Fridays in France: Versailles with Puns Intended

My life in Miami, Florida already includes a Versailles. It is not the palace in Paris, France, but THE Cuban food (palace?) restaurant in town. When Mama and I want a good meal that is bueno, bonito, y barato (good, pretty, and cheap), we visit Versailles. We know we are going to enjoy comfort and an interestingly diverse crowd of people. 

The real Versailles in France has been visited much more than the restaurant, but not by me. The first visit was in 1987 and the second was 1992. Am now learning that what tourists see of Versailles is but a small fraction of delights to see and experience.

Just another reason to spend FOUR weeks in Paris, France: to be at Versailles for an entire day of exploration that tourists do not get. A day of drawing, walking, and collecting patterns off the palace's wallpaper walls! Here's the quick list of what I learned:

1. There are cafes on the grounds for rest and food.

2. Tickets can be bought outside of Versailles so you can save yourself a very long line to get one.

3. Bike rentals are available to view the gardens.

4. The garden's water fountains have shows during the summer, through September and October. 

5. The website for Versailles if chock full of goodies or buy a book upon arrival for a self guided tour.

How did I learn these things about Versailles? Cynthia Morris of the Curious Excursion spent a bit of time putting together a guide for those of joining her adventure. When that much effort is made, I pay attention. One of Cynthia's tidbits was of her friend Heather's Secrets of Paris website. Super site, and got the freebie guide on Versailles that helped with this Fridays in France post. 

Smiles,  Angeline Marie of 
Angeline Marie Fine Art
Facebook Page for Angeline Marie Fine Art
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About Acrylic Paint by ArtTalk.com

I subscribe to ARTtalk ArtPourri Tips, and they had a wonderful article about acrylic paint, which is one of my favorite media. The author so very well describes the versatility of acrylics, that I had to share the article. So many reasons to love acrylic paints, with a brief history. 


For original posting of this article, please click this sentence or search ARTtalk Art PourriTips.

Acrylic paints are some of the most versatile and popular art materials for contemporary artists.  They offer so many positive attributes: fast drying time, water cleanup, huge color selections right from the tube (including metallics and texturals), multiple surface preparations for both before and after painting, brushes and other tools to work with, wild creativity, plus a modern history that includes space-age polymer elements.  What more could you ask?

Egyptian ©2007 Angeline Marie, acrylics &
mixed media on recycled hurricane board, 12x16 in.

Acrylic paint was first discovered in the late 1940’s.  In its original state, it was formulated as house paint, but artists began to use it because it dried quickly and offered qualities that oil did not.  Whether rolled on or brushed, the paint was more permanent and impervious to water damage.  That opened lots of new areas of artistic application.

As more and more creative persons used the paints, demands for higher quality pigments and mixes were made.  Several companies that had previously manufactured only oil paints began to enter the market with acrylics.  Today there are many manufacturers, both domestic and foreign, that make acrylic paints.  Any artist has a huge field from which to select the perfect texture, pigmentation and formulation.

Permanence of the surface of an acrylic painting is created by the nature of the material.  Acrylic paints are formulated in combination with a binder that is water based and evaporates after the paint is applied.  This evaporation process bonds the “plates” of color together into a near-plastic surface.  It is far more flexible, stronger and fades less than oil.

Considering the fact that no art material is totally inert, one should exercise care and avoid prolonged contact with acrylic paint, just like oil.  But, having said that and considering the ease of cleanup (water with mild soap), there are huge advantages to using acrylics. No petroleum/solvent contact is a huge leap towards a healthier studio environment.

While the same brushes can be used for either oil or acrylic, those designed strictly for acrylic work do best with acrylic application.  They hold and flow the pigment with certainty.  Their shapes and designs offer great variety of line and stroke application.  When cleaned properly, they will last a very long time.  But one caveat is that you absolutely must clean brushes after painting.  Once set up, the paint is almost impossible to remove.  Accidents, if caught early enough, can be cleaned with regular alcohol, but this does not include completely dry acrylic paints.

A good product for cleaning, preserving and restoring brushes is General Pencil Company’s “The Masters” Brush Cleaner.  This removes oils, acrylics, watercolors, stains and varnishes and helps prevent paint buildup in the ferrule.  It also prevents the hardening and build-up so common with today’s acrylic paints.  “The Masters” also conditions and preserves your brushes to keep them like new. See your retailer and visitwww.generalpencil.com.

Along with a selection of brushes, an acrylic artist might want to consider using some of the soft rubber, wedge- shaped tools for forming, slicing and incising the wet, malleable paint on the surface of paintings.  Sharp-edged designs, scribing and such can be easily done with these tools.

Many artists are taught painting with the understanding that it is somehow cheating or improper to use color straight from the tube or jar.  With acrylics and the choices of color you have, it is almost improper not to use paint directly from the tube.  Why not?  If the color needs some enhancement – make it and you will be that much closer to the result you want.  Jar paint consistency is usually thinner than tube colors.  For muralists and knife painters jar paints offer the exact texture they need.

The surface upon which an artist paints makes a huge difference in the completed work.  There are lots of materials to surface your ground when working in acrylics:  pumice, granular mixes, metallic powder additions and modeling pastes.  It is this variety of surface possibilities that adds to the overall acrylic experience.

Painters can use acrylics in a number of dilutions, depending on the effect they seek.  Water added to pigment will yield a nice wash or watercolor effect.  Thick, creamy pigment can be manipulated with a palette knife to yield delicious textures and dimensions.  Dry brush spot application can add drama to edges, ellipses or light concentrations.

Surface coatings range from matte to high gloss, so you can create or alter for any topical finish you want.  Liquid and thick, jar style coatings are used also for mediums.  Again, this is a versatility few other media offer.

Is there a favorite media you have, and why? If you are a writer, how do you prefer to create your stories, with pencil, on a typewriter or computer? What is your favorite way of being creative?


Watch for Fridays in France....
Smiles, 
Angeline Marie of 
Angeline Marie Fine Art
Facebook Page for Angeline Marie Fine Art
Curious about marketing for creatives and artists? Check out ArtBizCoach.com by clicking on this sentence!

Rules of Composition by Guest Jason Eldridge

Guest Author: Jason Eldridge of Eldridge Studios wants to make it known that he is a photographer and not a painter.  It is important to make that distinction because of the difference in how the art is created.  There are however, aspects of photography that can benefit from the painted art.  Painting has been around for more than a millennial where as photography not quite two centuries.  Yet, many photographers forget that the word itself means “painting” with light.  While every aspect of painting does not transfer to photography there is a great deal that does.  

Every good painting has a subject. Not only does it have a subject but your eye is drawn to that subject by elements within.  One fundamental rule you should commit to memory is that the human eye is drawn to the lightest part of the image (or painting) first. 

Leading Lines:  These are items within the painting or photograph that “lead” your eyes directly to the subject.

Elements Within

There are some effective ways of drawing attention to your subject.  Here is a quick list of what paintings can teach you about photography:

Technique:  When you look at a painting that is technically sound you see the artist’s vision not the individual brush strokes.  Now, as you study the image the method used to create the painting will be discovered but your initial thought of the art work isn’t “I wonder what kind of brush they used”. 

In photography the Exposure Value can have the same effect.  You want people to see the image not some areas that are blown out or are too dark.  You have to understand the technical aspects of photography in order properly show your artistic vision. Watch out for blown out highlights around the edges of the frame. If you are going for a blown out look it may be effective but if that is not your intent it can be very distracting.

Leading Lines:  These are items within the painting or photograph that “lead” your eyes directly to the subject.

Sharp Eyes: If you are photographing (or painting) people or animals it is vital to keep the eyes sharp. If the eyes are not sharp the viewer will instantly know and this does not always provoke a positive response.  Why? Because our eyes are instantly drawn to the eyes of other creatures. It is just the way we as humans are designed.

Rule of Thirds: Using the rule of thirds helps to improve your overall photograph or painting but it also acts as a draw to the subject (provided the subject is defined). Again, you should not always use this rule for every photograph or painting but you will find it effective most of the time. Make sure that you understand the rule before you break it.

Depth of Field: This is a fantastic method of drawing the eye. If you have a very shallow depth of field (sharp subject with an out-of-focus background) then the area behind the subject does not cause your eyes to become distracted.

Whether you are a painter or a photographer you are an artist.  Think like an artist and your work will show.

Jason is a photographer who captures light, nature, and people with pizazz and joy. For more about him and his photographic adventures, please visit his website by clicking on his website link Eldridge Studios.

Smiles, 
Angeline Marie of 
Angeline Marie Fine Art
Facebook Page for Angeline Marie Fine Art

Encaustic Workshop! More about beeswax

Beeswax Candles

Beeswax is the only fuel known to science that releases a negative ion as it burns. Negative ions are proven to eliminate dust, pollen, mold, smoke, food odor, and pet dander as well as airborne germs and bacteria. These ions are nature's way of cleaning up man's pollution.

Beeswax has no soot. Beeswax burns very slowly. Although the cost may seem higher, in the long run the candles are much more economical.

The beeswax flame is much more brilliant and will enhance any spiritual experience. Its positive vibration will charm and illuminate, bringing heightened connection, awareness, and positive energy to any gathering or meditative experience.

Contact Heather Hennick if you wish to purchase beeswax candles. She can be contacted at info@partyzazz.com and her work can be seen at

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/healing-journey-heather-hennick.html

To join the Encaustic Workshop, please contact me. For more information about it, please see previous blog posts.

Smiles,

Angeline-Marie

www.angelinemarie.net

ammtz2008@gmail.com

Encaustic Workshop! About Bees & Beeswax

This blog post is brought to you by encaustic artist Heather Hennick. She shared this brief history and a few facts with me for this blog.

Beeswax was first used in ship painting by the Greeks 4000 years ago. The Egyptians used it to paint the mummy portraits and tomb paintings.

Beeswax can be traced back to the "higher power:" the significance that it contains the nectars of the Gods. There are many spiritual teachings related to bees. One is that they are servants gods as they contribute to the pollinating that enables plants to bring forth the fruits as food for every living thing on earth. 

Bees will travel over 50,000 miles and pollinate over 2 million flowers to generate 1/4 pound of pure beeswax. The sweet aroma is the essence of 10,000 flowers. The yellow color is attributed to the color of pollen. 

Tinting of colors in the beeswax can be done from natural pigments as found in oil paints. 

Encaustic means "to burn" or "heat into." 

Beeswax does not grow mold or mildew or fade in color. It is a natural adhesive. What was red 4,000 years ago will stay red 4,000 years later. 

Beeswax does get a slight film called "bloom" after sitting for a few months, but it just needs to be lightly buffed.

Beeswax art or wax can be kept forever. 

Remember, the Encaustic Workshop is Saturday, December 19th, 2009 from 1 pm to 4 pm. 

Limit 10 students. For more information, please visit the blog posts titled "Encaustic Workshop!"

Smiles!

Angeline-Marie

www.angelinemarie.net

Bed Pieces Project 4

Today I've spent a few hours in my studio with the bed pieces & have become very scared and fascinated. Scared because I want & crave my client to love these paintings. Fascinated because my colors (palette) seem to be changing again to what perhaps she does not prefer.

My client wants sunset/sunrise with a lot of green palm trees. Lucky me, I enjoy painting palm trees, but they are not always green. Visit my webpage, www.angelinemarie.net, and you will see what I mean after you click on the header link to "Palm Trees."

Green. I painted in the sunrise. WOW. HOT, BOLD, FUN, FRESH, POPPING COLOR! Florida! I love this gushy, YUMMY color! Whoa, now, my client wants green. Where did the green go? I don't care about the green - I love the sunrise effects! Grumble, grumble, ok, I will tone down the sunrise & paint in the palm trees greener again. This, friends, is the palette change.

My "Second Mom" unexpectedly passed away in January, 2007. Shortly thereafter, not even a week later, my colors abruptly changed to moody, tonal, and somber. The bright colors seemed to have left with her, no matter what wet paint I poured onto my palette. The colors would mix into darker and sadder tones although my energy remained. I digress from the project...but now that it's August, 2009, it seems that the brightness wants to return!

Did it have to happen in the middle of this project?????!!!!!!!!

Standby this weekend for more adventures while I laugh until my sides hurt,

Angeline Marie

www.angelinemarie.net