I’ve been looking forward to this for a while – painting outside! We finally got a huge umbrella to cover the patio, so the other day, when the weather was beautiful, I grabbed my stuff and set up outside. Being outside gives me the opportunity to paint “live,” as opposed to from a picture, which is what I usually do. I think it’s harder and I need the practice.
Author: Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}
Easy steps to paint a sunset sky and a tree in acrylic paints
Start your creative journey with:
Creative Exploration: A Six Week Process for Introducing Regular Creativity into your Life – Develop a regular practice of creating, explore mediums and subjects in search of your thing, and experience the joy that creativity brings. Creativity is for EVERYONE! Talent is just a starting point.
Easy steps to paint a sunset sky and a tree in acrylic paints:
Select the colors you want in your background. I used six colors (see the list below). They can be straight from the tube or you can mix them.
Paint each area of color onto your canvas. I used foam brushes for the background.
Next, blend the areas where the colors meet so there is a softer transition from color to color. You may have to add more paint during this step.
Allow the background to dry.
Add the trunk of the tree and then begin adding the branches. Look at a tree. Notice that the branches get thinner as they get further from the trunk, and branches are not straight lines. Using thinner brushes helps with the thinner branches.
Add more branches until you achieve your desired effect.
Colors I used:
- Cadmium Yellow Medium
- mixed orange (yellow mixed with Cadmium Red)
- mixed reddish orange (yellow mixed with Cadmium Red)
- Magenta
- Brilliant Purple
- Deep Violet
I’d love to see your sunset painting!
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Does this count as housework? (5 minute sketches)
I pulled out the vacuum and ended up using it as the subject of my “5 minute sketch.” I have a bit of a theme going this week! Anything to avoid housework! 🙂
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Wavering in my creative resolution (just a little)
I created a new banner to remind myself of some of the things I’ve accomplished in the last four months. I was wavering a little bit in my enthusiasm for my creative resolution, when my daughter said to me, “Don’t give up.” Why are 13 year olds so smart?! She is right of course. And I don’t want to give up. I just needed a little push and maybe a pat on the back. 🙂
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Trying again – watercolor bird’s nest
I’d like to know which one YOU like better. This second attempt at a bird’s nest or the one I posted the other day and labeled “overworked.” When I was done the second painting, I pulled out the original one and guess what? I thought it was better! I ended up adding more to the background of the new one. I’m curious what you think? Please let me know. 🙂
The first one:
Here are my steps for the second nest:
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To Post or Not to Post
I overworked my bird’s nest painting. It’s sad to say. I thought, “Post or not?” Aww, why not? I should have stopped touching the background several steps back, but it is what it is. Lesson learned for next time – I hope. Looking back, I think the problem from the beginning was the background was so loose and the nest so tight. Without realizing it, I think I was trying to reconcile that. I also struggled with giving the nest depth. And I didn’t have the right robin’s egg color, so the color of the eggs is washed out. I would have loved a bright pop for the eggs.
I like the background below.
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Practicing painting pansies and other things…
Throughout the day I kept being pulled back to “practicing painting pansies” (say that 10x fast). My intention was to dedicate the day to acrylics – why was it so hard to do that?
I started with a quick warm up sketch. Then, I started playing with the pansies in watercolor. I kept finding excuses not to start with the acrylics – breakfast, more coffee, stripping the sheets off the beds – lol! Finally I forced myself into my studio and started painting.
First I started adding branches to my “sunrise trees” painting. (Inspired by my other tree painting.)
Then I pulled out my “jellyfish”! It has been awhile. I’m not sure I’ll ever finish this one, but I like what I’ve added to it.
Why was it so hard to get into the “acrylic groove?” Watercolors are easy to pull out and work on (and easy to put away). Acrylics require more setup and clean up. Is it that? Or is it that I’m not that inspired by the ones I’m working on? Or maybe I’m more confident with the watercolor? And somewhat intimidated by the acrylics? Whatever it is, I plan on pushing through.
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Inspiration found during my run
I’ve been wondering what to paint next in acrylics. I spotted these tulips, while on my run. These would make a pretty painting! I love running. Actually, back up and erase that. I don’t love running. I love that it’s a quiet time to think and observe – no kids, no distractions. I don’t always feel good while I’m running, but I always feel great after. Sometimes it’s a struggle and I have to distract myself. If I think too much about how far I have to go, I’ll end up walking. So I listen to music or an audiobook and think and look around for inspiration!
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Watercolor Sea Turtle
This week I painted a sea turtle. No not another bird! I’ve been starting with the background first (since I watched that video). Here are my steps. I painted a lighter green before the blue, which shows in some areas.
This isn’t my first deep sea creature. I painted this shark years ago for my son. Have I grown since then? Hmmm.
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