Blondheim Art Original Paintings

Crescent Beach Sunrise
16x20 inches
oil on canvas
silver frame
1200.00

Purchase Here

Art Note Blog HERE


Friends,
I love receiving your comments. If you have topics of interest or questions about painting or marketing art that you would like to see answered on this blog, you can email me at lindablondheim12@hotmail.com If I don't have the answer, I'll find it.


Painters Tip


Keep a Tool Kit

Plein air painters will benefit from keeping a cardboard box tool kit with them in the car. A roll of masking tape, duct tape, a 6 inch,12 inch steel ruler, a 12 inch T square, bamboo roll up brush holder with extra brushes,6-8 tube of basic color paints, large spring clamps, sketch book with a few pencils, a small watercolor kit, a small watercolor pad, a small jar of nails/screws, small Philips and straight screw drivers, a tack hammer, a plastic light weight fold up tarp, a small jar of solvent for oil painters, spray bottle for acrylics, bungee cords, lightweight jacket and a pair of socks, sunscreen, hat, 1 gallon jug water, and bug juice.

There are many occasions when you don't expect to be able to paint but the opportunity comes up. You could do some quick sketching or watercolor field studies without setting up you full equipment to paint. There are also unexpected weather conditions and equipment problems when you paint outside. You may need to repair an easel. A dry pair of socks and a jacket could increase your comfort level greatly after an unexpected storm.


I try to keep a box of basic stuff in the trunk of the car all the time. I don't often need it but when I do it's great to be prepared.

Blondheim Art Original Paintings

Mail Art
Original Paintings to send through the mail.
Envelope included
11.00
.60 shipping

Purchase HERE

Art Notes Blog HERE


Painters Tip


Checking for the right color

When you are out painting on location, it is often hard to get a match for local color. I do a couple of things which really work well. I use a color isolator. That sound very high tech and cool but it is really a piece of gray mat board with a hole punched in it. Looking at color through the gray board will tell you how close you are. Hold the mat board out at arms length in front of the area you want to match. Then after you have it imprinted in your mind, hold the mat over the color you have mixed on your palette. You will be able to compare without distraction.

The second way is even easier. I load the brush with my paint and hold it out at arm length in front of what I am painting. I know right away whether it is even close in both value and color temperature. I make adjustments, then hold it out again until I have made a good match.

Blondheim Art Original Paintings

My Yard
12x16 inches
Oil on panel

Purchase HERE

Art Notes Blog HERE


Painters Tip


A Body of Work

You may hear or read that term , Body Of Work, but not really know what the writer refers to.

A body of work is a collection of art with three characteristics:
Consistent theme
Consistent technique
Quantity
A consistent theme and consistent technique define the artist=s visual style and creates an identifiable style.

Sometimes bodies of work just occur with no forethought. The My Yard series started with a single painting. I'm on number four now. Working on a series gives an artist the time to really explore and understand a subject to it's fullest potential.

A series has the potential for an excellent cohesive exhibition.

Generally mine occur because I get very interested in a subject and want to learn more about it. Seeing all of the paintings framed and hung together gives you a sense of pride and accomplishment.

Blondheim Art Original Paintings

Fall Trees
Mail Art
Send an original mixed media painting through the mail. Envelope included.
11.00
.60 shipping
Purchase HERE

Art Notes Blog HERE

Ebay Sale HERE Better Hurry!!!


Painters Tip


Organizing the end of an Ebay Sale


I always make sure to save the final paperwork from each sale. I cut off the person's name and shipping address, adding it to my mailing list and taping it down on the top of my mailing box or envelope. I use clear tape to cover it completely so that rain won't ruin it. It saves a lot of writing time and avoids mistakes. I save the top half with the payment info for my files.

I include my business card in each package, because sale paintings often bring larger purchases in the future. I always take the time to email the buyer and thank them for their purchase rather than just sending an invoice. After all, they are supporting me and my family, so they deserve my respect and attention.

I try to send the painting in batches, so that I don't have to make so many trips to the post office. Some people take longer than others to pay, so they are not ready at the same time to send out. I explain to all buyers that it may take a few days before sending out due to batch shipping.

I set up a table in my studio, with the paintings put in the envelopes, waiting for payment. As they are payed, I paste the addresses on the envelopes and tape them up, putting them in a box to carry out to my car. Some buyers purchase multiple paintings and want combined shipping. I put them all in a flat rate box, knowing that it will be one fee for all weights. I'm not in the business of overcharging people for shipping. I just want them to get their paintings and enjoy them.

Blondheim Art Original Paintings

Overcast Day
12x16 inches
oil on panel
silver frame
800.00

Purchase HERE

Hurry! Ebay Studio Sale HERE



Art Notes Blog HERE


Painters Tip


More fun with color mixing

Matching Color values with a value scale is a challenging way to paint. Everyone does value studies with black and white. But so what? How does that relate to painting values in color? A great way to practice is by limiting the values in your painting. Choose the mid ranges and try to match them up with color.

Keep a small color wheel with you all the time and the Jack Richeson & Company color wheels have good value scales right on the wheel. I leave my wheel in the plastic package it came in. I can touch my loaded brush to the plastic over the color or value I'm trying to match, and then just wipe it off.

Use small panels or canvas for a values exercise.

Start by doing a black and white study with the value range of 3-5 for darks and the range of 6-8 for lights. Now do the exact same scene with color and try matching those values.

One way to know whether the values are similar is to place the two paintings side by side. Squint your eyes to barely see. You will be able to tell.

Blondheim Art Original Paintings

Paynes Prairie
14x18 inches
oil on panel
1000.00
Warm silver frame

Purchase HERE

Art Notes Blog HERE

Hurry! Ebay sale ends soon HERE


Painters Tip


For landscape painters



SLOW DOWN



Make a plan for yourself before you begin your painting. Ask yourself some questions.

Where will you place major elements in your painting?

Where will you place the focal point or area of interest?

Where will be secondary elements of interest?

Wiill there be tertiary elements?

Where is the direction of light coming from?

What is the angle of light?

What will be the mood and atmosphere of your painting? Bright Light? Tonal Light? 

How will you lead the viewer through the composition? Curves, connecting values? Patterns?



You must write down your questions and then write the answers on paper, step by step. Then begin your painting and follow your own road map to completion. Can you justify the choices you have made in your process, so that they mimic your painting plan? If not, why did you change the plan?


Get in the habit of making a good plan in advance and you will have better paintings.

Blondheim Art Original Paintings

This Post is for Saturday. I am away teaching a workshop.




Palms on County Road 320
16x20 inches
oil on canvas
1200.00
Purchase HERE

Art Notes Blog HERE

Ebay Sale HERE


Painters Tip




Quick Study Medium

I have found that permanent magic markers are a wonderful medium for painting studies. They look like watercolor when they dry and they are quick and easy to use, easy to transport, and they last a long time. You don't need any water or brushes. They can be used just about anywhere and be carried in a small tote bag with a small watercolor paper pad. These days they come in sophisticated palettes of subtle colors. Gone are the days of the bright primary colors only. You can make fine lines to thick washes with the same marker. Overlapping of colors is also possible.

I use the ChartPak brand. HERE

They are wonderful and come in lots of colors, including many subtle grays. They are also nontoxic.

The next time you want to do quick thumbnail paintings, try markers instead of paint.

Blondheim Art Original Paintings

Chicken Coop
8x10 inches
acrylic on panel

See my paintings HERE

Art Notes Blog HERE

My Ebay Sale HERE


Painters Tip

Intensity of Color



There are four ways to change the intensity of colors when mixing paint.

As white is added to any hue the tone becomes lighter in value but it also loses it’s brightness or intensity.

When black is added to a hue, the intensity diminishes as the value darkens.

You can't change value without losing intensity, although they are not the same property.

The third method of changing intensity involves mixing a neutral gray of the same value as the hue. The mixture is then a variation in intensity without a change in value. The color become less bright with each addition of gray but the value remains unchanged.

The fourth way to change the intensity of any hue is by adding it’s complement. The mixture of two hues that occur exactly opposite each other on the color wheel; red/green, yellow/purple, and orange/blue. The complimentary colors represent an equal balance of the three primaries.

The dominating color in the mixture of compliments gives it’s bias to the neutral. A gray mixed with yellow/purple/white can either have a cooler tone with more purple or a warmer tone with more yellow.

Blondheim Art Original Paintings

My Yard III
14x18 inches
oil on canvas

Work In Progress




Painters Tip


Limiting shapes in values

The painting above is a work in progress I started this morning out in my yard. I am ever aware of the NOTAN approach to painting and so I have tried to simplify the shapes as well as the values in this painting. In my study of NOTAN, I am seeing more and more emphasis in simplifying my composition into fewer shapes/masses and fewer values.

It is a completely different approach to painting than anything I have done before and it suits my work so well. I have never been a realist painter, never had an interest in copying nature. I am an expressionist and my focus has always been on studying the complexity of design. The fact that I love Essentially, the above painting simplifies the masses into a few shapes and connects dark or light throughout the painting. I try to form the connections of shapes throughout, using positive and negative shapes to form transitions between dark and light areas. There are of course multiple values, but basically it is a three value painting with dark being dominant.

Blondheim Art Original Paintings

Evinston Florida Farm
18x24 inches
Oil on Canvas
1600.00

Purchase HERE

Art Notes Blog HERE

Ebay Sale NOW HERE


Painters Tip

Studying Values effectively in your composition

The NOTAN study really helps me learn about values by applying the following methods:

Try using a dominant value in the painting. This gives the viewer clues and helps them to understand the basic structure of the painting.

Look for scenes which will allow you to condense your values to just a few basic ones within the range of 5 or less.

Don't get bogged down on fussy shapes. Keep them massed rather than linear.

Be aware of the planes in objects as I mentioned before.

Use your imagination to make the shapes you see a bit more interesting. You don't have to copy nature. Create it instead.

Whenever possible, learn to connect value shapes within the painting, creating paths for the viewer and connecting elements in the painting.

Keep studies small. It's better to do dozens of small paintings than a few large ones when you are learning. I do from 30 to 40 miniature studies each week. I learn quickly from all of these small paintings. It saves my resources for larger finished works.

Blondheim Art Original Paintings

Eggplant
Mail Art
Original Drawing with Envelope
Send original art through the mail
11.00


Purchase HERE

Art Notes Blog HERE

Linda's Annual Ebay Sale HERE


Painters Tip


More on Using Planes

Here is an exercise I use myself and give to my students.

Pictorial Depth Exercise


The simplest and most useful shape in pictorial forms of art is the plane. The surface that we work on is called the picture plane. It is also used as a way to simplify the shapes, masses and points in nature. Planes are used to create orderly parts of a painting. Planes vary from showing flat two dimensional shapes to shapes which look like they have depth. We use many shapes to achieve decorative and realistic effects of depth. Intervals and overlapping shapes can make a painting look more three dimensional. I think of a painting as shapes, and angles, like puzzle pieces. Adding sizes, colors, values, textures and contrast will make those basic shapes start to come to life.

Start your painting with simple flat shapes, laying in the major element in shapes. Use very thin paint in a wash.
You are then going to start overlapping these shapes, adding value shapes, paying attention to negative shapes as well as positive shapes. Think of the painting as shapes being placed over shapes in multiple layers. You will do no blending in this painting, but instead use stippling,long and short strokes. Leve the paint where you put it without giving in to the desire to blend. Do your mixing on the palette, not the canvas. Keep the painting clean and crisp.

Blondheim Art Original Paintings

My Ebay Sale is HERE

Art Notes Blog HERE

Painters Tip

My painters tip today comes from Michael Masterson's Newletter Early To Rise. I thought it was great advice.



How to Take Advantage of Free Publicity

By Michael Masterson

There is nothing that will help you get yourself, your company, or your products recognized better or faster than getting the news media to see you/them as news. Every day, small businesses are propelled into the local or even national spotlight thanks to some journalist or radio or TV personality.

A book I once wrote on China became a quick best-seller (and got reprinted by Rand McNally) thanks to a positive review that somehow got picked up by the media. A student of American Writers and Artists Inc. (AWAI) has a very nice side business based solely on press releases he puts out during holidays. And just think about what Oprah has done for dozens of otherwise unknown novelists.

Not everyone can take advantage of free publicity. You need to offer something new and different - or make it seem so. The secret to getting covered is to forget for a moment about yourself and your product and think about the editor/producer you are targeting. What are his readers/viewers looking for?

I used to be a media person, so I have an idea of what they want.

Imagine their lives. These people are generally young and know little or nothing about business. They are understandably pro-consumer, assuredly news hungry, and overworked.

Most of the media people you want to reach are prejudiced against press releases. Yet they keep a stack of them around... just in case. When a deadline is approaching and the stuff they've been working on has disintegrated, they turn to that despised stack of self-interested hype to see if they can find something they can use.

They don't have time to fool around reading every release carefully. It's "search and dispose" time -much like what direct-mail prospects do when they come home to a mailbox full of junk mail.

Give them a reason to see your effort as ordinary or irrelevant, and it's gone faster than a six-pack of Guinness at an Irish funeral. If they suspect your press release is self-serving, it's gone. Like this widely lampooned memo from Michael Milken's public relations staff:

"Michael Milken is often identified incorrectly in news reports because rushed copy editors or writers fall back on old cliches that gained currency through the efforts of his competitors' public relations departments many years ago. Mike (what everyone calls him) heads or works with several organizations, including the Milken Institute (an economic think tank), the National Prostate Cancer Coalition..."

Milken's PR people got a lot of press with this effort - all of it negative.

And don't believe for a second the old aphorism about all publicity's being good publicity. Bad publicity hurts.

When I write a press release, I write something that I would have used when I was a journalist - and that means something that is:

1. newsworthy

2. useful to the publication's readers

3. humble (Bragging is fatal.)

4. written well enough that it doesn't need much editing

Humor is tricky, but it can work - especially if it deflects the journalist's attention away from your promotional intent. "If this guy is making fun of himself," the journalist might think, "he can't be bad."

Here are some "rules" suggested in DM News by Steve Dubin, president of PR Works in Kingston, MA:

Make it new. Unless you make your press release sound like news, your chances of seeing it published are next to zilch.
Benefit the right reader. Nobody cares about your product/service but you... unless you point out how useful it can be to the readers you're aiming at.
Highlight the way your product/service is part of a hot trend. (Media people love trends.)
Be timely. A dating website is a hotter topic on Valentine's Day than on Veterans Day.
Highlight the irony. What is the surprise? The contrast?
Use surveys. Seemingly objective surveys can be intriguing.
Show how good you are. Journalists like do-gooders but are skeptical of them. So if you take this route, do it well.
Drop names. When David hooks up with Goliath, that's news.
Use case studies. How does your product/service help people?
One final bit of advice: Make sure you always follow up on your press releases, especially to your most important media contacts. But don't call them right before the deadline and don't harass them. Get them to think of you as someone who is helping them do their jobs, not as a pest.

[Ed. Note:

Blondheim Art Original Paintings

My Yard Final
11x14 inches
oil on linen
700.00

Purchase HERE

Art Notes Blog HERE



Painters Tip

Revisiting an alla prima painting.

I showed you this painting right off the easel en plein air a few days ago. After it dried up a bit, I did a little refinement to improve it without drastically changing it. I think paintings should be refined, if they can be improved without changing the basic format, color and structure. A stroke here and there or an adjustment in contrast or value. Perhaps a bit of addition to the composition, with changes that definitely make it a better painting, are the criteria I use.

I don't think it is wise to try to repaint it. If it's a bad painting and needs major reconstruction, it's better to sand it down and start a new painting.

Often times it's simply a matter of a bit more focus on the star of the production, or a clean up in brushwork after it has dried enough. Most of my studio corrections to alla prima take less than ten minutes.

The best judgement in correction comes after putting the painting away for a day or two, not jumping too soon to do any changes or improvements. You will be far better equipped to make good decisions after you give your eyes and brain a rest before trying to improve paintings.

Blondheim Art Original Paintings

Fall in My Yard
12x16 inches
oil on linen
800.00
Purchase HERE

Art Notes Blog HERE


Linda's Ebay Sale November 19-29, 2007


Painters Tip


More on Values

I did the above painting in my yard Friday afternoon. The scene was very simple and straightforward, with little interest other than the fiery red tree.

To give the painting drama, I focused on that tree, making the more dominant sized tree much darker than it actually was. I was ever aware of the NOTAN process of making values more dramatic than in reality. Pushing the values in the painting gives it much more pizaz than the actual scene was showing. Making most of the color fairly neutral and dark against the tree gives it far more star power than it would have had with accurate values. I also used little texture in the forward tree on the right, saving all of the sharp textural brushork for the star of the scene.

All of this takes planning. I like to think about what I want to do before I dig in to start. Where will the dominant value be in the painting? Will it be dark, light, mid value? Where will the color intensity be most evident? If I contain it and make it sing in the area of focus, leaving everything else fairly neutral, it will really be powerful.

I will leave this painting in the rotation for a few days and then go back to correct any errors.

Blondheim Art Original Paintings

River Palms
12x16 inches
oil on panel
champagne silver frame
800.00

Purchase HERE

Art Notes Blog HERE


Linda's Ebay Sale November 19-29, 2007


Painters Tip


Working with Values

I study NOTAN. One of the benefits of that process is learning to simplify values successfully. I use about five values in my work, sometimes more, sometimes less. One of the things NOTAN taught me is to emphasize one dominant value in my paintings. I try to Analise the scene and think, What is the dominant value here?

One of the exercises I like to do is the three value dominant paintings. I will do a series of light value paintings, a series of mid value paintings and a series of dark value paintings. These are the 9, 2 1/2 inch by 3 1/2 inch paintings on index paper. They are very small and I can paint them quickly. After this exploration, I am ready to start a large painting with a plan. I know where I am going with the values. Since I use a tetradic palette with the orange/blue and red/green compliments, I also know where I will be going with color.

If all this seems formulaic, it is in a way, but there is so much room for interesting accidents, my intuitive side has equal opportunity.

Blondheim Art Original Paintings

Christmas Tree
2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches
Mixed media on Index Paper

See My Paintings HERE

Art Notes Blog HERE


Linda's Annual Ebay Studio Sale November 19-29 2007



Painters Tip

Get your client's attention


The holidays give you a perfect opportunity to show off a bit and give your clients and friends a small holiday treat.

Most artists send a greeting card of one of their paintings to clients. I used to do that too each year. It's nice and I'm sure they enjoy it, but how about sending them an original piece of Mail Art? That is what I'm doing this year. I made mixed media miniatures of trees for my clients and friends this year, mounting them to mat board cut the size to fit in invitation envelopes. You can buy invitation envelopes in buff or white, at any office supply store. You don't have to send holiday themes. You can send any design or subject you please. These tiny paintings will sit on a decorative easel and they can bring them out each year for the holidays to enjoy.

I sign the back with a hand written greating in green or red ink. You can also put a small studio label on them if you wish. If I were a client, wouldn't I be more impressed by an original piece of art as a greeting instead of a reproduction? You bet!!

I use mat board scraps for the backing and markers and pins for the drawings. The cost is minimal.

These little drawings turned out so well that I decided to create a line of mail art in varous subjects to sell. I package them with an envelope and a label on the back that says:

Mail Art
Linda Blondheim Art Studio
Send Original Art
First Class Stamp

The label lets buyers know that the art is designed to be mailed.

Send your clients something special this year. Your gift will stand out!!

Blondheim Art Original Paintings

My Yard
11x14 inches
oil on panel
gold frame
700.00

Purchase HERE

Art Notes Blog HERE

Linda's Ebay Studio Sale November 19-29


Painters Tip


The painting above was heavily influenced by the NOTAN process of painting. If you want to learn something about values, I highly recommend that you study this way of painting. NOTAN means dark and light in Japanese, though there is not a literal translation. It is much more complicated than that simple definition. It is a step by step process of discovery. I've been studying the process for about 7 months but have a long way to go. It has to do with the arrangement of dark and light in your painting. Making decisions about which values will dominate the composition and so forth. I have found that it helps me simplify the way I look at a composition. It works very well with my painting style because I like contrast and very crisp values.

I have trimmed down to a five value system for quite some time. It makes painting simple for me. The NOTAN process fits me very well. However, I don't know that it will be as useful for painters who like lots of detail in their work. NOTAN tends to be mass oriented rather than detail oriented,at least for me, though of course it could be adapted to any style.

Blondheim Art Original Paintings

Fall Reflections
8x10 inches
oil on panel

See my paintings HERE

Art Notes Blog HERE


Don't forget my Ebay sale November 19-29, 2007


Painters Tip




I paint on location a lot and so I am always concerned with light in my paintings. They are high contrast and full of light. I think that is the consistency of my work, light and contrast.

Here are some elements of light:


Light Source- Where is the light on an object coming from? It can be from several sources, including direct light from the sun as well as ambient light. It can be diffused or focused, bright or dim. It's position and intensity can effect the appearance and the mood of a painting.

Highlight- The brightest point of light on an object. It is found in the middle of the lightest area and is a reflection of the source of light. It can be hard or diffused and gives a visual clue to the texture of an object. (Shiny metal will give off a different highlight than an orange)

Light Mass- This is the area of an object which receives direct light. The light mass can have variation depending on the height and angle of the light source. For instance, the sun may be showing as back lit straight up, side lit and diffused by fog, etc.

Shadow Mass- This is the part of an object that is hidden from the sun and not lighted. It can be small areas or large, depending on the shape of an object.

Cast Shadow- This is the shadow which is a result of the object being in light. The sun or light source cannot reach the area which is closest to the object away from the light source. A cast shadow is darkest close to the object and then becomes lighter as it moves away, because filtered light is reaching it.

Reflected Light- This is dim light reflected into shadows from other surfaces.

Blondheim Art Original Paintings

Lake Alice
8x10 inches
oil on panel
SOLD

See my paintings HERE

Art Notes Blog HERE



Linda's Ebay Studio Sale- November 19-29


Painters Tip

Getting ready for the Ebay Sale

You have decided on a date for the sale. The next step is to photograph all of the paintings and save the images in a folder. You will need to purchase envelopes for the paintings to fit in if they are on panels, or order boxes from the Post Office if you are selling stretched paintings. You will need to box up a painting for each size you re selling and have the PO weigh them for you to get the postage. I just use a flat rate for mine because they are all small enough to fit in a Manila envelope. Don't over charge for shipping. In fact I charge a bit less than the actual postage for some, because people are put off by high shipping fees.

Make a template for the sale paintings and you can reuse it for all of them. I always list a small miniature for a couple of weeks before the sale so I can put an announcement for the sale in my listing well in advance. You will need to send out a couple of email announcements a week or two before your sale to give people a heads up. Be sure to include all information about the sale listings in that email so people will know exactly what you are offering,how to find the listings, and the price and shipping. You could do a postal mail out with a card, but I don't because I don't want to invest a lot of capital for a sale. I always put the announcement everywhere I can that is free online. I always list all of the paintings for the same opening bid and shipping rate. It is just easier.

Before the sale you will need to get all of your promotional materials together and any packing materials that you are going to need. I like to list everything on the same day so it will all end the same day and I can pack it all up and take it all to the PO the same day if possible. I always use paypal. I always list the sale for 10 days to give people plenty of time to find the sale and bid.

I also always save the emails from buyers to use the next year. Some of them will be bad by then but many of them will still be good. Get all of your paintings, packing materials,promotional materials and put them in the same place for easy packing and sealing. Check all paintings twice to the buyer to make sure the are not mixed up. I did that once. Had to pay both parties to re-ship to each other. Not a great idea!!!

The main focus must be on promotion and getting the word out to clients, family and friends. Use good keywords like Landscape, plein air,portrait,still life,studio sale,etc. Don't use words that are cutsy, like "pink bunny", "Wow" or "Look at this". I always start my listing with Blondheim Art because people know to search with my last name or art. My listing will look like this:


Blondheim Art Studio Sale Landscapes NR

Best of luck!!

Blondheim Art Original Paintings

Florida Trail Palms
24x24 inches
oil on canvas

See my paintings HERE

Art Notes Blog HERE


Painters Tip

Why have a studio sale?

The obvious answer is to make money, but there are other good reasons too. No one stays in the same place as a painter. Hopefully we are growing in our technique, and our muse. Our style evolves over a period of a year. If you are like me, you are always involved in new study. I do hundreds of studies in small sizes. Sometimes they sell at retail and sometimes not. I also do a fair number of experiments that I am not really satisfied with, but someone else might love. In fact, some paintings sell well that I would not have expected to and others that I simply love, do not sell in the galleries.

I put all of my studies and older works in a browse bin in my studio at a reduced price. At the end of the year, I put what's left on Ebay for my annual sale, see above. The fun of an Ebay sale is that they often go for a higher price than they would have in the browse bin. Go figure!!

I think it's important to have a fresh start every year. Cleaning out the studies makes patrons happy to have affordable work and gives me space to start with the new year's work. I also think it is important to show fresh new work in galleries each year. There is something a little sad about seeing an artist's work in shows and galleries over and over that is old. I judge a few art shows each year and it is frankly, a turn off to see the same recycled work from an artist. I automatically wonder if they are growing and producing, or just painting enough paintings to show them over and over again.

Tomorrow I'll give out some suggestions to prepare for a sale.

Blondheim Art Original Paintings

See my paintings HERE

Art Notes Blog HERE


My Ebay Studio Sale starts November 19, 2007 and runs through November 29, 2007 All paintings will start at 2.99 with no reserve and 4.00 shipping.



Painters Tip


More Color Mixing

The primary triad consists of red/yellow/blue. The second group, known as the secondary triad consists of orange/green/violet. In the secondary triad the contrast is softer. This occurs because in any pair of the triad there is a common color.

Where colors appear next to each other on the color wheel, we have the shortest interval and consequently the most harmonious relationship.

This is because three or four neighboring hues always contain one common color that dominates the group. (Analogous colors)

Many well known landscape painters like the primary triad color palette. I use it myself sometimes for field painting because is is only the three primaries + white, or + white and black for tinting and toning. It definitely follows the KISS rule. The paintings are harmonious but the drawback to me is that after a while all of the paintings look alike. There are only so many possibilities with such a limited palette.

Blondheim Art Original Paintings

See my paintings HERE

Art Note Blog HERE


My Ebay Studio Sale starts November 19, 2007 and runs through November 29, 2007 All paintings will start at 2.99 with no reserve and 4.00 shipping.



Painters Tip

This is a great way to study and improve your paintings. I like to take older studies and paint them again if I like the composition or some feature of the painting. The first painting below was done about five years ago on location, not corrected or touched up.

The second painting was inspired by the first one. I changed to acrylic for the medium and did the second painting in studio with the triadic palette. Even though I liked things about the first and especially liked the composition, I wasn't entirely happy with the palette or contrast in the first painting. Studying it to paint again has improved several aspects of the original composition.

This is a wonderful way to reconsider paintings and improve on technique, both in palette choices, composition, values etc. It is also a lot of fun. You end up with a good painting, usually better than the first effort.




Original painting was in oils








Second painting was in acrylics

Blondheim Art Original Paintings

Berries
10x10
oil on paper

See my paintings HERE

Art Notes Blog HERE


Painters Tip

Using a color wheel

I'm a big color wheel fan. I don't like the boring method of doing rows and rows of swatches. I like the practical study of color, doing small paintings with various color combinations. These paintings give you a real look at color and how it can be used successfully.

Keeping your color wheel handy will allow you to decide on intensity as well. Check your mixed color against the color on the wheel. If it is duller then you will know it is less intense than the tube color. Rarely does nature have the exact color that you get from the tube. it will not usually have that intensity. Using the wheel to help you make adjustments is the easy way to decide how bright or dull you need to mix the hues you are using.

The wheel will also give you lots of possibilities and help you to harmonize your color scheme for paintings. You can avoid a lot of bad color combinations if you rely more on the color wheel to help you make these important choices.

The new palette I am using for my work was developed over a period of months, experimenting with small paintings and using my color wheel.

I use a Rectangle (tetradic) color scheme. The rectangle or tetradic color scheme uses four colors arranged into two complementary pairs. This color scheme offers a lot of possibilities for variation.
Tetradic color schemes works best if you let one color be dominant.You should also pay attention to the balance between warm and cool colors in your design. Basically what I do is make either blue or green dominate, with red and orange compliments making up the neutrals. It's working very well for me.

Blondheim Art Original Paintings

Lake Prevatt Oaks
12x16 inches
oil on panel

See my paintings HERE

Art Notes Blog HERE


Painters Tip

Composing

This is my favorite method of composing.

I like to paint the basic thirds of the painting and use the four sweet spots to decide where I will place the major elements of the painting, and where the focal point will go if I have one.






The above rule of thirds on the left shows the four sweet spots which would be most advantageous for the focal area of the painting.

You can see in the right side drawing that I have placed the focal area in the bottom left sweet spot.

At this point I would simply add in the elements like trees, homes, or figures to take advantage of these best places in the composition to draw the viewer to them. The lines are painting with a thin wash so they are easy to cover over. This also helps you avoid horizon lines in the middle of your composition.

The right side illustration is just a shortcut in the composition without drawing in all of the lines.


There are other ways to compose a painting. Some instructors form an X through the canvas with two lines, telling students to avoid the crossed lines in the center. I much prefer using the rule of thirds as a tool for good composition.

Blondheim Art Original Paintings

Aucilla River
8x10 inches
acrylic on panel

See My Paintings HERE

Art Notes Blog Here

Painters Tip



My new agent Carolyn Hufty is a smart gal. She came up with a clever idea for patrons. She takes a photo of me with my patrons and their painting. I send it to them via email if they are Internet active. If not, I print out the digital image and send it to them via postal mail. They can attach the photo to the back of the frame as a keepsake, or frame it to show friends. It's a wonderful way to preserve a fond memory of their visit to my studio.







I am going to have her do this at all of my paint out events and gallery openings too. I wish I had thought of this years ago.