Do you paint flat or use an easel?

January 30, 2014October 11, 2019 | Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

easelnew
With a background in drawing and painting in watercolor, I was used to working flat at a table. When I showed up for my first acrylic painting class, I was (almost) surprised to find that everyone had an easel to work at. It felt strange painting at an easel – holding my arm up in the air. After the class ended, I continued to paint more and more in acrylics, always flat on a table or on the floor. I began to wonder if I should be using an easel. Some online research (on http://www.about.com) revealed some interesting points including, “work vertically, because the painting will be displayed vertically.”

Things to consider when deciding to work flat vs. at an easel:

How large do you work? It’s easier to work on an easel with larger paintings than a table.
Viewing your painting. You can back away from an easel, to “take in” and view a painting, especially the larger ones.
Do you add fine details? I find it easier to add details when the painting is flat and I can lean on the canvas.
Acrylic vs. oils – Oils take longer to dry and dust can be an issue as it dries when a painting is laying flat.
Do you have a dedicated space for an easel?

I invested in an aluminum easel. It’s lightweight but sturdy and folds up for storing. Learn more here. It looks so professional, and I love displaying my latest painting on it! There’s even an arm that extends to hold my brushes and palette!

Want to explore creativity? My new ebook takes you step by step through the process for introducing regular creativity into your life, finding inspiration, and exploring mediums. Learn more about Creative Exploration: A Six Week Process for Introducing Regular Creativity into your Life by clicking here.

I want to hear from you! How do you prefer to work?
(To date, 90 people have completed this survey and 79% prefer to work flat.)

This post contains affiliate links to products/brands I use and recommend. I earn a small commission whenever you buy using these links, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my blog!

Starting an Acrylic Painting

January 26, 2014February 28, 2014 | Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

Before I start a project, I usually have a spark of inspiration. For my new painting, the “spark” came from my breakfast! I cut an apple in half and thought, “That would make a cool painting!” I’ve painted fruit before. One of my favorites is of oranges. The inspiration came from a painting I saw on Modern Family. It hangs in Gloria and Jay’s house. After that, I painted limes, which I don’t love half as much as the oranges.

I took several photos of my apple, to have for reference. I cropped the photo and added a grid, to help me transfer it to the larger canvas. I often turn the photo and canvas upside down, to make sure I am drawing things correctly. I’ve heard it said, that turning things upside down, uses a different part of your brain. I definitely think it’s easier to dissect something upside down. You see the lines and shapes instead of (in this case) an apple. I think it works especially well with faces and bodies.

Before I draw on the canvas, I cover the canvas with a medium tone that I think will work well when it shows through (other layers of paint). For this painting I used an orange/yellow color. I never really know what color to paint the edges of the canvas, but I paint them at this time. This way they are covered and I can always add paint later.

A while ago, I read an interesting book, “The Acrylic Painter’s Book of Styles and Techniques” by Rachel Wolf. What I liked, about the book, was learning how different people work. Some painters cover the canvas, in one color, first. Some painters draw in detail, before they start painting. A painting class greatly influenced my process. Before the class, I worked mostly in watercolor. I know it sounds silly and basic, but I learned, in that class, how to hold and stroke, with bigger brushes. In watercolor, I was using smaller brushes and it was similar to drawing and holding a pencil. I also learned all about mixing colors. The rest of my “process” is developing as I spend more time painting.

When my base color was dry, I used vine charcoal to sketch out my composition. I tried very hard not to center the apple on the canvas, but no matter what I did, it seemed to fall mostly in the center! I am vowing here and now, not to use charcoal again. My teacher recommended it, but it is messy and hard to get off. I don’t really understand the point of it, if I’m going to erase it! If I don’t erase it, it mixes with the paint. I am probably doing something wrong. After I erased most of the charcoal, I started “sketching” with paint, which worked much better. And, as long as the paint is still wet, I can use a wet brush to “erase” any part of my “sketch.”

After the sketch was completed, I added some of the color. The whole process, not including drying time between steps, was fairly quick – less than two hours. I was pretty happy with what I had accomplished! The next day, I realized, that this is the point, where I usually put the canvas on a shelf and walk away. For some reason it is hard for me to finish. I previously thought it was boredom. I think I am worried about ruining it and am unsure how to proceed. This month, I’ve worked hard to pick up some of these forgotten projects. Doing this, has taught me, that although it is hard to start, within minutes, I’m back “into” the painting. I am committed to finishing the apple!

I have another painting – an abstract painting – that I’ve been trying to decide how to finish. My problem with this painting is, I didn’t have a well thought out plan from the beginning. I’d love your input on how I should finish it – just fill out my online poll!

Mixing Colors – acrylic painting

January 22, 2014February 28, 2014 | Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

I decided to dedicate a few hours today to painting in acrylics. But, I wasn’t necessarily going to focus on my current painting, bike on the boardwalk. I came up with the idea of setting up a couple of canvases on my table and moving from one to another. This way when I inevitabley got bored of a painting, or felt stuck, I could work on a different one. I thought this idea was quite genius!

I looked through my old canvases and pulled out a painting of a carrot, that I had started years ago, but never finished. I grabbed a blank canvas, that I had plans for, and I grabbed the bike painting. Although to be honest, I wasn’t that interested on working on the bike painting.

I sat down and started mixing paints. A few years ago I took a class with artist Joe Bucci. He taught me that you should mix your own colors (usually from thalo blue, cadmium yellow and cadmium red). You shouldn’t use mixed colors from a tube because you don’t know what colors are mixed to make that color. His thought was (I’m totally paraphrasing here, this is just what I got from the class and remember) that all the colors in a painting should relate to one other. For example, if I mix a green from thalo blue and cadmium yellow and then, I mix an orange, from cad. red and cad. yellow, add a little of the green so the orange doesn’t look so unnatural and, so, the orange “works” with the green. Who knew? Prior to the class, I was playing around with a set of 10+ colors, never thinking about how they related to one another. He made a lot of sense to me. Here is a painting I did, in his class.

Back to today, and the carrot painting. I couldn’t remember if I started it pre Joe or post Joe. As I looked at the colors in the painting and the tubes from my set, I had a feeling it was pre Joe. So, I started mixing colors to work on the carrot. I improvised a bit and started with thalo green because I thought that was the tube I had used. I thought it made sense to use it as a base color. When I mixed an orange, I added some of my mixed green, to tone it down, and so, it would work with the green. I also mixed a new brown to add to the dirt. I had decided not to use the brown from the tube, that I had originally used. As I worked on the dirt, I rembered originally working on it, and how I had struggled, because the tubes I had didn’t match the color of the dirt. Joe really opened up a whole new world to me.

I was so “into” working on the carrot – that I hadn’t touched in years – that I never moved on to another canvas! Not only that, but I finished it! And it felt great!

Dedicating Time to Painting

January 19, 2014February 28, 2014 | Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

I didn’t have much time this past week to work on any of my projects, so I decided I would dedicate Sunday to painting. I don’t often have large chunks of time to be creative, between work, family and home. I don’t think the term “starving artist” came about because there wasn’t time to food shop!

I do think stepping away from a project is a good thing, because when you come back to it you see it with a fresh eye. I was very excited about how I had “sketched” in the bicycle, until I looked at it again. I realized the tire was so small, it looked more like my banana seat bike from the ’70s than a big tire beach cruiser.

Now, I had to fix the tire, which would involve touching up the boardwalk, ugh. Most people probably start with the foreground and then add in the background. In the case of the boardwalk, I thought it would be easier to paint it first. I’d be interested in hearing how others approach their paintings!

I was so happy, having so much time to paint, but after less than an hour, I needed a break! I was struggling with the shape and size of the tire. I needed to step away. An hour later, full and refreshed, I came back to the painting. I continued working on the tire, fixing the boardwalk as I went. I then added the bike frame.

While working on the frame, I realized that freshly applied acrylic paint can be removed as easily as watercolor. With a damp brush I worked on the area I wanted to remove. When the paint transferred to the brush, I blotted the brush on a cloth and rinsed. I repeated this a few times and then used a paper towel to remove excess water.

It is always feels great, when you are struggling with something and work through it. I feel so good about where I’ve gotten so far.

Vote on how I finish this abstract painting!

January 13, 2014January 17, 2014 | Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

In home décor stores I often see abstract paintings. They aren’t originals, but prints on canvas. When one catches my eye, I pick it up and after a minute say to myself, “I could do this. How hard could it be? And, I would be able to pick the canvas size and colors that work in my family room.”

I went out and picked a canvas and a couple of tubes of paint. I squeezed the paint directly onto the canvas and blended them around. I thought it looked pretty good. Then, the canvas sat for a while. (This is becoming a common theme, huh?)

Guess what? Abstract painting is not as easy as it looks! Especially, for someone like me, who is into the “details.” My drawings and paintings are usually on the smaller side and focus on details of the subject. When I draw, I usually use many lines, unlike some people who can use one line that speak volumes. I sometimes think I’m overcompensating! Thinking, “one of these lines is bound to be right!”

Now, I want to finish this project. I have a couple of ideas as you can see from my sketches. I’ve even used the computer to simulate these ideas. I’d like to know what you think! Which idea is best suited to the canvas? I’d love to hear from you.

Irish Blessing pdf download and Citrasolv transfer info.

January 10, 2014February 28, 2019 | Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

Download the Irish blessing pdf here: maytheroad and the mirror image here: maytheroadmirror.

Visit my Etsy shop for printable coloring pages:

downloadable clipart:

and invitation borders:

Order St. Patrick’s Day flair in my Zazzle shop!

When I read about Citrasolv on a blog, I was very excited. The idea that I could design anything I wanted on the computer and transfer my artwork onto wood, without messy stencils and paint, was very appealing. I came across a cool piece of wood that was originally the top of a plant stand and painted it green with accents of white.

I layed out the Irish Blessing text on the computer. I flipped the text, so it was the mirror image, and printed it. To do a Citrasolv transfer you need a laser printer, not an inkjet. I positioned the printout on my sign, (text side facing down), taped it so it wouldn’t move, and applied the Citrasolv to the back of the paper with a cotton ball. Using a spoon, I rubbed the back of the paper, trying to rub the entire poem.

My first try didn’t go so well:

Things worked better on my second try. A few spots blurred a little and some areas came out light, because I didn’t adequately rub everything, but it gives it an aged look.

Tips for doing Citrasolv transfers

Use a laser printer
Don’t do the whole poem at once. It’s easier to work in sections.
Rub every area of your design.
Don’t use too much Citrasolv.
Raw wood works better than the smooth surface of acrylic paint.

For more on citrasolv transfer read the post that inspired me.

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This post contains affiliate links to products/brands I use and recommend. I earn a small commission whenever you buy using these links, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my blog!

Painting Sand

January 8, 2014 | Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

What color is sand? This is something I’ve been trying to figure out, since I first started painting the beach. I’ve had some successes and some failures. I’ve sat at the beach and wondered, what color is that? I think the challenge is, that sand is different colors, even on the same beach. The dry sand furthest from the ocean is one color. As you get closer to the water, and the sand gets wetter, it changes color. Even the individual grains of sand are different colors. The sun also plays a role in the changing appearance of the sand.

In my last post, I detailed how I mixed the color of the sand (maybe in too much detail!). I wanted to keep track of the process I used, in case it was successful. Sometimes I’m not even sure if I like a color, until the paint has dried. In this painting I think the overall color is good, but I may need to tone down the yellow.

Here are some other acrylic attempts at sand. The first one is awful. The second one is an okay attempt at wet sand. I did it in a class and have no idea how I mixed it. The third one is okay, but again I don’t even know what color it is. Note to self: keep track of the colors you use!

I think I’ve been a bit more successful in watercolor, probably because I’ve had more practice. The sand in the first painting is too purple, although I like the texture of it. The second is okay. In the third painting, I am really proud of how I captured the color of the wet sand. It is one of my favorite paintings.

Revisiting Unfinished Projects

January 6, 2014January 7, 2014 | Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

I came across several unfinished projects, while cleaning my office. I have a really hard time getting back into a project that I’ve abandoned. I think I’m afraid of ruining it. I forget where I was, and don’t even know where to start.

One such project, is an acrylic version of a bike on the boardwalk. I forced myself to start, even though it wasn’t easy! I had all kinds of measurements (because I was enlarging a section of a watercolor painting) and I didn’t even know what they meant! I had no idea what part I intended on working on next.

Once I got working again, things started to come more easily. I painted the railing and decided to do the sand and ocean next. I love painting the beach. It’s my favorite place. But, mixing the right color for sand and painting the ocean is really hard (for me).

For the sand, I mixed cadmium red and thalo blue to create a purple, which I added white to. This resulted in a grayish purple which I added cadmium yellow light to. In the sand area, I already had a base color, a purplish tan, which I thought might look good in the spots it will show through. I mixed a thalo blue with the cadmium yellow and added this greenish blue to my ocean area.

Here is my progress so far. Time to add the bike wheel…only slightly intimidating!