Acrylic vs. Watercolour

I am often asked which medium I prefer- acrylic or watercolour. My answer is that it depends on what I am painting at the moment. Both are water-based media, but the technique and effects are quite different.
Acrylic paints are very versatile. They can be diluted and used as washes and glazes like watercolour on watercolour paper. They can also be used straight from the tube and applied to canvas and so behave more like oil paints, especially when used in an impasto technique. They dry quickly, which can create problems if brushes are not cleaned immediately. A variety of materials can be applied to the acrylic canvas to  provide texture and to create collages. I find that acrylic provides the freedom to experiment, as you can cover mistakes or change your composition.
Watercolour on the other hand is basically applied to paper, although additional surfaces are becoming available, such as watercolour canvas, clay boards and terraskin.  The painting must proceed in layers and from light to dark. There is a luminous transparent quality to watercolour painting which is impossible to completely duplicate in  acrylic.There is little ability to correct mistakes and that has given watercolour  the reputation of being difficult to master.
I have always been thankful that my first exposure to painting was in a watercolour workshop. I feel it is much easier to move from watercolour to acrylic than the other way around. Since I have been doing more acrylic painting recently, I found it quite a challenge to return to watercolour. I became so frustrated that I repainted over three watercolours in acrylic. Ultimately I  went back to a familiar scene and plodded along. The initial effort, in images one and two, as you can see was a complete failure. Finally things began to click, in images three and four. More watercolour painting needed!!



#1



#2



#3

#4

This process only confirmed my belief that if you use more than one medium, you need to vary your painting techniques in order to maintain the skills unique to each.

Lady in Waiting

Lady in Waiting describes what I have been doing for sometime - waiting for my bad back to allow me to get up and at it again -painting, blogging and general mischief. It is also the title of one of the last paintings I completed  while still 'frisky'.  She was a lonely lady sitting on the steps of the old city of Talin, Estonia.Was she waiting for someone or something, or just homeless and sad? This painting was going to be a companion piece for the man in 'Roses for Sale', but he has since gone to a good home. Hopefully she will find one too.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  In my next blog, I plan to review my art resolutions from last year. Stay tuned!

Lady in Waiting



Art and Monkey Business

The headline in the Toronto Star was "Can you spot the monkey's masterpiece?" What a relief that I quickly identified the work of American abstract expressionist Joan Mitchell. The other painting was by a monkey in a sanctuary who "paints" with all his appendages. At some point he was given non-toxic paint to keep him busy. He is one of two dozen animals that have been rescued from research labs, zoos, and pet stores etc. His name is Pockets Warhol and he is becoming famous, but not handsome as you can see.



Pockets

 His paintings will be in exhibition at Sadie's Diner and Juice Bar in Toronto for two months and are expected to sell for $25 dollars and up. The proceeds are going toward improvements at the Story Book Farms sancuary for primates, his home. Pockets has a Facebook page with a gallery of all his paintings. Here is a sample:

Not too shabby for a monkey shiner. Sort of humbling? Now back to painting. Use your tail!

Pushing Paint Around

 I know all about planning for a painting involving  thumbnail sketches, value patterns, and colour organization. Sometimes however, it feels great to just "push the paint around". This happens when inspiration is on holiday, or you are tired, or sometimes even when you are feeling "frisky" and adventurous. This approach is based on the philosophy that if you don't know what to do, you just start painting and occasionally something happens. At the very least you have loosened up to proceed with another painting, or you just simply have had fun.

This small acrylic painting is one of those pushing efforts. This is the first time I have used Iridescent Bright Gold by Liquitex and I liked the subtle sheen it provided. What do you think? Back to the drawing board?

Blogging from Black to White and Blue

If you tuned in today, you are probably wondering about the "older" posts that are featured. I decided to change the background of the blog, as the white text in most cases was not showing up on the emails of subscribers. After hours of fiddling, I changed the template but then had to go back through all posts to change some of the text colour. As a result, the order of the posts has changed. They can still be reached however in the correct month in the "archive". I think that this is how we procrastinate instead of just painting !! I hope you find the new template fresher and easier to read.

A successful art sale and exhibition of paintings by the North Toronto Group of Artists has just finished at Blessed Sacrament at Yonge and Lawrence with an attendance of approximately 900 guests. The Yonge/Lawrence Art Walk which preceded the exhibition, featured art works in the windows and interiors of local businesses. Since I was assigned the window of "Cruise Holidays", I felt that travel paintings were in order and the staff were very helpful in arranging the window space. The photo below, although not the most clear and with reflections of Yonge St. activity, gives some idea of the window.

"They Can't Take That Away From Me"

I I have just bought the latest "duets" album by Tony Bennett. What an inspiration! His voice sounds as strong as ever, he swings with the likes of Lady Gaga and he paints! He has a career that spans over five decades and has nine Grammies to his credit.
His first ambition, however, was to be a painter. He has followed up his childhood interest with training, sketching and painting every day, and now has exhibitions in galleries around the world. Many paintings now at the Smithsonian, have been done of Central Park from his window,  and many more from his world-wide travels. He was chosen as the official artist for the 2001 Kentucky Derby and was commissioned by the United Nations to do two paintings, including one for their 50th anniversary. He is also the founder of the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in Asotria. His paintings sell for as much as $80,000
They can't take away the creative drive of Tony Bennett who is still going strong at 85. One of his books, Tony Bennett in the Studio: A life of Art and Music, 2007 has this wonderful quote; "The more you paint, the more you realize how beautiful life is. To be alive, how wonderful life is. What a gift we have. That helps you get past the bad times."
Check into www.bendettoarts.com but until then here are a couple of samples of his work.

Live long and paint!

Fall Back to Fall

I am still getting over my jetlag after two international and five internal flights in China. What a trip! Not time for scetching but lots of resource photos. More on that later. Meanwhile, back to the excitement of Fall shows.


Mark your calendars!
North York Visual Artists Art Tour and Sale September 24 and 25 and Oct 1 and Oct 2
I will be showing in the community centre at Mitchell Field (Located on Church Street, East of Yonge, South of Finch) with seven other artists on Sept 24 and 25 ONLY. Other artists will show in the new Edithvale Community Centre near Finch and Yonge, and in their home studios. More details and a map can be found in the brochure at the North York Visual Artists website http://www.http//nyva.ca  NOTE, the tour is held for two weekends. The brochure indicates which artists are only exhibiting on the first weekend, which includes me.



The Yonge Lawrence Artwalk Oct 14 - Nov3
The Yonge Lawrence VIA presents the 7th annual artwal. Local business will host the works of local artistin mediums ranging from watercolours to photography. Artists' works will be deplayed in local merchants"window and Establishments along Yonge Street between Lawrence Avenu and Yonge Bolevard City Councillors will walk the village and judge the windows for best overall creative expression and flare. Check out the Business Association website at http://www.yongelawrencevillage-bia.com/ This year I will be located in the window of Cruise Holidays at 5418 Yonge Street (West Side,near Fairlawn)



 North Toronto Group of Artists Fall Art Show and Sale November 4 and 5
Local artists will be personally showing their latest artwork at Blessed Sacrament Church, 24 Cheritan Ave. located just one block south of Lawrence on Yonge Street. Hours of show are Fri evening 6.00 to 9.00 (opening Fri  night reception by invitation only) and hours on Sat from 10..00 to 3.30. If you plan to attend the evening reception, please RSVP to ntga@gmail.com. Details and the brochure can be obtained from http://ntga.blogspot.com or at aneidhardt@rogers.com




Hope to see you there!