Category Archives: color

Paint versus paint

Paint is always something I explore to enhance the quality of my art work. It’s an ongoing quest.

There are so many different brands of paint and you have to try them all to see what works best.

I’ve used Liquitex, Winsor and Newton, Golden, and some other brands I can’t remember now.

paint versus paint

paint versus panit

Liquitex paints aren’t the best, but they do the job. The pigmentation is rather poor, and some of the paints are very runny and annoying. I think the quality has gone down a lot over the years.

Windsor and Newton paint is a better quality for sure, and Golden, yes, very nice but the price is high.

I came across a box of acrylics at a garage sale for $5 and found this tube:

paint versus paint

I had never heard of the brand. Such a strong pigmentation and richness of consistency. The very best. I researched the brand and came to find out it’s by Bill Alexander, an artist/ company similar to the legendary Bob Ross.

I found their sets for sale on their website and they are very pricey. The website is the only place you can buy them (that I know of.)

I went to Jerry’s Artarama to see if they might sell them. Jerry’s always has some good sales going on. Quality canvas for better prices.

Someone had posted that Charvin brand would be comparable to Alexander’s.

It’s another brand of paint I’d never heard of (where have I been?)

I bought four tubes of random colors to complement those I already have. They were on sale for $9.49 each, which wasn’t too bad. Free shipping. Jerry’s had a huge variety of colors.  I’d say they are not as good as Alexander paints, but very good. They dry with a slightly slick surface, different from that of Liquitex.

paint versus paint

I don’t know about you, but I get tired of using the same colors all the time, so I’m looking to branch out where I can.

I also use lots of permanent inks, but I’m not going to cover those in this post.

I have been busy painting lately in a loose intuitive style. These two paintings are available in my etsy shop.  They measure 12×12″.

paint versus paint
“Surprise”
paint versus paint
Spirit being

If you’re looking for some gifts, I have free shipping on my polymer clay mosaics. Lots of inventory right now, and great prices.

Earth and Faery

Have a great weekend doing and making things you love! Life is too short to waste on trivialities.

Lots of love,

Maria

Color basics + this and that

Color basics came to me as I mixed colors and saw the results. I never took any classes in color combinations, but I can see how the need is there for someone just starting out.

I went to YouTube to investigate and found several tutorials on how to mix paints. I didn’t feel like making my own, so here is one video by Kelly Eddington Watercolors. It’s a good one! Check it out if you’re unsure how to mix paints.

I recommend using scrap paper and experimenting with your primary colors. Mix them up and see what happens on paper! Practice until you understand the basic combinations and variations.

You can’t mess it up!

I was busy this week doing some art journaling, using paper I created for my online course Life’s Song. It is all about making your own papers from scratch, well, not the paper itself, but the altering and embellishment.  I had lots of fun with the papers that resulted, and I will make some more. They become more authentic than the paper you buy in the stores. Take a peek.

LIFE’S SONG art paper e-course.

The burnt paper became a face. I teach how to make that kind of paper in Life’s Song.  Added embellishment from magazines and other papers, like the star tissue paper on the right. A gift from a friend on Christmas.

It’s all about balance and fearlessly charging into the unknown. It can be scary!

Gratitude has been a big focus in my life lately. Every day, every breath is a reason to be grateful. I feel I live in a magical universe despite the craziness going on in the world right now.

Humans need to wake up and smell the roses!

As artists we can inspire.

It has been a good week and I look forward to my next foray into art journaling…

Now I have to go and clean the bathroom…

Have a great, creative weekend, all!

Lots of love,

Maria

P.S. Life’s Song is a great way to create unique art. Check it out! Very affordable too  Here is another blog post I wrote about paper, Paper Madness.