Sunset at the lake house

Another commission piece for a friend’s anniversary.

Ice Cream Sundaes for Two

I painted this for my parents’ 34th wedding anniversary, which is today! In the past, my mom would cross-stitched my dad Precious Moment scenes for their anniversary. I picked this scene because they always recall first dates at Kings Classic, complete with hamburgers and milkshakes.

The Duke

I painted this in February 2011 for a friend as an anniversary gift for her fiance, who is a big fan of John Wayne.

Peel

This video shows the flexibility of a single piece of art. The artist, Duane Keiser, has the ability to view each element of his painting as an adaptable and ever-workable object. View more of his work here: http://duanekeiser.blogspot.com/2011/03/peel_16.html

Country Shadows, Hole 3

I painted this in Fall 2010 at Country Shadow Golf Course in Nebraska.

A scoobie fall

My brother's two "scoobies" enjoy a good romp in the meadow, especially on a crisp fall day, frisbee cluched tightly between their jaws. I painted this for him for Christmas 2010.

Acrylics: love at first plight

A beginner painter feels three things immediately upon embarking on his or her newfound hobby. The first is the thrill of attempting something new, an interest with virtually no restraints. The second is a feeling of sheer terror, which envelops you upon staring at your first blank canvas. The third is blatant astonishment at how much lighter your purse or wallet became after that initial trip to the art store.

A novice painter myself, I am grasping firmly to whatever tips and techniques I can get my hands on. I listen to my uncle as he energetically and eccentrically bounces our conversations between the three pieces on which he is currently working. I am glued to YouTube tutorials in the most unhealthy way. I steadfastly read the instructions on the back of my newest paint by numbers kit. (Kidding!)

Having to start somewhere, I decided to begin my artistic journey with basic acrylics in hand. About halfway through the ride, I realized that the feeling of terror decreased along with my growing relationship with the paint. Acrylics are the most forgiving and easy to work with of all mediums I have yet to try. Stick with them long enough and you’ll be taking them home to meet your mother.

Below are five basic tips that, when applied with the use of acrylics, will help you overcome initial painting plights.

1. Onions – and paintings – have layers. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that layering your objects from the background to the forefront is essential in creating a dynamic piece. Colors in the background should lack the richness of those in the foreground, especially your focal point. Keep layers from building up thickly by thinning your acrylics with water. If preferred, acrylics can be diluted to the point of having a watercolor-like consistency.
2. Slow down time. With acrylics, you don’t have that slow drying time in between layers like you do with oils. Frustratingly enough, this means that mixing colors on your canvas for a seamless skyline or smooth river is a bit more complicated. Try using a retarder, which contains glycol, and will slow the drying process, as well as allow for a longer blending time.
3. Don’t be afraid to fail. Applied too much pressure to your canvas and left a disastrous blotch behind? Didn’t like how those trees turned out? No matter how badly you think you’ve ruined your painting, it’s 100 percent fixable. Acrylics dry fast and can be painted over, which means you can get over your mistakes and onto an even better re-creation quickly. Trust me -I know. I have a kitten who thinks it’s perfectly ok to leave paint-filled paw prints across any available piece of canvas.   

4. Experiment. When I first began painting, I struggled to replicate grass. Finding the correct technique for painting certain objects is all about testing the waters. Experiment with different brushes to see how they respond to the paint. Use diverse strokes and pressures. I always keep a practice piece of canvas nearby, which eliminates the chance of error on the canvas I’m working on and ensures I haven’t loaded my brush too full. When you’re ready, testing out different additives can instantly add a stronger dimension and creative aspect to any canvas. 
   
5. Patience: it’s a virtue, after all. At times I think I’m getting the hang of a certain technique, only to realize it doesn’t fit into the scope of the new painting I’m working on. Enjoy finding the right style of painting that fits your personality, and don’t be upset when things don’t turn out the way you expected. Oftentimes, that’s an indication of your true painting style coming forth. Be prepared that with each new painting comes new difficulties and techniques to overcome. Although the road can be slow and sometimes arduous, finding your creative niche will make painting with acrylics a pastime you can truly enjoy.