Which medium? Pt. 2
Many people come into our gallery to begin the dream of their life-learning how to paint. When I begin asking which medium they’d like to work in, the certainty stops. This article is the second of a series designed to give information about the different media. This time we will discuss oil paints and painting. When people envision paintings hanging in a gallery or museum or the Old Masters; they are thinking mostly of oil paintings. There are certain guidelines about how to use oils, but...
Read MoreWhat Media??
At the Lynda English Studio we have students of all ages coming in to start taking classes. The first question they ask is “Can anybody paint?” I believe that almost anyone who has the desire to paint, can paint. That desire, plus instruction, plus a lot of practice will usually give the student success. It is our job to help students succeed and enjoy the actual work of painting as well as producing something to hang on their wall. The second question is, “which medium is best to...
Read MoreHow do I start? pt. 1
At the Lynda English Studio we have students of all ages coming in to start taking classes. The first question they ask is “Can anybody paint?” I believe that almost anyone who has the desire to paint can paint. That desire plus instruction plus a lot of practice will usually give the student success. It is our job to help students succeed and enjoy the actual work of painting as well as producing something to hang on their wall. The second question is, “Which medium is best to start...
Read MoreLynda English Studio Miniature Competition and Sale
Lynda English Studio Miniature Competition and Sale ELIGIBILITY Adult Division-Open to all Artists, 13 and over residing in South Carolina Youth Division-Open to all Artists 6-12 residing in South Carolina Any 2 or 3 dimensional fine art media may qualify, but no photography. All...
Read MoreTaking Care of Artwork
At our studio we often have people come to us with artwork that has seen its better days. We either clean it, repair it or simply freshen it up. Let’s look at ways to take care of those pieces. How are they framed? Certainly using a professional framer will help secure the work. For original work and work that means a lot to you, make sure that everything that touches the piece is acid free and archival. People used to back pieces with cardboard and use Scotch tape. Framing...
Read MoreA Good Artist-Pt. 3 Composition.
So sorry to have been lax in my blog post-good news and bad. The bad was a long, long cold and the good, a new grandbaby, a granddaughter. Girls are rare in the Wukela family so it took a while to get over her, actually she’s pretty great and I’m not over her yet. The idea of learning composition in art is very scary to most people. Several years ago I attended a workshop with Morgan Samuel Price and the most important thing I got from it was a simple sheet of things NOT to do and...
Read MoreA Good Artist-Part 2-Materials
Well, I am back from two weeks of welcoming my new granddaughter (yes, granddaughter) into the world. What a wonderful time! However, with exception of a bit of colored pencil work, art has gone by the wayside (can we count a lot of photography?). I’m ready now to think again about what it is that makes a student artist a good artist. Last time we talked about really looking at what we were doing and getting ready to paint. In this session I want to discuss materials. When I have a student just starting...
Read MoreA Good Artist Pt. 1-Learning to See
I am often asked “Can anyone learn to paint?” My answer usually is, “Yes, if they really want to.” The real question is can anyone become a GOOD artist. The answer is the same-if they really want to, but the doing of THAT is more complex. Many students will find it fairly easy to paint an acceptable picture, but will have a much harder time moving up to that good artist level. Like anything else it takes PRACTICE, PRACTICE. The real question is practice at what exactly. I am going...
Read MoreTransparent/Opaque
We may think that all we need to know about the colors that we pick for our palette is that we like it or that it generally does pretty much what we want it to do. We have already shown how dangerous that attitude may be especially if we are picking that beautiful pink for our flowers that just happens to be fugitive and will fade very soon as will Opera or Alizarin Crimson. We may also get frustrated when we try to cover up a mistake with Hansa Yellow in watercolor or glaze using one of the Cadmiums in oil. So...
Read MorePainting in Series
We have been very busy at the gallery for the last few weeks getting a very large collection of work to trade out at Victor’s restaurant. I delivered 49 pieces to them yesterday—I’ll say that again 49 pieces. They actually sent a van. That is the largest showing we have ever mounted and it was quite a job. One of the most exciting parts for me personally is the new wall of faces which will be around the bar area. It is clear to everyone who knows me that faces are my first love....
Read MoreColor vs Pigment
A very interesting thing is happening in the art supply world. Here at the gallery it is my responsibility to make up the orders to replenish our paints, paper, canvas etc. This week as I was making up an order I had noted that we were out of Alizarin Crimson watercolor. Karen, our gallery manager, had noted that we had 4 tubes of that color. Upon checking I found that we DID have 4 tubes of ALIZARIN, but were totally out of PERMANENT Alizarin Crimson. Let me back up and give you a bit of history concerning...
Read MoreColor 2
Well, the very first week events got in the way and it’s Thursday before I get back to you. But here goes. After you have worked in those three basic colors Alizarin Crimson, French Ultramarine Blue and Cadmium Yellow Light for a while you might want to expand your palette a bit. There would be two reasons to do that. The first would be to make a larger range of greens. Let me say that I don’t buy tube greens and I paint with a lot of green. I like to have a couple of blues and two yellows and...
Read MoreBasic Color
Happy New Year! A little late you say for that greeting. Maybe so, but I’m working on a resolution–to do much better with my blog. As anyone who knows me will tell you-holding forth on most any subject is easy enough for me. Writing it down is the problem. Therefore I am resolved to attempt to “blog” for you each Monday. We’ll see how it goes. For a while we are going to talk about COLOR. So many artists are afraid of color, using it, mixing it, blending it, etc. We are going...
Read MorePortrait Sale
It is time to start planning for Christmas Portraits and Lynda English Studio is ready with 20% off the price of commissions through October 31. We know you have a favorite photo of your child, grandchild, bride, pet, home–anything. We can work from your photo or take our own and can do them in any size and almost any media. The best news yet is that there is no money down. Payment is only upon satisfaction. Christmas will be here before you know it and these are one of a kind gifts for a...
Read MoreSC Watermedia Competition
Competitions are funny things. I can say that today because I am delighted to report that Lynda and I have both been accepted into the South Carolina Watermedia Annual Exhibition. This is a state show and you do have to compete against some pretty significant artists. We both have won awards in these shows in the past, but if you know compeitions, you know That Don’t Mean a Thang! Can’t remember about Lynda, but I for one did not get it last year. Actually this piece was the one I entered and had...
Read MoreMetal Clay Fun
Lynda English Studio will soon host a Metal Clay class taught by the renowned Brenda Branson. One of our teachers, Debbie Melton, has just taken a metal clay class and reports that it was wonderful. We have invited her to be our guest blogger in order to tell you about her experience. A few weeks ago I attended a metal class. What fun I had. We were making a ring, something I was really wanting to learn. I went with a friend who had never worked with metal clay, not only did we learn a lot but we had so much...
Read MoreSing a Song of Six Pence-Lynda
I have started a new series inspired by English nursery rhymes. Even though these poems are used as childrens’ verses, when written they often had much darker meanings. Also with these paintings will be a write up of what each one might mean. Since most were written centuries ago the meanings are not always certain or even clear. The first of this series is “Sing a Song of Sixpence”. Sing a song of sixpence, a pocketful of rye Four and twenty blackbirds, baked in a pie! When the pie was...
Read MorePears on Quilt
Well here it is, Pears on Quilt, finally done after three weeks and a bit of tweeking. Actually that was quick. I thought the quilt would take much longer, but it was much easier than I expected. The blue satin and getting the darks dark enough was the more difficult work. Had thought not to enter the CPSA competition since I was so disappointed in last years judging, but I may send this one in. Shipping out to California last year was about $300 and they wouldn’t insure it in my specially made art...
Read MoreIn Defense of Long Projects
I am known for having a 3 hour workshop and expecting that the students will finish and 16×20 painting. There is a reason for that. When I first started working professionally, my children were young and in school. If I got a commission I would say I can do it by this date unless one of the kids gets sick. I don’t have a lot of sympathy with people who say they can’t paint because they have small children; because I did a lot of work AFTER mine went to bed. My work ethic became “if you...
Read MoreThe Monuments Men
Oft times we see many trailers for movies that never actually come to our theaters here in Florence, so I was delighted to see that The Monuments Men was scheduled to start recently at the Swamp Fox. I was sick at the time with the dreaded Yuck and then came the ice, but happily we got to see it last Sunday evening before it could get away. If you are not familiar with it–just a recap. During the last year or so of WWII, George Clooney, who I believe may have been running the Met at the time convinced...
Read More