Art Instruction

Hello everyone!

Sorry for the delay in writing. I haven't been hibernating (it's too early in the season for that), but I have been burrowed down in my studio watching a fabulous set of DVD's by Bryan Neher. I won these DVD's in a drawing that Bryan did - see, you can win cool goodies by entering a drawing.

The first few sets of DVD's were review for me: Drawing, Value, Color, Edges - and review is always a good thing, especially when it can possibly add new insights or an understanding from a different angle. Brian gives an easy to understand analogy of value and color in terms of a dimmer switch and thermostat. There is a tremendous amount of good information in these first sets of videos. Then came the dessert! Painting Outdoor Light. Now, I have to tell you that it is going to take me awhile to get the cognitive information and the motor skills from that DVD into perfect alignment simply because there is so much great information, both verbal and visual, to digest. So I am now munching, or perhaps more accurately, I am at the ruminating stage. This is the information that I have so diligently been searching for. In fact, I actually had the information, but he helped to put it together for me - you will especially be interested in the effects of color on the different planes of the face in outdoor light. Brian clearly explains the choices he makes as he paints and he shows you his palette as he is mixing his colors. You will also be interested to know that if you don't want to have to wait for DVD's in the mail, and you know how to download a link, you can get a break in the price.

Whether you are interested in painting or not, you simply have to view his lovely work. I first came across his work on Artist Daily several years ago when Brian's wife used to post it for him on that website. The portrait in his Painting Outdoor Light is of his lovely wife. I am personally hoping that Brian has more videos up his sleeve to offer to us later.

By the way, Brian, if you read this, thanks for helping to make my summer delightful!

Some of the Things Accomplished Since the Holidays

Not a lot "new" going on this week. Got two oil painting studies worked on toward the end of the holidays. One was a palette knife painting, which was inspired by the work of fellow artist Abraham Fisher whom I met through Artist Daily. He has very unusual, beautiful oil paintings, all done with palette knives and colors that are more subdued, more pastel than the colors I tend to use, yet still clean and vibrant colors. My painting was totally different from his, but definitely inspired by his work. Then I had left-over paint that I couldn't stand to waste, and so instead of pulling out my brushes, I went for paper towels and painted a small square canvas panel with left-over paint that would have been wasted. I soon decided that when it comes to oil painting, paint brushes are over rated. This was probably a reaction to the ease of clean-up with palette knives and paper towels.

Well, I have now learned how to "unpublish" after accidentally hitting the publish button before being finished with the blog. Sorry for the interruption. The computer "robots" probably went crazy over my momentary publish. Those things do an interesting job. They make it easier on us when we hit our search buttons - but I digress here.

At any rate, the studies aren't quite finished. I have a tendency to keep experimenting on studies, unless I accidentally create something I am enthralled with, so I will probably keep trying to make these look more like whatever my unconscious expectations are for them. As usual, I am just having fun with my painting, and no, I haven't "quit my day job yet."

After experimenting with my oil paints, I went back and added some more products to my Cafe Press Store, http://www.cafepress.com/margosart. I have even added a shower curtain and a wall clock using designs from my previous blog! I am having way too much fun designing my own products. And, I think the thing that I have had the most fun with this week is my line of baby products: Simply A Rose Organic Baby Bodysuit 

Simply A Rose Organic Baby Body Suit

Simply A Rose Margo's Art, Simply A Rose Bib Simply A Rose Margo's Art, Simply A Rose Sippy Cup Simply A Rose Margo's Art and several different products that could be used as a diaper bag, like: Simply A Rose Sack Pack Simply A Rose Margo's Art, Simply A Rose Tote Bag Simply A Rose Margo's Art, Simply A Rose Beach Tote Simply A Rose Margo's Art. So, check them out!

For other products: Margo's Art or my website at Fine Art America.

Announcing My Websites

Here I am blogging and wondering how I managed to decide to do this. Could it have anything to do with the fact that my kids have pushed and cajoled me for years? Yes, it appears that I am that dinosaur that has had to be dragged into the 21st century by my pushy (I say that lovingly) children.

And so I am here with a short announcement: I finally have a way that you can order some of my artwork that I have been working on for the past 6, or so years. I became brave enough to share my art a few years ago on FASO and Artist Daily, but now I have also joined Fine Art America, and Cafe Press. This way, you can begin to order my art either as high quality prints, or on products that are useful in your everyday life.

You will hopefully enjoy both the blogs and the products that I will offer. And naturally, constructive feedback on what products you would like to see being offered would be greatly appreciated. Of course it will be very helpful if you share my information with others.

And so, I thank you for reading my very first blog, and hope your holidays will be lovely and memorable.