A-to-Z blog challenge: Step U - action steps (part 5: the devil is in the details)

 

It is time to get into the details. At this point, I will remove the taped items to focus on painting the details. These items can be bulky or need to be adhered to the panel after painting so that there are no gaps or halos.

Halos are those white or light-coloured lines you can see surrounding subjects in photos or where a painted area does not cover the background colour properly. It is usually a good idea to avoid these unless, of course, you want them. I'm not fond of those halos, so I will avoid them as much as possible.

The notes made during the non-painting stage are now considered for any adjustments or changes. This stage of the painting will take the longest because it is very important to ensure that the outcome will reflect the painting I have envisioned.

Until tomorrow!

🇿🇦💜 Linzé

A-to-Z blog challenge: Step T - non-painting tasks (part 3: assess, record, and update)

Staring at the painting is not very productive, although it is important to do so. To make the effort useful, it is time to make notes. Using my sketchbook with the original thumbnails and planning, I can make notes with words or drawings, on the things I am seeing that need adjustment. It not the time to do the work. It is the time to think about the things that needs to be fixed or changed. Make the notes and they will not be forgotten.

It is also useful to take a picture with my phone, print it out and stick it into the sketchbook as part of the assessment process.

Now the notes and thoughts are recorded, it is time to step away altogether. Do something else like read a book, because my brain needs the time to assimilate the painting. But before I read that book, it is time to have a look at the planning.

The competition runs from 1 April to 30 September. My plan is to start work on the painting on 1 June. It will give me four months to do the work, but more importantly, it gives me time to make sure that other tasks, like the final editing of my next novel, will have my focus for May. April is for writing, so I am focusing on that. Focus is important because it helps to get things done more efficiently.

So updating the planning after that first steps of painting will then happen to make sure that I will make that deadline without adding more stress to my life.

I am sure your life is as busy as mine, and if you struggle with managing the tasks taking up the hours of your day, I can recommend a new book by Cal Newport, Slow Productivity.

And a planning method called, The Twelve Week Year by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington, is definitely also worth looking at.

In the next post I will get back to the action steps for the painting.

Until tomorrow!

🇿🇦💜 Linzé

A-to-Z blog challenge: Step S - non-painting tasks (part 2: doing art by doing nothing)

 

Doing nothing when creating a painting really comes down to taking a step back and assessing the work done. Being enthusiastic about a project is a good thing, but sometimes, taking a moment can prove to be a very important step.

Painting is a close-up process. I stand at the easel, my hand probably resting on the panel while painting or adding mixed media elements to the surface. Being so close means that I cannot see the whole. The rule of thumb is to stand back at least three times the distance of the largest dimension of the artwork to see the whole.

Small pieces are easy; you can simply take one step and see the whole, but painting anything over 50cm will require some more distance.

Not looking at the painting for a day and then coming in and assessing it at that three-times distance will provide information not always easy to spot from close proximity while painting.

What do I see when I stand back?

- do the colours blend as I want them to

- are all the elements in the composition in the right place

- is there enough contrast

- do the mixed media elements provide the impact I want

- and more

When viewing the painting from a distance, you can see a multitude of details, which can tell you a lot about it.

What to do next? Please stick around for the next post.

Until tomorrow!

🇿🇦💜 Linzé

 

A-to-Z blog challenge: Step R - non-painting tasks (part 1: taking a break)

 

At this point during the process you might think that I would be in a hurry to finish. Unless I am behind schedule, this would actually be a good time to take a break. Take a breath. Even with limited time, doing a large art project does take a lot from me.

With so many things on my plate, taking a breather is not just a good idea, it is essential for my physical and mental health.

At this point in April, I am already deep into writing the first draft of my next novel. My painting will not be at the same stage as what I am relaying here in these posts, mostly because the deadline is still a few months in the future.

However, I have another novel scheduled for release later in the year, making the coming months just as busy from a creative perspective. A new novel requires marketing too and all of these tasks require time, which means planning. And that includes taking breaks: from painting, writing and work.

But taking a painting break does not mean doing nothing. More on that in the next post.

Until Monday!

🇿🇦💜 Linzé

A-to-Z blog challenge: Step Q - action steps (part 4: preparing mixed media elements)

 

Slapping paint on a panel is fun, but adding non-traditional mixed media elements allows me to really let the creative juices flow.

Because of all the planning done beforehand, this is the time to pull out the tools, brushes, paints, stamps, and stencils and do the work. Preparing these elements can take hours or days and should not be rushed.

If I am not sure that my choice of colour or technique achieves the goal of the composition, I will prepare a second one. The leftover item will not be wasted whether I use the original idea or the alternative.

Adhesion of these items can be a challenge. Many materials like paper can be stuck to the panel with gel medium. Other items may need glue or even nails. All of the aspects involving materials not typically found in an art store have their own challenges that I have to take into account during both the planning and execution stages of the painting.

When these items are finished, or mostly finished, I tape them to the panel in their respective positions. Then, it's time to take a break.

Until tomorrow!

🇿🇦💜 Linzé

A-to-Z blog challenge: Step P - action steps (part 3: painting the first layer of colour)

In the painting shown here, I painted the background first covering the whole surface with a buff titanium (tan) colour, starting in the middle and progressively making it darker toward the edges.

Oil on paper

Then came the large coloured areas of the wine, before adding the details of the highlights, shadows and glasses. This was done with oil paint on paper as a group project for my art group.

For the competition I will basically do the same. Paint the background first in the shades of colour I need from light to dark. I find it easier to go darker with a colour, so I always start with the lighter tones. If I paint over my outline, that is okay, since I keep my paper “stencil” until the painting is completely finished before disposing of it.

Large areas of other colours can also be painted. If there are contrasting colours, or complementary colours, I will wait until the first colour is dry before painting the second colour to prevent any muddy areas.

Until tomorrow!

🇿🇦💜 Linzé

A-to-Z blog challenge: Step O - action steps (part 2: outline)

 I am now ready to start on the painting. If I want a dark background, I paint it and then use chalk to draw the outline. If I want a light background, I will use a graphite pencil, usually 2B, to draw the outline.

The outline itself can be tricky because the painting is based on another painting. Since my competition painting surface is larger than the original, I taped several sheets of drawing paper together and trimmed it to the same size as the panel.

Using the thumbnails (See Step I) and tools like a compass or ruler, I draw my design on the taped sheet of paper. This will give me a better feel for the design, and this is also the time to make any adjustments I need for the new size.

Once I am happy with the design, I often cut out the elements without destroying the paper. This means that circles or other shapes can then be used to make, cut, design, or fit the mixed media elements before adhering them to the painted surface of the panel.

The remaining design is then traced like a stencil onto the panel with chalk or a pencil. I trust my “drawing brain” and will then redraw freeform shapes and subjects or tweak them as part of the transfer to the panel.

Until tomorrow!

🇿🇦💜 Linzé

A-to-Z blog challenge: Step N - action steps (part 1: surface preparation)

 

Since I paint on wood rather than canvas, there are a few steps before I can start the actual painting.

Wood is a natural product, so it must be sealed before applying any paint. You can paint directly on some wooden surfaces. Still, it is better for mixed media work to first seal the surface with a suitable sealant.

Depending on the wood and sealant, it might be necessary to sand each layer before adding the next. I typically don't sand between the layers since a slightly rough texture adds character to the final painting.

I typically seal the painting surfaces (front and sides) with two layers of sealant and the back surfaces (mounting structure included) with one layer. This helps to protect the wood since I use a sealant suited for indoor and outdoor use.

Next is one to two layers of gesso. The number of layers and type or texture of the gesso I use depends on the painting I want to create. Textured gesso will also contribute to a more textured surface. Canvas is textured, while wood is smooth.

Painting on wood gives me more options, although pre-stretched canvas is already primed and ready for painting. The more rigid surface also lends itself to a broader range of techniques and mixed media options.

The weight of a wooden canvas is often considered a drawback, but unless the painting is really big, the weight is usually not a problem.

Until tomorrow!

🇿🇦💜 Linzé

A-to-Z blog challenge: Step M - planning (part 4: action steps)

 Welcome to the continuance of my posts about my process of submitting a painting to a competition. If this is your first visit to my blog, check out the competition website and share with an artist friend who might be interested in taking part too.

Now back to my process. In this post I am going to list the steps, with follow-up posts adding more detail or information.

1. Surface preparation

2. Outlines

3. First layer

4. Mixed media elements

5. Painting details

6. Finishing

There will also be three posts (between No 4 and No 5 above) about taking a break during painting. This might be the most important step in the whole creative process!

Until tomorrow!

🇿🇦💜 Linzé

PS: You can also subscribe to my Creative Muse newsletter on Substack. I am lazy, so don't worry there will not be spam happening.

A-to-Z blog challenge: Step L - planning (part 3: schedule)

 

At the time of writing this post, I am still waiting for some final details on a commission of six charcoal drawings. On top of working on the final edits of my next novel, planned for release in December, an increasing workload at the lab, and all the other things I have to do, planning time to paint is essential.

I belong to two art groups, one of which I am the teacher, and I schedule time on my calendar weekly. However, scheduling time is not easy, given the amount of time I need for larger paintings. Every painting is different, and preparing the materials for mixed-media work takes longer than we think.

For the 2023 painting, I had to redo some of the elements three times because I miscalculated the sizes or got the colours and shapes wrong. Because I had a plan and a schedule to work on the painting, I managed to do everything to have the submission ready before the deadline. Imagine how miffed I was when the organizers extended the deadline because other artists wanted more time—and this was for a competition that ran from March to September!

Anyway, I allow enough time for all the necessary steps to have my painting ready a few weeks before the deadline. If something goes wrong or I must redo something, I will not need to ask for an extension. But that's just me! 😏

Next time, I will share the steps for the painting and how I plan my time accordingly.

Until Monday!

🇿🇦💜 Linzé

A-to-Z blog challenge: Step K - planning (part 2: medium and materials)

 

As much as I like experimenting with paint and other materials, there is simply not enough time to do that when preparing a competition submission. This means that I need to spend more time thinking and planning than I normally would with a painting.

I love mixed media that includes materials not usually found in the fine art section of my local art stores. The paintings shown here were sold in an exhibition last year, and I used diamond dots, fabric, and wooden sticks amongst other things.

Abstract landscapes
- mixed media

These paintings had me stumped for a bit, but once I got the idea to use the diamond dots, there was no stopping me. Will I be using diamond dots for the 2024 competition painting? No, but I did consider it. Given the theme, I wasn't quite so keen on the idea. Of course, there are a multitude of materials available that will be more suitable. I even rummaged in my husband's toolboxes.

I doubt that I surprised him, but I surprised myself for the list of materials that I have now collected to use for the painting. I even had to buy a few tools too, but that is just par for the course. And it lead me to add the electrical version to my birthday wishlist, because I can definitely see myself doing more of that stuff in the future.

Yeah, sorry about being vague, but rules are rules and giving away my ideas? Not today! 😉

Until tomorrow!

🇿🇦💜 Linzé

A-to-Z blog challenge: Step J - planning (part 1: size of painting)

 

Thank you for visiting my blog today. If you are a return visitor, welcome back. I am delighted to see you again!

We now get to the planning stage of doing a painting for a competition like this one. The painting I did for the 2023 competition, was smaller than the original, about 60%. Sticking to the original size would have disqualified my entry because of size limitations set by the rules.

This year the painting I chose is much smaller. The old masters did not have standard sizes for the canvases which makes it necessary for me to adjust the size of the painting I am doing. I decided to scale up, to fit a panel that I already have. The original was also done with a different aspect ratio, which added to the challenge of scale.

Sometimes art requires doing a little math. I cut and mounted the panel in 2023 from scratch, but this year I decided to go with a store bought panel from my stash.

The new size? 66% larger than the original. Yeah, that engineering degree is useful at the weirdest of times. LOL!

More on that next time.

Until tomorrow!

🇿🇦💜 Linzé

A-to-Z blog challenge: Step I - designing the composition (part 2: incorporating a theme)

Designing a composition based on an existing painting, to incorporate another theme, or style, requires some planning. And artists plan visually – digging out sketchbooks is the next step.

    Thumbnails, ie small drawings or paintings, are typically used to flesh out ideas. I do my version of that. I have a small sketchbook, A5 landscape size, that I use for either experimenting with new ideas or mediums or exploring ideas for a composition. I prefer the smaller size sketchbook to limit myself from getting bogged down in the details. I love to draw, and doing thumbnails is for ideas, not final art, so I need to keep it small.

    Again, sharing is not possible, but here is an example of what I did, and also the final artwork that resulted.

Gouache painting

Sketchbook planning

   

   

Until tomorrow!

📚💜Linzé

A-to-Z blog challenge: Step H - designing the composition (part 1: what’s in a theme)

 

As mentioned in previous posts, the competition has a prescribed theme: take one of the paintings of the old masters and interpret it with an African theme.

I thought, hey, this is easy right? And was I in for a surprise. Unlike the Baroque or Renaissance era, or the Impressionism and Surrealism styles, there is no such thing as African themed art. Historical African art was created for practical applications, e.g. decorating a home, or for religious/spiritual items, e.g. masks. Art was not created for the sake of art. More modern art created by African artists is either considered social, or socio-political commentary. Or is just considered modern or Western art [1,2]. 

So how will it be possible to interpret a piece from an old master, in a theme that does not have a definition? Well, I would say you make your own definition. At least that is how I plan to do it. Will it work? I have no idea, but one thing I do know: it is going to be fun trying!

Until tomorrow!

🇿🇦💜Linzé

References:

1. The Art of Africa, Christa Clarke, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2006

2. https://www.britannica.com/art/African-art/Nigeria

A-to-Z blog challenge: Step G - choosing the masterpiece (part 3: ask a friend)

 

After hours of staring at my first choice of paintings on my screen, I narrowed it down to eight and then three. Then I had to pick one. Sure, I can paint more than one and then decide later, but my time is severely limited: a heavy workload, the final edits to do on my next novel, I am working on another two books, and a few more art projects including commissions. So, I had to commit and the sooner the better.

But I was stuck. I loved the final 3 I chose. So I “phoned” a friend. I belong to an art group of friends, and we have a group on a messaging app where we chat most days. I posted the 3 paintings to the group and asked for their input. I didn’t reveal the theme, nor the medium that I planned to use. (Note: the theme wasn’t made public yet at the time of writing this post. The administrators of the competition sent the theme via the email to invite me to take part again this year.)

They were kind enough to share their thoughts, and it helped me to decide on my final choice. Did I tell them which one I chose? No. Am I going to? No. This is a competition, and while I trust my friends not to share my project. By not revealing my choice, I effectively limit any influence their opinions might have on my artistic decisions, and this is no reflection on them.

Have I started painting yet? No, but stick around and I will tell you why the theme is not as easy as I thought it would be.

Until tomorrow!

🇿🇦💜Linzé

A-to-Z blog challenge: Step F - choosing the masterpiece (part 2: the shortlist)

When you see the paintings that made the final round of judging, and the winners of 2023, you will notice that they are all portraits, or figure paintings. So I thought that maybe I should do that. Problem is that I don't like painting people. This will also make it more difficult to find a painting of the old masters to use, because they don't speak to me.

But...then I found a few. Which surprised me, I have to say. So which one to choose? Which artist, style or period? Like many things with options, it seemed a good idea to make a list.

Strelitzia - coloured pencil
in my sketchbook

    Making a list of paintings, didn't seem right since I needed a visual list, not a written one. I went online and found images of the list of paintings that appealed to me, all styles, all themes, all subjects. I parked them next to each other on my second screen (which is larger than my laptop's) and stared at them.

     Did it help? Stick around to find out how I ended up choosing the painting.

    Until Monday!

🇿🇦💜 Linzé

A-to-Z blog challenge: Step E - choosing the masterpiece (part 1: the artist)

 This competition has a theme, like most competitions do. And this year the theme is to take a painting from one of the masters and do it with an African theme. Or Baroque to braaivleis as the website says.

For my non-South African readers, braaivleis is Afrikaans for a BBQ, but it is the context that is relevant here, not the act of cooking, ie the theme is something (South) African. Weird, I know, but hey this is art, right?

This theme requires some out-of-the-box thinking, because the old masters painted their situations and their scenery ... think people, landscapes, and time period specific subjects. And there were many artists painting, or sculpting, in many styles. So where does one start?

For me it was “simple” - and I use those quote marks on purpose - because we have a lot of art books in the house. I just pulled out everything we have, and then spent some time with each artist and their work. Since I don't have formal art training, I was not familiar with some of the artists. But deciding on which piece, has to start with the artist. And it was difficult, because many of the art I saw appealed to me on both a visual and emotional level.

Let's say it was easier to decide which ones not to use, than finding which one to use. More about that next time.

Until tomorrow!

🇿🇦💜 Linzé

A-to-Z blog challenge: Step D - the fun rules

Since the competition is advertised on social media, ie Instagram, it goes without saying that some social media interaction is allowed. Blog posts like the ones I am sharing this month, where I share my process, but not the details, are allowed.

And so is sharing the details of the competition from the gallery to get the word out for more artists to take part. So yeah, please feel free to share my posts, but also check out the website and Instagram account of the gallery, for more information. Share with a friend, because they may not yet know about the competition.

Until tomorrow!

🇿🇦💜Linzé

 

A-to-Z blog challenge: Step C - early bird registration

 

Yes, I love a good deal as much as the next person, so when the AGAC2024 competition administrator mentioned a discount for early bird registration, I was all over it. The registration fee is more than just reasonable to be honest, but if you love buying art supplies (and who doesn't 😉) saving a few rands will be well spent on the next tube of paint for sure. LOL!

    It is not just about saving a few rands, but by registering I am committing my time and energy to see this project through.

    I haven't shared any art work yet, so here is one I did that starts with the letter C. It is a graphite drawing in my sketchbook for a challenge in the Artkula group.

Coffee grinder in graphite on ivory paper

Keep an eye out for a few more during the challenge.

Until tomorrow!

🇿🇦💜Linzé

A-to-Z blog challenge: Step B - the rules...what not to do

No one likes rules, so much, but entering any competition forces you to comply to the rules if you want to stand a chance of winning. Art competitions are no different.

Aside from complying with the requirements for size of the artwork, any medium restrictions, there are rules for the submission itself, and limitations on social media sharing. The last one should be the first rule any participant would comply with, because no one would want their work or their ideas at least to be copied. Crying after the fact because someone stole your idea, will not endear you to the judges.

This competition, AGAC2024, is no different in these aspects. As artists we like to share the projects we are working on - some for business, the rest of us just for fun and sharing our experiences of making art.

So if you are entering any competition, make sure to read the rules because it would be really stupid to be disqualified because of something you could have avoided.

Until tomorrow!

🇿🇦💜 Linzé