Tuesday, April 14, 2009

DEMO START AND FINISH!



Last night I had the pleasure of doing a demo for the Los Altos Art Club. They have a theme each month for their meeting and a painting competition based on the theme. April was flowers and gardens, so they requested I paint a flower rather than a portrait. Hey, I can do that! A flower is easier than a portrait. I take lots of photos of flowers but when I go to paint I am always drawn to portraits or figures. I found a parrot tulip photo I liked. There were a few familiar faces in the crowd, which always makes it special. One of the members made a video of my presentation. He promised to send me a copy. Depending on how it turns out, I may try and figure out how to post it on U-Tube.

Above is the painting ....Dr. Martin's Hydrus watercolors on Tyvek....as it looked at the end of the demo. Today I took a look at it and decided how I wanted to finish it up. The second image is the results of my efforts. I think I will go back to portraits and figures.

I was ecstatic today. My copy of Mary Todd Beam's new book finally arrived! I dropped everything and sat down with a highlighter pen and started to read. Lots of new ideas I can't wait to try out!!! I love her approach to art. Here's a wonderful quote from the book: "How do you know what you are capable of doing if you do only what you've found to be safe?"

8 comments:

Mary Paquet said...

Thanks for sharing the two pictures. I could see how with some modification of color, sharpening in some areas, and some line you brought this lovely piece to completion. I can't wait to see the movie.

Joyfulartist said...

I have to know what Tyvek is. Isn't that what is used for wrapping houses and packages? Does is act like Yupo when you paint on it? Where do you get it? I think your tulip is glorious!

Myrna Wacknov said...

Thanks, Mary. I am looking forward to the movie, myself. I usually hate how I appear in photos or in movies but I'll try to keep an objective eye.

Joyful, Tyvek is indeed used in the building trade. It is a synthetic paper with fiberglass embedded in it. Similar to Yupo but the paint acts differently on it and has a visible texture due to the fiberglass. You can play around with it by getting some envelopes from UPS and I think the Post Office. Full sheets can only be purchased 500 at a time!! I buy that amount and sell it for $2 a sheet plus postage to anyone who wants some.

sherry lee said...

Hi Myrna. I loved your tulip. What did you use to go back in and get the WHITE defining lines. They're beautiful.

Myrna Wacknov said...

Sherry, I used white acrylic ink in a squirt bottle from Tap Plastics. It has a needle in the lid that makes a fine line. You need to have a second bottle with clear water in it. After "painting" with the ink, switch out the caps and squeeze clear water through the needle so it won't dry and clog. Maxine Masterfiled had a wonderful painting with beautiful white lines. Mine doesn' compare but it is where I got the idea.

Myrna Wacknov said...

Oops, I misspelled the name. It is Maxine Masterfield.

Joyfulartist said...

You are a wealth of information!

joan coch said...

Fantastic!!, felicitats

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