daily and am trying to work on what i call a project a week of watercolor or pencil.  I use the internet to explore sites where i can view others work. Thank you for the great site you have.

How To Clean an Oil Painting?

Today’s question comes from Tom, and he asks:

“I have a large dark oil painting, very dusty, I need to clean it and retouch it (I am the artist who painted it). It was glazed and varnished with Liquitex. Once cleaned and retouched, I intend to use Liquitex again. I heard somewhere I could use white bread to clean the surface. Is this a realist means of cleaning?”

Do you have any information that might help Tom?

Please leave your response below in the comment box.

Thanks!

Plein Air Painting Demonstration - City Of Rocks - By Jo Castillo

About Jo

Jo Knoblock Castillo has always had an interest in art and working with her hands. Whether it was cooking, sewing or making gifts, she was happy to be “doing”. While living in Bolivia, she finally rediscovered her love of painting. Her interest is in landscapes and paintings that have connections to her life.

Jo works in most media, but has discovered she really enjoys the special luminosity of pastels. They are tactile, immediate and long lasting. Other than smudging if touched (they should be framed under glass), they are very durable. The colors are clear and vibrant. “I enjoy painting from life and use my own reference photos just as a reminder of shape or lighting,” says the artist.

Winters find Jo and Gene, her husband, living in Bastrop, Texas. It is near family and offers a mild climate and plenty of golf courses and opportunities to paint. Jo looks forward to plein air painting in New Mexico each summer. “It is a challenge to set up an easel and paint a scene in just a couple of hours,” Jo says, “The light is very fleeting and you have to get down large sections of light and dark very quickly to establish your painting. Weather doesn’t always cooperate and uninvited visitors like mosquitos or snakes are not uncommon.”

Please take a moment to visit Jo’s websites to learn more about her and to view more of her work:

http://www.jocastilloart.com/

http://jocastilloartblog.blogspot.com/

Plein Air Painting Demonstration - City Of Rocks

My equipment for plein air:

1. A carrying bag I bought at Academy Sports for about $10.00. In it I put:

• A box with two trays, (A box that originally held Rembrandt pastels) I filled those foam lined trays with an assortment of pastels, in color, value and hardness. (Rembrandts, Daler-Rowney, Art Spectrum, and others)
• A set of Unison darks
• Nupastels
• Paintbrush
• Watercolors and water
• Apron
• Towel
• Paper towels
• Liquid gloves
• Handy wipes
• Sketchbook

2. Camera

3. Surface for my painting. I tape the board or paper to foam core and cover with another piece of form core taped on one edge to make a folder. I just fold it back, paint and then close it and tape or clip it closed to avoid smearing in travel.

4. A lightweight folding easel and table for the pastels. (Sometimes I use a French easel and use the drawer as a partial table.)

5. A small folding stool

6. Sunscreen, hat, bug repellent

7. Snacks, water, etc.

When possible I use the tailgate of my pickup as my table. I recommend being as comfortable as possible when you are out. This puts you in a better mood to paint and make the session enjoyable.

I ventured to the City of Rocks State Park, near Silver City, New Mexico, for a plein air painting session. I knew I would find a picnic table in the shade so I did not need my table. I usually work standing up so that I can step back and evaluate my work as I go. I painted sitting down this session, knowing I would get up to take photos, allowing me to “step back” occasionally.

I found a table in the shade and set up my equipment. I took some photos and picked out my subject, using the camera to crop the view with good composition and light.

Jo painting

Reference photo

When the composition and light is not so obvious, I do several value sketches in the sketchbook. This time I sketched right on the board. (I used a Richeson’s Unison Gator Foam Pastel Surface in white. A new surface for me. When I took the first photograph, I noticed a fault in the board, with a little blending, that disappeared. That happens with shipping and storing and you have to be very careful if you are doing a portrait or some very detailed work to check the surface. For landscapes it usually can be covered up)

The next step was to add an under painting with watercolor. I sometimes use the complementary color to add sparkle to show through the pastels. In this case I chose to use basically the colors themselves to cover the white surface. I put in the darks and basic design.

Watercolor added

I then worked on the sky. I put in the sky first in a landscape to keep it fresh and clear. I used several different blues to give depth and life. It is lighter near the horizon because of the atmosphere. I blended a little with my fingers and a Nupastel, but did not blend the final layer. There was a sprinkling of clouds so I added some with a pale gray, lavender and blue and made the white part with a very light yellow-white. That looks brighter against the blue of the sky and more lively than pure white.

Sky and start laying in rocks

I started laying in the pastels on the rocks with a base color similar to the colors I was seeing. Mauve and cream colors in the light area with some blue-gray and purple for the shadows in the rough rock. For the shadow side of the rocks I used similar shades with more blue and a very dark red that is toward a dark brown.

Middle layers

I scumbled (dragging one color lightly over the other) the colors on with a light touch for an assortment of colors. There was a little green moss on the largest of the rocks adding interest. I rarely use pure browns, typical earth colors or black. This is a personal choice.

End of plein air session

I can always add the bright highlights with the softest pastels on my return to the studio, using the very soft Sennelier and Ludwig pastels for the finished product.

City of Rocks Finished

Landscape & Plein Air Painting Lessons

Be sure to visit our sister site, CreativeSpotlite.com for more Landscape and Plein Air Painting Lessons

We have a variety of free step by step painting lessons by professional artists there for you to enjoy.

Please follow this link to view those lessons.

Enjoy!

Artist Spotlite - Mary Lou Molinaro

Artist: Mary Lou Molinaro

Location: California

Title: “Crape Mrytles in Winter”

Medium: Oil on Canvas

Dimensions: 16 x 20

Website: http://mlmolinaro.com

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