Let's Paint Skies and Clouds

I have to WARN You!

This is how I got started and I'm not right!

Nearly 20 years ago I started painting because I was very sick and it was on my bucket list, 

and I wanted to learn to paint the beautiful skies and clouds, sunrises and sunsets we have here in Kentucky.

This is a series of paintings I did a year or two ago as I was trying to really improve on painting skies and clouds.

I have these sitting around me as I teach you how to paint skies and clouds.  

Painting the same subject repeatedly is maybe the best way to improve your skills on that subject.

With no one to teach me, I checked out books and videos from our local library.

I practiced.

I watched TV artists.

I practiced!

I studied paintings.

I practiced!!

See a pattern emerging?

That's right!

The secret sauce is in the practice!

But I have 4 videos here that will give you some good basic instruction on how to achieve that look you might be trying to achieve.

In video #1, you will learn how to achieve depth in your sky as we start at the top with the darker color and keep getting lighter as we come towards the horizon.

Video #2 teaches you how to put the sunset or sunrise color on for depth.

Video # 3 teaches you how to begin adding big puffy clouds in your sky and why they are not just white.

Video #4 finishes up the clouds.

I am not going to finish this painting in this series because the purpose was to teach how to paint skies and clouds.  

I hope you're going to give this a try and

 practice this many times.

Do not be discouraged if you don't feel successful the first time.  I don't know long it took me to feel like I could do it,

but it certainly wasn't on my first try or maybe even first 10 tries.  The joy is in the learning and accomplishing and seeing your own growth.

If you would like to see the classes I offer on my website

click HERE

To receive this blog and get all the free info I give away in your inbox click HERE.  

Color Values - Workin Wednesday

Workin Wednesday

Color Values

All during March, we have been working

 to understand color.

Today is the final day on color and it's all about values.

I've heard more than one art teacher, artist, or art judge say that if your painting is off, your values are probably off.

Here's a short video about values and how to use them.

Values are used to create form and to keep your painting from looking flat.  

Understanding and using value is one of the most important aspects of painting and will give you the most satisfaction in your artwork.

You should get out your paints and brushes and any paper you want to paint on and play in your paint and experiment with values and how to give something form.

Try painting a tulip, a cup, a box, or anything else to see how to use value and how it gives your painting life, movement and reality.

If you have any questions or comments, 

please post them in the comments so we can all learn.

Click HERE to see the lesson on using a color wheel.

(FYI I had one of my artist friends comment on social media that she never understood using a color wheel until that short lesson.  See, we're always learning.)

Click HERE to see the lesson on warm and cool colors.

Click HERE to see the lesson on

 transparent and opaque paint.

If you'd like to see what other 10 minute FREE art lessons I have on this blog, click HERE.

Thanks for stopping by today and don't forget to leave a comment or question about value.

Working Wednesday - How to Use a Color Wheel

What in the World Do You Do With A Color Wheel?

You've seen one.

They are interesting and pretty,

But do they have a purpose?

Definitely.

I use mine all the time.

You can tell cause there's paint all over it.

Click HERE to learn about opaque and transparent paint.

Click HERE to learn about warm and cool colors.

Click HERE to go to my Pinterest board

on learning how to paint.

If you didn't receive this in your inbox, let's fix that right now.  Scroll back up to the top right hand side and there is a box that says "Subscribe to my blog", (pretty straightforward).  

Put your email in that box and then you will receive an email confirming you did actually sign up

(and it wasn't some Russian bot).

Click on that link.

Finally you really should drag that email into your primary folder so it doesn't get lost in promotional

purgatory.  It will ask if you want to do that for all future emails and you should click yes!

Boom!

You're done!

Now you won't miss a thing.

Thanks for stopping by today and let me know in the comments if your color wheel looks as bad as mine.

Warm and Cool Colors? Really? Workin Wednesday

Really!

Warm and Cool Colors?

Who knew!

Evidently lots of artists knew and it's one of the reasons their artwork is so engaging.

How do you make a flat surface look 3 dimensional?

It's by understanding the use of warm and cool colors.

Understanding warm and cool colors will make all the difference in your artwork.  As you learn how to use warm and cool colors, you will also learn how to create distance and space and better perspective in your paintings.

This video only takes about 8 minutes, but it will give you a basic understanding of warm and cool color.  There is lots to learn about color and temperature, but this will get you started.

Thanks for stopping by today and I hope you enjoyed this video.  You can go to my youtube channel to see other videos I've released on beginning art concepts.  Click the thumbs up button and subscribe to my channel to make sure you don't miss anything.

If you would like to receive this blog in your inbox, scroll back up to the right hand side and put your email in the box that says "subscribe to my blog".  You will receive a confirmation email to make sure you actually did sign up.  Click the link in that email and then to make sure you don't miss anything, drag that email into your priority folder and answer yes to "do you want to do that for everything from this sender".  Then just sit back and let the art lessons come to you.

Click HERE to see the first post in this series about color.  It's all about opaque and transparent paint.

Click HERE to go to my website where I offer single subject painting classes and a full blown art course.  There is also a FREE daisy painting class on there.  

Leave a comment or a question below about warm and cool colors.

All About Color - Workin Wednesday

See Through Paint?

Are you kidding me?

Well no, I'm not kidding you.

March's Workin Wednesday is all about color

and we're starting off the month with a lesson about different types of paint,

opaque and translucent.

Here's a short video showing you how to know what type of paint you're buying in the store and how it works and what to do with it.

We're not talking about color charts today, but if you'd like to learn more about them

click HERE

The link above about color charts is part of my FREE 10 minute art section on my blog.  On the front of my blog below the large picture are a number of tabs.  One of them is 

10 Minutes Art Lessons.

Click on that and a whole world of 

short art lessons opens up.

They are great for beginning artists as I take lots of art concepts and subjects and break them down into bite size classes that are easy to understand and implement.

They are great for home school art classes as well as they give an art concept and then show you how to achieve it or what it does.  And did I mention they are FREE!

Thanks for stopping by today and please feel free to share this blog with anyone you think might enjoy it and I love and thank you for your comments.

Click HERE to visit my art class website.

If you didn't receive this post in your inbox, let's fix that problem.  Scroll back to the top and on the right hand side is a box that says, Subscribe to My Blog.  Put your email address in that box.  You will shortly receive a confirmation email making sure you did actually sign up.  Click the link in that email, and then finally drag that email into your primary folder so it doesn't get lost in promotion purgatory.

I do sell my art on this blog, but most of my posts fall under Motivation Monday, Workin Wednesday, or Famous Artist Friday, all of which are great for home school art classes or beginning artists.  If you want to buy my art you might have to look in one of those tabs on the top or down the side.

I'm really a teacher who loves to paint.

A Month of Apples and Pears

Apples and Pears In Many Ways

Wow!

We spent a month painting apples and pears.

I hope you learned as much as I did.

I've painted apples before, but I don't remember ever painting a pear. I know, what artist hasn't painted a pear.

Me I guess.

This is a time lapse video of me painting a blue Ball jar as part of the still life we are learning about this month.

We'll learn about painting glass another time, but this month the focus is on painting apples and pears.

In this video you will learn how to mix paint to create the shadow under and around the jar.  We might loose it under the apples, but that's OK.

In the above video you'll learn how to paint an apple and two pears in different orientations.  The apple goes off the edge which is called engaging the edge and one of the pears is laying down which adds interest and gives a different perspective.

We will completely loose the shadow of the jar we added, but at least now you know how to do it.

I take a few minutes to explain how I got to this point.

This was a really fun painting to do.

This short video wraps up the full month of art we did all about drawing and painting pears and apples.

We will take a subject each month and explore it for the whole month, drawing and painting that topic in several different ways.  I suggest beginning artists work in a similar method to increase their skills in any particular topic.  

You are seldom great at any one genre or subject from the get go, so it's important to spend some time and understand your mistakes, what made them mistakes and how to correct them.

I hope you will join us on Workin Wednesday as we explore new art topics each month.  If you didn't receive this in your inbox, scroll back up to the top and on the right is a box that says "subscribe to my blog".  Put your email in that box and you will receive a confirmation email.   You need to click the link in that email to prove you really did subscribe.  Then finally you need to drag that email over to your priority email tab so it doesn't get lost and you never receive another free art lesson.

Confused about which drawing supplies you really need?
I've got your back on this one.
Click HERE and you'll receive a shopping list in your inbox.

Click HERE to hop on over to my 

Painting With Acrylic Facebook page.

Click HERE to visit my youtube channel.

Adding a Pear To Our Still Life - Working Wednesday

Adding A Pear to Our Still Life

Hey Painter Nation!

This month we've been working on drawing and painting a pear and an apple in a still life.  Last week we started a still life by painting an apple from the drawing we did the week before.  Today we will paint the pear.

I added those two colors to my palette for this painting;

Yellow Ochre and Raw Sienna.

Here's Video #1 in this 4 video series.

Video #2 

Video #3 

Video #4.

Let's gittr done.

Hopefully you've enjoyed this series and made it through all three weeks of classes.  

Leave a comment if you did either the drawing or the paintings and let us know how it went.

Please feel free to share this with anyone

 you think would enjoy it. 

If you enjoyed this series, this is exactly how I teach on my website.  Everything is step by step, no time lapse videos, no cutaways.  You see every single stroke and mark.  
Click Here to visit my website.

On my website you'll find another FREE class you can take.  Click Here and then scroll down a little and then click on the class for a FREE daisy painting class.  

You'll notice there is also a FREE blog on my website.
It only has art tips and lessons.
Click HERE to visit that free blog.

The best thing on my website for anyone wanting to learn how to paint or to add art to your homeschool curriculum is the Painter Nation Members Club.  
Click HERE to learn all about my monthly membership site.

Thanks for stopping by today and I hope you enjoyed this video series.  
Let's paint together again real soon.  

Creating Form - Working Wednesday - Video series

Creating Form With Color

Last week we drew an apple and a pear.

This week we're going to paint the apple,

next week we'll paint the pear.

Let's get started.

We start by getting a horizon line and the drawing of the apple on this wood board.

Now we're actually going to start the apple.

 You're gonna love how it just appears.

 The magic is happening!

Putting on the highlights is the most amazing thing.

The funny you're seeing in these videos is my breath.

My studio is cold, but I had a fire going during this video shoot and I wasn't cold, but you can see my breath.

I was shocked when I was editing and saw it.

 This is a short wrap up of the painting.

I finished the background and you will learn how I selected the colors I used. 

Yep, I used a color wheel.

I hope you enjoyed this series this week. 

Here are a couple of shots of the painting

from different vantage points.

 

 This month has been a fun project.

I hope you enjoyed it and learned something in this exercise.

Click HERE to view my website of art classes and my full art course.  I am adding a lot of new classes to my website and it should be ready soon. 

Draw This - Creating Form By Drawing This

Well That Was Embarrassing!

I lost a few days last week and I thought I'd posted this.

Not only did I not post it,

I didn't even write it.

Somebody wasn't feeling well!

Here's a free video series on creating form by drawing an apple and a pear.

 

Let's get this party started

 Video #1

Video #2

 Video #3 

Video #4

I hope you enjoyed this series. 

Now that I remembered to post it.

Next week we'll be painting the apple and the week after we'll be painting that pear.

I haven't released these videos to the public yet,

which is a great reason for you to sign up to receive my blog in your inbox.  If you already do, thank you so much.

I appreciate your support, your comments and your sharing this blog with anyone you think might enjoy it.

To subscribe, scroll back up to the top and put your email in the box marked "Subscribe to my blog".

I know,  real creative huh?

Have a great day 

and get those pencils sharpened up and get drawing. 

Confused about which drawing supplies you really need?
I've got you covered on this one.
Click HERE to receive an easy peezy shopping list in your inbox.

 

3 Different Paints - Product Review

Product Review 

Students Vs. Artist grade paint

I recently purchased several types of paint and today I am doing a review on what I found.  

My conclusions and why I made them are all in the video,

but I think I'll be purchasing more of one kind of paint in the future.  

Thanks for stopping by.

You might want to sign up to receive my email in your inbox so you don't miss any of the fun stuff going on in the Blue Iris Art Studio.

Another Lesson on Trees - Workin Wednesday

Painting A Tree in the Snow
(Ok, the tree is in the snow, I'm not in the snow!)

Last week I showed you how to draw a large old tree that is in my yard.  We had a lot of snow recently, so I took photos and drew that tree.  This week I'm teaching how to paint that tree.

Click HERE to see the lesson on drawing a tree. 

This week I planned on painting and videoing on Tuesday, but on Tuesday everything I touched I broke.  So I surrendered and had to hold off until Wednesday.

In this video I'm showing how to get a simple background on that has depth.  I will add clouds to this painting, but that's another topic.

Starting to put the tree in here.

If you have a tree, you need branches and limbs of all sizes.

In this video you're going to learn how 

to give your tree form using highlights. 

 This was supposed to be the final video, but due to technical difficulties, (you knew I had to have technical difficulties somewhere, right?)

I had to break it into three separate videos or scrap the whole project.  Well, that wasn't going to happen.

You're going to learn how I turn all that purple and lavender into snow.  We'll also be adding more layers to the snow to add depth.  And you'll get to see me get paint on my shirt and how I get it out.

(By the way, I kept that place on my shirt wet and put it in the wash immediately when I went in the house, and it did all come out.  Oh look, I'm a homemaking blog too.  hehe)

    Final Final video in the series.

This is the final painting.

It was tons of fun to paint and I hope you will spend some time learning the concepts taught in this class.

Supplies:

Paint:

Cad yellow light

Hookers Green

Burnt Sienna

Burnt Umber

Ultramarine Blue

Dioxazine Purple

Turquoise Deep

Titanium White

Brushes:

#10, 6, 2 Bristle Brush

#4 & 2 Synthetic Flat

#4 script liner (but you might want one smaller)

I painted on a 12 3/3" x 17" 1/8" board

You'll also need paper towels, spray bottle, water basin and some type of a palette.  I use a stay wet box, but you could use a large foam plate or a piece of freezer paper if you're not planning on using it again.

And of course, you'll need something to cover yourself up with unless you want to have paint on every article of clothing you own. Like me.

If you liked this series and want more, you really need to check out my website.  This is exactly how I teach all classes there.  There are no time lapse or cutaway videos.  

You see every single stroke and mark. 

Click HERE to visit my site.

On my website there is a FREE daisy painting class just like this and if you really want to learn to paint and draw, I suggest you look at the Painter Nation Members Club where you will receive fresh new instruction every single month with new drawing and painting classes created for beginning artists.  

There's also a coupon code you can use that will give you $5 off every single month as long as you're a member.  

Use coupon code VIP2018 for that discount.

Click HERE to learn more about the Painter Nation Members Club.

I also have a FREE blog on that website as well that is nothing but art instruction.  

Click HERE to check out that blog.

Let's Draw A Tree - Workin Wednesday

Let's Draw A Tree

I am going to teach one art concept per month,

and this month it's a tree.

Today's post is about drawing trees.

Today I'll be using a tree in my yard as my model.

It's a large old tree and currently is surrounded by snow.

 Reference tree in my yard

You'll notice that the light is coming from the right side,

so notice the highlights on the 

right side of the trunk and branches. 

I tried like the devil to put all these short videos into one video and after spending about 5 hours on the project, I surrender and you'll just have to click through them to see the whole process.

 Video #1  

Video #2 

Video #3

Video #4

Video #5

Video #6

Video #7

Video #8

Completed drawing

Well that was crazy, but I hope you picked up a tip or two about drawing.
Next week I'll be painting this same tree,
so that should go better.
Maybe!

If you found this helpful please leave me a comment letting me know what you learned.
Please feel free to share this post with anyone you think might enjoy it.

And if you ever get confused about which drawing supplies you really need - 
well, I can help with that.
Click HERE to receive your drawing supply list in your inbox.