Winter Trees

5x7 inches
acrylic on panel
115.00
unframed

Purchase at: www.lindablondheim.com



Painting Journal



The Art Police



I have noticed a disturbing trend in the arts of late. There seem to be many artists who dictate what and how we should show our work and how we should paint. I belong to a group, who posts a new painting on their blogs each day. This whole concept of painting every day or doing a painting every day has been taken over by artists who remind me of "Nurse Ratchett" or "the church lady". Thse kinds of artists expect everyone to march in lock step together and I expect they would be even happier if we all set a timer to paint our paintings exactly at the same time.




I have notice similar trends in the world of plein air painting. Lengthy arguments about whether a painting is en plein air if it has 10 or more minutes of studio work, or if it is painted in your car, or on a porch, is it a legitimate painting? If it is not in the California style does it have any value? If it is not framed in seamless "plein air frames" is it inferior? If you dare to paint in casein, acrylic, or "gasp" watercolors, can you be a real plein air painter? Do you have the audacity to paint in studio and still call yourself a plein air painter?



Whatever happened to the rebellious artists we all were? Whatever happened to diversity in art?

If you dare to disagree with them, you are considered to be impolite, and not level headed. A trouble maker and a difficult, unstable person. They don't want to play with you anymore.



Watch Out for the art police in your neighborhood!!!!!!






Painters Tip






Add Ons To Your Mediums



Venice Turpentine- Resin Balsam from Larch trees commonly used in glazing mediums. It will add to the gloss and retard drying.


Oil of spike lavender- This oil is distilled from spike lavender(not the perfume oil). It can be used as a substitute for turpentine. More expensive and slower drying.


Liquin- Very popular alkyd resin. It can be mixed with mediums to shorten drying time. Some painters use it undiluted for thin glazes.


Oil of Cloves- Retards drying time considerably. It is often used to retard the drying of paints left on a palette but too much may effet the structure of the paint.


Bees Wax- Produces a matt finish and can increase the thickness of the paint. Using a large portion reminds me of the look one achieves with encaustic painting.


Darmar Varnish- Increases the transparency of glazing mediums. It is one of the main varnishes used to protect paintings, but des tend to yellow with age.



Tomorrow we move on from mediums. You may be tired of them by now.