Hello

[Catherine Spencer]

Hello from beautiful British Columbia.   I painted briefly in my youth but have taken it up as a serious hobby now that i am much older. My goal here is to improve my technique and loosen up my style. Im looking forward to being part of this painting community.

[Gambetta Brehmer]

Hi Kari, happy new year! I may adopt your "show up for work" thought for 2012! so many time, i stop myself with my to do list that I never make it into my studio. I just need to get in there and do something! "

Kari Hogden said:

Hi Barbara,

Welcome!  I paint in acrylics and oils.  Lately I have been working " en plein air" and oil paint seems to work the best for that as they don't dry so fast.  I live in Wisconsin in the summer and Motueka, New Zealand in their summer.  The landscapes with vineyards in my area remind me of those in BC.

Um, I have been stalled many times in my painting life!! (sometimes for years, in the PAST!)  No more!  Now I tell myself all I have to do is "show up for work".  Something will happen. Aways. Then you get hooked and you don't bother to renovate your house! hahaha.

Look forward to seeing what you are working on...this is a very supportive group!

Kari

[Catherine Spencer]

Hi Joanne.  In answer to your questions, 'what am i working on?" ... well, I have been experimenting with oils (not very good at it) and watercolours (just watering down my acrylics).  I havn't done anything with this workshop, though.  I have been doing a lot of reading of painting books, watching this site, reading the blog and checking out everyone's 'pears'.  I didnt even try to paint the pears this workshop -- i seem to have stalled -- getting very frustrated with my 'work'.  I have ordered some water-soluable oils and im going to give those a go.  I have been using my acrylics as watercolours, but i don't think they work as well as actual water colour paint.  But, I just love the way some of the watercolour pears look, such nice colours, shading, so light and translucent.  My acrylics seem to look so blah.  I think i either have to go heavy (to oils to get that buttery, textured look) or light (to watercolours) to get that see-through, gradation of colours look).   Im just coasting now ... I'll attempt the next still life in workshop 6.

Catherine Spencer-Whitehead said:

Joanne, have you ever tried the open acrylics ... apparently they stay wet for a long time but I don't know anyone who has tried them.  As they are very expensive, i was wondering if you have tried them, if you like them or not (pros cons?).  Hope your Christmas was good.  We had a very busy one here and im almost glad it's over so that I can relax and do some painting.

Joanne GarrardBarton said:

Hello Catherine;

I am also in BC in Kelowna, have just joined the group,  I  paint in Acrylics.  I prefer oils, but hate the clean up.

Painting water is a challenge.I really like to paint reflections in water.  I think, the way that I paint, layers works for acrylics  as your drying time is critical. It is more difficult to paint wet in wet (as Richard does with oils), without using masses of retarders. I have been painting in Acrylics for about 20 years. I believe that oils are more forgiving, than acrylics are, however each medium has its upside. Arylics dry faster, and are versatile, you can paint an acrylic which looks very much like a watercolour, or conversely like an impasto oil. depending upon what you want to achieve. Don't give up, sometimes just taking a time out for a day or two, helps with your perspective, and you go back to it with renewed energy. I have sometimes been blocked for months, mostly because of my business taking precedence.

I paint mostly landscapes, and massive florals,  I have done a series of cactus paintings during my last visit to AZ what are you working on at the moment.  By the way I am new to the group too.

Cheers Jo

[Dorian Aronson]

Congratulations on painting again Catherine,  and welcome to the group!  Smiles to you and happy painting.....dor:))

[Joanne GarrardBarton]

I am still figuring out how this site works. Totally forgot about the Forum page. So I apologise for not keeping in touch.

thanks for all of the comments, I have just posted my latest two pictures, and started on a new project.  I work in Acrylics, and use the heavy body paints, and gels to get the impasto effect of oils, and the brush stroke textures.

Catherine did you try the water soluble oils? I gather they work quite well, on speaking with a few people who have used them. What area of BC are you living in? Glad to hear that you have got back into your painting, just stick with it, and as I read from Kari's remarks, just turn up for work, and something will happen.  Good luck happy painting.

cheers Jo

[Tammy Wolcott]

Hi Catherine,

Welcome to the group.

I use acrylics too!  I just started painting about a year ago when I retired (I too am in my 50's) and we are almost neighbours as I live in Alberta.  I really enjoy seeing what other people have painted - I am always in awe and find it very inspiring.

Cheers,

Tammy

[Tammy Wolcott]

Catherine Spencer said:

Hi Joanne.  In answer to your questions, 'what am i working on?" ... well, I have been experimenting with oils (not very good at it) and watercolours (just watering down my acrylics).  I havn't done anything with this workshop, though.  I have been doing a lot of reading of painting books, watching this site, reading the blog and checking out everyone's 'pears'.  I didnt even try to paint the pears this workshop -- i seem to have stalled -- getting very frustrated with my 'work'.  I have ordered some water-soluable oils and im going to give those a go.  I have been using my acrylics as watercolours, but i don't think they work as well as actual water colour paint.  But, I just love the way some of the watercolour pears look, such nice colours, shading, so light and translucent.  My acrylics seem to look so blah.  I think i either have to go heavy (to oils to get that buttery, textured look) or light (to watercolours) to get that see-through, gradation of colours look).   Im just coasting now ... I'll attempt the next still life in workshop 6.

Catherine Spencer-Whitehead said:

Joanne, have you ever tried the open acrylics ... apparently they stay wet for a long time but I don't know anyone who has tried them.  As they are very expensive, i was wondering if you have tried them, if you like them or not (pros cons?).  Hope your Christmas was good.  We had a very busy one here and im almost glad it's over so that I can relax and do some painting.

Joanne GarrardBarton said:

Hello Catherine;

I am also in BC in Kelowna, have just joined the group,  I  paint in Acrylics.  I prefer oils, but hate the clean up.

Painting water is a challenge.I really like to paint reflections in water.  I think, the way that I paint, layers works for acrylics  as your drying time is critical. It is more difficult to paint wet in wet (as Richard does with oils), without using masses of retarders. I have been painting in Acrylics for about 20 years. I believe that oils are more forgiving, than acrylics are, however each medium has its upside. Arylics dry faster, and are versatile, you can paint an acrylic which looks very much like a watercolour, or conversely like an impasto oil. depending upon what you want to achieve. Don't give up, sometimes just taking a time out for a day or two, helps with your perspective, and you go back to it with renewed energy. I have sometimes been blocked for months, mostly because of my business taking precedence.

I paint mostly landscapes, and massive florals,  I have done a series of cactus paintings during my last visit to AZ what are you working on at the moment.  By the way I am new to the group too.

Cheers Jo

[Tammy Wolcott]

Hi Catherine,

Don't get discouraged.  I find in almost every painting I do that it hits an "ugly stage".  I just keep adding layers with subtle colour changes and eventually I start to like it and the ugly stage goes away.  Give it a try and see if that works for you.  Good luck.

Tammy Wolcott said:

Catherine Spencer said:

Hi Joanne.  In answer to your questions, 'what am i working on?" ... well, I have been experimenting with oils (not very good at it) and watercolours (just watering down my acrylics).  I havn't done anything with this workshop, though.  I have been doing a lot of reading of painting books, watching this site, reading the blog and checking out everyone's 'pears'.  I didnt even try to paint the pears this workshop -- i seem to have stalled -- getting very frustrated with my 'work'.  I have ordered some water-soluable oils and im going to give those a go.  I have been using my acrylics as watercolours, but i don't think they work as well as actual water colour paint.  But, I just love the way some of the watercolour pears look, such nice colours, shading, so light and translucent.  My acrylics seem to look so blah.  I think i either have to go heavy (to oils to get that buttery, textured look) or light (to watercolours) to get that see-through, gradation of colours look).   Im just coasting now ... I'll attempt the next still life in workshop 6.

Catherine Spencer-Whitehead said:

Joanne, have you ever tried the open acrylics ... apparently they stay wet for a long time but I don't know anyone who has tried them.  As they are very expensive, i was wondering if you have tried them, if you like them or not (pros cons?).  Hope your Christmas was good.  We had a very busy one here and im almost glad it's over so that I can relax and do some painting.

Joanne GarrardBarton said:

Hello Catherine;

I am also in BC in Kelowna, have just joined the group,  I  paint in Acrylics.  I prefer oils, but hate the clean up.

Painting water is a challenge.I really like to paint reflections in water.  I think, the way that I paint, layers works for acrylics  as your drying time is critical. It is more difficult to paint wet in wet (as Richard does with oils), without using masses of retarders. I have been painting in Acrylics for about 20 years. I believe that oils are more forgiving, than acrylics are, however each medium has its upside. Arylics dry faster, and are versatile, you can paint an acrylic which looks very much like a watercolour, or conversely like an impasto oil. depending upon what you want to achieve. Don't give up, sometimes just taking a time out for a day or two, helps with your perspective, and you go back to it with renewed energy. I have sometimes been blocked for months, mostly because of my business taking precedence.

I paint mostly landscapes, and massive florals,  I have done a series of cactus paintings during my last visit to AZ what are you working on at the moment.  By the way I am new to the group too.

Cheers Jo