Focus on Paint Brushes

I've been painting with Acrylic paints for the past year, it certainly is more challenging than oil. With Oil paints the gliding and blending is easily achieved. Acrylic by comparison is dry, in my experience it needs lots of medium to achieve a flow that’s not scratchy and dry looking, I hold back on water as this obviously thins the paint.

My Brushes

I believe I've overcome the blending more successfully with the use of soft brushes, the best of these being Sable, Badgerlon is also very useful. I’m not a fan of Hogs hair. It really depends on the size of your canvas and style of painting. The other brush I love is a make-up brush for highlighting blushers and bronzes, available everywhere and sometimes as a freebee with make-up kits. These brushes are fat squat and softer than silk, use before the paint dries but is not wet, you need to experiment to find the moment. The gentlest touch and sweep will beautifully blend if this is what you are aiming to achieve.

A blusher is useful for blending

The style of brush is another avenue to explore. My favourite is a Filbert and then a Bright, all have different uses and having a selection of sizes is very useful. Keep a pair of tweezers at hand for that odd hair that escapes the brush and wants to live in your painting. Have you noticed that finishing with a downwards brush stroke gives a much smoother finish?

I love to view a painting and feel its impact, that’s the emotional aspect. Then I study the style and  craft of the artist, if the detail up close is well executed I appreciate it, and am delighted.

My latest painting is of a rose in my neighbour's garden, can anyone name the variety?

My latest painting.

That's it for now, see you in a couple of weeks.

Val x

Back from a ten day trip to the  Barossa and what a lovely time I've had. Beautiful people and informative mentoring, and art lessons from Jacqueline Coates. The Barossa was as gorgeous as ever, the roses were still out and the farmers market was in full swing.  We stayed at Anlaby, www.anlaby.com.au which  is the oldest Merino Sheep Station in Australia.

I managed three paintings, and I am quite happy with two of them
but one . . . hmmmm.

Cream Roses Tulip and Pears.

The roses are still blooming

I was taken with the abundance of roses of Kapunda. They have an Autumn flush  there that Melburnians only see in Summer.

Roses from  'Knights Roses'

It really has been a wonderful break, and guess what? In October our group of artists are presenting an exhibition of our artwork at Anlaby Station! The exhibition is part of their annual open garden and called 'Impressions of Anlaby'. The date is the 25th and 26th of  October.

Before I go, the North Kapunda Hotel serves great food and local wines!

Expect to hear from me again in a couple of weeks, where I intend to share some of my personal painting tips.

That's it for now,

Val x

The Creative Process

A Happy Easter to you all. Have your brush strokes been productive, have they been relevant to your current work? I find that like writers, I can suffer writers block, or painters pause! I wrote the following poem 'Oh' during a 'painters pause'. In the poem I have simplified the creative process.

Autumn in Tervuren Woods, Belgium.
Oil on linen

Some meanings and expressions of the word “OH.”

In painting as in writing, there is a beginning, middle and an end.

The beginning of a painting gives rise to many emotions.

Excitement, dreams, and above all the urge to create.

The ancient Egyptians believed that man was above the animals of this world, but a lessor being than the angels.

It was believed that man was given the gift of creation of beauty in all aspects.

The almighty created the world but gave man the gift to create the finishing touches. Science, mathematics, architecture, writing, music and art.

So we begin our painting, ohh where to start?

Sketch the subject, block in, ohh! That’s going well.

Apply the colour, uh ooh!, what a disaster,  a disappointment.

Plod on, dab dab fiddle fiddle, what am I doing? oooohhh….

Ohh, that’s more like it, I can see where it’s going.

Did I do that? With each stroke and attention to detail, colour and blending I have “created”….ooooohhhh.

The excitement, dreams, and the gift of creating is all ours to share.

I will be back blogging in two week with my new works, under the mentoring of Jacqueline Coates of the Barossa http://www.jacquelinecoates.com/


Bye for now,


Val x

This month I am heading off to the Barossa for 10 days of art classes at 'Salon Rouge' Kapunda. Jacqueline Coates of Blooms group is the inspiring teacher. As part of the 10 days Jacqueline has asked us to give a brief arty history of ourselves, so here 'tis.

Poppies

MY JOURNEY IN ART.      Val Parker.            

                                    

For as long as I can remember I’ve had an interest in painting, a compulsion to explore the beautiful works that the artists of this world have given us as a legacy, and ultimately a source of great pleasure.

I have treasured my visits to art galleries and exhibitions all over the world. Having lived outside of Australia for 21 years I’ve been fortunate to take art classes with very talented artists who have contributed immeasurably to my fascination with, and love of, painting.

I have collected and created art for more than 20 years. This is my personal trip down memory lane.

I ask myself the question “what’s the first memory, indication, or spark of interest in art in all its forms that I can recall?” then it dawned on me “colour” I was always attracted to the intensity the drama and the pure joy that colour gave me.

As a young woman of the 60’s the influence of the age and times was for me the Movie Stars, the glamour, colour, and romance, all very exciting. The only concession to emulating that world was my first passion, LIPSTICK. I indulged in buying from Coles as often as possible a new lipstick,

Sunset Pink, Sunset Coral, Passion Pink and so on. This passion led not only trying to look like those glamorous women but to be like them, joining Drama groups, Light Opera Companies. And not least having my wonderful Aunty June make dresses I had copied from the Movies, mostly Grace Kelly, but a little of Doris Day also. It seemed my parents had assisted in this direction with all the years of my Drama and Singing lessons.

The above parts of my life lead to many beautiful, exciting and memorable occasions. With the opportunities for T.V. appearances, Radio, Stage Productions and a special love for Musical Comedy. 

The last I appeared in was staged at the Palais de Beaux Arts Brussels, with the Brussels Light Opera Company.

The younger Val Parker married at 23 years of age and moved to a very quiet country town. Life was full and busy, a wonderful husband and two children. I still nurtured the love and interest in the Arts, performing, directing, and teaching singing and drama as private lessons. I took any opportunity to sign up for whatever courses available in drawing and painting.

In 1980 life takes another road, this time to Singapore for 2 years, England 8, and Brussels for 11 years. During these years the opportunity to take classes, visit the best galleries in the world were boundless, and so I took them. Most memorable were my years in Belgium living in a Flemish Community, everyone paints; even the man fixing the guttering on my roof came from a long line of distinguished artists.

Over the years my lipsticks were replaced with paints, an equal passion I believe. I was so excited to be accepted into a class taught by Angele Hoovelt in Belgium, albeit the classes were in Flemish…

Angele is a noted Belgium artist, a very kind and gentle soul coaching the best from her students.

My paintings leant toward the classic realist style and covered many genres, Landscape, Still Life, and Portrait.

  

Returning to Melbourne in 2003 after the passing of my husband after 36 years of marriage was devastating. My adult children returned with me and were my strength, grounding and support as they still remain today. We shared a painful loss.

A new life was to emerge after about 4 years. Those who have grieved will understand this. I then returned to my painting and joined a lovely group of ladies in Melbourne headed by Kathryn Tilley. This Group was very eclectic, inspirational and hardworking, named “Sorelli & Friends they were having successful exhibitions of their work in various venues around Melbourne. During my 5 years with the group I was part of two exhibitions, “In an Artists Garden” and “Paintings of Peru” held in Fed Square Melbourne.  I was the organiser of both exhibitions which were in aid of charities. For the Peruvian exhibition we had wonderful support from the Peruvian community and Caritas Australia, proceeds were for The Sisters of St. Josephs for their work in Peru with women.

I also acknowledge the mentoring of Kerry Anne Sullivan, a notable Melbourne Artist and a gracious lady.

An absence of painting in my life for a few years, the bubble of life severely bruised with my breast cancer. On the other side of the coin, an uplifting of spirits was very welcome with three grandchildren to love.

Another page is turned and here I am painting again. I have joined Jacqueline Coates “Blooms” group, and will be off for a 10 day workshop at the end of this April in the Barossa Valley S.A.

The work being produced by this group is stunning.

My conclusion, “My Journey in Art” continues. I’ve found this desire to create has many rewards among which I consider my painting as a companion, it’s always there for me whenever I choose or need a space to go to. How enriched it has made my life.

Val. X

10/04/14.

Hi there, another week has passed during which I have been to the Melbourne International Flower show. For all flower lovers and artists it was spectacular! Lots of inspiration...I think you will all agree that the following photos are just beautiful...Can anyone name these flowers?

My own flower, the Pierre De Ronsard from my first blog is nearly complete, I have a brush stroke or two to add, or more... before it is finished.  It is poignant to see a flower transferred from the garden to the wall, this flower will never die.

See you next week!

Val x

I thought I'd like to share with you Lewis's art. Lewis is 3 and is showing signs of being an exceptional artist. 

Lewis and Nan at Grandparents day March 2014

I have heard that it's not advisable to teach structured art to children until they reach puberty as it is more desirable that a child develops an imagination of their own. Lewis has produced his first piece for Nan, that he has not titled.

'Untitled' by Lewis February 2014

“It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child.” – Pablo Picasso

Paint is an inviting, accessible and engaging material for young children. The experience of painting offers children an opportunity to express themselves creatively, use their imagination and build their fine motor skills. Children often paint without intending to produce, but rather to simply enjoy the pleasure of painting. With an amazing sense of wonder, a child equipped with a brush can plunge into colours, glide, swoop, dab and sweep as they change a plain piece of paper into vistas of shades, shapes and textures. For young children, the process of painting is as important as the product.

Fintona Early Learning centre

Painting of Rose. Pierre de Ronsard.

Hello, I am new to blogging and I thought I would share with you the painting I am working on at the moment. It is 120cm x 120cm acrylic on linen.

This rose lives in my daughters garden, it is a Pierre de Ronsard,  a French poet, 1524 - 1585. His poem 'Ode to Cassandra' is believed to have influenced the naming of this rose.

I hope to share my love of painting, tips, ideas and inspirations!

Ode to Cassandra

Pierre de Ronsard

Darling, let's go see if the rose

That this morning did disclose

Its dress of purple to the sun

Has not lost at all this vespers

The folds of its empurpled dress,

And its tint to yours akin.

Alas! See how in a little space,

Darling, it has upon the place

Alas, alas, let drop its beauties!

O truly wicked stepmother Nature,

Since such a flower lasts no more

Than from morning unto eve!

Thus, darling, if you believe me,

While the bloom is on your years

In its freshest novelty,

Gather, gather your young age:

As upon this flower, old age

Will come to tarnish all your beauty