Try This New Painting Surface!
I was looking at old artwork and remembering I used to paint on a joint compound. It's a material generally used with sheetrock found at any hardware store. I think of it as white mud. You can apply it to wood, and what's so cool is that it has a nice toothy texture...
How to reframe rejection
We announced the winners of the 5th Art2Life International Juried Art Exhibition! You can watch the recording of our Opening Reception featuring the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners, joined by our wonderful juror, Anita Rogers, as she discussed the thoughtful reasoning...
Paint Anywhere with Vibrant Color
I’m so excited to share a cool resource for intense color called, Viviva Colorsheets. The color in these watercolor sheets is amazingly vibrant! They come in two sets, Springtime and Metallic, and are the right size for on-the-go painting. Just tuck into your...
Create Cool Effects with Glazing!
If you're new to this vlog, welcome! This is a place to learn and share. If you have something you'd like to learn, leave a comment. Let's crowd-source all we know! Last week I showed how I glaze my paintings to harmonize all the colors. Today I want to show you the...
Watch how I glaze my oil & acrylic paintings!
The colors in this painting are pretty wild, but watch what happens when I start to glaze it. I'll first demonstrate how I glaze in oil using transparent paint, a product called Liquin, and odorless mineral spirits. Next I'll show you the same technique using acrylic...
Is it time to wreck your painting?
When I'm not sure if a painting is working or not, it's time to make a big change. Big changes can help reveal what's working and what's not. I've made big moves on this piece, and it still isn't working, but that's okay because now I feel more committed to pushing it...
How to Set Yourself Up for Success
Check out these weird colors! This painting is so garish, but I’m excited about it anyway! Because I’ve started with colors I don’t like, it gives me confidence that I’ll improve this painting easily with colors I do like. I often begin with this strategy. In the...
“If it’s not a “YES!!” – then it’s time to change it!
It's valuable to show your work to others because you gain objectivity. I recently showed this piece to my gallerist. She didn't like the big brown area, and others reacted similarly. I looked at the painting with fresh eyes, and uncertainty bubbled up. Of course, you...
Join me as I start my next painting!
My favorite part of the art-making process is starting a new piece! Applying the first layers of paint in any way, in any color, is so fun! It’s the best time to experiment and play, because anything you do will be more exciting than a blank canvas. So, even if you...
Watch as I finish the last page in my journal…
I’m super excited to be on the last page of my journal! There’s a celebration at the end of one and an anticipation at the beginning of another. Before I switch, I’ve been thinking about the common things I do that show up in all my art. Whether in a journal or on...