From the Art Studio of Susan Harrison-Tustain
The NY Boom Bar
Would you like to choose a title for my new painting?
31 ½” x 21″
800mm x 530mm
Oil on Belgian Linen
Hello Everyone
Let’s begin this newsletter with a challenge! I finished this oil painting of a New York cafe scene some time ago. It features the Boom Bar in SoHo New York. Richard and I wandered along the street looking for somewhere characterful to eat and we happened across this stunning restaurant/bar. The decor and the rich, warm, soft light created a moody atmosphere.
I asked the waitress to pose behind the bar and when I returned home I asked Emma to pose for me with a hat I felt suited the style of the day. So now it is time to give the painting a title.
Would you like to make a suggestion or two? Let’s put our heads together – put our thinking caps on and conjure up an evocative title for this large oil painting. You can click the image above for a larger version of the painting, or visit my website for more details here: http://www.susanart.com/blog
Please email your title suggestion to:
richard@susanart.com
Subject line: Your title suggestion
Then simply place your name and email address in the text area of your email message.
The cutoff date for title suggestions is August 31st, 2010
I will announce the choice in my blog on my website and in my next newsletter. This is going to be fun!
In This Newsletter:
* Susan Introduces Arleta Pech
* New Paintings for my 2011 exhibition
* Painting Inspiration
* Color breakthroughs
* How to remove your finished painting from Gator Board
SusanArt news:
It has been quite a while since my last newsletter. Life is always full and never dull! I hope you are all enjoying my new website and all of the practical, useful and also magical features Doris has created. My website is a ‘work in progress’ and currently Doris is working on my Fine Art Prints pages. If you click on the images such as Enchante par la Provence or others such as Echoes of Yesterday, you will see the wonderful pages Doris has created for each print. A close up detail of the painting is a wonderful tool for those looking for art for their walls – but also for artists wanting to see the work in more detail. Not all of the images are finished – but many are – so have fun! My new blog is very popular so keep watching there for news, inspiration and breakthroughs.
Arleta Pech
You will know my time is always stretched too thinly. That is mostly due to the fact that I like to give 110% to everything. The problem is I don’t have 110% of time!
Many of you have asked if I will create an oil painting DVD. Sadly I won’t be doing that this year but I have good news for you…
My dear friend Arleta Pech (Colorado USA) now paints mostly in oil and has developed a new glazing technique that allows her to create the most luminous paintings. She has released two DVDs and a book showing you how she does it. You will be amazed by Arleta’s paintings and methods!
I will let Arleta introduce herself:
Susan is such a dear friend to mention my Oil DVD lessons and new book. If I could speak to each of you I would tell you that my career has been in watercolor for over 30 years, so when I moved my gallery originals into oils, I brought my love of watercolor’s luminosity and the white of paper with me! I developed a simple and healthy way to work in oils very much like I worked in watercolor where I save the white of my surface and work with only thin glazes of transparent oil colors, not using any white or opaque’s. This allows me to work from light to dark just as we do in watercolor. The results I think speak for themselves, and this is now the number one selling book by Northlight. So I’m honored that so many artists are excited about this new way to approach oils. And if you’re concerned about health or smells, I use NO SOLVENTS in my oil painting, just a little walnut/alkyd medium to thin the paint and I wash my brushes out with soap.
We have put together a “OIL COMBO LESSON” this includes my Autographed book, two oil DVDs each comes with patterns, reference photos that play worldwide for over 6 hours of learning as I walk you through each project step by step. The included glazing tool comes with a printed lesson and is a great help with the exercise in the book but also is a great way to learn glazing. This combo is $149.00 which is a savings from buying individually; shipping to overseas for first class parcel post is $25.00 since the book is so heavy. Individual Orders without the book, ship for only $12.00 by international priority mail.
(Individual prices are:)
-Radiant Oils $29.99 on Transparent Glazing in Oil
-Transparent Oil DVD $49.00 that compliments the book
-In The Candles Glow $69.00 taking oil glazing to the next level with a few added opaque’s for details
-Glazing tool 14.95 shows you the value and hues that go with the book’s exercises
For more information on my DVDs visit http://www.arletapech.com/ART-DVD-LESSONS.htm
Overseas International Orders this is the link to that secure page to use VISA MC
https://www.arletapech.com/international_orders.htm
US and Canada may use the http://www.shop.art-dvd-lessons.com secure shopping cart
Happy painting everyone!!
Arleta Pech
New Paintings for Susan’s 2011 exhibition
Collectors and artists who enjoy my work like to have a sneak preview of my 2011 exhibition. I am gradually releasing images of my latest paintings in the blog on my website. You will see I have also written about the inspiration behind these paintings. These are new pieces that will become major features in my exhibition. As each painting is announced in my blog – they are simultaneously being released in the gallery which can be found in the ‘Fine Art Site’ section of my website:
http://www.susanart.com/blog/original-watercolor-and-oil-paintings
The latest image to be released is one that I haven’t named yet (seen at the top of this newsletter). You may like to help me with a title? You can see and read about the painting here:
Painting Inspiration:
I’m often asked what do I like to paint most? The answer to that is that I love painting so many things and my favorite subject keeps changing. Just as my favorite medium changes between watercolor and oils and back again. But I do notice my work is taking a distinct move toward earth tones and the subject matter is also becoming very earthy. This is not a deliberate thing – these are the subjects that excite me the most at present. An example of this is my painting Liberty which you can see below.
My advice to artists is not to confine yourself by trying to fit into a particular genre. You don’t need labels to describe ‘your style’ or subject matter. Allow yourself to paint what excites you and let that be fluid and let that choice move with your inspiration. You will find the genre that suits you most will emerge naturally. But it will also change as your life experiences change.
Here is another of my 2011 Exhibition pieces:
Liberty
Watercolor on Arches 300 gsm (140lbs)Hot Pressed paper
(480 mm x 280 mm) 19″ x 11″
You can read about the inspiration for this painting in my blog/news on my website.
Color breakthroughs
I have been experimenting with my palette recently and found a wonderful array of fabulous and natural color combinations can be created with a mix of Scarlet Red and Sap Green. We all know that when mixing complementary colors you will create a dulled hue. If you balance the colors so they neutralize each other completely you will ultimately have a gray hue.
I have often used Alizarin Crimson and Sap Green together to give me a grayed red, green or brown hue. But a mixture of these hues can be strong (almost look black if used in multiple layers). There are times when I need a similar hue – but much less intense. So when I recently discovered I can create a more gentle hue using Scarlet Red and Sap Green, I realized I could use this mix for so many purposes including beautiful soft transitions of muted pinks and browns as well as greens. The fabulous combination of Scarlet Red and Sap Green will be one I will use constantly from now on. Imagine the beautiful shadow hues on leaves too!
These colors are already in my magic palette of 12 colors I use to paint everything.
Remember there is a wealth of information on my website for artists – including a list of my palette of colors. These hints and tips and the art materials I use – as well as a list of the retailers who stock them – can be accessed by going to my website. They can be found in the ‘For Artists’ section:
How to remove your finished painting from Gator Board
These simple instructions will allow you to remove your stretched painting from Gator-Board and leave your board and painting without any damage:
Ensure your painting is bone dry first.
Take a look around your tape to see if you can find an area where there may be a slight lift/air-space in an area where the tape meets the watercolor paper. I like to use a kitchen knife that has a strong but thin blade. Holding the knife at an angle to ensure you dont pierce the board – simply pierce a small hole in the tape so you can gently slide the knife underneath the watercolor paper. Ensure your knife is held as flat to the board as possible so you don’t disturb the surface of the board.
Once you have the point of the knife underneath the w/c paper – you simple slide the knife around the edges of the watercolor paper (the knife point and a small amount of blade is under the watercolor paper). I like to hold the knife reasonably low and flat to the board. It is just like opening an envelope with an envelope knife.
Voila! Now your painting is separated from the board!
Do I remove the tape on the edge of the painting?
You have some choices:
You have now taken your painting from your board and this will leave part of the stretching tape still adhered to the white margin of your painting. (At the drawing stage of a painting – I always ensure I have an inch or more white margin around my painting).
You can cut the tape off if you don’t like it. Or leave it on the edge of your painting for stability. The decision whether to leave your tape on your paper is a choice for you.
One thing to consider:
Is the tape you use archival? This will influence your decision.
If you use Lukas Wet Adhesive Tape:
The Lukas tape I use is archival so it should not be a problem to leave it on the edge of the painting. Click here for retailers that supply this product
If you use Brown Gummed Tape:
I know the brown gummed tape I used to use is also archival. (But unfortunately the tape does not have a brand name or identifiable markings so I am not able to recommend a brown gummed tape).
Because I can’t speak for the numerous brown gummed tapes available - I would recommend you cut the tape off the edge of your white margin around your painting.
How to remove the tape from your Gator Board
The remainder of the tape is of course still on your Gator Board. I throw my Gator Board in the bath with the taped side of the board facing downward. I leave it 10 minutes or so and then simply pull the last of the tape off. Sometimes I may need to use a blunt knife to get the stubborn pieces off – but generally it comes off without much effort at all.
Remember to wipe around the area where the tape had been to ensure you have wiped off any remaining gum. We don’t want your next painting to stick to the board.
This sounds involved but in fact it is very straight forward and easy to do. I have explained it in fine detail to help you understand every scenario.
Now your board is fresh and clean and ready for your next painting. If you look after your Gator Board it will give you years of service. It is a fabulous product.
Have fun!
Happy painting everyone!
What about “Whispers” or “Secrets”? It seems to me that something secretive is going on in the scene.