HOW-TO: PAINT a DRAGON

 In this case, 3D dragons.. these happen to be cast of pewter.  1.  My initial step was to basecoat with a flat grey primer spray; 2 or 3 light coats.  3.  Nextly, using tube acrylics, mix up whichever dragon color you have chosen, be it green, blue or red, proceed to paint entirely.  4.  Drybrush underbody with a much lighter shade of chosen color. Allow undercolor to appear in crevices. (if red = a soft yellow sets it off)  5.  Paint top areas in a black or darkest shade of desired color, blending at edges. Inside mouth and on tongue a bright red. The eyes originally were rhinestones which I painted over for more realism, any crystals or jewels hold off until entirely done with painting and all final spray coats of gloss or satin lacquer.  The tongue and eyes get their shine from 5minute epoxy deftly applied after final spray.   

PAINTING from a PHOTOGRAPH

Tropical World - Oil by Karen Roncari

painted edge box canvas,  Tropical World

ARTistically speaking, whether you paint from a live model, a still life setup or on site (plein-air); these methods seem to be aesthetically superior to working from photographs.  However, there happens that certain photo of a subject or composition that inspires us that we simply must use as our "model".  There are numerous painters who have files of various reference materials, I for one.

magazine photo

A good point to keep in mind is to not slavishly copy it.  Determine what feature attracted you to the image, enhancing it to Your pictorial advantage. You can brighten the colors, as I did here, tone them down or even change them.  I took liberty with the background, made birdie more upright & showed more tail feather.   Everyone who draws or paints has the ability to render in their own style, media, colors, size, the list is endless, besides: being Creative makes Art more FUN!!

STEP by STEP in ACRYLICS

I had a sketchy idea 

    of the composition, so quickly blocked it in using a bit of  negative painting.  Although totally enamored with the lillies, the 2 canvases had to be tied together with something less dramatic, while giving the bottom weight and enhancing their delicate beauty.    Patterned cloth, with contrasting colors of those in background and flowers provided the necessary anchor.

When painting wraparound canvas, one must keep the painting going over the edges; so as details progressed, they happened on the sides as well.  

 

LILLYSCAPE

  This particular project has given me unparalleled satisfaction and I had Fun every minute of it.                     

IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE

 I have been working on this post over a month...(just not good with words) 

I just did this pastel of a dream I had 37 years ago.  Not many details except that people wearing white are floating upwards to Heaven.  The startling thing about this dream was the realization that I was merely watching the people and 

NOT among  them!!

At that time during my unregenerated life I was presented with the message of the Gospel and simple plan of Salvation. I also learned of how Jesus Christ alone can save us; not merely through good works or because of any particular religion. 

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us"..Titus3:5 

And finally..."we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air." 1Thess 4:17

PHANTOM WIZARD turns SHEPHERD

I SPOTTED HIM IN A SPLIT MOMENT, my model, entering a neighboring booth at the MI Renaissance Festival.  Our booth was then the highly popular Lizardz, Wizardz & Ringz.
Of course, the "wizard" had no idea he was to be my model.  This old gent was in costume, but one could tell the hair & the beard was genuine. He was just one in a crowd of festival goers who like to dress up like in medieval times while browsing the booths and sideshows of the Faire in Holly, MI.
I grabbed my digital camera, snap, snap; then he was gone, lost from view.  A few months later I used his image to compose the shepherd scene that became my Christmas Card for that year. 
The laptop and camera are also gone now along with the image. (everything on it crashed)
But the 24 x 30 Oil Painting remains in my inventory, and sometimes..
...I wonder as I wander, how that old guy is "fairing".

He Saw a Great Light

BYGONE LANDMARK

 Year 1968:  That day I was told they were all set to take down the old church to make way for the new one.   St. Gertrude, founded 1826,   on Jefferson Ave in St. Clair Shores, MI.  You might say I had a front row seat since I lived right across the street from the parish church, rectory, convent and parochial school (all 12 yrs of which I attended).  The bulldozer readied to begin its destructive work.

I had a cheap box camera attained through redemption of Gold Bell Gift Stamps. This I grabbed from my house and ran out to record the scene from my neighbor's  front yard.  Not seeing any others around with cameras, I am sure this is the only photo documentary on the subject. 

The old St. Gert's used to be a handsome church with unique scalloped wood siding in front.   The new A-Frame structure that replaced the original one never did appeal to me;  I watched it's contemporary steel beams gradually rise in place of the old white steeples with fine details.  

FROM 'THAT' TO "THIS"

Speaking for myself mostly, I believe all artists from time to time do a painting that is totally disagreeable with how we intended it to end up.   Now, even though I enjoyed the composing of this floral, it kept transforming, changing. The next thing ya know--I 90% hate it.  
One day out on the deck the oil paint rearranged itself into a landscape.
Pictured is halfway point, keeping a few of the magenta flowers.
Final solution: I am satisfied with it now; ready for framing [as soon as today's paint is dry]      Title: Light Unto My Path

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM

Today is my dear mother's birthday.  Emily (Germain) Mueller left this world in 1984 at age 72.   Mother of ten, she never drove a car, widowed in '61;  she cooked for the nuns across the street to help put us through parochial school. {St Gertrude, St Clair Shores}  Dear Mom,  you will ever live on in my memory and in my heart.   See you some day in Heaven.   love,  Karen

Mom in my Oil "Sunday Afternoon"

Mom's cake I made around 1971

postcard mom got from an aunt in 1924

Tony van Hasselt: Creative Realism In Watercolor (DVD)

FRAMES & TEXTURES

MOST of the ART 

on my website are framed pieces.  The watercolor paintings and all drawings all have professional mats.  The ones in this group having frames contain glass. 

All the Oil and Acrylic paintings that have frames do not have glass.  Those painted on wraparound canvas do not require a frame.   Other  materials I paint on range from stretched canvas to gessoed hardboard in 1/8" to 1/4" depth.   Quite a few of these I textured specifically for the subject or left smooth for thin glazes.
One way of using texture is to trowel on thick gesso or modeling paste right over your rough sketch.  There are many sizes & shapes of palette knives available for this.  Once dry it can be painted, emphasizing the relief efforts for an impasto look.

A frame much like the final brushstroke of the artwork can make it or break it.  Paintings that had a lousy cheap frame on looked so much better once I got them reframed by a professional.  Much can be said about the choice of colors, depth and width that finish off artwork that you have labored over.