The Artist's Magazine favicon.ico 2009-11-06T15:04:22.1708796-05:00 F+W Publications, Inc. Blog http://artistsblog.artistsnetwork.com/ DasBlog Drawing or painting? http://artistsblog.artistsnetwork.com/PermaLink,guid,3b8fe08a-5a2e-4fd7-a449-03f62b8c1327.aspx 2009-11-06T15:03:36.7500000-05:00 2009-11-06T15:04:22.1708796-05:00


What defines a drawing versus a painting? How do you classify one from the other?  Can we always distinguish between the two? People have been debating this question for years. Obviously, the two are interconnected, and both can be very expressive forms of art. Some artists love the process of drawing, others love the painting process, and there are parts of both that appeal to many artists. For me, drawing is a little more spontaneous and looser; painting takes more planning and decisionmaking. This past week, I found a happy medium using a process that mixes the two.

I confess, not all of my drawings (or paintings) turn out to be exactly how I envision. When good drawings go bad, I find that stopping is a good solution. But sometimes an errant drawing can become the basis for taking a piece in a totally different direction. This drawing started out as a portrait of a woman’s face, but the features weren't as well-drawn as I wanted, so I decided to turn it into a mixed-media piece.

On top of the drawing I randomly applied a thin layer of colored gesso. On top of the dry gesso, I redrew a new figure using conté crayon. I used oil pastels to accent the figure, and graphite and more conté to add darks to the composition. In some places, I blended the conté and oil pastel using a paper stump, and then etched into it with a metal palette knife. Working on a drawing that I already considered ruined allowed me to engage in a liberating, discover-as-I-go process. The drawing has taken on a more painterly feeling with a definite drawing edge, so for me it was win-win. Next time a drawing isn’t going the way you want, take a chance and mix it up by adding some other mediums. You might be pleased with the results.

Recommended reading for the creative mind:


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Tip file: Paint the eyes first http://artistsblog.artistsnetwork.com/PermaLink,guid,f558a17d-0390-472f-ba4e-a38238b74080.aspx 2009-11-05T10:22:18.1580000-05:00 2009-11-05T10:22:18.1589850-05:00
From Ron Tirpak, in the December 1989 issue of The Artist's Magazine:
The eyes are the most crucial element, so I develop them almost fully before painting the rest of the portrait. If they're not right, the entire painting won't be right.
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Are you a Very Important Painter? http://artistsblog.artistsnetwork.com/PermaLink,guid,3d6d910a-4a80-45df-9bfc-5c8fdb3b411c.aspx 2009-11-04T09:27:46.6700000-05:00 2009-11-04T09:27:46.6709214-05:00
Z8130.jpg If you're a fan of our fine art magazines and books (and I know you're already a fan of The Artist's Magazine), you're going to want to hear about a new deal we just put together. The North Light VIP (Very Important Painter) program gives you access to free content and gifts, as well as regular savings on all the art-inspiring books, magazines and digital materials you might need to support your passion. Here's how it works:

With a $49.99 one-year membership, you get:
If you're a frequent buyer of art books (and if you're planning on getting gifts for your artist friends this year) you're going to save a lot of cash. Click here to see the complete program details.

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Get kids interested in drawing http://artistsblog.artistsnetwork.com/PermaLink,guid,068b1f7b-0d70-47da-afac-7652e7b472ce.aspx 2009-11-03T12:07:42.8190000-05:00 2009-11-03T12:07:42.8190804-05:00
Little kids are natural-born artists. If you provide them with the right materials, they'll draw anywhere—at restaurants, in the car, anywhere.

One of the best ways to get your kids interested in drawing is to show them how to draw something they love, such as their own favorite pet—it might be puppies and kittens, or other little critters such as ducklings and chicks, bunnies and mice, lambs and fawns.

All of these and more are included in Jane Maday's new book, Draw Baby Animals. While this isn't a drawing book specifically for children, it does have easy step-by-steps and simple diagrams adults can use to teach kids how to draw their favorite baby animals. And the materials are minimal—regular graphite pencils and an assortment of colored pencils are all you'll need.

Here's a great holiday gift idea for the kids in your life: Create your own drawing kit by combining the book and some pencils and paper to help your budding artist get inspired. They'll soon discover the sheer pleasure and fun of drawing their own beloved pets!
—Kathy K.
Editor, North Light Books

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Advice for entering art competitions http://artistsblog.artistsnetwork.com/PermaLink,guid,8db5bcdc-0595-405a-aa0c-95f84bf09960.aspx 2009-11-02T15:46:40.0790000-05:00 2009-11-02T15:46:40.0797096-05:00


That's Kelly, Maureen and Jen hard at work preparing tomorrow's seminar, Entering Art Competitions: Enhance Your Chance of Success. If you're experiencing some deja vu, yes, we have actually offered this seminar before. It was such a hit that we had to bring it back! These ladies will discuss:
  • How to read the rules and abide by them
  • What the choice of jurors can tell you about a show
  • How to choose works to make a strong, quick impression
  • How the jurying process works
  • What makes jurors see red
  • How to act at the opening or during an interview once you get in a show or win a contest
You can listen live and ask questions tomorrow (Tuesday, Nov. 3) at 1 p.m. EST. Click here to register!

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Meet the American Impressionist Society's big winner http://artistsblog.artistsnetwork.com/PermaLink,guid,fdd6cd42-48ff-4778-9a9c-7e40fe815142.aspx 2009-11-02T09:00:29.3960000-05:00 2009-11-02T09:02:43.2364662-05:00
Oregon-based painter Mitch Baird was surprised to hear the good news when we called him. At the American Impressionist Society show held at Saks Galleries in Denver, he won not just one but two top awards for his painting Morning Ensigns, Italy (oil, 16x12): Best of Show (selected by Quang Ho) and Southwest Art’s Award of Excellence.

For the past few years, Mitch says, he's usually entered landscapes in contests. But this time he decided to take a chance and enter something a little different with a figure in it. The inspiration for the piece originated from a trip to Venice two years ago, he says. "I was actually up one morning early on my way to San Marcos Square to get reference photos and paint the area before the crowds showed up. I turned onto this particular street looking into the light, and the Italian flags were lit up like firecrackers! I had walked this street before, but in this light and with the missing crowds it was something special. Because of light and perspective, I felt it might make an impression or add variety to the show."

Mitch was right. In the future, he plans to paint more figurative works, he says. Read more about Mitch Baird in Southwest Art's January issue, where he's featured in our Artist to Watch column.
—Bonnie Gangelhoff

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The Value of Value http://artistsblog.artistsnetwork.com/PermaLink,guid,c3e65dab-0717-4019-a6c0-c38c4431219d.aspx 2009-10-30T09:39:25.3680000-04:00 2009-10-30T09:39:25.3681176-04:00
One of the most beautiful aspects of using graphite is the range of values you can achieve within a single drawing. Dangerous darks, ethereal lights and every value in between—obtained just by varying the pressure on the pencil or graphite stick. This range of values has attracted artists for centuries and keeps pencils in the hands of modern artists. As wonderful as a traditional pencil is, sometimes I like to use graphite that comes in a water-soluble version. This week's drawing was done using a water-soluble graphite pencil.

The drawing of the figure has a loose, quick feel to it—and it should because I completed it in about 10 minutes. The process was pretty simple: draw, shade and brush water over the parts I wanted to have a looser feeling. The washes make the drawing more interesting and provide a contemporary approach to the medium. It has a feeling similar to watercolor, but the graphite washes provide a different sensibility and surface quality. I love how the graphite can become fluid; I was even able to pick up enough liquid graphite with the brush to splatter some across the paper to add texture and another value to the paper. The value ranges are subtle, which adds some moodiness to the drawing that compliments the relaxed pose of the figure. This is a great way to experiment with graphite and stretch your drawing muscles.

Check out these great books to learn more about drawing:

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Tip file: Paint for light http://artistsblog.artistsnetwork.com/PermaLink,guid,7da30777-9618-43a3-bc71-d8ec83420867.aspx 2009-10-29T09:31:32.0360000-04:00 2009-10-30T09:31:32.0364852-04:00
From Michael Brady, in the January 1998 issue of The Artist's Magazine:
When mixing your oils, keep in mind that you're not painting color, but light and its effects. For example, you wouldn't paint the illusion of a red chair the same way that you'd paint a chair red. Instead, you paint the chair as light affects it—in shadow areas, it may become violet, and the highlights may appear more orange.
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What's new in art education http://artistsblog.artistsnetwork.com/PermaLink,guid,2340a6fa-49cb-450e-9f35-3500c375f803.aspx 2009-10-27T14:21:47.5250000-04:00 2009-10-27T14:21:47.5258218-04:00
You know me as Jen from Jen's Picks, and as the new Online Education Manager here at Artists Network, my main goal is to give you what you need to grow artistically. Here's what's new in my world!

Our Artist's Network Online Seminars are a great way to learn about art from the comfort of your own home. Each seminar is presented by an expert in the field who guides you through an hour-long discussion of your favorite art topics. In our next seminar Nov. 3, The Artists Magazine's Maureen Bloomfield pairs up with Watercolor Artist's Kelly Kane to help you make a strong, positive impression on judges when entering art competitions. Learn more about Entering Art Competitions here.

ArtistsNetwork.TV's streaming, downloadable and DVD art classes are like having a one-on-one in-studio session with a professional artist. This month we filmed Sterling Edwards, and I am amazed at how just by watching him paint, right there in front of me, I now find luminous watercolors actually doable and fun. And, I've got to get my hands on some encaustic materials—once you watch our latest production, Encaustic Techniques with Patricia Baldwin Seggebruch, you'll be itching to melt wax, too.

—Jen Lepore
Online education manager


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Hot new book on New Mexico artists http://artistsblog.artistsnetwork.com/PermaLink,guid,8e7fe8f0-d358-4d12-b7f2-da024921738b.aspx 2009-10-26T09:10:11.3140000-04:00 2009-10-26T09:10:11.3145875-04:00


Cover art: At the Loneliest Moment of an Afternoon by Pauline Ziegen (oil, 60x48)

The first snow of the season dusted the yards and downtown streets of Boulder this week. And while the air outside my office has taken on a definite winter chill, inside Art Journey New Mexico has also arrived and warmed my desk with the fiery orange landscape on its cover. The 224-page coffee table book features works by 104 of the state's top artists, brought together by the editors of The Collectors Guide, a sister publication to Southwest Art and The Artist's Magazine.

Flipping through the pages serves as a reminder of the rich, multicultural influences and imaginations that thrive and drive the state’s reputation as a fertile nesting ground for artists. And interspersed with these treats are works by artists originally from New Mexico and a cadre who've come from other places seeking a creative place to call home. As a group, the artists vary widely in style from the chiaroscuro realism of the old masters to colorful abstraction. But the traditional mixes with the edgy to offer readers a delicious slice of the New Mexico art scene.

And for readers hungry to experience a sense of place there are adobe churches, pueblos, burrito stands, sizzling sunsets and nature's famous color palette that brushes the small towns and cities. Expect to see brilliant yellow aspen trees, purple streaked skies and the wild red poppies that pepper the state's roadsides. Residents may grow weary of hearing their state dubbed The Land of Enchantment, but when it comes to art, this southwestern oasis really is quite enchanting.
—Bonnie Gangelhoff


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What drawings can do that paintings can't http://artistsblog.artistsnetwork.com/PermaLink,guid,a48f0341-7508-4278-845b-41facb5e68ab.aspx 2009-10-23T10:52:48.1850000-04:00 2009-10-23T10:52:48.1855697-04:00
Last week, instead of spending time on my own drawing, I got to see the work of several talented artists while in Scottsdale, AZ. Among other things, I was there to attend the Scottsdale Gallery Association's monthly Art Walk. Art walks are a great way for the arts community and art lovers to come together by opening gallery doors for an evening, and I saw some amazing art.

One of the highlights of my trip was the 1st Annual Scottsdale Drawing Event. So many collectors focus on paintings that drawings are often an overlooked art form. Many of the drawings were completed in conjunction with oil paintings. It was astounding to see the same image, one in black and white, the other in full color; each a complete work on its own with a different intensity.

I found it fun to find the slight variations between the works as the composition was altered to best suit the artists' intention and medium. All the work was great, but sometimes I actually liked the drawings better. Drawing has a direct connection to the subject that's not always present in paintings. I think it's the mark-making that only dry media create—each line, hash-mark or smudge echoing the movement of the hand across the paper. You be the judge: Check out this gallery of drawings from the show.

Improve your own drawing skills with these books:


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Tip file: Don't clean those dirty palettes http://artistsblog.artistsnetwork.com/PermaLink,guid,9eaaca98-9d3a-45cb-ad28-16489ed2bbb3.aspx 2009-10-22T09:13:13.3150000-04:00 2009-10-22T09:17:04.9502045-04:00

Photo by Oliver Beattie

From Earl Lewis, in the February 1993 issue of The Artist's Magazine:
I rarely, if ever, clean my watercolor palettes. I simply purchase new ones. I discovered that a dirty palette is a virtual treasure trove of fascinating colors. So many colors are already mixed that I often find just the color I'm looking for in the edge of a well on one of my palettes.
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Art news bits and bobs http://artistsblog.artistsnetwork.com/PermaLink,guid,dbfeeec3-d80a-47f5-b96c-ca9c224bcbcb.aspx 2009-10-21T14:33:02.4680000-04:00 2009-10-21T14:33:02.4680813-04:00


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Sketching children from life http://artistsblog.artistsnetwork.com/PermaLink,guid,17346b26-9a8c-400a-958f-52fa484ea533.aspx 2009-10-20T13:55:52.8610000-04:00 2009-10-20T13:55:52.8616867-04:00
Capturing the personality and inner life of a child in a portrait can be challenging, and sometimes reference photos just won't cut it. Read on for award-winning artist and author Victoria Lisi's tips for sketching from life:


If you have an opportunity to sketch the child, you can record details, impressions and characteristics that a camera would miss. There is a big difference between a photo and a living, breathing child! What sort of personality does she have? Shy? Bold? Impish? Artistic? These qualities will be more obvious as you sketch and interact and will add to your work.

One of my students brought his baby to class one day, and I took the opportunity to demonstrate drawing from life to my students. The baby hadn’t learned to crawl yet and was quite content to sit on a blanket gazing about, talking baby talk. I tried to capture his easy-going, happy personality in these quick sketches. A photograph could not have conveyed his disposition as well as these sketches based on life observation.
To learn more about drawing and painting children, check out Victoria's book Vibrant Children's Portraits: Painting Beautiful Hair and Skin Tones With Oils, available in January 2010.
—Mary Bostic
Associate editor, North Light Books

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Get a sneak peek at our Annual Art Competition winners! http://artistsblog.artistsnetwork.com/PermaLink,guid,a8433b73-bdd4-4a2b-903f-9e401952bc4a.aspx 2009-10-19T10:25:48.3780000-04:00 2009-10-19T10:25:48.3781789-04:00
In this latest edition of Artists Network News, you can see the first-place winners of The Artist's Magazine's Annual Art Competition. All the winners and runners-up will be revealed in the December issue, on sale Nov. 10!



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Southwest Art announces 21 Over 31 winners http://artistsblog.artistsnetwork.com/PermaLink,guid,eb8ca7c6-fa05-4886-a428-ae7a3dec3a2f.aspx 2009-10-19T09:10:21.5400000-04:00 2009-10-19T09:10:21.5409439-04:00

Liza 1 (oil, 34x60) by Francois Chartier

Monkeys, buddhas, potatoes and tanker trucks. Welcome to the November issue of Southwest Art, which hits newsstands across the country soon and features the winners of our 21 Over 31 competition. Here's a sneak preview and a little backstory.

The editors awarded first prize to North Carolinian Joshua Flint for Edge of Forever, a moody, slice-of-life depiction of Grand Central Station. While we were producing the issue, Josh's father passed away. Sadly, he never got the chance to tell his dad the piece also made it onto the cover. A few weeks ago, Josh told us that when he was growing up his father subscribed to Southwest Art and it was always on the family's coffee table. He recalled how his dad loved the West and romanticized the cowboy way of life. "Your publication being in our household and his tremendous support are certainly a few of the reasons why I am an artist today," Josh says. "The seed was planted long ago, whether I realized it or not. I know he would have been ecstatic seeing my work on the cover and it would have made him very proud. Even though he is not here, I imagine he is somewhere boasting about me."


A Song for Solanum (pastel, 18x24) by Brian Burt

Canadian Francois Chartier took home second prize for Liza 1 (top), a glistening portrayal of a swimmer torpedoing through a pool. And then there's the one that always makes me smile—A Song for Solanum (above) by Ohio artist Brian Burt (who's also garnered some notice from The Artist's Magazine and The Pastel Journal). In this still life, Mr. Potato Head eyes another potato while wielding a peeler. There's a recipe for mashed potatoes looming ominously in the background.
—Bonnie Gangelhoff

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Integrate your figures in simple compositions http://artistsblog.artistsnetwork.com/PermaLink,guid,05082dcb-5b8e-4d7c-8f67-7436219fbec9.aspx 2009-10-15T17:12:00.9820000-04:00 2009-10-14T17:12:00.9820219-04:00
Drawing figures is a lot of fun because the human body can has an infinite number of poses. Even better is taking an ordinary pose and placing it on an interesting surface. This type of drawing forces my brain to find visual solutions while creating interesting compositions. The ground automatically energizes the drawing because the space has been broken up for me. What a great shortcut!

I created this surface using a 9x12 sheet of red drawing paper and a piece of paper from an old book. The printed paper has a lot of cotton in it, so it’s very soft and takes adhesives well. When placing the collage together, I made sure the proportions were irregular—this is key to making the composition work. If the composition is broken into perfect halves or thirds, the space will be divided too evenly. Sometimes symmetry is great, but I find irregularity much more interesting. When placing the figure, I anticipated how it would impact the overall composition. I was careful to place the figure so the proportions interacted with the collage at irregular intervals.

This composition has only four values, and three of them are in large masses, which gives the composition a more graphic feeling. The large blocks or red, taupe and off-white divide the space and create the setting for the figure. The black adds the detail needed to balance out the large masses of value and defines the figure and the space. There’s a lot of contrast in this drawing, and the drawing is well executed and works as a focal point. In this case the figure almost becomes secondary to the composition, but I think that’s OK, because the rest of the composition holds the viewer’s attention. I also like the contrast between the rectilinear shapes of the collage and the windows balancing the softer lines of the figure.

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Tip file: Lots of pockets http://artistsblog.artistsnetwork.com/PermaLink,guid,66bc9d8b-6d32-409c-b4cc-1ced79cf7aec.aspx 2009-10-14T12:21:51.5100000-04:00 2009-10-14T12:21:51.5108683-04:00
From Kiel Stuart in the March 1986 issue of The Artist's Magazine:
The outdoor sketcher's best friend just might be a fisherman's vest. This multi-pocketed garment will hold pens, pencils, brushes, a small box of watercolors, oils, acrylics or pastels and even a small canteen. The fancier models boast a zip-on pouch that will hold an 8x10-inch pad. Best of all, a vest will leave your hands free; you literally wear your sketching gear.
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Forget Bed, Bath and Beyond: Register for Art http://artistsblog.artistsnetwork.com/PermaLink,guid,216c3042-4840-428d-88ce-7dd630575f4b.aspx 2009-10-13T13:49:12.4570000-04:00 2009-10-13T13:49:12.4578265-04:00


Why register for toasters, towels and Tupperware when you can celebrate your wedding with an original piece of art? The nAscent gallery of New York has just created a registry service that allows couples to register for works of art showcased by the company. Friends and family of the lucky couple can either purchase the work outright or may make a contribution toward the purchase of the work, such as the above piece, Sugarcane Fields by artist Fernando Ferreira de Araujo.

If you’re more of a bookworm, Splash 10 orStrokes of Genius 2 are coffee table books filled with art that’s sure to impress your soon-to-be in-laws with your excellent taste.
—Kelly Messerly
Editor, North Light Books

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Art show asks you to Think Before You Pink http://artistsblog.artistsnetwork.com/PermaLink,guid,643d3424-d6e5-41b0-b2b6-ca53d81e374c.aspx 2009-10-12T09:27:36.2850000-04:00 2009-10-12T10:52:48.7838797-04:00
It's October and that time of year when an onslaught of pink ribbons pop up here, there, and everywhere, from candy bars to shiny new cars. Now a San Francisco gallery, ArtHaus, has teamed up with Breast Cancer Action (BCA), a national watchdog organization, to present a show that invites viewers to ask critical questions about pink ribbon promotions.  

Think Before You Pink (also the name of a BCA campaign) features 14 artists, including at least one breast cancer survivor, Torrie Groening. "I was fed up and saddened by the fact that I couldn't even buy my family groceries without being bombarded with reminders of cancer in the shape of pink ribbons," Groening says. Her photograph, This Elixir, It Won't Fix Her (right), features a volcano of consumer good erupting out of a tin can—teddy bears, lemon squeezers, and sunglasses. "When researching for this piece I only had to Google 'pink ribbon store' to discover this was a huge industry. Hundreds of online stores sell thousands of manufactured and pink ribbon objects—enough to fill many landfills." Groening says she is sick of pink and she's participating in the show, in part, because BCA holds companies accountable, including ones that manufacture carcinogenic products and then urge the public to buy its products to support cancer research.

Among other things, BCA also encourages consumers to read the fine print—how much of the money really goes toward breast cancer? According to BCA, for example, Lean Cuisine once displayed pink ribbons on its boxes, but the purchase of the frozen delights did not result in any money going toward breast cancer research. Instead, the consumer was directed to a website to buy a pink Lean Cuisine lunch tote.

Groening says everyone copes differently, but she prefers not to concentrate on cancer and keep a sense of humor and focus on her family and artwork. Think Before You Pink runs at ArtHaus through Oct. 31.
—Bonnie Gangelhoff

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