Creativity and the power of being in the Now!! - Tamsyn

Hello beautiful people!! What strange times we find ourselves in! We have, collectively, been thrown into a situation not of our choosing, a situation which, no doubt, has led to many of us experiencing an anxiety and stress that we have never had to deal with before ...ever.....

So, how should we tackle these feelings....within ourselves or our children, in a simple and meaningful way ?

When experiencing stress and tension, as we all are right now, one of the most powerful ways of finding a little respite, and sanctuary is to be creative.

You're not an artist? You're not creative? I hear you say....
Hah!!! I do beg to differ
Each and everyone of us, by mere virtue of being Human is a creative being. It is literally our birth right to claim however we see fit.
You do not need to be an incredible artist, or writer or chef or anything to be creative. All it requires from you is a sense of adventure, wonder, awe and playfulness!!

So let’s look at how this all works.

Your brain is (basically) divided into 2 hemispheres. Your Left brain is responsible for things like language, facts, mathematics, logic, number skills, rational thought and thinking in words.
Your Right brain is responsible for creativity, Intuition, holistic thought, imagination, musical awareness, insight and visualization.

As westerners, we are mostly left brain dominant....no one's fault...
It is just how we are made to be through our education system, our social conditioning, and our culture really. Creativity is essentially the act of using the part of your brain that has been sorely neglected (most of us) for our whole lives. We have within us a massive resource that holds the capacity of complete regeneration for our entire beings... sound too good to be true?

Have you ever done something where time seems to stand still? Or 3 hours pass by in the blink of an eye? We have all heard the saying that time flies when you're having fun - that is the creative force at work!! We have all lived in this stream as children, playing dress up, drawing, painting, talking to imaginary friends... literally creating our own desired reality moment to moment. And then we grew up and left these "childish" things behind... sad but true.

At age 9 to 10 children become incredibly critical of their art works, this is the first sign of the ego's development, there comes a need for every child to portray something realistically, it is part of our natural human development. Should the child be lucky enough to have someone around who can show them and teach them how to do this, that child will never be afraid of creating - ever.

Unfortunately for most of us, this is the stage where our faculties of perception become stunted because we are simply never taught to really see and perceive things in their true form. How many adults still draw like 10 year olds? Why? Because we didn't have the opportunity to develop our skills further. Absolutely nothing to be ashamed of, just by the way, it can be healed and rectified within just a couple of weeks if one so wishes!!

Over the past 9 years I have worked with hundreds of people, from all walks of life. From young children labelled problematic or ADD or ADHD, to teenagers struggling to find a place for themselves, to beautiful souls in recovery, struggling with addiction, to amazing moms running homes and families looking for a piece of their souls again. Many people from many walks of life. And I have been immensely privileged to be part of their journeys in finding parts of themselves that they didn't believe existed.

Starting can be the hardest part. I have watched trembling hands, a struggle to take breath, deep seated urges to pack up and leave, all because of a white page, a blank canvas or a piece of wet unmoulded clay.

Why? Fear. Fear of failure. Fear of never being good enough. Fear of being laughed at.....just pure FEAR!! This very tangible fear is birthed by judgement. Judgement comes from our left brain!!
We all have the innate desire to succeed hard wired into us, but how many of us have ever questioned our notion of success?

What does success mean to you? And what is success when it comes to being creative?
For me, success has come to be an honest desire, and then commitment and attempt to create, no matter the outcome of the creative endeavour. It is in the trying and perhaps failing, where true success lies. If we can only stop our inner critic, our judgement of ourselves, the secret which is revealed to us is that success ONLY comes through a certain amount of failure. This is the nature of learning.

There is no right or wrong with creativity, this is what makes it so powerful. When we bring ourselves to just being present in the moment, to sit absorbed by the now, we are literally giving ourselves over to our creative impulse. There is no past or future just this beautiful moment to explore, with childlike wonder - what joy!!

Whenever I have new clients there are always two exercises which we begin with.
The first is designed to trick the left brain into taking a back seat for a moment, allowing the right hemisphere the space it needs to kick into action.

Blind contour drawing.
If one is right handed, sit at a table with chair turned so that instead of facing the table as you would to eat, rather the right side of your body is parallel to the table, enabling your right arm and hand to rest comfortably on the table in order to draw. Place a sheet of paper under your hand and using a pencil or pen, without looking at your page, draw your left hand which should be resting in your lap comfortably. As your eye follows the contour of your left hand, your right hand draws ONLY what the eyes see. Start simply by just doing the outline and work up to capturing more detail. It is a continuous line drawing, so try not to lift your pencil when drawing! And don't cheat by looking at the page.
This is a fun exercise for the whole family to do. It has huge benefit for our fine motor skills as well as eye to hand coordination. Do this exercise for 10 to 15 minutes daily and you will be amazed at how your perception of things begins to change!!! We actually start to see...really see for the first time!!

The second thing we always do is to draw a tree!! Drawing a tree from your imagination, amazingly enough, tells us your whole life story. I will write another article on this, but this is a beautiful exercise to do and can lead to many insights into ourselves as well as illuminate certain paths forward in order to heal our wounds.

Mandala art is another powerful way to get creatively in touch with ourselves.
Sometimes I will have a client who just cannot bear the thought of drawing or painting at all. Simply being given a blank mandala page or canvas to colour in or paint can bring about a surreal sense of peace and harmony. It is just as creative as doing a drawing and it has, sometimes, an even more rewarding effect.

There are many Mandala art coloring books available nowadays, downloads off the internet, but my favorite is Art Canvas Factory Mandala canvasses.

These canvasses are pre-printed with a Mandala design allowing us to turn them into our own works of art with felt tip pens or paint. I can recommend these amazing canvasses as a solid form of therapy for ANYONE!!!

SO, in this time, that we have to be home, let's not just be plugged into all our various screens all the time, let’s be creative, and see if we can discover some magic within ourselves, let us encourage our children to dream and imagine, to draw and to paint, to use colour without fear or restriction and to find a little piece of their Souls that will bring them endless joy!!!

I have started an Instagram art account called @coronaarttherapy, for anyone who would like to share their creations. Available for anyone to use. Please follow us and let us all be inspired together.

Much Love
Tamsyn

5 Popular Painting Styles: By Mayra A

5 Essential Painting styles to know and learn in order to effectively communicate and understand terms in the art world.

Baroque:
The Baroque style of painting originated in Rome and generally has a religious theme or is centralized around court life. Baroque paintings can be characterized by the abundance of details within the paintings as well as a sense of grandeur. Like the painting style, the word Baroque has come to mean something elaborate, including many small details.

Popular Baroque Painters Include:
Anthony Van Dyck
Paul Rubens
Vermeer
Claude Lorrain
Baciaccia
Agostino Carracci

Photo Credit

Cubism:
Cubism became a popular style of painting in the early 20th century. The cubist style of painting is abstract, where one can visualize the theme of the painting, but the objects are broken up and re-assembled into un-life like representations. With cubism, the artist attempts to show the viewer the subject from a multitude of viewpoints.

Cubism is often associated with Pablo Picasso paintings, one of the innovators of this style of painting. Another famous cubist artist is Georges Braque.

Photo: Credit

Expressionism:
The expressionist movement originated in Germany around 1905. Unlike the popular Impressionism painting style, expressionism attempts to provide the viewer with the painters view and opinion of the world and the subjects. This creates an image that is the artists own interpretation of the situation, often distorting reality and providing more of an emotional effect to the viewers. The Expressionist movement is known for paintings that represent and express intense emotion or angst.

Popular Expressionistic Artists include:
Vincent Van Gough
Edvard Munch
Salvador Dali
Henri Matisse

Photo: Credit

Impressionism: The impressionist art movement began around the 19th century in Paris. Impressionist style emphasizes the fine details of every day objects including how light, colors, and the passage of time can affect the subject. This style generally concentrates on visible brushstrokes, light colors, primary colors and small brushstrokes.

Popular Impressionistic Artists Include:
Edgar Degas
Claude Monet
Pierre Auguste Renoir

Photo: Credit

Minimalist: The minimalist style of painting originated in America and has been subject to much criticism since its inception. The style of painting includes minimal details, the details that are included are often represented by precise, hard brushstrokes and often include geometric forms. The color palette of these styles generally include a limited amount of unmixed, primary colors. The style of painting represents something that is spare and has been stripped to its most basic forms.

Popular Minimalist Artists Include:
Frank Stella
Ad Reinhardt
Robert Morris

Photo: Credit

The world of art and paintings is endless, and learning about its history, styles techniques and other useful information about painting is an ongoing task.

Want to learn more? Visit TheHelpIsHere.com [http://www.thehelpishere.com]

which offers thousands of useful help and how to articles on a variety of topics. All content is free to access, including our coupons and deals section, reviews, articles, and freebies area.

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Pierre Bonnard - The Splendid French Painter: By Annette Labedzki

One of the most renowned French painters & printmakers, Pierre Bonnard was especially famous for his ingenious experimentation with color. He though, was not revolutionary in his style of painting, but he definitely was a master in portraying human emotions through colors. His fluency with colors fetched critical acclaim and appreciation from all art lovers.

Pierre Bonnard was born on October 03, 1867, in Fontenay-aux-Roses near Paris, to a highly placed French Ministry official. His childhood was therefore, spent in luxury and accordingly he had a very careless and idyllic youth. Due to parental pressure, Bonnard graduated in law and practiced briefly. He however, was always interested in art and took extra courses for the same during his free time. On March 11, 1887, he enrolled at the Scole des Beaux-Arts and resolved to be a full time artist.

In his youth, Pierre Bonnard co-founded a group of young 'Symbolic' and 'Spiritual' artists, called Les Nabis. He exhibited his works as a Nabi in the Gallery of Le Barc de Boutteville. During this phase, he heavily experimented with patterns in textile & furniture, while also exhibiting a Japanese effect in his work. His friends even lovingly called him 'a highly Nipponized Nabi.' In March and April 1891, Pierre first exhibited his work at the Société des Artistes Independants, gathering the much-needed support from all art critics. From then on, he exhibited yearly with the society.

In 1893, Pierre married Marthe de Méligny, who later modeled for a majority of his paintings. He obsessively portrayed her in her routine activities, stretching up to covering her nude. His works post marriage, therefore, turned quite personal in essence. Some of the famous paintings of those times include "Indolence" (1899) and "Man and Woman" (1900). In 1896, he had his first solo show at Galerie Durand-Ruel. Here, the great French artist Toulouse-Lautrec appreciated his award- winning poster. In 1910, Pierre left Paris for Southern France.

All the while, the painting range of the artist spanned from portraits to still life and landscapes. Bonnard would transform the mundane, simplest day-to-day objects into vibrating, iridescent, faintly represented subjects in his paintings. Small brush strokes imparted a marked influence of 'Surreal' mystery in them. The distinctive thing about Bonnard's paintings was the genuine time warp in them. The same objects in the room, such as tablecloths, teapots, and platters, rotated through the paintings. The subjects looked faint, creating a bizarre mystery. Some such renowned paintings are "The White Interior" (1932), "Still Life with Fruit" (1936), "The Dining Room in the Country" (1913), "Woman in Front of a Mirror" (1908), and "The Terrasse Family" (1902).

The artist died on January 23, 1947, leaving behind a great legacy of art. Pierre's passion for art is evident in his use of color with much vivacity and emotions. In 1998, his works were exhibited in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The series of his paintings was titled, "Pierre Bonnard: The Late Interiors." He once quoted, "Before you add color, you must see things once, or see them a thousand times."

Annette Labedzki received her BFA at the Emily Carr College of Art and Design in Vancouver, B.C. Canada. She has more than 25 years experience. She is the founder and developer of an online art gallery featuring original art from all over the world. It is a great site for art collectors to buy original art. Is is also a venue for artists to display and sell their art . Artists can join for free and their image upload is unlimited. Please visit the website at http://www.Labedzki-Art.com

Annette has bonus offers on her work only. Buy 3 small paintings of any size (maximum size 11x17 inches) and receive 3 small paintings of your choice for free (maximum size 11x17 inches) SHIPPING IS FREE Buy one large painting (minimum size 18x24 inches) receive 5 small paintings of your choice (maximum size 11x17 inches) FOR FREE. SHIPPING IS FREE.

Please feel free to subscribe to her newsletter at http://www.Labedzki-Art.com

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Photo: Here

37 EASY RECIPES TO BECOME AN ARTIST

How to Draw Faces

Painting Styles - Painting Has Undergone Variety Of Experiments

Paintings manifest the thoughts and visions of human beings through the language of art. A wide array of painting styles, methods and techniques has enhanced the horizon of painting making it more enriched and versatile. Painting has undergone variety of experiments under the hands of the master artists, which resulted into a vast selection of painting styles. The core philosophy behind the artwork, the painting styles introduce us to the various movements and schools of art. A single style also serves as a record of a particular historical period and culture prevalent during the time. Painters generally opt a particular painting style and carve their portraits typifying that specific style. Hence it is very necessary to read the various painting styles to understand the subtle strokes of each artwork.

The painting styles are visible with the emergence of 'Romanesque Art' in the eleventh century. The Romanesque paintings characterized by decorative leaf motifs are to be viewed in all Roman imperial structures. The 'Gothic Style of Paintings' evolved in the mid twelfth century in the form of frescos, panel paintings, manuscripts and stained glasses.

Oil and canvas paintings became popular in the later time with the origin of the 'Renaissance Style of Art' in the fourteenth century. Art became more realistic and secular through linear forms, anatomical shapes and use of light and shadow. The legendaries of paintings Raphael, Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci were artists of the Renaissance period. 'Baroque Style of Painting' evolved in the seventeenth century with the 'Baroque Cultural Movement'. Highly passionate, the paintings enlivened an ongoing action into art.

The 'Impressionism' of the nineteenth century world is articulated through 'Impressionistic Paintings'. Ordinary themes from the nature and surrounding world were painted through distinct brush strokes. 'Pointillism' invoked a new technique of painting where tiny dots of primary colors were blended to form an image creating an impression of miscellaneous colors. 'Expressionistic Paintings' of the early twentieth century are artistic expressions of subjective emotions that painters experience from the subjective world.

Among the modern styles of paintings, 'Cubism' is popular. A precursor to abstract painting 'Cubic Paintings' introduced geometric shapes and figures as images. Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque and Marc Chagall are the noted painters of Cubism. Another famous painting style during the1920s was the 'Surrealistic Paintings'. The painters used beautiful images and incongruous juxtapositions to represent unconscious thoughts and dreams. The 'Dada Painting Styles' of the time of the First World War represented art works that conveyed a nihilistic attitude towards conventionalism. The paintings were a revolt against the aesthetic and contemporary style of art.

Abstract Painting is perhaps the most difficult and complex of all painting styles. Painting is portrayed in an objective and non-representational way through colors and lines. The paints are dropped, lined and smeared over the canvas generating an idea non-captured in image form. Jackson Pollock, Pier Mondrian and Barnett Newman are some famous abstract painters. Abstract Expressionism is an art movement of the post World War II. It emphasized the non-representational style of abstract art in a more audacious and dramatic way. Postmodern Art reflects the modern consumerism and the contemporary culture in the paintings. It rejects the elaborately narrative depictions of the modern art and emphasizes more on the insincerity and discontinuity that is more feasible in the present day.

For comprehensive information on paintings and related topics, please visit Ethnic Paintings

Amit Singh is Content Coordinator for http://ethnicpaintings.com This website gives you comprehensive informations on painting history, development, trends, popular painting styles, great painters, famous paintings, painting galleries and museums, painting tips, painting classes. In other words, this website is a treat to painting freaks.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Amitseo_Kumar_Singh/179772

Art Supplies - Buying and Cleaning Paint Brushes

Remember when you were in grade school and painting seemed so simple because your teacher just handed you art supplies and helped wash brushes afterwards? Approaching the medium as a more mature artist, you must learn about paintbrush materials and how to properly care for your brushes.

First, you must decide whether you will need soft or stiff hairs for your paintbrush. Either can be made of natural hairs or synthetic fibers. A thin paintbrush is ideal when you want to do detailed work or precise painting. It allows you to spread paint easily. Hard bristles on the other hand are better for manipulating thick paint. This allows you to create brush marks in the paint that can be seen on the canvas. Vincent van Gogh's work is famous for this technique, as evidenced by his painting The Starry Night.

Most purists will say that natural hair will always be superior to synthetic fiber because of its flexibility and strength. The hair for paintbrushes comes from animals including Sable, squirrel, hog, camel, ox, pony and goat. If the thought of using hair from one of these animals makes you squeamish or you have ideological problems with this, do not fear: modern synthetic brushes have come a long way and are even less expensive than their natural hair counterparts.

The next step is to learn a little bit about paintbrush anatomy. The handle is usually made of wood and is called the ferrule. This holds the hairs or bristles. The tip of the bristles is referred to as the toe.

When deciding which paintbrush to use it is important to know the size of the brush. This can be determined by looking at a number on the side of the handle. The smallest size is 00 followed by 0, 1, 2 and so on. If you are buying online it is important to see a picture of the brush you're purchasing. Two brushes sized the same can actually be very different because of the number of bristles and the width of the handle. This problem can be alleviated if you shop in an actual store or are already familiar with the brand of brush.

It takes a lot of time and money to get the right paintbrush, so it makes sense to take care of them, which includes proper cleaning after each use.

Before you get started, make sure you have mild soap (or turpentine if appropriate) and some tissue. You will also need lukewarm water and a place to dry your brushes.

Wipe off the excess paint using a soft cloth or tissue. Then, rinse your brushes in turpentine if you are using oils, but use lukewarm water if you're paint is water-based. Hot water can cause the hairs of your brush to fall out. Afterwards, gently wash your brushes with mild soap. Rinse and repeat as many times as necessary until no color comes out and your brush returns to its original color. Next rinse your paintbrush in clean water. Remember to shake off the excess water after this. If the brushes seem misshapen, use your fingers to gently bring the brush head back to its original shape.

Now you are ready to dry the paintbrushes. Wrap the bristles in tissue or toilet paper while they are wet. When the bristles dry they will contract in this way and will maintain their shape. Let the brushes dry at room temperature. Be sure not to rest them on their head because this is another potential hazard to maintaining appropriate shape.

Since some of these materials can be toxic protect your skin with a pair of gloves. These can be purchased at an art store or even at a drugstore or hardware store.

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for Web sites on art supplies, fashion, and home decor. Her background also includes teaching, gardening, and parenting. For more of her useful articles on art supplies, please visit Art Supplies, home of helpful tips and information about art and art supplies.

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Learn How To Paint Watercolors Fast - Use Only 1 Color

Learning to paint fast is difficult. Some say it feels impossible...

But it doesn't have to be so hard...

Like all skills, whether in Arts, Crafts or any profession the trick is to remove complication. Watch any expert work and you will be amazed how quickly they make the impossible seem easy...

Think of a Blacksmith making horseshoes on his anvil...

He knows how to make the fire hot enough to make the metal soft without melting
He knows that every strike of his hammer will shape and mould the steel
He knows just how to trim the hoof to make the shoe fit
He never doubts his ability to give the horse he makes the shoes for exactly what is needed for comfort and wear
It is an honor to see a craftsman at work. It is a privilege to witness the accumulation of many years hands-on knowledge.

Learning to be an artist takes time. Learning to paint professionally can take many years...

The fastest way to learn to paint watercolors is to take it in small stages... starting simple and building painting skills with small steps.

The first step is to paint watercolor using 1 color... it can't get any simpler...

You learn how to thin watercolor paint with your brush
You learn how much water you need to get a certain tone of color
You learn how to use water to carry color pigment across your watercolor paper
You learn what can go wrong when you touch your wet paper with a brush full of color
You learn to expect surprises
You learn to want to encourage surprises by experimenting with new techniques
And, most importantly, you get the opportunity to learn to draw with your watercolor brush... You learn how to make your brush become your best friend.

When you use only 1 color to learn how to paint watercolors it is easy to concentrate...

You can quickly learn how to get color tone right
You soon learn that color will flood and spread across wet paper
You know that if an earlier wash is fully dry it will be spoiled if you let your next brush mark touch
You find yourself doing amazing things with watercolors fast because you don't have to worry about which colors you need to mix that favorite green, or the orange you saw in last night's sunset.

Learning how to paint watercolors using only 1 color helps you learn fast because you don't even need to worry about making mistakes...

It is quick and easy to do it again because you have kept it simple
You have perfected the basics of learning watercolor painting
Perfect the basics of watercolor painting and nothing can stop you from mastering the next stage... Learning How To Mix Colors.

Michael Dale is the author of 1- Color Is Best (the quick and easy way to learn to paint watercolor) and 3- Colors Are All You Need (mix any color you want fast using only 3 colors). Contact [http://www.Paint-And-Draw.com] to find out more.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Michael_Dale/145082

You Didn't Know Crayons Could Do This

'Special Straws' Tree Painting Techniques for Beginners

Oil Painting Without Brushes

As a known fact a paint brush is the most common mode of application of an oil color. However there are other methods also to apply paint on to a surface. This article speaks about the different methods of application of paint onto a surface other than the usual paint brushes.

Palette Knives

When you hear about palette knife you would be thinking about palette isn't it? Palette knives have been a traditional tool for mixing the paint. They are the most apt tool to be used for creating smooth and consistent mediums of paints. However there are many painters who use the palette knife in addition to be used as mixing tool, they straight use the palette knife on to the painting surface.

These knives come in different shapes and signs. They are also available in plastic. As far as the mixing is concerned one shape or size is more than sufficient but as the case of using it as a paint brush is considered, the selection of the knife is made in the same way as the case of selecting brushes is considered. There is no shape or size which we can say is right or the apt one for usage. Experimentation is the key if you are working with palette knives if you are considering working with knives. Try the different shapes and you can select the one that gives you the best effects. Generally small and thin brushes are best suited for lining and big knives are the best for loading on the paint.

Stencils

Many artists love using stencils in their paintings. This usage is loved by them especially when there is a usage of repetitive effect and stylish shapes. Stencils are a useful tool. There are pre made stencils available or you even an option of making stencils with your stencil kit. Ensure that you use the right materials for best results.

Stencil usage in paints is not a traditional method so there is no scope that you can find any tutorials for teaching you the technique of stencils. But is important that you keep in mind the fundamentals of the medium like the fat over lean. You might have noticed that in case the paint is thin in consistency then it stagnates around the edges, so in such a case it is important that you apply a thicker layer of painting. Stenciling is a very interesting art, however it is used as one of the under layers but it has amazing effects.

Rags, Sponges, Fingers

Rags, sponges and of course your fingers are all innovative tools in oil painting which can occupy the place of a paint brush.

Ben Jonson is a Copywriter of oil paintings http://www.paintingmax.com He has written many articles like Canvas oil paintings. For more information visit our site [http://www.paintingmax.com/] - Contact him at paintingmax.ben@googlemail.com

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Aluminum painting technique / How to draw a couple walking dog

23 PAINTING TRICKS YOU CAN`T MISS

ART TIPS FOR BROKE ARTISTS

Most VALUABLE Art Thefts in History

Choosing The Right Brushes For Oil Painting

Paint brushes come in a variety of shapes, sizes, materials, and costs. Determining which one is right for you, and when it is the right one, depends largely on how you want to use it. The main types of brushes are china bristle, soft hair, and synthetic bristle.

China Bristle Brushes

China bristle brushes, also called hog bristle or Chungking bristle, are made from natural pig hair. They are tough, durable brushes, able to stand up to the oil while still cleaning up nicely. They can hold a lot of paint, making them ideal for alla prima painting or impasto.

Soft Hair Brushes

Soft hair brushes are made from Kolinsky sable or ox hair, or more rarely squirrel, pony, goat, mongoose or badger. Soft hair brushes are much softer than china bristles, and a lot more expensive. It's not unheard of to pay several hundred dollars for a large sable brush. But for more delicate work, like blending and glazing, soft hair brushes are indispensable.

Synthetic Bristle Brushes

For quality and affordability, you can't go wrong with synthetic bristle brushes. Though turpentine or thinners used in oil painting can destroy some types of synthetic brushes, recent innovations in synthetic bristle technology have produced solvent resistant brushes.

Be careful, though. While affordability is a legitimate consideration when choosing your brushes, don't let it be the main one. Those brushes in the multi-packs may look just as good as the others, at a fraction of the cost, but you will end up with brushes warped and falling apart in no time.

Brush Shapes

Paint brushes come in several shapes, each designed to apply the paint in specific ways. The most useful shapes you will use in oil painting, in no particular order, are:

Flat - Designed to spread paint quickly and evenly to an area.
Bright - Similar to a flat brush, but with short, stiff bristles. Great for impasto work.
Round - Long, closely arranged bristles used for drawing or detail work.
Filbert - These almond-shaped brushes offer good coverage and the ability to perform some detail work
Fan Brush - Used for blending broad areas and creating different textures.
Liner Brush - Used for lettering and fine detail work.
By no means do you have to use, or even have, all of these brushes. Experiment and find the shape that works for you.
Brush Sizes
Brushes are sized by numbers based on the width of the brush at the metal sleeve, or ferrule, which holds the bristles in place. The size of your painting surface will help determine the size of the brush you use. For example, a brush that is 2 inches wide will be used on a canvas that is at least two or three feet in either direction.

However, this is just a rule of thumb. As with brush shapes, the sizes you choose will ultimately be determined by personal preference. So go get some brushes and start painting.

To learn more, please visit me at [http://www.oilandpigment.blogspot.com] for a look at my own paintings and works in progress.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Rob_Pitts/88587

Testing TikTok's Questionable Art Hacks...

ABSTRACT PAINTING DEMO with MARKERS, SPLASH AND TRANSPARENCY

Five Most Common Problems Beginner Painters Have

For people who are interested in learning how to paint with either acrylic or oil paint may experience a few common learning problems. These are the most common problems people have when they are learning how to paint. You can overcome these common problems with some basic knowledge and problem solving skills that will eventually get you past these difficulties.

There are five common problems beginner painters have:

1. Very little experience in drawing prior to learning how to paint.

You really need to have some knowledge or experience in beginning drawing before you ever pick up a paint brush. Using a pencil to draw is a lot easier skill than using a paint brush. You should have some basic knowledge about shapes, forms, lines, and values (shading) to enable you to understand how to manipulate colors in your paint. You need to take your time and not hurry through your drawing in order to get the composition of your picture placed in the most effective way in your picture. If you can draw out the picture in a sketch book prior to actually drawing it on your canvas; this will help to iron out any problems that may arise with your composition. Having some skill and practice at the drawing level will definitely help you have a more successful painting.

2. Not being organized from the beginning with how you set up your palette.

When you first learn how to paint you need to be organized with all your paint colors from the beginning. That means to set out your paints on your palette in the same order every time. Try to leave the most room on your palette for mixing your colors. You will have to mix just about every color you use to paint with so you need to have room on your palette for these color mixtures. As a beginner, you will be using trial and error to get the color you want and this will take time and practice to learn which colors you need to mix together to get what you want. If you put your paints out all over your palette with no apparent order, you will not have any room for mixing and will end up having to clean off your palette and starting with a clean palette.

3. Not putting enough paint on your palette the first time.

Many beginner painters will squeeze out a tiny bit of paint on their palette and find that they run out of that particular color rather rapidly and need to get more from the tube again. This can be a problem when you are using that particular color to mix with to make another color with. Don't be stingy with the paint, it is OK to squeeze out a generous amount of paint onto the palette. The paint will stay moist for several days (especially if you put it in the refrigerator) You will use up the paint eventually.

4. Brush work problems of over-doing the brush strokes,

Another common problem beginner painters have is they repeatedly paint over the same area inadvertently ending up with mud. There is a tendency to keep on stroking the same area in the hope it will magically change into something they are trying to do. Unfortunately painting doesn't work that way. Each paint stroke needs to be thought out carefully and done in a way that will not interfere with the other colors. Some of the color do not go together well and this may be the cause of the "mud" in the end. It is very frustrating for the beginner painter to encounter this problem. It is a matter of learning the color theory and learning more skill at handling the paint brush. This comes with time and experience.

5. Forgetting to clean the paint brush frequently and especially between colors.

It is vital to clean your brush frequently while you are painting. Especially when changing to a different color. For a beginning painter it is very easy to forget to clean the brush and accidentally contaminate one of your lighter colors with a previous darker color you were using. This can happen either on the palette or on the canvas. If it happens on the canvas it can sometimes be difficult to fix the area, you may have to just wipe the area off and start again. Even if you don't clean your brush off in the turp solvent, you can still just wipe it off on a paper towel or a rag and that will help.


Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Marilou_O'Loughlin/208858

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