Carrie's Creations

Monday, March 11, 2013

Spin the Bottle

"Spin the Bottle" 8" x 8" watercolor on 260lb Arches

I'm madly getting ready for my upcoming workshop this weekend. I just finished a demo of a painting that we'll be working on in class. I took several reference photos of my green bottles in lots of spinning positions, thought it would be a fun series. I guess this could be interactive art if you really wanted to take the spin the bottle title literally.

I'm looking forward to meeting all my workshop participants. Should be fun. There are still a couple spots available if you're interested. It's March 15-17, in Mt. Vernon Illinois. E-mail me, carriewallerart@gmail.com and I'll send you the flier.

Carrie

Friday, March 8, 2013

Friday Feature: Marsha Chandler

"Pear Mosaic" by Marsha Chandler

Today I have a fabulous Friday Feature, Marsha Chandler. Her work is gorgeous!!!! Her studio location sounds amazing and it sounds like Marsha and I work in a very similar way when it comes to our still life set ups.

To see more of her work visit her website and blog .

How did you get your start? What’s your artist journey so far?

I can’t remember a time when I didn’t like to draw and paint. At Christmas or birthdays, I always wanted art supplies. Art classes were not available in my school so my first art class was from a local artist when in my mid-twenties. I was hooked. I took classes and painted in different mediums for several years and displayed my work in various local shows. I put my art on hold while my children were growing up. Finally, in 2005, I resumed painting. I had to start with the basics again so I took classes and workshops to make myself better.

At first, I tried to loosen up and paint more impressionistic. I didn’t think you were supposed to paint realism anymore. I painted landscapes and got in a few shows and won a few awards which made me feel good about what I was doing. But I kept seeing realism in magazines that won awards and thought if other people can paint that way, I can too. When I began painting realistic still lifes, I started getting in shows and winning awards. I felt like I had come home. It’s what I love to do, what I do well and what makes me happy!

"Cherries Jubilee 3" by Marsha Chandler

Where were you born?

I was born in Boaz, Alabama where I grew up on a farm. My daddy made a living farming, so my three brothers and I always had a lot of chores. I couldn’t wait to get off the farm! Guess where I live now? On a farm! I think you could call it a ‘gentleman’s farm’ because it is my husband’s hobby, not his living. Now I really enjoy the peacefulness.

If you could live anywhere where would you live?

I’ve reached a point in my life where I don’t dream about anything other than what I have. My 2 children and 2+ grandchildren (#3 is due in June) are within 20 minutes of me so this really is the perfect place to live. My studio is a mobile office with two sides of windows that sits a few hundred feet from my house. It is surrounded by pasture and trees and feels like my cabin in the woods that I have dreamed about. Two places I love are the beach and mountains. The beach in less than 5 hours away and the mountains is about 2 hours from here. We are only about 25 miles from Atlanta, so the art world is at my fingertips. I have the best of both worlds.

"Green Apple Kaleidoscope" by Marsha Chandler

What’s your favorite thing to paint and why

I love painting still life paintings. Most of my paintings are of fruits and vegetables and include silver or glass. What I really love painting is anything shiny or clear that reflects or refracts light. I’m working on a painting with aluminum foil and have several paintings in my head using plastic. Reflections and refractions intrigue and excite me. I’m trying to incorporate other things so I’m now painting candy in a jar or to be exact, spilling out of a jar. The possibilities are endless.

Could you talk about your painting techniques?

I set up my still lifes outside in the early morning sun so I get soft light that creates long shadows. I use a digital SLR camera and take probably 200 pictures of the same setup from different angles, perspectives and with things moved around. After loading the pictures on my computer, I study them for hours before I decide on the one with the best composition and light. I print out a 13 x 19 image for a reference and I use my computer to zoom in on the image to see the details. I usually paint local colors but I enhance them a lot. If you were to compare the reference photograph to the painting, you would see a lot of difference in the two. I want the painting to jump out and grab you so I pay a lot of attention to detail but not so much that it is photorealism. Painting in layers, I always paint from light to dark

"Lemon Kaleidoscope" by Marsha Chandler

Do you have go-to paints/colors, what are your favorites?

Winsor Newton- New Gamboge, Sap Green, Aliziran Crimson, Burnt Sienna, Aureolin, Cobalt Blue and Ultramarine Blue

Daniel Smith-Quinacridone Burnt Scarlet, Quinacridone Burnt Orange and Quinacridone Gold I have a lot of other colors that I use, but these are my most frequent colors

Do you have a favorite artist? Who has been your biggest inspiration?

I love all artists that paint realistic still lifes especially watercolor artists. Laurin McKracken and Chris Krupinski are two of my favorites. When I first started painting still lifes, I emailed them an image of a painting and asked them to critique it which they did, not knowing me at all. This was a big help to me and I appreciate what they did so much. Recently, I took a workshop from Chris in Atlanta and felt like I was in heaven.

"Pear Go Round" by Marsha Chandler

What have been some of your crowning achievements?

Receiving an Honorable Mention in Watercolor magazine’s What do You Love competition and having the painting published in Watercolor Artist magazine.
Receiving Signature Membership in Watercolor Society of Alabama in 3 years and in Georgia Watercolor Society in 4 years.
Being accepted into the Annual Southern Watercolor Society Exhibit twice.
Being juried into the International Guild of Realism.
Being in the Atelier Gallery in Charleston, S. C.

What are five things you would like to happen in your life in the next five years? Dream big here:)

To be accepted into the Annual Southern Watercolor Society Exhibit again and receive Signature membership.
To be accepted into America Watercolor Society and National Watercolor Society and then receive Signature Membership in them.
To be accepted into the International Guild of Realism Annual Exhibition.
Have an article published in Watercolor Artist magazine
To be in Splash 16.

"Vegetable Medley" by Marsha Chandler

What is your advice for other artists who are just getting started in their career?

Find out what you love to paint and stick with it. Paint, paint and paint until your paintings are professional quality and build a cohesive body of work. Enter competitions to begin building your resume. Start out with local competitions and work your way up to National competitions. Join a local artist’s organization and at least one national organization. If I had done this after I had my first art lesson, I don’t think I would have ever quit painting. It’s important to have other artists to share with.

What is the best advice that you have received as an artist?

I received the above advice several years ago and adhered to it.

SPEED ROUND!

Chocolate or vanilla? Vanilla

Your dream vacation spot? France

Book or movie? Book

Favorite author? James Patterson

Favorite movie? Gone With the Wind

Romance or comedy? Romance

Favorite dessert? Carrot Cake

Night owl or morning person? Morning Person

Thank you so much Marsha:)

Monday, March 4, 2013

Mixing Greens

I've had several requests to share my green palette and mixing techniques so I thought I would devote todays post to greens.

These are the greens I have been using in my green bottle paintings. The pans at the top are Schmincke watercolors on the starting from the left is Pthalo Brilliant Grn, Delft Blue (not used in these paintings but wanted to identify what it was), empty space, Sap grn, Hooker's grn, and May grn. The tube colors below are all Daniel Smith paints starting from the left is Undersea grn, Spring grn, Green Apatite Genuine, Green Gold, Sap Green, Cascade Grn and the end tube on the right is Holbein's Shadow grn.

The yellow I used in this painting is Daniel Smith's Quinophthalone, love this yellow it's in between a cool and warm yellow, kind of a bright fresh neutral. Love it!!

I also wanted to show my favorite turquoise which is Schmincke's cobalt turquoise. I always try to sneak a little of this into every painting. One of my absolute favorite colors.

I always save my paints because I just can't stand to wipe a way paint, feels like I'm throwing money away so I work from dried paints. Plus I started using pans and they are always in a dry format. I understand that some artists prefer fresh colors for each painting but I really enjoy using some of the colors I mixed from previous paintings. Some of my best colors have come out of that. I do keep my paints segregated by like colors. So this palette has only greens. A tad of orange in there because I used that to mix some of my neutrals. I always mix my neutral grays by mixing the compliments. Also my black areas are always a mixture of Indigo and Sepia both Daniel Smith. But Schmincke makes my favorite Sepia.

"Going Green" work in progress 18" x 30"

In the painting "Going Green" I began by laying in my lightest colors. I try to avoid using masking fluid because it can leave such a hard edge, I try my hardest to reserve my whites and paint around them. It just takes a little more planning but I feel worth it in the end. So I started with my Quinopthalone yellow. In the areas that were cooler I laid in a Pthalo Grn mixed with a bit of sap green just to warm it up a bit. I also lay my darks in right away so I can get the values that I want. It ensures that the painting is working and helps me to avoid that awkward stage a watercolor can go through if you don't establish the darkest darks at the beginning. The darks I use in the painting are a mixture of Indigo and Sepia. To darken any greens I mixed in DS Undersea green or Holbein Shadow Green. I also mix in a bit of the orange color for a great neutral which in this case was Quinacridone Sienna.

Add caption

I just kept working the above process throughout the rest of the painting. I followed my reference photo and had my bottles in front of me while I was painting. If the bottle was warmer and more yellow I stuck with the Quinophtalone yellow and sap greens, in the cooler areas I used phthalo greens and brilliant green.

If you have any questions I would be happy to answer them. Leave any questions in the comment section and I'll reply.

Carrie

Friday, March 1, 2013

Friday Feature: Suzy Pal

"Turn the Radio On" by Suzy Pal

It's Friday Feature day:) Today I have the most talented Suzy Pal. Suzy and I are both friends from Art Colony, a professional artists blog group. I am so inspired by her amazing compositions and sketching abilities. And you must read her answer to the question what is the best you can give to artists, her answer is profound and true.

To see more of her work visit her blog and website

"Turn the Radio On sketch" by Suzy Pal

How did you get your start? All of my life I have done something creative. Before I started to school I was embroidering and making my own doll clothes, without any patterns. Then in the late 80’s I decided to try oil paint, and found out I was allergic, switched to pencil and pastels, then in 1991 watercolors. Watercolors have been my favorite! In 2010 I started doing torn paper collages, and they have done well for me, as far as sales and teaching. My start was just jumping in, basically on my own. I had some help from local artist on how to get going, what to buy etc.

Then I found a book that helped me so much. It is listed in my techniques.

"Oil Cans" by Suzy Pal

What’s your artist journey so far?

I have worked very hard, long hours in my art room, trying to learn to paint. Never having art in schools that I attended, I had no knowledge of any thing. Never heard of negative painting. didn’t know about warm or cool colors,…etc.

After several years of trying, I started seeing an improvement, and things started happening. I have taken a few workshops through the years, and it has helped me to see more of the art world, and other artists. Just living in your own little world, painting what you want, you don’t get to see the big picture OR other artists. Some of my dearest friends are artists, and I would never have met them had I not gotten to go to them.

Where were you born? Carswell Air Force Base, Fort Worth Texas

If you could live anywhere where would you live?

Here, because my family is here! BUT for fun, if I had a choice, a big sprawling working ranch somewhere with horses, western, boots, hats, saddles…. cowboys, trees, and not much wind! With a stream running thru it! And that would probably have to be in Texas!

What’s your favorite thing to paint and why? Landscapes, still life, sketchbooks

I consider my self a nostalgic sentimental painter because I love old things, Rust, and I really do love the looks of ink and watercolor wash sketches. They are so fresh and spontaneous.

"Old Truck Sketch" by Suzy Pal

Could you talk about your painting techniques?

Sure…I love to share whatever I have learned. When I started doing the watercolors, they were so kiddish, looked like I was in kindergarten! But I just couldn’t’ give up, and I happened onto this book:

Building Brilliant Watercolors by Judy D Treman, and it changed the way I painted! She has what she calls the disappearing purple, and I do all my paintings the way she shows. After I shadow everything, then I start with the local color. But I also try to put down only one layer if I can, trying to get it as dark as it needs to be to begin with. I feel that my work looks ‘worked’ if I start layering too much. I just like the freshness of the paint untouched, If possible. (After the shadowing is done)

I think that is why I love the sketchbook ink and watercolor images. I normally put down color one time, and let it mingle where it touches. Also I like the black lines. I think I am a hard edge, line painter!

Do you have go-to paints/colors, what are your favorites?

Yes, I always use manganese blue , ultramarine blue, some turquoise, perm rose,

Quin bt.orange, bright red (my fav) cad orange and thalo yellow green, plus other reds, yellows, etc.

"Old Barn Sketch" by Suzy Pal

Do you have a favorite artist? Other than the ‘artcolony’ people of course,

G Harvey and Don Weller, Don Getz, Winslow Homer, Mary Whyte and Naomi Brotherton

Who has been your biggest inspiration?

Naomi Brotherton and Marguerite Barron. Naomi is a well-known artist from the Dallas Area, and she is in her 90’s and still teaching! She is awesome as an artist as well as a caring loving person., who encourages me each time we communicate.

Marguerite Barron was a dear friend from here that was an expert pastel portrait artist, who is in heaven now and probably doing portraits of the Saints! She made it to 90 also!

She always believed in me, always encouraged me, and always told me when we didn’t win in a show, ‘well…….we just have to get better!’ and she never failed to tell me every day that we talked that my art would go somewhere some day. I believe that God blessed me with the friendship of these two dear ladies.

Suzy's art on the Christopher Cross CD

What have been some of your crowning achievements? My husband and kids..OH you mean art?

Probably getting signature status, Christopher Cross CD choosing my art for his Christmas album Licensing some of my work and being sold in stores! My new adventure Having my watercolors on checks with Checkadvantage! http://new.checkadvantage.com/suzy-pal-powell-bio being published in an upcoming North Lights mixed media book titled "Incite-dreams Realized". But you know what? Probably …really…Would be when people like my work enough to buy it for their home, or a gift. When you paint something for someone and they cry because it was exactly what they wanted it is very touching.

What are five things you would like to happen in your life in the next five years? Dream big here:)

Dreaming REALLY big??

Getting into AWS. Or NWS. (has always been my goal)
Become a better painter (and person)
Teaching more workshops (italy would be awesome!)
Paint in Italy..(or France,Greece, Or Peru?)
More sales, to help pay for my ‘habit’

What is your advice for other artists who are just getting started in their career?

My main advice for anybody who wants to learn to paint…Always buy the best supplies you can afford. Do not skimp. Only buy professional paint and paper…and good brushes. It has taken me years to get a collection of good brushes.

Don’t think ‘I will buy this cheaper stuff till I learn…..” The best supplies react differently!

PAINT , paint and paint some more. Same with drawing. You will not learn from anybody or any workshop if you do not paint on your own. Don’t ever be afraid of trying something or experimenting. Nobody will know if it fails unless you tell them! But think of what you might learn in the process.

my Artist statement is:

It is JUST paint and paper, NOT a matter of life or death. JUST enjoy the process. That is what really counts!

"Sketch at Dr. Harkins" by Suzy Pal

What is the best advice that you have received as an artist? I am just now realizing this but it was years ago, when Don Getz told me to get rid of my pencil and eraser. I just wasn’t ready. In Oct.