Painting With A Palette Knife

My computer died and that is one reason why I am not visible as much in the viral world lately. I depend on other people's computers now and for a while I will be here sporadically.

In the mean time I've been taking some art classes, which are very enjoyable. In my painting class, I was learning how to paint with a palette knife today. I would never guess that it can be so much fun and I am totally falling for this technique (I sound like I am talking about some nice looking man) and I would love to create many paintings with my knives.

Our task was to carefully look at the objects in front of us, and study their colors very carefully - a light and a shadow, a color hue etc. We had to "see" as many color shades of the background, the block and the pear as possible, mix those colors, and then apply them in "blocks" or "spots" on the canvas with our knife.  Next week we will continue with our project.

 I took a picture with my phone, so it is not the greatest image quality, but it is sufficient enough to show my friends a peek preview, how I am "tackling" my background and the pear sitting on the painted styrofoam block.

Until next time.

Easton Arts Council - Happenings

EASTON ARTS COUNCIL UPCOMING EVENTS - for more information click HERE


Art Show on view now:
January 10 through February 25 - 2012 Annual Members Show
(I have a couple of painting in this show)


Easton Events for young artists coming up:

• Feb. 4 (1pm – 3:30pm) - Youth Art and Frame Workshop - Acrylic on Canvas (Ages 4 – 12)
• March 11 (2pm) - 2012 YOUTH TALENT SHOW
• March 11 (3pm-4pm) - 2012 YOUTH ART SHOW

LIKE THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE

Pastel Drawing - Stormy Clouds

I have one obsession - looking at the sky. I absolutely adore the clouds. The shapes. The colors. Sometimes heaviness. Other times luminosity. I must be extra careful while driving, because I tend to steal a look at the clouds and it could be.... you know what I mean.

Over the years I have seen many cloud paintings and drawings from other artists. Some exquisite, some pretty bad. I have been trying to get courage to paint or draw clouds for a long time. And in these past few days, it was my first attempt. I think I didn't do too bad, but neither great. I still need to perfect the feel, the colors..... But not too bad at the first try :-)

(I just have to pat my own back a little bit - it is my personal encouragement to do it again.)


Stormy Clouds
Pastel on Cotton, Acid Free, Archival Paper
24x18

Motivational Video For Artists

While browsing the internet I came across this video that I think is very encouraging for anyone who like to work, create or do something in their life and not just sit around :-)

Although this video by Derek Sivers is unlisted, it had many visitors! Oh man, this "viral" thing is quite powerful, isn't it?

HAPPY, HEALTHY, PROSPEROUS, FUN AND BUSY NEW YEAR!

For Artists - How To Add Google Plus Page Badge To Your Web Site

Artists not only paint, draw, sculpt or otherwise create their art, but they also have to keep their accounting books, give lectures, go to other artists shows and market themselves (and much more) in order to keep up with "evolving times". So many of you already have your web site, some of you have a personal Facebook account, others have Facebook Page (which anyone can "LIKE" it, and which is different from the personal account, and better than a Facebook Group account). Besides your website some of you may have a blog (on Wordpress or on Google Blogger), Twitter, and now you can have also your personal page on Google+, and besides that you can create your own Google+ Page to make yourself even busier with marketing your self. With so many sites/pages you can reach many more people in the world and have more chances your art to be noticed and perhaps even bought.

Note: Many people already put up tutorials about how to start your Google+ Page. If you need to learn, please see the video all the way below my post.

I have been exploring  extensively Google+ in the past several days. I have learned, for example, that if you upload images to your Google Blog, they are automatically uploaded to your Picasa account (that is if you do not use ie. Flicker URL or such). However, if you upload images to your Google+ Page they get uploaded into "Google User Content" area, which I still have to find out where that possibly may be. Some people say it is same as Picasa - and yes, when I uploaded my images from my computer to my blog or my Google+ personal account they are in my Picasa file. However, the images that I uploaded from my computer to Google+ Page I just cannot see in my Picasa account. Although, the icon next to the URL address of each picture is that of Picasa. Hmmm.

But, let's move on. I would love to explain in plain language how to tie your Google+ Page to your personal web site in order to get VERIFIED, which should increase your visibility on the Internet.

• Create a Google+ Page (if you haven't done so) - see the video at the bottom of this post
• Open your Google+ HOME Page and copy your number from your URL address (see image below)

• In another window open a link https://developers.google.com/+/plugins/badge/config (see image below)

• (1) Paste your number into the rectangle area next to "configuration tool"; (2) chose a badge or an icon; the page generates for you two codes - (3) for your <head> </head> area in your HTML and another one (4) to be placed in the <body> </body> area in your HTML (where you want it - ie. under your menu) - see the image below for 1, 2, 3, 4  pointers
  
  Note: if you do not know how to do this, you need to ask your web designer to do it for you

• See in images of my web site's HTML below how I placed (3) between <head> and </head> tags, and (4) between <body> and </body> tags into my HTML code. The (4) is actually placed just below the menu (see g+ icon in my last image)

• In the last image below you can see how the page will look like with the "g+" large icon below my menu

And here is the promised video of "How To Start Your Google+ (Business) Page"

Enjoy!