Artist Spotlite – Irina

Your Name: Irina

Location: Russia

Title: Lillies

Dimensions: 15,7″x12″

Medium: Watercolor

Website: http://irinapictures.blogspot.com

Artist Spotlite – Gwen Luttrell

Artist: Gwen Luttrell

Location: Hernando, MS

Title: Diane’s Calla

Medium: Acrylic

Dimensions: 11 x 14

Support: Canvas

Comments from the Artist: The background is done with molding paste then painted black.  After I finished painting the callas it seemed the background needed something  so I stamped it with a lettered rubber stamp using gold acrylic paint.  My friend was pleased with her gift.

You Asked – Camera Obscura or Lucida?

Today’s question comes from Coco:

Coco Writes:

“Can you tell me if the cameras obscura and lucida do the same thing. I would like to project images on 24×36 sheets and also like to project the image onto a wall. I would appreciate any info. and what you think are the best products.”

Do you have any information that might help Coco?

Please leave your response in the comments box below.

Thanks for your help!

Oil Painting Tutorial – Learn to Paint Like Monet

About Connie Nelson

I have always liked to draw and paint. In elementary school I was known as the “school artist”. Drawing and painting was a blissful and ‘easy’ activity for me.

I was also inspired by my father, who was a sumi painter. Still, I did not see myself an artist until after taking a job as a registered nurse. The toll exacted by the job on my body and soul made me question my purpose in life.

One fateful day, while I was still working as a nurse, I stepped into an art teacher’s studio and took my very first formal art lesson, and I have never looked back. I soon quit my nursing job and began seriously pursuing painting through continuing art lessons, supplemented by various workshops.

I live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest of the United States, surrounded by water and mountains. It’s an enchanting place to live out an artistic life.

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Rock Drawing Tutorial by Diane Wright

About the Artist

In 2002, I picked up my art pencil again after 20+ years.  During this break, I devoted my time to my family and building a career.  Even though I earned my Bachelor of Fine Art degree at the University of Northern Iowa, my career path ventured away from the fine arts.

I am currently an IT Manager at a medical auditing firm in Des Moines, IA.  My children are in college and it’s now time for me to explore my arts again!  I live with my wonderful husband, Les, in the small town of Mitchellville, Iowa.

- Diane Wright

To learn more about Diane and to view her work, please visit her website:

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Oil Painting Video Lesson – The Spring House

Enjoy this three part oil painting lesson:

Part 1

Beginning a new oil painting of a Spring House in rural Pa. Here i am blocking in the sky and foreground underpainting:

Part 2

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Oil Painting Tips – Different Methods For Starting an Oil Painting

Oil paint is an exciting medium to work with. One will never become bored while painting with oil paints. There are a variety of materials and other mediums at your fingertips and when you combine these materials and mediums with the versatility of oil paints, you have a variety of interesting ways to begin an oil painting. There are certain drawing and painting mediums that are compatible with oil paints and when utilized, will make your painting experience more interesting and enjoyable.

CHARCOAL

Charcoal works beautifully as a preliminary step to oil painting. There are three main forms of charcoal used most often by artist’s and they are compressed, willow and vine charcoal. Willow and Vine charcoal tend to be more highly favored for preliminary drawings as they leave a lighter mark and are easier to erase. Compressed charcoal, because it leaves a much darker line, is more difficult to remove and not as widely used to start an oil painting. Some helpful tools to use for working with charcoal are kneaded erasers, stiff bristle brushes, blenders and tortillions. Whatever type of charcoal drawing you create, make certain not to go overboard with your application. Charcoal is very forgiving with oil paints, but too much, and it can effect the paint in adverse ways. Read more