Whether you need to produce a still life or a pet portrait, painting a three dimensional object on a two dimensional canvas has forever been a challenge. To do it convincingly whilst retaining the freshness in the picture is even harder. Beginners frequently grab the tube of black to show shadow effects on an object, but here lies disaster. (more…)
Posts Tagged ‘painting’
Put the reality back into 3D objects
Monday, May 17th, 2010The importance of dark areas in water colour painting
Friday, May 14th, 2010For water colour artists, it doesn’t matter if you’re thinking of tackling a landscape or pet portrait, in all probability you’ll have to incorporate areas of dark shadow. Many recreational painters, when first faced with dark areas in their composition, often fall back on a tube of black or end up with muddy colours. Unfortunately, it can be quite difficult to see the different tones within dark areas, it’s far easier to judge colour tone in lighter shades. (more…)
Using water colours to make portrait studies
Tuesday, May 11th, 2010How to paint falling snow with water colour
Tuesday, May 11th, 2010Water colour is a medium that can be adapted to produce diverse effects. One of the more challenging effects to get across is snow. Not only useful in landscape pictures but can add interest to pet portraits as well. (more…)
Repairing a picture frame
Wednesday, May 5th, 2010
If you decide to go ferreting around in antique fairs or merely happened to have discovered a long forgotten pet portrait that was left in the attic, you may find that the picture frames have become damaged or the joints may be a bit loose. If the frame is not an expensive antique, it is possible for you to be able to repair much of the damage yourself.
Re-Gluing. (more…)
Cleaning artists oil paint from brushes
Monday, May 3rd, 2010Paint brushes are the tools the pet portrait artist just cannot do without, their painting style and technique relies on them. Good quality brushes are also very expensive, so it’s important to make sure they are kept in good condition for as long as possible.
While it is important, cleaning can damage to the brushes so, if an artist has to stop painting for a while, say an hour or two, it’s generally better to simply load the brush with fresh paint and either wrap it with cling film. (more…)
How to capture the sense of movement in a painting
Tuesday, March 9th, 2010There is a specific skill in attempting to capture the sense of movement in a still image like a painting. It’s a problem that, for artists who specialize in pet portraits, are only too familiar with. Furthermore, if done properly, it will greatly add to the potency of the image being created. (more…)
Water colour papers explained
Saturday, March 6th, 2010Artists working in pet portraits have many painting surfaces to choose from, but if you’re using water colour the best choice has to be water colour paper. The manufacture of high quality paper for artists can be thought of an art form in itself and undertaken by skilled craftsmen. Among the best are those that are hand made and provide artists with a choice of surfaces to suit a variety of painting techniques. (more…)
Choosing an easel
Wednesday, February 17th, 2010Easels should help make the life of the pet portrait artist much easier, by offering a secure support for their canvas, at just the right height and angle. Still, there are a number of varieties to go for, each one designed to meet the particular needs of the artist whether they’re in a studio or outside.
The most versatile is the sketching easel. (more…)
(Some) Oil painters do it with wood!
Wednesday, January 20th, 2010Stretched canvas is a very popular option for pet portrait artists as a support for their paintings. Nevertheless, there are substitute supports that can be just as worthy when you don’t have any canvases to hand. Wood has traditionally be used as a support for oils and indeed, is one of the earliest forms of support for painting. (more…)