Zoey Frank
You can see I ran out of room at the bottom, but It did not matter to me. "He could be standing in water" is what I thought. The point was that it was spontaneous and fresh. Zoe Frank posed a good question; Are you and architect or a gardener painter? The architect is structured and precise and the gardener reacts to what is in front of them. I feel like I have always been more of a Gardner.
This is very nice introduction to her work:
https://youtu.be/hgCpGu50Kj0
This has always been one of my favorite watercolors from John Singer Sargent. I was reflecting on it and I think that not only is he showing us his mastery of the medium of watercolor, but we also know that he only did these for pleasure and this person does not seem to be an aristocrat that was going to pay him to paint his majestic portrait, but rather someone Sargent just found fascinating and wanted to paint. There are no preliminary drawings on the original so he went it will paint and all the confidence in the world. I love that he does not define the beard and that we can feel him sitting back in a comfortable-looking room with this warm light illuminating his face. Also, of note, is his use of blues and purples to balance out that warm face and background. Some people do not realize that he is holding a cane, and this also adds a bit of mystery. Who was this man?
My Master copy is available for $700
To carve out a livelihood as an artist, one must first recognize the inherent business aspect of their craft. Central to this endeavor is the challenge of gaining visibility—an obstacle perhaps even more pronounced in the artistic sphere. Platforms like DeviantArt are teeming with a plethora of talent, making it easy to get lost in the crowd. While establishing a website is a step in the right direction, the crucial task remains: making your presence known. Equally important is addressing the fundamental question: what value does your art offer to potential clients?
This quandary has been a focal point of my contemplation, prompting me to reflect on the sage advice offered by a teacher: "Paint that which you wish existed but does not." This wisdom has since become my guiding principle. I create vibrant, colorful compositions that not only uplift my spirits but also resonate with others who find beauty in the same subjects. By infusing my work with elements of joy and optimism, I strive to offer viewers a moment of respite from the complexities of everyday life—a value proposition that distinguishes my artistic endeavors in a crowded marketplace.
Here is an interview I did with an old friend of mine, Robert May. If you want to know a little about me, tune in and give it a listen. We talk about my first published illustration, to my most recent work.
There is a great story about how I met and am now friends with the great-granddaughter of my favorite Spanish painter, Joaquin Sorolla.
https://youtu.be/JlGz4WN2xfk
This was the first drawing I did of the series I am calling; "Artist who inspire me"
I started with a colored pencil drawing on what turns out to be quite flimsy paper to do what I did to it. This is the reason to practice. To make errors and to learn from our mistakes. If you look at the video below, you will be able to see how I completely lose the drawing and freak out a bit. I was confident I could bring it back, but all that subtle drawing was gone. I lesson learned, for sure. What you see in the picture is all the material I used,.. so you can do it as well. Let me know if you have a question I can answer. The original is for sale, just drop me a line.
Here is a link to YouTube :
Here is a link to Sargent's work: https://www.johnsingersargent.org/
Original available $500
I think that when you are creative you are just that,...Creative. We just tend to find a medium that we are more comfortable with and stick to that, but in my case, I tend to try it all. I have a photography Instagram, one for illustrations, and one for Fine Art. (The one for cartooning I discontinued as it was getting a little too heated and I don't want to deal with trolls). My first show was a photography one and it sold well, but for some reason, I want to tackle that which is harder for me, namely oils. I know, weird. Anyway, please take a moment to check out my IG photo account and follow me: https://www.instagram.com/carlos_taylor_photography/
If you want to learn how to paint you can learn from a modern master for FREE on YouTube.
Nicolas is generous and thoughtful, full of really great information, and insight for artists of every level. He is very smart. He moved to Colombia where the cost of living is much lower than in the US and thus able to make the money stretch. That being said, he works more than any artist I know. He makes a painting a day and Dani, his partner, makes the videos you see on YouTube. He sells his work at very affordable prices, but in doing so, he almost guarantees that he will sell them all. He is all about the process and the pure joy of painting and that is why I love him.
Pro tip: If you want to own one of his stunning pieces you must go to http://www.ourpaintedlives.com/
at exactly 7:30AM to place your bid. They normally sell out within seconds. It took me several times.
My latest video recreating a watercolor by John Singer Sargent is on You Tube
The Master copy is available for $800
I decided to do a series of portraits of artists that I admire and who have had an influence on me. This is the second image of "Artist who inspire me" series. I wanted to explore a technique I saw C.F.Payne use https://www.etsy.com/shop/CFPayneIllustration , although, for some reason, I ended up adding more pigments than he does. I find it helpful when the artist shares their tricks of the trade. The big takeaway from his talk is to use the ULTRA Matte Medium, not just the regular one as it has more "tooth" on the paper and can take the pencils better. It is had to find in stores so go directly online. Here is one link: https://www.amazon.com/Liquitex-5616-Professional-Ultra-Medium/dp/B001UNYH32
Alphons Mucha has always had a great impression on me. I had the privilege to visit Prague in 2018 and see his frescos and large Slavic Epic canvases. Here is a good link to most of his work: https://www.alfonsmucha.org/
Original painting available $500
I came across this nice article that I think might help someone that is starting out on this journey with watercolors. Enjoy!
https://drawpaintacademy.com/10-watercolor-painting-tips-beginners/
Hello fellow paint enthusiasts,
I wanted to share with you a thought that became apparent to me, even though I had read it from John Singer Sargent, and that is " You must paint,...with paint" I normally "starve" my palette, in other words, I don't put enough paint on it because of the expense of oils. However, this is indeed a detriment to learning how to paint. The more paint I use the better the work becomes. So, my advice to you is to put twice as much paint as you think you are going to need,...and use it! you will be surprised how fast it goes after you start mixing. This painting is still just barely grasping that idea. I started using lots of paint on the background, but I was still a bit stingy with the face. Small steps.
I have included a close up of the sky by her elbow so you can see some of the thickness.
Paniyiri
I tried something new,...again.
This time I drew with charcoal on wood and sealed it with a stain/varnish. I picked a picture I took while in Greece that I felt would be challenging and at the same time fun. The image is of a typical Greek festival where everyone is concentrating on the dancers and I concentrated on the source of all the joy and happiness, the musicians.
One of the challenges was getting the values right. It was a night scene but illuminated with warm artificial light. I tried combinations of yellow lake, bismuth yellow, etc,...but the one that worked best was the Gamblin "India yellow". I pushed the background color to the color side to give us that contrast and the feeling of nighttime. It's always a little tricky to decide what to include and what to omit. There were tons of details like cables that just looked better if I did not include them, but I needed some to make it look authentic. I am particularly pleased with some of the values in the clothes.
I often find myself pulled in multiple directions creatively. For instance, in this case, I decided to depart from my usual watercolor medium and explore the realm of inks. Additionally, I'm aware of my tendency to switch both subject matter and mediums frequently—a habit that some may view with skepticism, advocating instead for specialization. While I understand their perspective, I personally thrive on the diversity of artistic exploration, finding it more enriching than sticking to a single approach.
Regarding this particular artwork featuring a "faery" or "fairy," I draw inspiration from the mystical aura of the forest. Humans have a tendency to attribute human characteristics to the natural world, and I enjoy channeling that into creating whimsical, miniature versions of ourselves. Furthermore, my interest in innocence as a theme likely stems from my experiences raising my daughters. Through this piece, I aim to capture the delicate purity and enchantment associated with innocence, as seen through the lens of faerie mythology.
This painting was commissioned by a friend of the couple, and it was such a thoughtful gift that it made me wish I had friends like him! T...
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