JoDee Luna's Blog, page 41
February 12, 2012
Oil Painting: An Experiment with Light
My current oil portrait project is progressing nicely. I began with a projector generated sketch, and then used Shiva Oil Painstiks. Yesterday, I walked into my art room and noticed that the sunlight cast over the canvas created an interesting photo shoot opportunity.
I adjusted the manual lighting option on my Canon XTI Rebel and took several photos with various levels of light exposure. I was amazed at the way the overexposure helped me to see what I needed to work on improving.
With the overexposure, I could isolate the eyes and nose to see how my painting compared to the original photograph. I'm trying to analyze shapes and shades as opposed to my preconceived idea of an eye or nose.
As I adjusted the amount of exposure using the "M," manual setting, the painting came into focus.
Today, I continued painting on this portrait. Here is the where I left off. I'll continue posting the painting in progress.
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February 11, 2012
Featured Item: ROSEBUD HEART…See How We Make Them
Even though I sell these on my website it is always fun to know how to do it yourself. It is a little time consuming but if you have the time to sit a spell then try it out.
Now, you can use any color roses you want…you can use blue roses (yuck) or black roses (yucker)…..I use pink. READ THE ENTIRE POST…
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February 10, 2012
Oil Portrait in Process: Mixing Colors and Painting Upside Down
Recently, I returned from a very stressful day and escaped into my art room to continue to paint an oil portrait of my daughter. I'm an amateur artist who finds it difficult to follow instructions, so I usually go with my impulse. I decided to erase the charcoal lines for the nose that I'd sketched by using a projector.
Next, I did the naughty and smeared the Shiva Oil Paintstiks onto the canvas with my finger. I'd read somewhere that you shouldn't mix the oil from your hands with oil paint, but I just couldn't resist.
After several attempts to mix the colors I wanted, I busted out my color wheel and forced myself to read the instructions.
Then the fun part started. I mixed the paint to create different colors.
I then added a darker color for the nose.
I was having a terrible time getting the nose to look right, so I flipped the photo and canvas upside down. This approach helps you to bypass your logical mind and preconceived notions of shape and form. I'd remembered this trick from a college art instructor. (I think his name was Professor White, but it's been 13 years since I took that class.)
This upside down approach helped me with the nose and eyes, although they are still far from what I want to achieve. Next, I started to paint the lips…and this is where I leave you. Stay tuned for my next oil portrait in process post.
Painting can be very relaxing if you don't get hung up on doing it perfectly. When I paint, I set my logical mind aside and create from this other place inside of me. Painters talk about "going into the zone," a peaceful state when you paint from artistic impulse.
After a difficult day, painting helps me to unwind and forget. I find the term "amateur artist" quite freeing because it allows me to be "in process" without the pressure to perform.
So the next time you feel stressed, try following along with my projects. Here's a nifty one that demonstrates how to use a projector to sketch a photograph onto a canvas: Wanna Be Portrait Painter Uses Digital Tools as Artistic Aides.
If you are a painter and would like me to feature your "How to Paint" post, send me an email with your link. I will post your first paragraph and photo with a link back to your blog. My email is jgluna@verizon.net.
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February 8, 2012
The Dialogue
"Come now let us reason together…"
Isaiah 1:18a*
The dialogue initiates open spaces in our prayers—times when we listen, in silence. Sure, as followers, we petition, set our raw hearts before God in hopes He will see, have mercy, and do. But when we engage in the dialogue, we decidedly stop all rants and open our hands and ears.
When I was a youthful believer, I thought that spirituality resulted from doing all of the right things: having a regular quiet time (when Christians pray and read the Bible); attending several church meetings a week; confessing my slime ball status in hopes of eliciting grace and mercy…you get the picture.
Now that I've believed for the greater portion of my 52 years, I'm more inclined to question my good works rather than boast in them. Instead of trying to impress God, I find myself waiting for the dialogue. Whether the insight comes in a dream or when I'm in the shower, while inking my heart into words or driving to work, I know when thoughts—uncharacteristic to my own—interrupt my finite mind.
In these moments, nothing on this earth matters more than listening and absorbing the message—the best I can while still in human form.
Recently, I met a new friend, in the most unlikely of places. She gets me. Together we crack twigs of tried experience that God sparks, as if kindling wood, to light fires of understanding. Through her impassioned words, I hear my Father's whispers, the dialogue. She encourages me that I'm not crazy, but that I've merely followed the Spirit of God along a path that led me, at times, outside of conventional Christianity.
As my friend speaks of God's faithfulness in her own life, I realize how I never want to be religious again—the quest for spiritual acceptance based on good works or church attendance.
I just want the dialogue; an exchange of thoughts with the One who still creates life upon this earth, through the most sacred of invitations:
"Come now let us reason together…"
I invite you to share a comment or link a post about your experiences with the dialogue.
*"Scripture quotations taken from the NASB."
www.lockman.org
This post linked to the following blogs:
February 7, 2012
Vintage Button Flowers
When my daughter got married this past July, she said she wanted "buttons" to be something I decorated with…so as I began my search to figure out what creative stuff I could do with buttons, this is one of the things I came up with in my search. I saw it somewhere online done in all yellows….so I changed mine up a bit. I liked the idea of doing multiple colors.
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February 6, 2012
Speculation: Curiosity that Fuels Creative Eclectic Dappling
Speculation spurs us creative eclectics to dabble in various arts and crafts.
"Speculation: to consider or think curiously about, suppose, propose or wonder*"
When we speculate, we start with "If…" and then envision ourselves engaged in an interesting activity, new craft project, or unexplored artistic adventure.
Then, against our better judgement (an available time), we dare to try, yet another, something new. Our curiosity compels us to (compulsively) step over the line of our present creative experience.
Recently, I read a provocative quote (that stung me) on an amazing watercolorist's blog. Lance Weisser was referring to his former art instructor's wisdom that helped him to decide to specialize: "Even though you show promise," he said, "you're not likely to master one medium in your lifetime, much less two or three."
This quote's resonated with me and yet created all kinds of uncomfortable feelings. The counter logic batting around in my brain, "You're choice not to specialize will forever reduce your art to amateur status."
Most of the time I'm ok with this. Yet at other times, I struggle with my choice to dabble instead of specialize. After all, there is only so much time in one's lifetime to pursue and perfect an art form, let alone half a dozen.
My next project in progress (Started before I finished the last one)
"Speculate: to indulge in conjectural [imaginary] thought."
By the day's end I had, once again, made peace with my creative eclectic personality, and it's a good thing because I knew that I would continue to follow my creative fancies.
And I ask you, "Is that so terrible?"
* http://www.amazon.com/Random-House-Websters-College-Dictionary/dp/0375407413
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February 4, 2012
Wanna Be Portrait Painter Uses Digital Tools as Artistic Aides
A computer and projector can aid your artistic expression. I'm an aspiring portrait painter (along with a host of other artistic ambitions). Yet, I work fulltime as an educator, so it's difficult to find a time when my painting desires align with a few free hours.
A special thanks to my daughter, Elya, for being my subject.
I'm also at the beginning of the (intimidating) painting learning curve and need all the help I can get. So when the urge and open time aligned, recently, I set up my digital tools to help me capture the lines, hues, highlights, and shadows of a photograph I wanted to use in a mixed media portrait.
I played around with the angle, distance, and height of my projector in relation to the canvas.
I wanted to create a partial portrait (more on that in a later post), so I kept elevating the projector until I found the right spot.
Next, I lightly traced the lines of my subject's face with a General's charcoal pencil—selected because it erases easily.
Then I used Shiva Artist's Paintstiks Oil Colors to mix different skin tones. I applied them with brushes and fingers. (Kelly Rae Roberts explains the process in her book, Taking Flight: Inspiration + Techniques to Give your Creative Spirit Wings.)
I tried not to over think the process, but, instead, function from artistic impulse, as I dabbled and brushed, smeared and layered.
At some point, I shut off the projector and decided to freewheel it over the canvas. When I heard our children arriving for a visit, I quickly put away the supplies and propped the canvas up in my new hutch, so I could muse over the next painting session add ons.
You can find inexpensive projectors at http://www.tigerdirect.com/. With this technique, you can scan something you'd like to use in your artwork into your computer, and then project it onto the canvas.
Or, use an Artograph Prism or Super Prism Art Projectors http://www.dickblick.com/products/artograph-prism-and-super-prism-art-projectors/.
Have a happy time painting! If you're willing (and courageous), I'd love to feature your finished or in-progress project.
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February 3, 2012
Beginnings
The importance of accepting new beginnings has become clear in recent months. I know I'm in a time of transition, but where there's no road map or guaranteed formulas, every morning is like a new experiment..a "why not try it this way" kind of day. I'm learning to be okay with that. I'm also learning to rely on that "new every morning" mercy. A few practical routines and practices seem to help: READ THE ENTIRE POST…
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February 1, 2012
Circles of Support: How to Keep your Creativity Flowing
We artistic types tend to go through dry times. You know what I'm talking about—our ideas evaporate on the sun-baked asphalt of life, and we find ourselves groping along our creative path with cracked lips and parched tongues. Here's a tip for keeping your lips moist and your creativity flowing: Join a circle of support—a group of people who interact online by sharing innovative ideas, favorite art projects, creative living experiences, and life-management tips. Take the artistic plunge.
One of my circles of support is bubbling over with posts and creative passion, so come join us. You don't have to be a blogger to visit and leave an encouraging or insightful comment.
My bff, Barbie Knoop, has a new website and blog entitled, Kate Coury's Farmhouse. Her delightful country life is overflowing with ideas for making your life more creative: DIY projects, delicious recipes, inspirational posts and more.
I've sat on that porch with Kate, as we dreamed about our future creative lives.
My writing friend, and book editor, Kay Johnson, will knock your socks off with her array of interesting blog posts, such as "5 Things you Should Know about Creative Minds." Here is a link to her blog, L is for LaNita. She provides an array of resources for business owners and aspiring writers. Check out her website at Zebo Media Group. She designed my book's media kit.
Me and Kay on our Colorado Writers' Retreat
I'm proud as punch of my daughter's reentry into the blogging world with postings of poetry, scrapbooking ideas, jewelry making, mask making, travel photo display projects, and more. Visit her blog at http://elyafiller.wordpress.com.
My online friend, and endless encourager, Diane Polome continues to tempt your creativity with art ideas and inspirational posts in her blog Unfinished Work. Here's a recent post that will spur your greeting card creativity, "Bit by the Paper Bug!"
If you're a writer and aspiring self-publisher, you've got to hang around Christine M. Grote: Random Thoughts from Midlife. Here's a post featuring a "Self-publishing update." She posts a steady flow of "How To" suggestions for getting your idea into a book as well as inspirational thoughts and interesting photo challenges.
Slamdunk will challenge your creative crime-solving skills and lighten your mood with delightful real-life anecdotes in his blog.
Are you a children's or young adult writer? If so, Kelly Hashway is a must. This woman impresses me beyond words. She's bulldozed a publishing path you can follow.
Author L.L. Barkat's blog, Seedlings in Stone, will infuse your creative life with meaning and open your eyes to Barkat's claim that "The life is in the story."
The blessings of interacting with circles of support are endless. As far as brightening your mood and getting your mojo to flow, the odds of everyone being down in the dumps at one time is slim to none. So someone will have his or her creative faucet turned on with a fresh flow of content. You simple place your cup under the crisp, clean water until the brim overflows with encouragement and contentment.
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January 30, 2012
My Dabble in Jewelry Making
For this past Christmas, I tried my hand at making necklaces for a few of my close friends and colleagues. My good friend, Liz, originally taught me everything she knew and took me to her favorite jewelry store. Here are a few of the necklaces that I made. READ THE ENTIRE POST…
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