Acrylic Paints Are a Great Option for Budding Artists

Acrylic paints are quite a new medium in the world of art if you compare them to the likes of oil paints or watercolours. The paint itself has only been available on a commercial basis since the 1950's after the acrylic resin which forms the paint was invented by a Dr. Otto Rohm. The medium has been recurrently developed and refined ever since. Many new genres of art were developed after the paint was utilised by the likes of Andy Warhol, who set the standard for 'pop art' in the 1960's. This medium also adheres to attributes of other types of paint deeming it very versatile and perfect for anybody starting out. Art is all about experimentation after all.

Many reputable art suppliers will definitely stock acrylic paints, given their popularity, and they will often vary in price and quality. You can also purchase sets which offer a variety of colours and sometimes include acrylic brushes also, great as an initial starting point for the absolute beginner. It is very easy to manipulate this particular medium given its dexterous qualities. With the addition of water, acrylic paints can be thinned to a consistency that mimics watercolour paints. You can also layer very easily; allowing one layer to dry you can immediately add another on top of it. The only downside to using this particular technique is that unlike watercolours, the colours cannot be blended again once dry. Acrylic paints are water resistant once dry, great for stencils or block colours but not so flexible if you want to continuously blend colours together. As long as you keep it wet this should not be a problem.

This medium can also be utilised in crafts, not just simply canvas painting. One dry it is permanent, so it is perfect for small projects or painting miniature models and such. Many professionals who use it will have perfected techniques and methods which suit their painting style. As an amateur artist or student of art finding the right brand of acrylic paints and forming your technique and ideas is just as important. Another great attribute to this medium is the immensely quick drying time. A perfect quality for those who are new to arts and crafts, meaning you can work quickly and see the dry finished results straight away. Most sets available will offer a range of colours and of course the more you get used to the medium of acrylic paint, the more adventurous you can be.

iArtSupplies are established suppliers of high quality acrylic paints and other art materials.

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Portrait Painting Artists Sketch Faces

The first and most important step in portrait painting is to draw many sketches until you feel the sitter's personality is captured. The personality may be completely captured by your judgment call or reviewed by the sitter and both of you settle on an agreed decision. Use a live model to pose for you. This is portrait sketching at its best. A photo may substitute should you not be able to get anyone to pose.

The purpose of sketching faces is to outline general features; then detail and refine. I had a personal experience which taught me a lesson. Before completing your portrait painting check with your client to be sure the sitter is in agreement.

Why?

I had described exactly how I wanted my portrait to be done and I asked the portrait painting artist if she could do it. If it was not within her talent range to give me what I wanted, do not take the job. She said she could it. We agreed to 50% down and 50% on completion.

She completed the portrait. I was very disappointed as she did not fulfill my requirements. I refused to pay the balance of the agreed amount. I was very angry. I lost my money, but more importantly the portrait never got done.

Till today, I truly feel that if the artist had me review her work as she progressed with the portrait we would have both been very happy. She would have had her money, I would have had my portrait, and I would have done much advertising for her.

Artists may have their tempers, but the paying customer has their rights to the best product that an artist can produce. Artists like any other business person needs to give good customer service.

Thank you for listening to me. Let's go back to being a portrait artist.

Let us take a moment to reflect and think. It was not uncommon years ago for a person to be painted surrounded by those effects which defined the individual. For instance, if the person was a hunter, there would be dogs nearby. If the person enjoyed gardening, he or she would be surrounded by their flowers.

A decision needs to be made if there is to be a background or not for the person you are sketching for a portrait.

This should be an easy decision:
A significant background symbol representing their interestsWearing apparel which identifies the personA piece of jewelry which marks their identityAn emblem or medals signifying their accomplishmentsBirthmarks or tattoos

The personality of the sitter needs to be captured on canvas with or without a significant symbol. If using symbols, do not let them take away from the sitter. The person is the focus point on the canvas.

After making portrait sketches consider where light and shadow will be noted in the portrait. Light and shadow are critical for emphasizing or de-emphasizing facial lines and expressions.

What size will you be drawing and painting? A standard rule says the subject should be 2/3 of the canvas.

Mixing flesh tones:

The complexion of the human face has many colors. Experiment with pigments to get different shades of flesh tones.

When I do get what I consider the 'correct' shade I make extra and store appropriately or write the formula in a notebook so it may be mixed again when needed. It is not necessary to purchase flesh tinted paint.

It will take time and practice to become a good portrait artist, but it can be done. Find yourself a mentor who will be a great help to you. Learn all that you can from that person but at the same time your experiments and personal experiences will lend towards original works.

For more information to improve your portrait painting artist skills visit the hobbies section at http://www.Infotrish.com and review Portrait Painting with Acrylic & Oil Paint.

Tricia Deed, writer for http://www.infotrish.com/ brings you through internet marketing hobbies for your leisure, recreation, and business opportunities. I invite you to visit my web pages to review the various hobby companies. Do take advantage of their free giveaways.

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Artists - How to Sell Your Work to Galleries

Although this is primarily about gallery dealers, much of the information and advice and most of the perspectives and views are also applicable to people in other arts-related occupations, including art consultants, curators, critics, administrators, collectors, and artists. Some of my impressions and characterizations might seem severe, but it is not my intention to throw all of the blame for the ills and injustices in the art world on dealers, curators, and the like. Artists must also accept responsibility for the way things are, mainly because most artists, overtly, covertly, or inadvertently, participate (or try to participate) in the dog-eat-dog system. Few are trying to change it.

If I had my way, I would replace commercial galleries with a system in which artists exhibited work in their studios and sold it directly to the public. But such a system could work only if artists acquired enough self-confidence not to need gallery validations, and if the public, likewise, had the self-confidence necessary to buy work without gallery validation. Since there is a very remote chance that these events will occur in my lifetime, the next best thing for changing the system is to regulate the business practices of galleries nationwide, including policies affecting commissions, discounts, insurance, payments to artists, and the use of contracts. For the time being, since the gallery system is still very much intact and is virtually unregulated, the following opinions, advice, and observations are aimed at helping artists acquire more business savvy, more control over their careers, and more control in their relationships with those who are currently running the show.

Artists are constantly bombarded with erroneous, irresponsible, and unethical advice about the art world and art galleries. While some adv ice is exchanged through word of mouth, much of it is disseminated through articles in trade publications. Some of these articles are written by well-meaning but naive individuals who are connected to the art world in some capacity; others are written by less-than-well intentioned art-world figures whose motives are self-serving. For example, in an article from Art in America, a dealer assures readers that "a minority of dealers are strictly concerned with commercial success." However, he then condones the greedy practice of awarding dealers a commission on all studio sales.

An artist may on occasion sell a work directly from his studio to a friend or to a collector he has known before his gallery affiliation. It is the artist's ethical obligation to report such transactions to his dealer and to remit a reduced commission, commonly 20 percent, to compensate the dealer for a work he cannot offer under the usual terms of their agreement.

Another dealer advises that the fastest track into the art world is to work for a famous artist. A political scientist cum art collector encourages beginners to exhibit only in "small" places when he writes in American Artist, "Begin building your career at smaller local or regional galleries of good repute. It is too bruising to try the larger galleries in major art centres'." An arts administrator encourages artists to retreat if they are rejected by galleries, advising, "If your first search is unsuccessful, wait a year or two and try again." And a career consultant to artists states that the reason it is important to dress presentably is "so that you give the impression that you're making money somehow, presumably through your artwork.

Artists also give each other peculiar and bad advice. For example, in a book profiling contemporary artists, an artist discusses how she uses sex to get ahead: "I've been propositioned a lot: 'I'll give you a show if you sleep with me.' It happens often. Would I do it for a show? Now I would, but when I was younger I wouldn't. I wouldn't because I was a jerk." And another artist tells beginners that "one of the necessary qualities of being an artist is to not expect an awful lot, to be somewhat dense about any thoughts of what you will get out of being an artist."

If you believe everything you read you would conclude that, in order to find a gallery and succeed in the art world, you must sleep with dealers, and dress as though you have a lot of money. You should work for a famous artist, and when beginning your career, you should have low expectations and exhibit in small, local galleries. You should avoid large cities at all costs. And if you are rejected from galleries, you should retreat and wait a year or two before trying again!

Although in composite form these recommendations sound very silly, many artists, unfortunately, believe the advice to be true.

Successful artists such as Doug Hyde and Rolf Harris seem to have it easy, but they too were once struggling artists who had the same concerns and worries we all do.

Fineartshopper, stockist of Rolf Harris Prints

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What Is Pop Art? Original Artists And Their Contributions

Over the last fifty years, Pop Art has experienced dramatic changes in themes, styles and content. As an art form that draws inspiration from mass media and consumerism, it has necessarily evolved alongside a modernizing world. During the Golden Age of Pop Art, a handful of Pop Art artists explored bold new means of expression. Each of these artists contributed a unique influence to this varied art form that would forever change the history of the art genre. Some of the original pioneers include Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, and Tom Wesselmann.

Roy Lichtenstein taught as a professor at the State University of New York at Oswego before pursuing art. It was not until the early 1960's that Lichtenstein began his career as ant artist. His early paintings earned him national attention as they used cartoons and images that were derived from commercial print production. His style evolved as his later works featured thick outlines, vibrant colors and Ben-Day dots. His most famous works include Drowning Girl (1963), which is currently on display at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

Despite his lifelong passion, Tom Wesselmann turned his full attention to art only after a two year enlistment in the Army and obtaining a degree in psychology. Although most commonly remembered for his collages, his original focus was on the classical representation of nudes, still life and landscapes. He received national praise after his series Great American Nude, which utilized flat forms and intense colors.

Andy Warhol is probably the best known of the original Pop Art. He began as a commercial artist creating illustrations and advertisements during the 1950's. His career in art began in 1962 with a solo exhibit in California that garnered national attention. He was renowned for utilizing the repetition of Hollywood icons and common household items in his work. In 2009, his Eight Elvises piece, an acrylic on canvass with eight overlapping images of Elvis, sold for 100 million dollars. The price for this single piece places him in the company of such revered artists as Pablo Picasso and Vincent Van Gogh.

During the 1960's, these three classic Pop Art artists helped create a movement which made art more accessible to the public. They used styles, themes and content which were familiar to the average American and contained a decipherable message. More recently, contemporary artists such as Romero Britto, Carlos A. Navarro, and Tim Rogerson have employed the use of vibrant mediums and colors to create the Neo-Pop Art movement. This new generation has begun to blur the line between art and retail design.

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Alternative Views on Artists Brushes for Oil Painting

This article describes some unorthodox methods for using paint brushes when painting in oil. None of these are intended to replace traditional advice. It is more a list of additional things to consider when painting, and hopefully get results from. It may or may not be relevant to your method, but I hope for some it is interesting, and even useful to consider. This article is perhaps more relevant to artists working in a relatively uncontrolled and rough manner.

Cheap brushes are often dismissed for failing to retain their shape, and leaving loose bristles behind in the paint. I have found most cheap brushes are ok, although some I admit are useless. Being so cheap, it is affordable to experiment with different brands and throw bad ones away, taking note not to buy them again. I have some expensive brushes that I keep separate, and use when required. But for the most part, I use cheap ones.

I'm not sure what the difference between oil and acrylic brushes is, but my favourite brushes for oil painting are acrylic brushes. They seem to last just as long, cope with oil paint fine, and are an inexpensive brand.

It is often advised to only lightly dip the end of the brush in paint, so that none clogs up the ferrule. It is also often advised that after dipping the brush in paint, any excess should be wiped off the brush, and the bristles moulded into shape if necessary. These recommendations make sense, but I would find taking this level of care all the time too annoying and sometimes restrictive. As important as looking after your brushes is, I would advise artists not to let it take over, or compromise their natural and/ or most successful process. At the end of the day, it's only a brush. Enjoying painting, and producing the best art work possible is the priority.

Having the bristles up towards the ferrule clogged up with the previous colour, can sometimes be a good thing. I usually create my current colour using paint from the previous colour. This is a very useful piece of advice I was given a couple of years ago, and has helped harmonise my colours. If you use this method, and push the brush relatively hard in to the canvas, so the previous colour towards the ferrule is applied alongside the current, the colours can later be worked in to each other to good effect. A lot of my shading has come about by doing this. It isn't very controlled, but even if it doesn't work, oil is quite easy to correct.

Rinsing the brush in turpentine between colours in only partially successful in removing the previous colour, even if you don't clog the bristles up. You will notice the turpentine itself gets cloudy very easily. I always have plenty of each type of brush to hand, so if I want to start painting in a new and lighter colour, I can use a different brush.

Don't automatically throw a brush away if paint has dried in the bristles. Try it, and see if it leaves a useful effect or texture. If not, try manipulating the bristles. Try cleaning it, soaking in turpentine, cutting with scissors, rubbing with sandpaper. If after several attempts, it appears nothing good will result from the bristles, attach a piece of rag to the end, and try painting with that. Consider all the crazy things guitarists do to their effects pedals, tunings, amplifier settings, and so on. Only throw a brush away once you've run out of ways to rescue it.

Clean your brushes properly after you've finished painting for the day. The instructions for doing this aren't covered in this article, but it doesn't take very long, and is worth doing.

One last tip. If you visit China, or someone you know does, and offers to bring you back something. Consider asking for paint brushes. They are amazingly cheap over there, and are easy on the baggage.

Edgeworth Johnstone is a contemporary artist from Muswell Hill, North London, UK. He specialises in expressionist figurative paintings, but also makes other art work such as drawings and block prints. Browse the online gallery on his website for affordable original art work. http://www.edgeworthjohnstone.co.uk/

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New Trend for Visual Artists: Digital Image Downloads

Due to the decline of the present economy, today's artists need to be resourceful in ways to maintain an income from their talents. Like the rest of the United States, they are finding a decline in sales due to the high cost of everything, supplies, printing services and shipping. One way to keep costs down is like always, to cut out the middle man. Independent artists have been finding the internet a wonderful way to sell their artwork, not only the originals but also keeping the originals alive in print form. In some instances, the prints have been known to bring in more money than the original itself. Lately, all this has been changing. The final cost of having a decent print made including shipping, is making it less of a viable option. The benefits to this new trend of offering image downloads, much like a recording artist does, are becoming more and more clear.

One benefit is, the money goes directly to the artist with perhaps a small percentage going to PayPal or some other money transaction service. In the past, an artist would divvy up his wage with major portion usually going to the printer. Leaving, the artist with less than half of the total fee structure. This new technique relieves him for having to deal with the printer at all. The customer is now able to print the image directly from his home printer. Some artists are also offering to sign a release for limited reproduction rights for personal use. This entitles the customer to have t-shirts, mouse pads, coffee mugs or whatever made from the purchased image.

A second great benefit to this new trend is, no shipping. Dealing with the post office's limited hours, rigid guidelines, and high shipping fees can be very tiresome. Not at all conducive to the creative process. Shipping out of the United States is especially fraught with sky rocketing costs. The shipping costs alone for a 11x14 in. print shipped to China can be as much as $34.95. That price doesn't include the handling charges. With a digital image download, the customer receives his image as a high resolution.jpg image in an email after the purchase has been completed.

The most influential benefit may be what has now been created, a turn key system. Now an artist can open his email to find the oh so coveted "You have money" email and not have to take any further action on this part, transaction completed. We can now do what the other online marketeers have been doing all along. Selling a virtual product over and over, similar to the recording artist and ebook sellers. The artist can be making money 24/7 while he is relaxing at the beach, sleeping or getting a jump on that next masterpiece.

Instant image downloads are yet another example of the American public making lemonade out of lemons. If set up correctly this can become a wonderful income stream for the independent and represented artist alike. Just be sure to let the customer know, her or she does not have the right to resell the products. Resell rights can be another income stream all together. It always pays to be creative in a changing world. Artists are very creative beings. Now our businesses need to be to survive the ups and downs of an uncertain future.

Folk Artist Kori Vincent has been selling her paintings and prints on the internet for over eight years. Feel free to visit her at her website at http://www.mylittlecornerdesign.com/ or her blog http://www.paintingprimitives.com/

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