Archives for posts with tag: ink

How To Paint A… random composition (part one)

August 2, 2012 //

Welcome back to the “How To Paint A…” series! After a long hiatus, I am making/documenting/writing short tutorials on how to paint different things.

random marks

This week, I offer an example of “How To” break through Painter’s Block.

I started with a random blobbing of black paint of varying thicknesses, then saw a floral shape. I painted it in loosely in white.

The best way to cure a fear of flying is to fly. The best way to break through Painter’s Block is to paint. If you just start with something, you can turn it into anything.

I didn’t like the strong black line anymore, so I scuzzled over it with white.

I enjoy painting random things, just patterns and flowers and stripes and stuff. There is nothing wrong with this: painting itself is steeped in concept. You don’t have to have a Big Grande Overriding IDEA to start. Don’t be afraid.

I used the white paint to dash in some vertical stripes. I had watered it down and used the brush lightly to obtain both transparency and texture.

If you do like to make Big Idea Art… you can think of these random little paintings as studies, or as imagination-sessions. This is a good exercise for your mind, heart, hands and eyes.

sorting out a bit more of the composition with some “doodles”. Even though I don’t particularly like these “doodles”, I know I can always paint them over afterwards…

As I mention in the photo above, it is important to feel free and empowered as you paint. If you do something you don’t like, just paint it over. The end result will be richer and more interesting anyhow.

Painting in some black over those goofy-doodles…

I like to work back-and-forth as I go. From one tone to the next, from one colour to the next… back and forth…

I finished up when I worked in a bit of white again. I decided to let this dry. I could paint in some more detail, or colour, or not. I think it is done as it is. Maybe I will just sign it now…

Natasha Henderson, Montreal

Tags acrylic, art, Brush, ink, Montreal, Natasha Henderson, Paint, painter, painting instructions, Visual Arts

Categories Art

How To Paint: a little light

By natashahenderson

April 10, 2011 //

so fascinated with light... he'd certainly paint if he could...

Artists who paint are often fascinated with light. Light allows us to see; light forms the subject matter that is painted. When we paint, we are painting light both as it hits objects, and as it filters through atmosphere. However… sometimes we might like to paint actual light sources. Here is a short example on how to paint a “Christmas Light”.

Each Sunday, artist Natasha Henderson will guide you through some simple “How To” tips for painting. Having been (honestly) inspired at a young age by the oft-spoofed televised artist Bob Ross, Natasha would like to offer some simple tips on How To Paint Stuff.

Just like last week, this time I started with a piece of paper that I’d smudged some white acrylic paint on. Again, it is not 100% necessary to add the acrylic. If I had thick paper, and I’d wanted to allow the paper’s texture and absorbancy affect the paint’s effect, I could have worked directly on the paper.

getting started

I made a simple shape, similar to an Xmas light bulb.

a simple shape, similar to an Xmas light bulb

Then, I made the “cords”. Most Xmas lights have a casement for the glass bulb, and then cords leading away from this. I opted to imagine a simple cord going each way, although in reality there are usually two twisted cords, per side, that lead away in both directions. Sometimes it is more poetic to rely on memory than observation. Who wants a painting of electrical cords?

bulb with simple cords

Next, I smudged a little watery black down the middle of the bulb.

swiped watery-black paint in the bulb...

Then I wiped some of this paint away, quickly, with my finger. It smudged the paint, giving it a bit of a hazy effect, just like staring into a real light…

smudged!

The most important thing right now was to let this DRY. After it had dried, I painted some watered-down black around the bulb area. I left the imagined-light to “glow” in a circle around the bulb.