Personal Art Blog

Sharing the lessons I teach at the Artist Guild and the personal discoveries in my art.

Monday, November 19, 2012

Holly at Tea Time



Holly at Tea Time.

6x8in oil on canvas  $125.SOL|D

I decided not to paint a Christmas cactus this year as it
took me several attempts to get it right last year.
I have two red teapots now and this one is without the
polka dots. I will do one that later.
This painting comes with a red easel so it can be propped
anywhere as part of the Holiday decorations.

Artist Note.

Continuing the previous posts on techniques.

Opposing Strokes on Colored Ground.  see below.

This one is very popular and for good reason. It brings life
and activity to a painting.
A bright brush is needed. Once again I use a short handle
brush and I find the angle brush is also good for this.
I picked an orange background only because
I didn't want to go too jumpy and by that I mean it can
look spotty if there is too much color and contrast.

The "opposing brush stroke" is needed in this technique.
Place each stroke at an angle to the previous one.
The little areas in-between can leave the spots of color
When it comes to the edges of objects you can
follow the form in short strokes or place your brush on the
edge and pull it away preventing a halo of
the same brush marks all the way around.


opposing strokes
























Paint and Line. see below.

I really love this one. It is not as popular so we do
not see as much of it.
Paint an abstract of colors. You can have somewhat of
an idea of the colors you want and the shapes you are
going to draw later.













Then draw your shapes over it.



















What a surprise - another apple!

I responded to the shapes and colors by adding
some more colors after I drew the lines but I was
careful to leave the basic idea of
an abstract color design in place.
This technique, at a far more sophisticated level
is used in the drawings of
one of my favorite artists.
Carolyn Plochmann (b. 1926)
She puts paint on and scrapes some off, and repeats.
Adds line, takes some off, changes the lines colors
and keeps working it until it is where she wants it.
It is a visual feast to stand before one of her works.



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46 comments:

  1. Such a beautiful painting and interesting reading about the techniques, it does make me think about trying out oils

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    1. Thanks for the comment, Sharon. I have been enjoying your beautiful watercolor of the owl.

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  2. Oh I do love seeing these! I do not paint in oils often but every so often I get a yen to do so. These tips have been great and I can't wait to try them out!

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  3. Julie, I think everyone loves a little red. This painting pops! Love it.

    Thanks again for sharing all your techniques. I have enjoyed reading them all week and you have introduced me to a few new ones.

    Happy Thanksgiving!

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    1. Hope your Thanksgiving is wonderful too. Thanks for the comment

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  4. The little teapot painting with holly is wonderful. Festive without being overtly Christmasey. I like red and green together and the other colors balance the combo out nicely.

    And goodness, that last technique! I have done something similar in the past (though not nearly as well or as skilled of course) and the idea came again to me yesterday as a way to deal with a concept piece. Thank you so much for sharing the idea and Carolyn's work.

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    1. Thanks, Libby. I am really pleased you like the last technique and Plochmann's work. The synchronicity is wonderful if you were just thinking of something similar.!
      Hope you do something satisfying with it. Will look forward to seeing it.

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  5. Julie, I love your red teapot! Thanks so much for taking the time to blog about techniques...this is so wonderful!!! I truly enjoy reading your blog posts.

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    1. I am thrilled when I know someone has enjoyed the posts. Thanks for that,Maria. Your white poppy is really lovely.

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  6. First of all, Julie...I love this painting...I see a Holiday card here..full of amazing colors..the red teapot pops right off the canvas bringing everything else out! When I visit your blog, I feel like I'm going to a workshop..sometimes even better, I've been learning so much with your techniques and someday I will surprise you with a painting...thank you, Julie!! (I love the abstract of colors creating a painting!!!)

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    1. As always you are so positive, Hilda, and I love it. Thanks for the great comment.
      Happy Thanksgiving.

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  7. Julie, Fabulous! Your Christmas painting is wonderful and cheerful. Thank you for the technique talk. Once the Thanksgiving cooking and cleaning is over I hope to have a couple days in my studio to try these techniques!

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    1. Hi Lavon,
      I agree, red is always cheerful and that is why I love the teapot. I was raised with a big brown one in the kitchen and the tea would be poured out of that one into a smaller, pretty one when company came.

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  8. Julie, I think you've encapsulated all that's festive, symbolic, colorful and joyful about the season with this painting! A perfect balance of colors makes this a heartwarming favorite.

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    1. You wrote that beautifully, Carol. I read it to the class and all were impressed with your skill with words. I particularly love "heartwarming favorite." Thanks
      .

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  9. I like this technique and plan to try it. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Glad you found it interesting.
      Great onions on your blog today but the knife just made it extra special.

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  10. Beautiful red teapot, and red isn't the easiest color to paint with! I've forwarded you blog to a good friend who approaches painting much the same way as your favorite Plochmann.

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    1. Sounds like you have in interesting painter friend. I have been interested in how many have commented about that technique.
      Your new painting is great.

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  11. A delightful holiday painting. And thank you for introducing me to Carolyn Plochmann. In this time of the "confident" brushstroke, her multi-layered attempts are so interesting and expressive.

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    1. Thanks for the comment and I am so pleased you found Plochmann's works interesting. Me too!
      I like your take on "intimate" paintings and the results in your painting are lovely.

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  12. What a great idea! 'Holly at tea Time' is a grand idea and such a rich red exciting painting to decorate and warm any Christmas!

    At Christmas ... wait for it...we have 10 Christmas trees!!! I will tell you the story behind them on my blog nearer the day!

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  13. What a beautiful red teapot & I love the holly! Thanks for the tips Julie!

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  14. That one scream X-mas. It has enough details to give that feel. Well done. Am almost done with my hallway...

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    1. Thanks Roger - I love your new tree painting and wonderful to hear you are done with the hallway. Thanks for the visit.

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  15. I just love the richness of this painting , or should I say paintings, because even though they are small , you manage to put so many things in them without it looking crowded. This is all so inspirational . xx

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    1. Hi Jane - thanks for the great comment. Makes me feel good!
      Loved your painting of daisies.

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  16. This is so festive and beautiful Julie! I haven't been over here for a while and I've sure missed some good posts! I will have to come back and catch up when I get a chance. Things have been busy for me lately but busy good not busy bad! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! I'm thankful for all that you offer to other artists!

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    1. Thanks so much, Jennifer. It was a treat to see your beautiful river painting and also to be able to comment on your blog again. I had had a problem - fixed now.

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  17. julie, i am so dang crazy about your paintings! and thank you for your generosity in sharing what you know!

    my goodness, carolyn plochmann...

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    1. Yes, I gather you like Plochmann, too, great!
      Thanks for liking my work so much. You sure know how to make me feel good.

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  18. This painting is just plain merry! Such a wonderful refection of the season. And thank you for more instruction. I love it.

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  19. Thanks Myra - loved the personal touches as well as your art on your blog.

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  20. Lovely! I really love an artist like you who shares information! woooo hooooooo you are generous with what you know. This is a brilliant painting. The red is fantastic--the drawing, the brushwork...all of it, just masterful. BRAVO!

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    1. Oh boy - I am beaming with the glow of praise. Thank you Celeste.
      Painting from your imagination with reading by the lanplight, is lovely.

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  21. Wow! What a lovely painting! The kettle is just so cute and you have painted it outstandingly well. Thats really so true about all of your paintings though. And thank you so much for the great instructions.
    Wish you the very best!

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    1. Thanks Vinayak - how's fatherhood?
      Looking forward to seeing some new work.

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  22. Dear Julie, in this painting I can breathe the air of the holidays! I really love your red teapot!
    Today is the eve of Thanksgiving and I wish you and your loved ones to havea great time of joy!

    Your posts on painting technique are very interesting and give me a lot of food for thought!

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  23. Hello, dear Rita. Thanks for the warm wishes for Thanksgiving.
    And I am pleased I gave you food for thought!

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  24. Gorgeous!! ...and I can't get enough of your how-to brilliance, Julie!!

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  25. Julie and her amazing painted works complete with painterly prettiness, elegance and instruction. The world seems right again...I've missed you!

    I LOVE your red teapots and some day I hope to see a video of you actually painting with your technique you tell us about.

    xo

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I love that you are taking the time to comment and thank you for it. I am sure other readers will enjoy them too. If you cannot comment through this format then email me at juliefordoliver@gmail.com
Cheers,
Julie