September 29, 2012

Beware! We're starting another of our "projects." Pat found an art instruction book with instructions for various techniques and decided we're going to try them out. And because she's the teacher, we're going along with her hare-brained scheme. So we each drew a technique from the art bag, read up on it, and will explore that technique before the end of the term. Some of the things you'll want to watch for are masking, spattering, sponge painting, backruns, brush drawing and lifting out.

Actually, this could be fun. Look at the sunset above, for instance. Backruns! Tune in over the next few weeks and learn along with us. In fact, after today's paintings you'll learn an important lesson about mask—although not from Elaine, whose technique it is. Meanwhile, join us as we welcome our newest artist (from Paris, no less!), explore color wheels, exuberant colors, flowers, seashores, skies and more. You'll see brush drawing from Mark, masking by Ellen and Helen, and lifting by Susan—and none of these artists chose these techniques!

A lesson about masking (actually, more of a cautionary tale). Masking fluid is a rubbery liquid artists use to reserve the white of the paper. They paint it on and can paint over it with impunity, knowing the masked areas are safe. And that's what Ellen did in the painting of irises at right. Notice the sparkling whites? And how she protected the petals when she added the leaves? Exactly how mask should behave. But then she tried to remove it—and couldn't! The lesson? Masking fluid has a shelf life. When you get to the gummy bits at the bottom of the bottle, you've probably passed the unwritten "use by" date. Toss that bottle and buy another! In this case, the painting still looks fine (a little shiny, but fine). But some brands add color for visibility. That would not have worked out so well.

An amusing juxtaposition. Did you notice Robert and Patricia's paintings? Positioned together as they are here, Robert's tiger looks to be stalking Patricia's bird! Mind meld? Hidden message? Who knows? We just found it funny.

And come back next week to see some of the sketches from last week's fabulously successful "autumnal equinox sketching party."