My Painting Process.....I've mentioned before I paint with three primary colors...red, blue, and yellow. These colors, when blending, will create beautiful purples, oranges, and greens. I work with a reference photo which I will turn into a black and white so I can view the values better. My technique uses four values, white being one of them. I'll sketch out my subject and prepare my paints. In this painting I've decided to paint in my dark values first. Here's a larger photo so you can see the blending of values. There... finished up by adding the light values being careful to leave the white value shapes. This technique creates an abstracted realism look. Beautiful shapes and distinct values. I find my paintings show much better on the wall with a bit of distance between you and the painting. Up close its colorful with fun shapes. Look at the next completed and framed photo. There you have it! A perfect sized colorful dahlia for that wall space! I made this look really easy. This 6 inch by 9inch painting probably took me 4 hours to completion. A 22 inch by 30 inch painting may take me 30+ hours to complete. Lovin' every minute of it too! I've been working on more ideas to write about and there are so many good ones I'm not sure which will come next. Stay tuned, my friends!
Many of the paintings I have been showing are available through prints on my website and some originals are still available too. Contact me if you are interested to view or would like more information on pricing. Thank you for your support and referrals. www.patricecameronart.com Ladypatrice5@gmail.com Patrice
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Artistic Risk & Growth.....Risk. What a downer of subject material. But alas, you are reading this subject written by someone who actually enjoys constant change! Ask my husband...I'm frequently changing the dishes, moving artwork, rearranging furniture... and I've been known to move bushes in our landscape to create different looks. Yes, I like change. And then I go into the studio and you might think I'd be all over the place with my creations, but no...I'm thoughtful, directed, and open to inspirations. Perhaps loving change doesn't equate to embracing risk? Life is risky and sometimes my trials work out and sometimes they really don't. Maybe it's my reactions, post risk that are more interesting. Another story. Look here...I'll show you a success: Mid 2017 I completed this Yellowstone painting( left ) in watercolor and a realistic approach. I very much enjoyed this composition and the feeling of the painting. A summertime portrayal. In late 2018 I re painted the same composition in my new style. Whoa... a very different look and feel...more winter and abstracted in shape and color. Changing my style was a risk. Glad I took it. Didn't intend to improve on an already nice painting, but the newer style (right) took the People's Choice award in a local gallery competition. Nice validation. Always wondering...... Next week I'll show you how I paint. Will take you from the beginning to on the wall in frame, completed.
Am so grateful for all of your comments on my posts! Makes me want to keep writing :) Thank you for your continued support and referrals. www.patricecameronart.com Ladypatrice5@gmail.com Patrice The Significance of Titles.......this is pretty interesting for artists and actually helpful for art appreciators (that would be you). :) Many artists will develop the theme of their painting and create the name first. They then proceed to create, keeping their title in mind, which gives them direction and flow. Some artists will use the title to help explain the meaning of their work. And there are those who prefer to "Untitle" their paintings. Some merely use numbers. It's also important to note here that those who enjoy art do not have to define what they see or draw conclusion or understanding. Enjoying art for the visual entertainment, emotional pull, or love of color and shape is enough! Titles may give insight into what the artist was thinking when they created their art. For me...the title evolves as I work through my painting. An idea will usually start percolating and meaning is assigned. In this way, I am connected deeply to my art! My titles can capture the essence or story. These are the topics I will discuss with those viewing my art at exhibitions. Each painting is uniquely special to me, a part of me. I enjoy sharing this with potential buyers or appreciators. Lets look at the painting on the left...I have titled this "UNLIMITED POSSIBILITIES". I have many times driven by this improbable tree growing in the rock outcropping, on the Oregon Coast. This symbolizes strength through hardship and resonates deeply with me. The large urn on the right is titled, "ANNOUNCING JOY" and was painted a few days before Christmas as I anticipated the homecoming of my son, daughter-in-law, and grand dog. A lightness in my heart is expressed in this piece. "SEAS THE DAY".... Yes, a play on words but I was in Hawaii at this time and living each moment, as one does on a tropical island. Back in the studio, and while painting, the essence of that time filled me with realization that appreciating life is not saved for vacations!
Ahhh...this beauty on the right: I was exploring the antique shops in an old Oregon country town when I walked passed this deserted building. I'm blessed as an artist, to see more than what is there. The window held my fascination and within minutes I could see this new house filled with life and occupied by the generations with laughter, growth, and happiness...til present. Abandoned, but well used. I titled this painting "ANCIENT LIFETIMES". "Color Play".....I developed my present watercolor painting style back in November 2017 and determined I would obtain a cohesive color palate utilizing just three primary colors (triad)...red, blue, and yellow. They produce the secondary colors of purple and green. Sounds easy and straight forward, no? These past two years I have created some astoundingly beautiful color combinations and have also made some very yucky muddy blends too. I had the wherewithal to document every single triad combination. The plot is going to thicken a bit because I soon discovered different brands of watercolor paints produced differing results. I found this fascinating... and promise not to be a bore. Stay with me. Here are a few of my color cards for recent paintings. I staple the reference photo onto the back of the card as an easy identification of the colors for each painting. Right, are the various color combinations I've come up with. Each triad can be a blending of warm and cool colors, only warm and only cool. I have favorites but every trip to the art store, or catalog viewing, has me looking for the next perfect pigment! Let's look what pigments can do. Left, the paints I choose are not as saturated (intensely pigmented) as the painting sample on the right. When choosing, I think of what outcome I want for my painting...the painting on the left is softer like an early morning hazy day. Hey...notice the sediment-looking particles in the light blue....that is a characteristic called granulating and can be very useful for texture in paintings. Adds interest. Also interesting in the right painting is how the red paint (right upper and lower part of painting) disperses in the yellow...doing it's own thing. I love that uncontrolled nature of watercolor painting! In the forest sample on the left, the colors I chose created a brown and normally I would consider this muddy in a painting. I painted my darks first and realized this was the recipe I was stuck with, so I made the best of it by popping out pure brighter color...note the peachy oranges, golden yellows, and grey blues. What started out as a mess has become one of my favorite paintings! I'll be sure to experiment more with 'mud' in this manner. And the waterlilies....I wanted the water to augment the pureness of the lilies and went to my 'green-blue' pigment. Again, red (one of my triad colors) combined with green (complimentary colors) produces muddy color... so I chose a 'cool blue-red' to offset the greenish blue. I think it worked well. So...I don't blindly pick out colors and start painting. Working a lot with pigments and acknowledging their characteristics helps me to choose wisely and obtain the results I see in my mind. Whew.... I hope that wasn't boring. I get carried away with all this watercolor stuff!
Next week we'll be looking at a topic that has more meaning than we give credit to.... Painting Titles. I appreciate your business and referrals! Thank you, www.patricecameronart.com Patrice Art Story 2019...What I would have you to know about me is that I have always had a love affair with Art. I took art history classes just for fun, explored most mediums (adore the feel and messiness of charcoal sketching), and I knew the complexity of Watercolor Painting would keep me interested for decades. Decades later....here I am! I have been juried into several shows last year. This is kind of a big deal for us artists, as when we submit our work we are competing with hundreds of other paintings for very few exhibition openings. "CAREFREE"... (boat) was juried into the National Watercolor Society Spring Show in San Pedro, California. "WINDOW OF THE SOUL" (window) was juried into the Watercolor Society of Oregon Spring Show in Portland, Oregon. "ONE STOP SHOPPING" ( above) was juried into the Northwest Watercolor Society Fall show in Bothell, Washington. I also received my Signature Membership with this painting inclusion into the show.
"DAYS LIKE THIS" (middle) was juried and accepted into the International watercolor magazine SPLASH! I have completed my article and was told it will be published in the August 2020 edition. "BRIDGE OF LIGHT" (below) was juried into the Watercolor Society of Oregon Fall Show in Bend, Oregon. Patrice's Studio & Gallery Tour.....I'm writing in the winter so the outdoors is not as lush and serene as normal. I do love the look of winter and deciduous tree skeletons...they do add beauty to the landscape. I have always felt where I work is important to being able to let myself go freely. I need space, good light, and a modicum of tidiness. Some of you have been to my work space and gallery and I know from experience that where an artist creates is an interesting little space that adds a bit of spice into who the artist is. Here comes a little spice your way..... STUDIO This is a cozy space during cold and rainy days plus a bonus when opening the door onto the deck, next to the stream, in summer. My work station is next to the window. I like having my office here and usually spend one day per week with business management. I love painting early mornings when it's still dark out...very peaceful. My other most favorite time to paint is when it's snowing or the Autumn leaves are coming down and blowing around like crazy. That's when I take mental health breaks and silently watch. GALLERY This space is located next to my Studio. I first came up with the idea of hanging my paintings here when I started submitting my work into competitions. It was convenient for me to choose the painting and obtain measurements. At any time, I can hang around 30 paintings. I'm quite a prolific painter and not all of them make it onto the walls. I added the Hanging System once my husband taught me how to identify the studs. :) It's easy. I open my Studio & Gallery by appointment and to the public during my Open Studio. Having the paintings up for viewing allows me to tell stories about each of them and point out interesting technique areas. Let me know if you are interested in viewing the Gallery. It would be my pleasure. It's taken me some time to process everything I have done with my art last year. I think it makes a good story. Until next week!
Many thanks for all your positive feedback with my writings. Who would have thought this could be so much fun! You can order prints of my paintings on paper, canvas, or metal on my website: www.patricecameronart.com Contact me if you would be interested in originals www.ladypatrice5@gmail.com Thank You, Patrice An Artist in Today's World...Imagine a world without interesting design on buildings and bridges, parks and gardens without decorative fountains, and homes and offices without paintings, visual interpretations, or color. A world without beauty. Enter the artist.....one who is inspired to create unique visual expressions which encourages the viewer to think, feel, and engage. Communication and connection among people. Artists create...that's our similarity, but we really are a group with varied interests, practices, and goals. There will always be artists who create without the desire to share their work, and others who instruct techniques to groups while enjoying exotic locations around the world . Collectors LOVE art and hard working successful artists are appreciated by those of us emerging onto the art scene. I often remind myself, that they too, once experienced the humility I feel. The art world seems to be changing. This world cannot be compared to other professions where one works their way up the promotional ladder. Making art is a solo practice ....creatively and self promotionally. But here is where it gets interesting for us...networking and community is our super power! With their goal is in mind, the artist connects with many and follows leads. Our younger generation artists are fearless teachers, and they don't fancy protocols, the way we "seasoned" artists are likely to. They think it perfectly acceptable to email, show up unannounced or approach someone who could be helpful. And... they are obtaining results and favorable outcomes. This has been a new realization at this phase of my career and this new year I'm going to quit acting my age, and build up my confidence muscle. 2017 my painting style (left) was very realistic. I did enjoy adding background fencing and the caterpillar to this scene. That was adventurous for me back then. I continue to evolve my new abstracted realism (right) with the addition of softer edges, which is what I'll be working on this next year. Inspired progress. I appreciate all the comments I am receiving.
Thank You! www.patricecameronart.com Patrice Art in Everyday Life...what I see around me and how I perceive it...As for many, my home is the wellspring of stability that allows me to function successfully in the world. I do what is needed in an uncomplicated manner...daily routines, necessary chores and projects, with uninterrupted solo time. Walking out the door and into the world...well, life around me now takes on grand possibilities... of Art! I automatically view shapes, shadows, light, color, and of course...values in everything I see. Now, I am taking a risk and admitting to states of mind that may or may not exist outside of my own, but, I've shown up with a thought to share, so here it is.... As I view objects around me, my brain seems to become hyper aware of potential, relating to composition, or perhaps negative and geometric shapes. Eye candy for artists. Watching people is magical for me; body movements extending or arching, as a dancer, or peculiar; in fascinating ways. (One day I'll focus on the essence of movements in my paintings.) Emotions bubble up as I view and anticipate realistic abstractions,...which is how I paint. All this can be taken in as I walk through the grocery store parking lot or stand in line at the bank, noticing characteristics of business furniture. Here are some every day inspirations: Here I am, minding my own business, when I walk into a room and find myself standing right in front of these incredible shadows with delightful circular and linear shapes! This painting just HAD to happen! I'm in Hawaii. (Not Oregon...you can tell by the sunshine and shadows! Ha.) My point is that I'm on a tropical island surrounded by tropical-ness, unique birdsong, sweet floral smells and lovely visual delights, but my eyes pick up on these linear shapes, depth, and shadow play of these ordinary chairs. Ordinary or not... they found their way onto my painting desk. And here's another vision of interest during a lakeside hike. I think most would agree to liking the reflections, but I rather fancy this upside down portrayal. What do you think?
By the way... I turn all my photos into black and white versions to focus on the values, the lights, mid tones, and darks. I have received wonderful feedback from my weekly art newsletters this past November and December and have decided to continue throughout the new year. Thank you all for that! Next week I'll be discussing what it's like to be an artist in today's world. I appreciate your business and referrals. View more of my paintings or past Blogs at: www.patricecameronart.com Patrice Evolution of an Artist #6...Inspired CreativityOne day I started thinking different thoughts. And that changed everything for me. My realism watercolor paintings were consistently juried into shows, winning awards, and selling. Three years ago I sat alone, relaxed, and let my mind wander. A basic element of art surfaced...values...and I sat with that, without reason. Then color arrived, the three primaries, in particular. An idea then started percolating... of blending the primary colors according to values. And then it was gone, like ideas do. But I kept pulling the thoughts back to me, devising practical ways of doing that. I woke early and went into the studio and created this first painting: Three primary colors: red, yellow, and blue. Four dark to light values (including white), and shapes. This is my husband, Bill. When I showed him, his first comment was, "Why didn't you fix the bags under my eyes?" Sheesh...I'm only an artist! Notice the temperature of these two paintings. I used warm red and yellow pigments on the boat which produced a warm painting. The ocean scene is cooler because I chose a cool blue, red, and yellow. Am working with color combinations...some are beautiful and I have a list of those that do not work well and produce muddy colors. The trees and stream on the left was a busy undertaking but I loved those bare trees and went for it. Helps to work large with a subject this complicated. The ocean rock and tree is smaller and simple. That was another huge lesson...no matter how expertly I sketched and painted...if I had a busy subject on a smaller paper it didn't read well.
What next? The addition of soft edges. Another element of art and one I desire to master with this technique to take my paintings up to the next level. Hope you have enjoyed my writings and art. Have a wonderful holiday season and watch for more paintings in 2020. Keep me in mind should you have an empty wall in your home or business. I appreciate your business and referrals. Patrice www.patricecameronart.com Evolving As an Artist #5...Art and Meaning... One nice day, and for no apparent reason, I parked outside the nearby Skyline hilltop cemetery and walked among the old tall trees and equally old and ornate monuments. They were fascinating and beautiful to me and I noticed many similarities among dozens of headstones and sculptures. Plants, flowers, angels, doves, and animals, were some of many. Symbology and art forms...also known as Stories in Stone. I was intrigued and began my inquiry into monuments, sculpture, and communication. Around this same time I had been exploring properties of pigments, especially how I could "lift" or remove paint off the paper and obtain a lighter value. This works well with non staining pigments. I sketched out my subject then poured paint onto the paper and let it dry. I then took a wet brush and began lifting paint off to get this result! Check out my paintings to see how I combined my dual interests: Art and Meaning.
It's Subjective. Yet examining those monuments I knew the symbols portrayed love and loss. Symbols are powerful, as are paintings, music, theater, and sculpture. They are appreciated for beauty, memory, longing, happiness and other emotions. Both represent a concept or underlying meaning, or quality. I enjoyed this facet of my progress and exhibited my paintings focusing on art and symbolism. One day my son asked me, "When are you going to be done with this phase?" Not for everyone, I guess. Next week I'll be discussing my present work. Many of you have followed me for years and some are new to how I created and achieve this technique, and where I am taking it. Thank you for your continued interest, Patrice www.patricecameronart.com |
AuthorHi...I'm Patrice... an oil and acrylic painter who writes, and enjoys sharing how I create and think. Archives
March 2024
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