Blick Studio Acrylic Paints, Getting Started

 The Road To Water Lilies:

After 40 years of using the same acrylic paints I was unsure about changing brands but when this sample kit brought the price down to less than a dollar per tube I couldn't resist the urge to try it out.

It's been a very pleasant surprise so far.

 

I had started this painting back in 1991 and decided to paint out the large tree that dominated it with the new paints. I was very pleased with both the way the paint went on and the way it really covered the old work.

I don't know which way this painting is going but I know I  have enough paint to get me there. And I'm really enjoying working with these new paints.

            The Painting Takes A Surprising Turn:

Whenever an image starts to appear I'm never sure whether to bring it out or keep on painting until it disappears again. What are your opinions on the subject?

I'm assuming this was the result of all of the chaos going on in the world these days. What do you think?

Whatever it is, I kind of like it and will set it aside until it calls to me again.

It turns out that the painting won't stop calling me:

I took detail photos of each section of the painting  to evaluate what I had and where to go next.

This section of the painting was well on it's way to becoming an abstract expressionist painting in it's own right but then I'd either had to cut the painting or work over the figure in the corner.

 I took my lead from the serenity of the character and have decided to put a water lily pond behind her.

Follow along and discover it with me. Grab your brushes and paint along.

 

First I roughed in the shape and location of the flowers with painting knives and my fingers.

Next I mixed a thinner white paint and refined the shapes of the petals.

After that it was just a matter of adding some pinks and reds to make them stand out.

Here I've begun making changes with the lily pads.

There were too many lily pads and not enough open water so I began painting over some of the flowers and the lily pads.

 

Already you can see a difference from opening up the water area.

I kept removing more flowers and lily pads.

Each step of the way I liked it more and more.

This has been a very long process and may go on for years but it is reassuring to know that I will always have this painting to run away into whenever real life gets to difficult or complicated. It is truly my ''Happy

 Place". THANK YOU MR. MONET. You changed my life.

No matter which way I changed the lily pads and flowers they just didn't feel right so  I took them all out and started over.

Before I did that I went back I watched all the video that I could to see how real waterlilies look and grow. No way to make mistakes then.

My Favorite Fall Photos.

 

A last day at the lake with masks made from one of Julia's paintings printed on them.

Watching the leaves change from the studio window.

                            The trees around our house.

The thing I like best about fall here is that I can watch the leaves change color and drift to the ground without leaving the house or even my living room chair.

I don't have a "real" studio. This year it amounts to a 18 inch deep shelf mounted under the living room window.

When I talk about the "view from my studio" it's really just the living room. I just think it sounds better the other way. Don't You?

93 CENT PAINT! A Fresh Start With New Paints

 Now that I'd used up nearly all of the tube acrylics I'd  had for the last couple of years I was looking for a cheaper alternative and found an amazing deal from Dick Blick. It was a sample set so I was expecting small tubes or packets. After all, what can you expect for 45.00 for 48 tubes? Imagine my surprise when THIS arrived:

I've NEVER had more than a dozen colors on hand at one time in the 53 years that I've been painting so I am "over the moon" at the possibilities.

Here we are at the start of the first painting with these paints. The colors are lighter and the texture a bit thinner than the paints that I am used to working with but on the whole I like them and find them pleasant to use.

I liked it at this point. Nice and fresh and bright but I had a feeling that more texture would be needed to make it marketable. No one likes a starving artist, especially the artist. Although the idea persists that we are above such things but at the end of the day. everyone has bills to deal with it so it's time to chuck the romantic illusions and get real.

I'm calling it finished and attempting to sell it at this point. It's one of my 4 x 6 inch "Pocket Paintings so it will be cheap and should move well. Wish Me Luck!

Are they any good? Only time and use will tell so please follow me along on this journey and,

Paint along with Me,

Julia

a note from the Artist

 Good Morning Everyone,

I've pulled myself  up and out of the recent series of paintings to take care of health and household issues so I thought I'd take this opportunity to visit with you as well.

I've got 3 different varieties of lettuce in the hydroponic planter this time and only one is large enough to begin harvesting from so a few leaves will be topping sandwiches or salads today.

Here are a couple of photos from the birdfeeders outside my window.

Here's an odd canvas I've been playing with in between things around here.

A you can see I'm having a quiet day at home to recharge my batteries and I hope you all do it from time to time.

 This afternoon I plan to get back to putting that latest water lily painting on more merchandise in my zazzle store. links to the side of this post.

bye for now,

Julia