Timothy J. Pruitt's Blog, page 75
October 19, 2022
October 18, 2022
October 17, 2022
Sketch Inktober Spencer Tracy
Spencer Tracy In Prussian Blue
A Replica At The Altar
On October 17, 1969 the painting Nativity with St. Francis and St. Lawrence was stolen from the altar at a Church in Palermo Italy. It was never found. Since 2015, there has been a replica at the altar.
It’s an expensive replica, scientifically constructed, which replaced a photo, but like the photograph is a replica. It strikes me how easily it can be for our prayers to become a replica of what they once were. While there will be days when our prayer will be the discipline of prayer, we must always bring our heart to it.
We must avoid allowing our prayer to become a routine. As a concrete example, we bring long term needs to God, but avoid the trap of making the request the same way each day. Prayer is a simple conversation with God, not an elaborate speech, but it is a conversation. If we repeat the same words exactly every day, it becomes less a conversation, and more a script.
Above all bring your heart to prayer, He is listening. We have an audience with not only our personal Savior, but The Lord of creation. This should never be wasted, but savored. Our human tendency, and the enemy’s opportunity, is to allow the impact to become lost.
If the enemy can not stop us from praying, he will try to cause us to slip into a dry routine. Unlike a painting though, when we come to prayer, we aren’t visiting a work of The Master, we are visiting Him. Don’t allow your audience with our Heavenly Father to be lost in routine. Bring your fervency, your full attention, and above all your worship.
When we focus completely on Him in prayer, the awesomeness of God, and the wonder of prayer itself, will surround us. We will be fully in tune with the purpose of prayer. Don’t allow routine to rob you of the full experience of prayer, above all els, avoid a replica at the altar.
October 16, 2022
An Active God
God isn’t just reaching out to the hurting, and the hopeful. He reaches out to those so in pain they’ve convinced themselves they’re numb to everything. He reaches out to the hopeless, to the ones who think it’s over for them.
The Lord is a God Who aches at our pain, is distraught by the way we hurt. He is not pained by our problem, that He can fix easily. What God cares is that man is hurting, when He can heal the pain.
Are you hurting today? Do you feel that no one understands, or maybe even cares? One does, more do, but One cares above all. I don’t know your circumstances but He does. This wasn’t just some random blog, this was meant for you if you are reading it.
Please know that He is not blind to your suffering, or uncaring. He will help you, and is only waiting for you to ask. For those who have asked, and think nothing is happening, consider this. A seed is planted, and from the moment it is, it begins to grow.
Just because we don’t see the movement, doesn’t mean it isn’t happening. Please know that God is active in your dilemma today. He is helping, and holding you in His heart.
Please find a place today to pray, and talk to Him. A place where His Word is shared, by imperfect, but loving people. Maybe you’ve been hurt in a Church before, maybe, but He was not the source of the pain. If you’ve left Him because of someone else, why neglect His house because of someone else just as broken as you and I?
I would say to you today, reach out to Jesus. Let Him show you that He has never stopped reaching out to you. He is a God Who cares, and Who is fighting for us all.
October 15, 2022
Sketch Prussian Blue Iron Man
Quick #IronMan #Diamine #PrussianBlue
Art Unboxed To New Watercolor Artists
What would I say to a younger version of myself if they asked me how to get started with watercolors? I have a few ideas, including starting sooner. I was intimidated for awhile before trying it, and I realize now I didn’t have to be. It has its learning curve, but it’s well worth it.
One of the most enjoyable things about watercolor painting is the fact that you can quickly begin and wrap up with little or no mess. There is not a huge preparation time, or clean up effort. While it’s wonderful to have a prepared space for art, watercolor lends itself to being an almost anywhere, anytime medium.
Though many enjoy watercolor in tubes, I am primarily a pan watercolorist. I have a wooden watercolor pochade box given by a friend. In it I keep my Phoenix Blue metal watercolor tin, assorted paints, my synthetic sable Fujummi travel brushes, water container, and sketching tools. I can begin painting very quickly with pans in a very confined space.
I would also recommend at least 300 gsm watercolor paper. Unlike many I would not suggest 100% cotton paper for beginning. I appreciate all of the wonderful points professional artists have regarding this, but I would suggest against it for a couple of reasons.
First to many beginning watercolorists, spending a lot of money on cotton paper is intimidating. At least for me, more expense on a new hobby causes me to hesitate. If I do spend more than I’m comfortable on something, I would be less likely to use it just for practice. The most beneficial thing a new watercolorist can do is practice.
I understand that it’s harder to learn on cheap paper regarding the skill level, but I still suggest more inexpensive paper. From my own experience I know there are good quality pulp/celluloid 300 GSM papers, which are good for practicing. I have even picked up good watercolor specific sketchbooks at Five Below. Hobby Lobby also has good dedicated, yet affordable watercolor specific pads.
Thirdly, I would recommend a good quality but affordable set of synthetic sable brushes. I like the Fujummi because they are roughly seventeen dollars for a set of three different size travel brushes. There are differences between the types ofwatercolor brushes.
Synthetic sable and synthetic squirrel both hold a good amount of water, but the synthetic sable forms more of a point. This works better for detail for me. Synthetic squirrel is going to be softer than the stiffer synthetic sable, and I prefer the sable.
Others enjoy a watercolor quill. It’s also soft, but for large areas of filling with paint. Another consideration is round or flat brushes. I recommend a round brush for watercolor, and a flat for acrylic. Round seem to be more universal for my watercolor needs.
Beyond pans, brushes, and paper, I would add a few more supplies. A good quality 0.5 mechanical pencil with a good eraser. I would also suggest an electric eraser. A Micron pen, they are waterproof, wonderful for line and wash, or just sketching. Line and wash is when you use both pen and watercolor together for those not familiar with the term. I would also suggest an inexpensive fountain pen and bottle of waterproof but not India ink.
A fountain pen will give more variance on the lines than a Micron. They are both good for different things, like the pencil is for shading. I don’t suggest India ink because it will kill a fountain pen. You can use India ink with a bib pen however.
Before leaving supplies, now that we’ve established I’m a pan watercolor guy, I’d like to return to the paints for a slightly different point. Some only want transparent watercolors, they are drawn to watercolors because of that. Others are more okay with opaque colors. I enjoy a mixture of transparent and opaque watercolors. Also, I am not a huge granulating watercolor guy, others love granulation.
Everything in watercolor is not for everyone. I can appreciate both the traditional watercolor look, and more almost gouache like styles. Just as I can appreciate the skill of looser styles, but prefer more tight for my own work.
Speaking of style, I would suggest to new users, not to get caught up in either one style, or one method. There are talented people who lean to one method or another, and that’s fine. I would suggest that you do listen to all methods to inform yourself. You can learn from them even if it’s not for you, but find the method that works for you. Just don’t forgo the fun of experimenting.
Don’t be in a hurry. A hobby is not only about the skill involved, it’s about reducing stress. While I do recommend avoiding the temptation to allow a hobby to be all consuming, or an over priority, in it’s place, it can be a wonderful world of exploration.
I’m careful about not obsessing over secondary things. My faith, family, and friends are more important to me than art, or my other interests. However, when the hobby is in a healthy place, don’t be too quick to think you have to paint in a particular style.
Learn the different ideas that interest you, maybe even watch a video on a style you don’t like. You may learn something that will apply to what you do. For example, I don’t like masking fluid, it’s more work than I want to do, but I’ve learned from watching videos on it.
As you may have guessed, I can go on quite a lot about watercolors, but I’ll wrap it up with this. While I believe it’s the most challenging medium to learn, it’s worth the journey. I enjoy not only a successful finished piece, but the process of watercolor. I would encourage every new watercolor artist to do just that, to enjoy the journey.
