Many common threads keep poking through the fabric of the stories of forgotten women artists. Like many of the previously featured women, this story illustrates the impact of strong family involvement in the development of young artists, especially the fathers. The 22nd artist to be featured in this series, Frances McDonald MacNair is no … [Read more...] about Dancing Backwards at Miss Cranston’s Teahouse
Chiaroscuro and Other Oil Painting Techniques
Chiaroscuro is from the Italian language and the root meaning is chiaro, light, and scuro (obscure), dark. It is a perfect technique to use in oil painting to achieve drama of contrasts such as that used by the 17th Century Dutch. Another technique that helps attain this look is impasto oil painting, which is used freely in the main focus of the composition and then to a lesser degree in the shadow areas. It is very effective in all sizes and subject matter such as oil paintings of flowers, still life, and even landscape. Fumed Silica gel is a great medium to use for getting texture in oil painting. It is a combination of linseed oil and silica mixed together which forms a fluffy clear medium. When mixed with paint, the consistency retains its shape and stays put with no slumping.
Uber Umbers and Other Colors from the Earth
Throughout the ages, since the very first scrawls were made in caves and tribal hunting events were recorded on walls, people have been using colors made of ochres, umbers, madders, bugs, mummies, minerals, shells, iron oxides, and plants. These pigments decorated sheets of papyrus, vellum, paper, faces, bodies, fabrics, clothing, tools, leather, … [Read more...] about Uber Umbers and Other Colors from the Earth
Dancing Backwards, Part 3: A Remarkable Life of Adventure and Art
Friend of and encouraged by naturalist Charles Darwin and painter Frederick Church, Marianne North was perhaps one of the most prolific yet unsung artist/recorder of the botanical world ever. Traveling to no less than 15 countries in the Victorian era was in itself a daunting legacy, but to top this, she did it mostly solo. Throughout her 50-year … [Read more...] about Dancing Backwards, Part 3: A Remarkable Life of Adventure and Art
Dancing Backwards Part 3; More Stories of Gifted but Forgotten Women Artists
Before the Renaissance period of the 16th Century, it was rare for women artists to sign and date their work. Catharina van Hemessen, born in 1528 in Belgium, broke that spell when she did just that! She also became one of the first female artists to become known as a sought-after exceedingly skilled portrait artist featuring women subjects. Only a … [Read more...] about Dancing Backwards Part 3; More Stories of Gifted but Forgotten Women Artists
Dancing Backwards Returns; Going Medieval with Skeletons: More Stories of Mostly Forgotten Fabulously Talented Women Artists of the Past: Part 3 Coming in September
How does a 850 year old skeleton relate to Dancing Backwards? It is posited that this woman/skeleton was a scribe/artist and somehow while working on a manuscript, a small chunk of lapis lazuli pigment was accidentally embedded in the flesh of her lower jaw behind her front teeth. According to the Smithsonian Institute, scientists like to poke … [Read more...] about Dancing Backwards Returns; Going Medieval with Skeletons: More Stories of Mostly Forgotten Fabulously Talented Women Artists of the Past: Part 3 Coming in September
The Final Reveal
Dancing Backwards in High Heels More Lessons from Fred and Ginger Part ll Yesterday's opening reception was lovely. The entire staff was in attendance, Joe, Krissy, Lynette, and Marilyn too! The guests enjoyed locally made salted chocolate truffles and lemonade throughout the afternoon. So now, as promised, posted are all ten finished paintings … [Read more...] about The Final Reveal