Yesterday eve, just before the sun went down, the frost-laden sky opened up and began dropping big heavy flakes of snow. It was so still and quiet you could hear the infinite frozen crystals fall as they rustled against one another and finally settled to the ground. It was so peaceful, I just sat and let my spirit drink in its majestic splendor when I realized my left buttock was frozen to a Fish Creek metal bench.… why would anyone live here in the winter when there are warm places like Florida, California and not to mention Arizona… Yes it’s March in Alberta and though it’s a ways to go before we actually see signs of spring, living here means we can already feel it coming.
To help keep you going till the robins sing, here are some spectacular wallet friendly buys that will keep you in your studio swinging your brush like a concert conductor buzzed on a Timmy Ho’s high octane cappuccino double double with extra mocha. As well as the specials don’t forget to check out the Jean Geddes demo (an out door demo, indoors. Sure to be a first.) There is also an added demo (and workshop) with my good friend Jerry Markham that’s happening in May.
In the winters of old, when the snow was up to my chest, I recall my mother buttoning up my snow suit past my head, with the tiniest slit for eyes peering out between toque and scarf, arms stuck out like the Pillsbury dough boy, mittens tucked in and sleeve straps tightened beyond any circulation in your hands, wearing her spudgey housecoat and fuzziest of slippers, she would push me out the door and say…. “You go enjoy the snow! I find winter to be an unnecessary freezing of water.” ….love you mom….
Keep on painting, your friend in art, Doug.
PS Remember - Winter is not a season, it’s an occupation.
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Painting Secret #34
Transparent Shadows
Who knew that hidden within each colour of paint there are either transparent, semi transparent or opaque properties. If you look deep within each paint label you will find its clarity properties. Some are easier to find than others. One of the reasons I like Graham paints so much, right there on the back of the tube, at the top it tells you what the colour is, transparent opaque or semi-transparent. Why, you ask, should I know this? Well, here is the scoop. Transparent colours recede and opaque colours come forward. If you want your shadows to sit down and behave, make sure you are using transparent colours. Here are a few other things you need to know about shadows.
Shadows contain colour, just not bright colour. Go ahead and put some juicy color in your shadows, just not ones that are too bright. Strong colour in shadows can exist but if you want colour in your shadows just make sure it is close to the same value as it’s core value.
There are no details in the shadows. This includes putting texture in your shadows. Remember the ‘k.i.s.s.’ principle…keep it simple stupid… The nice thing about transparent paints is they are a bit creamier than the opaques so they naturally don’t allow for texture. Most shadows do not exhibit a hard edge. Shadows are muted and soft with a blended edge between the object and it’s shadow.
XTRA TIP (this one's a freebie) A shadow lightens as it moves away from the source. Near the end of this shadow you can introduce a different colour or temperature. This will add a bit of zing to your painting..
 In this painting by Sergi Bongart, the deep shadows are painted with transparent colours. The mid shadows are semi opaque and the lights are opaque.
 In this Cheri Christensen still life both the lights and the reflected lights sing because the shadows are painted with transparent colours. The reds in the background are wiped out from the transparent colours painted over top to reveal a rich glow.
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Aqua Cover
Ever make a mistake painting in watercolour? Ever want to cover up an area? Aqua cover to the rescue! This opaque white liquid watercolor is designed to be used as a match on watercolor paper. It comes packaged in 1 oz. bottles and is available in a variety colors to make a perfect match for several popular types of watercolor paper. Arches, Winsor Newton, Fabriano just name a few. Introductory 30ml bottle $9.99
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The Magic Palette Mixing Guides
Mixing the right colour just got easier! This guide takes the guesswork out of mixing beautiful, luminous colors. Each guide features a comprehensive easy-to-read grid that shows the resulting color when 2 colors are combined. An indispensable tool for artists and designers of every experience level, they are ideal for studios, the classroom and plein air painting. The smaller Personal Mixing Guide, on SALE for $12.50, presents 324 colours created from 18 paint colours essential to most artists. The larger Studio Mixing Guide, on SALE for $34.50, offers a spectrum of 841 colours created from 29 paint colors. The guides are printed in high quality for color accuracy and include detailed instructions.
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Winsor & Newton Series 7 Brushes 40%off
One time special purchase. The best watercolour brush ever made! Winsor & Newton Series 7 size 7 and size 8 complete in a beautiful wooden box. Today, Series 7 is manufactured from only the finest pure Kolinsky Sable hair, in rust-proof, seamless nickel plated ferrules with black polished handles. Snap & Spring - the brush snaps crisply back into shape with the right degree of spring to allow the artist superior control between the brush and painting surface. If you have ever wanted to own the worlds best brush this would be the time. There are only a few and at 40% off the will be gone quickly.
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Golden Acrylics
Golden, Golden Open, Golden Fluid Acrylics all 25% off
The only name in acrylic paint. All formats all regular sizes including the wickedly popular Golden Open Acrylic. Special order large sizes 8,16, and 32oz as well as gallons 30% off (4oz and larger sizes for the fluids 30%)
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Maidstone Paper
Special buy! $1.25 per sheet: Regular $2.25. Antique white 22x30 245grm Maidstone Fine Art Paper is the all-purpose paper. A machine-made, 100% rag, traditional fine art paper with an antique vellum finish. Acid free, neutral pH. Buffered with calcium carbonate and features 2 deckle edges. Ideal for drawing, calligraphy, pen and ink, screen printing, lithography, block printing, etching, and embossing.
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Kroma Crackle
150ml tube is only $8.95 The ultimate in a crackle paste. It is a semi-opaque gel that develops awesome cracking patterns as it dries. It can be applied to both rigid and flexible surfaces and once dry and sealed is both durable and highly flexible. KROMA crackle can be coloured by adding small amounts of acrylic paint before application or by painting over the crackle once it has dried. Try experimenting with application methods. You can influence the texture of the crackle to achieve different looks with limitless creative possibilities.
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Utrecht Manglon Brushes
20% OFF Synthetic brushes are made with multi-colored synthetic filament, in different diameters mixed in a formula to have strong snap-back. They are set in black color plated seamless brass ferrules. The perfect brush for soft edges, blended passages or high detail. Flowers portaits or soft foreground grasses are just a few things Manglon brushes were made for.
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Graham Watercolours
These are Calgary’s best buy on watercolour!!! SALE 25% OFF: Made with pure honey, gum arabic, glycerine and the most lightfast pigments available, each colour is individually crafted to develop its own unique character.
Because of its love of moisture, honey absorbs water from the atmosphere.
Colours made with honey do not dry up in the tube or on the palette and always dilute easily, often after months or years of disuse. Intense and luminous.
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Oops over ordered!!!
40x40 gallery canvases overstock blow out 45%off ...as many as you want per customer....please!
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