Another Trillium

I keep going back and forth between water-based oil paints and watercolors. They both have endearing traits.

After completing the oil painting of the trillium (previous post) in the woods standing tall against the cedar tree, I could not resist painting the same subject with watercolor.

Here is a colorful rendition......

I believe I have cured the trillium addiction, for now :)

Sunday Sketches

Having completed the 30 Day Art Challenge and shipped off eight miniature paintings to Cannon Beach Gallery for the 25th Annual Miniature Art Show, I decided to get back to the Sketchbook Project 2012.

FRUSTRATION!

In the time that transpired, the title page stuck to the inside cover. It was not salvageable :( It tore in several places. I ended up cutting the page out of the book and starting over. I still like my image idea, so I thought about re-creating it on watercolor paper and paste it into the sketchbook.

I was enjoying working with the water-based oil paints for the Art Challenge and thought I would try them on watercolor paper. Disaster! Needless to say, I began another sketch and returned to watercolor paints. I must admit, I did use the oils for the line of paint because they layer well.

Here is the second version of the title page. You will need to imagine a fold down the middle, but I will allow more time for it to dry having learned my lesson. Hopefully, it will glue into the sketchbook without any further challenges.

Water-Soluble Oils

How can oil color be water-soluble? Can it truly be oil color? I thought oil and water do not mix. Is this a misnomer?

Water-soluble oils are the best of both worlds, combining the flexibility of oil painting with the easy cleanup and safety of acrylics. This option for artists has revolutionized the way people are thinking about painting.

All oil paints are made by finely grinding pigment into vegetable drying oils. Oil paint has been popular for centuries for a number of reasons:

* Oil in the paint allows the paint to spread easily.
* Oil can dry to a thin durable film for detailed work.
* Oil provides excellent adhesion for the pigment.
* Oil adds transparency to many pigments.
* Oil provides body to retain brush or knife strokes.
* Oil adds depth to the pigment not possible in its dry state.

The new oils are no exception to these benefits. The difference is that the oil vehicle has been modified to make it soluble in water, eliminating the need for harsh or dangerous solvents used to thin the paint and clean brushes and palettes.

There are four major manufacturers currently marketing the new oils in the United States. Each of them has developed their own formulas and methods of making the paint, which is mixable with water. Grumbacher: Max Artists' Oil Colors; HK Holbein: Duo Aqua Oil; Winsor & Newton: Artisan Water Mixable Oil Color; Royal Talens: Van Gogh H2Oil. Each brand of paint has its own consistency and the mediums offered by one company are completely compatible with paints from another.

I have recently been painting with Winsor & Newton's brand. Having fun!

The Challenge of a New Art Medium

Do you ever feel stuck?  Similar to writer's block, but for a visual artist it feels more like doing the same thing over and over again.  After twenty-five years exploring watercolors, I am beginning to feel the urge to try something new. 

Jump start creativity?  Last time I felt this way, I began to tear up old watercolor paintings and create new paintings (watercolor collage paintings). Talk about a metaphor!  As a challenge of new art media, I have been playing with water-based oil paints (sounds like a misnomer) and tried a few small acrylic paintings.  

Most recently, I have picked up a watercolor pencil set.  Now, you are probably thinking that is not so different for an artist who has painted with watercolors. BUT IT IS! TOTALLY DIFFERENT! For you  control freaks, watercolor pencils are a more controlable medium..........well, until you add the water :)  It even looks different. AMAZING!

Later, I am off on another discovery...........