Blue Jay in Acrylic

A challenge painting.

Blue Jay

Done to test luminosity of feathers, different background options, etc.


I painted a dark blue background and then transferred the image using white charcoal on the back of a printout from the computer.

Next was blocking in the white and black areas to compare value contrast. I wanted a different background but when my test failed I opted for masking the bird and then stamping the background with white paint, applied with a bunched up piece of Kleenex. It left tiny pieces of paper behind and looks like homemade paper.

None of the details are correct at this stage.

Pam

Timmins Museum Christmas Sale Friday

I will be at the sale Friday evening only.

Pam

Pastels

Pastels, some with a little charcoal.

Step 3: "A Golden Night"



Another quick one: "Leaves"



A quick one: "Pumpkin"




Pam

Charcoal Drawings

Extra charcoal drawings I thought I'd better add to the blog. I've already started the next one.

"Winter"



"White Jug" is finished. (There is pastel added to the coloured areas.)

Snow Covered Bridge:


Pam

Hancock Peak

Hancock Peak north of here, close to James Bay.
A winter landscape and log cabin.

Step 4: Done

Step 3: Almost there...

Step 2: Laying in the rest of the outline. A dog in front and two people on the porch.

Step 1: Drawing in the basics quickly.

Pam

Red Roof

My husband has been bugging me to paint this old barn since last fall. The day before all the autumn leaves started falling we decided to go and get pictures.

It rained the whole way there, but when we reached the barn the sun decided to shine and I got great references of the barn and the cattle. I like the cattle but decided on the barn for this painting. I'll do cattle another time.

Red Roof: An acrylic painting, 16 x 20". (For the Porcupine Art Club exhibit titled "Environment", in December.)

Step 4: Finished.

Step 3: Details in the building.

Step 2: Adding colour.

Step 1: Painting the Grisaille. (5 value scale)

Pam

Magnolias Workshop

I couldn't take my sister's Watercolour Workshop on painting Magnolias, so I'm doing it at home. See my sister's website. Thanks, Ellen (and Char) for a great workshop!

Step 6: Masking removed and areas fixed. I'm happy with my watercolour progress, I think I'll leave it this way and frame it. :)


Step 5: So far....so good.

Step 4:



Step 3: Third step, third hour; letting everything dry between steps.



Step 2:

Step 1: About 1 hour into the painting.

Pam

Ship and Tulip Continued

Back to my demonstration oil painting in glazes.

Step 10:

With the bright red of the accents, I had to harmonize the painting. I put a few brushstrokes of alizarin crimson into the draping and liked it so much that I put a glaze over the whole background with violet in the creases.

The objects look like they are floating because I haven't added highlights to the material yet.

I've dragged the glaze colour into the ship base, added it into the frame, tulips and front metal can.

At this point I'm only using safflower oil as an additive to the oil paint.


Pam

Library Donation

I have finished the donation for the Smooth Rock Falls library, "The Storybook Comes to Life". It is done in acrylics and the girls' skin and hair are oils. You can't see the edges but it looks like a book on the sides.

I spent a busy weekend at a graphite workshop in Timmins, held by Colette Theriault at the Porcupine Art Club.

I didn't finish my Cocker Spaniel drawing but I will work on it this week.


Pam

Opaque Layers on Ship and Tulips

Now that all the summer exhibitions and events are over, I can get back to normal work.

Step 9: Ship and Tulips (for the oil painting workshop demo)

Started adding opaque oil colour with only oil based medium. I haven't started touching the front brass can yet.


The tulips painting, in the background, is what I will be teaching at the oil painting workshops, not the ship and flower pot. I didn't want to have duplicate copies of the tulips painting. I'll have at least two as it is.

More to come....

Pam

Second Glazes on Storybook

I'm getting close to the finish of this painting. Tomorrow I'll put the rest of the books in the shelf, touch up the flor and finish the girls skin and hair(which is done in oils).

While the oil paint dries for a few days, I'll finish the dresses and put the trompe l'oile pages on the side of the canvas.



I'll be glad to hand this one over to the Smooth Rock Falls Public Library.

Pam

Oil Painting Workshops

The Basics of Oil Painting by Pam Dallaire

(Starting Sept 2011 in Smooth Rock Falls, Ontario and March 2012 in Timmins, Ontario)

A series of oil painting workshops for the beginner in oil. In the first workshop you will learn everything you need to get started. We will discuss traditional and modern application of oil glazes, canvas supports, framing options, oil paints, mediums, brushes, varnishing, and much more. I’ll take the mystery out of oil painting.

In the second workshop of the series you will learn to paint an underpainting in black and white acrylic paint, using the reference photo above. We will also discuss traditional and modern application of oil glazes.

In workshop three you will learn to apply transparent oil glazes with colour directly from the tube.

In workshop four, you will learn to mix oil colours and apply the final accents to the painting. With the knowledge gained from this series of workshops, you will be able to paint both traditional oil glazes and modern methods of oil glazing.

You can download the pdf advertisement from the SRF Art Center website.

Pam

Glazing with Oils

I've been working and here are the updates.

I have to do a quick oil painting in layers for a workshop in September so here are the steps so far.

Model Ship and Tulips:

Step 8: Added a thicker glaze of Burnt Umber and Lemon Yellow on background and some shadows. Then added Cad Red Med and Alizarin Crimson glaze in specific areas. Added the lemon yellow to the mix to make orange areas.



Step 7: Second, thicker, yellow glaze with Indian Yellow.



Step 6: The finished greyscale and the first colour glaze in Indian Yellow. (Very thin.)



Step 5: Continuing to develop the greyscale to where I need it. I'm also thinking how the glazing colours should be applied.



Step 4: Almost done the underpainting.



Step 3: Continue to work on the underpainting which needs as much detail as I want the finished piece to have.



Step 2: Start of the Acrylic Underpainting.



Step 1: Transferring the image.

_______________
And, Kitten in Black and White:

Step 1: Graphite on the wooden panel didn't work so well, so...

Step 2: I changed to acrylic.



Pam

First Oil Glaze on Storybook

Snowflake, the rescued cat, has come home from her vet visit. She was spayed, got shots, etc. She is very sore but quiet and recuperating. They said she was quiet the whole time. What a difference from 6 months ago; feral and terrified.

Thanks must be given to the Smooth Rock Falls Animal Rescue volunteers and the Lioness Club for transporting her and covering her vet bills. Now we will see if anyone would like to adopt her.

She is UPSTAIRS in our guest bedroom. When she is better, I'll open the door and she can explore the top floor. No more basement cat! :)

On to the painting:

Here is step 7 of "The Storybook Comes to Life". The first oil glaze on the left girl.


I need to get the colour on so it can dry while I finish the acrylic areas.

Pam

Step 6: The Storybook Comes to Life

I have time to work on the library painting.

Here is step 6.
Pam

Make Your Own Easel

I have had beginner artists asking how to make an inexpensive easel, for painting and display.

After finding none on the internet that suited my purpose, I decided to design my own.

Make your own Cardboard Easel

(Folds for travel, holds a canvas, no cost!)

You will need:

1 large piece of cardboartd (depending on the finished size)

string or wool

masking tape or duct tape

a box cutter or knife

a ruler

large sewing needle to piece the carboard with the string



Step 1:

Choose the width and height of your finished easel. Find a heavy cardboard with no bends. Size: the same WIDTH of your finished easel & 3 times the LENGTH of the finished easel.



Step 2:

With ruler and box cutter, SCORE (don't cut through) the cardboard in 3 lines on the OPPOSITE side of the cardboard. (See the plans.)

Step 3: Bend the 3 scored lines towards the GOOD side of the cardboard to create a ledge for your canvas.

Step 4: Divide the rest of the length in HALF and SCORE the cardboard on the GOOD side, folding it in half to create the easel shape.






Step 5: Use your needle and string to hold the cardboard in the shape you want.

Step 6: Reinforce the folds with masking or duct tape. Also tape the Shelf for the canvas in position so it doesn't unfold.

That's it, you're done. Happy painting!

Pam

The Storybook Comes to Life step 5

Yesterday I took pictures of Bald Eagles on Mattagami River.



Here is where I am on the library painting. I have the complete concept all worked out now and it is just a matter of finishing.

The book trompe l'oiel effect is about 1/3 done and takes a lot of masking tape to create a book effect. :( The acrylic grisaille (black and white underpainting) is 1/2 done on the girls' skin and then the background story book has to be finished in acrylic.


When that is all done I will do quick transparent oil layers on the girls to achieve realism on them only.

To see all the stages of the painting go to this page.

Pam

Living in Smooth Rock Falls is a never ending source of interest. I live on Cloutierville Road and the clean up crew is a little unusual.

Just start your lawn mower or hang up your laundry and the clean up crew is there to keep those nasty bugs and snakes at bay. :)


I have been doing quick pen, ink and graphite drawings. I forgot to take a photo of the white rose I completed before it went to the art club on display. I'll get a shot of that this week.

Here is "Winter House" a miniature.

Pam