Happy New Year

Have a happy and safe new year. All the best, Arlene

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Analysis of My Painting, The Train

The images are of my painting, The Train, in colour and in value (white through grays to black scale). The majority of my painting has light values. There are more mid values than black values. The repetition of the black on the wheels and the bars to the train's front lights create movement. The diagonal shapes are evident. My colours are predominantly cool with some warm colours for contrast. The sunlight is from the right. The front of the train is in this light. The side of the train is the local colour. It is not in sunlight or shadow. Although not seen, the back of the train would be in shadow. The back of this train is lighter as it recedes from the viewer.

Prints, cards and more of this painting are on sale today at my Zazzle shop. http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Sale at Zazzle - After Christmas Weekend Sale

Print with border of my painting, Burpee Tomatoes. On sale at Zazzle.

Zazzle.com is having an after Christmas sale. The sale is until Dec. 28/09 at 11:59 p.m., Pacific Time.

The sale includes: 40% off posters/prints; 15% off T- Shirts/Shirts; 10% off mugs; 20% off tote bags; 20% off aprons; 25% off mousepads, and 75% off cards. The promotion code is ZAZZLEACSALE. Then click redeem. Discount is applied at checkourt.

There is also a Zazzle.com SALE: 25% off 2 or more calendars. The sale ends January 11, 2010. The promotion code is YOURCALENDAR. Then click redeem. http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist*

It is a wonderful time to buy; sales help offset your shipping costs & more.

Zazzle.ca is having a similar Boxing Day Weekend sale. The code is BOXDAYZAZZLE. Since my products are public, buyers on Zazzle.ca can take advantage of the Boxing Day Weekend sale. If Canadians wish to register on Zazzle, I recommend Canadians register on Zazzle.com. Registration is free. Although prices are in U.S. dollars, it results in savings for Canadians and Canadians will be able to take advantage of the Zazzle.com sales. There is no sales tax for Canadians on Zazzle.com.

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas

HAVE A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY AND MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL.

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Happy Holidays, Calendar Sale

I wish everyone a happy holiday and new year.

There is also a Zazzle.com SALE: 25% off 2 or more calendars. The sale ends January 11, 2010. The promotion code is YOURCALENDAR. Then click redeem. http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist*

Best wishes, Arlene

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

The Train - My Fine Art Painting

The Train
Original Fine Art Painting
Acrylic on canvas mounted on wood stretcher bars
20.4 by 25.5 cm, 8 by 10 inches

This is my painting of the train. You can see my blurred edges of the train and wheels and my diagonal shapes. These contribute to the feelings of movement.

This has been posted on my Zazzle shop for prints and cards. The original painting has not yet been posted for sale. http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist*


http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Movement in My Painting of a Train

My painting of the train is completed except for a last minute check and varnish. I wrote about Turner’s and Monet’s paintings. They achieved movement and atmosphere. In my painting, I blurred edges of the train and wheels. My shape of the train and the lines of the tracks are diagonal. There is repetition in colour and lines. These techniques contribute to the movement of the train in my painting.

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Seeing Colours for Painting

Greeting Card, Male Head after Durer. My card is available at my Zazzle shop. http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist*

I wish to take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy and safe holiday season and new year.

I have written about value; the white through grays to black scale. Every colour (hue, i.e. red) has a value (local value). The value and colour are affected by light, atmosphere, sky and objects around the colour. You squint your eyes to see values. Most artists agree that you should open your eyes wide to see the hue. But if you close one eye and look through a hole surrounded by gray, you will see the hue.


http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Major Sales at Zazzle.com

Sale: Zazzle.com is having a major sale. Check my shop announcement regularly for future sales. The sale includes: 60% off posters, prints; 50% off 10 cards or more; 30% off postage, mousepads, keychains, buttons, magnets, stickers and bumperstickers. Sale includes: $5 off shirts; buy 1 mug and get 1 free; $9 off calendars; 30% off hats; 30% off bags, and buy 1 binder and get 1 free. Click Zazzle code and see more sales. The deal is until Dec. 14/09 @ 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time. The promotion code is 12DEALZAZZLE. Then click redeem. Discount is applied at checkourt.

It is a wonderful time to buy; sales help offset your shipping costs & more.

If Canadians wish to register on Zazzle, I recommend Canadians register on Zazzle.com. Registration is free. Although prices are in U.S. dollars, it results in savings for Canadians and Canadians will be able to take advantage of the Zazzle.com sales. There is no sales tax for Canadians on Zazzle.com.

http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist*

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Movement in Art, The Train

I am painting a train passing through the landscape. I hope to achieve the speed and movement achieved by many artists. Turner in his painting, Rain, Steam and Speed, captured these elements with loose, expressive brushstrokes. The train and tracks are separated by 2 luminous pieces of land. Turner blurred his edges by using the rain and mist. The train and tracks are a diagonal shape moving towards the viewer. Another work I admire is Monet’s The Gare, St. Lazare. The atmosphere and steam painted by Monet contrast with the trains.

See the painting by Turner and his other wonderful paintings by clicking on the title of this post.

Check my Zazzle shop announcement to see the sale on Monday December 14. http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist*

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Analysis, Part II of My New Painting, Lighthouse Landscape

This is a value image of my painting, Lighthouse Landscape, as well as the original. This shows the painting from white through grays to black. The sky is lighter as we move back towards the horizon. The ground is lighter and more blue as we move back. This creates depth and is called atmospheric perspective. The dominant values are middle values. There are more dark values then light. The dominant colour temperature is cool. The warm sunlight comes from the left and the shadows are cool. When I first sketched this scene, I placed the water on the right side. This led the eye off the canvas. So I placed the water on the left side. The lighthouse on the right side and the diagonal inward shape of the land now prevents the eye moving off the canvas.

Calendars are $9 off at Zazzle.com. See my shop announcement. http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist*

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Analysis of My New Painting, Lighthouse Landscape

Lighthouse Landscape
Original Fine Art Painting
Acrylic on canvas mounted on wood stretcher bars
20.4 by 25.5 cm, 8 by 10 inches

This is my most recent painting. The focal point is the lighthouse and particularly the top of the lighthouse. It has the darkest dark and the lightest light. It is almost one third from the right side of the canvas. The lighthouse and main activity are in right horizontal rabatment (the right square of rectangle). The lighthouse has a vertical thrust to show strength. There are horizontal edges, i.e. the horizon line, to provide contrast. Most of the large shapes move towards the lighthouse. In this painting, I have again almost merged the sky and water.

I have not yet posted this painting on my Etsy internet shop. I have posted posters, prints, cards and postcards on my Zazzle shop. Zazzle’s 60% off prints and posters sale continues. Bags are 30% off. See my shop announcement. I bought the budget bag, “After the Dance” at an earlier sale. My friends and I all admire this bag. I will make a new bag with the painting, Lighthouse Landscape, so people can take advantage of the sale. http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist*

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Zazzle sale on posters, prints & shirts

I am very excited about today's Zazzle.com sale. The sale is 60% off posters and prints (framed prints do not apply). The deal is until Dec. 8/09 @ 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time. The promotion code is 12DEALSPRINT. You can also get $5 off shirts. The promotion code is then EMAIL12PRINT. I expect the print sale will continue tomorrow but I cannot be certain. Check my shop announcements. http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist*

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

The Baroque Era of Art

Women's hooded shirt with an image of my painting, Evening Sail. On sale now at Zazzle.

My favourite artists are from the Baroque period. These artists worked after the Renaissance and Mannerist eras. The artists include Rembrandt, Rubens, Vermeer, Caravaggio, El Greco, Velasquez and Gainsborough. These artists sought individuality and drama. They used light and colour and frequently dynamic diagonal compositions. I wrote about diagonal compositional structures. Their wonderful works are studied today. Artists can examine and learn from the art of this era.

Have you been following the 12 deals of Christmas at Zazzle.com? Today's sale is shirts and more. See my shop announcement. http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist*

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Tension in Fine Art

Frosted glass mug with an image of my painting, Cherries.

Tension in art can occur when 2 elements almost meet. The elements try to meet or withdraw from each other. I heard that the greatest tension in art is in Michelangelo’s painting, Creation of Adam. The hands of Adam and God almost meet.

Check out Zazzle.com’s 11th gift of Christmas. See my shop announcement at http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist*






http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Zazzle.com Ongoing Sale

"Covered Bridge", Greeting Card

Zazzle.com is having a sale of 12 products on different days. The first sale is 50% off 10 or more greeting cards until Dec. 6 @ 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time. Code is 12DEALSCARDS. Check my shop announcement regularly for the future 11 sales. http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist*

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Rabatment in Fine Art

Rabatment of the rectangle is a structural tool that leads to unity, harmony and balance. Place your main subject or image inside a vertical or horizontal square using 3 of the edges of your support's rectangle. Rabatment can be either on the left, right, upper or lower sides. I put my focal point in this area and also follow all the guides I have written about placement and elements for focal points. There are several articles about rabatment on the internet and you can do a google search for "rabatment". Read Dianne Mize's article "Placing our Images: Rabatment" and the article on www. emptyeasel .com.


Again, Zazzle.com has free ground shipping for all orders to U.S. addresses Dec. 2/09. The promotion code is HOLIDAYSHIPS. Free shipping ends Dec. 2 at 11:59 p.m., Pacific Time. See my shirts; top picks selected by other visitors. http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist*

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Brush Work and Painting

You can obtain vitality in your work by using larger brushes and large brush strokes. Don’t over mix your paints. Use synthetic bristle brushes for most acrylic work as they will not absorb much water. When you begin your brush stroke, the brush’s tip provides a hard edge. As you move down the support, the brush stroke will soften. When you press down on the brush, the stroke widens and the paint becomes thinner.

This November 30th, Zazzle.com has free shipping for all orders to U.S. addresses. The promotion code is FREESHIP2DAY. Free shipping ends November 30, 2009 at 11:59 p.m., Pacific Time. Read Zazzle’s details. http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist*

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Sun and Sky Light in Art; Zazzle Black Friday Sale

Separate sunlight from the blue reflection of the sky. The warm sunlight flows over the objects and forms in the painting. The sky reflects down, i.e. on the ground, and leaves some blue behind. Both sunlight and the reflection of the sky are affected by the time of day, season, weather, etc. There is also reflections from close objects into the shadows of other objects. Usually the tops of objects are affected by the cool blue of the sky. The bottoms of objects are affected by the warm ground.

See my previous post and my shop announcement for information about the large discounts at Zazzle's Black Friday Sale. http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist*

Keep informed of any sales at my internet shops. Send me an email & include your email address.

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Black Friday Zazzle.com Sale

Zazzle.com sale until November 27, 2009 @ 11:59 p.m., Pacific Time. The sale includes 50% off posters, 40% off calendars, 55% off cards, 30% off mousepads, $4 off T-Shirts, $3 off mugs and more, i.e. 30% off major brands like Disney, Barbie, Star Wars. There is also free shipping within the U.S. when the net price of purchases is $35 or more. Enter the promotion code, ZAZZLEFRIDAY and click the redeem button. Discount is applied at checkout. http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist*

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Acrylic Transfers in Art, Part II & My New Award

This is my acrylic transfer. Since I draw, I am unsure if I will use it often. I plan to try a transfer to a thicker gel medium and see what happens. I used Photoshop to add a layer of near transparent color over the entire piece. I added text and made this transfer into a holiday card for my personal use.

I am pleased to announce that I received Zazzle’s Today’s Best Award for a print/poster of my painting “Coastal Sail”. Sales continue at Zazzle. Always check my shop announcement for any sales and promotion code. http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist*

See my Etsy shop to view my affordable paintings; free shipping. http://artbyarlenebabad.etsy.com

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Contrast, My Fine Art Painting - "Coastal Sail"

Coastal Sail
Original Fine Art Painting
Acrylic on canvas mounted on wood stretcher bars
20.4 by 25.5 cm, 8 by 10 inches

In this new painting, I was interested in the contrast between the small manmade boat and nature’s large mountains. I needed to achieve balance between the 2 vertical sides of the picture plane.


This painting is on sale at my Etsy internet shop. http://artbyarlenebabad.etsy.com/. Shipping worldwide is free for all my original paintings. Buy a PayPal gift certificate for my Etsy shop on this site.

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

New Zazzle.com Sale-T-Shirts and More

ZAZZLE.com SALE: $5 off with purchase of 2 or more T-Shirts. 10% off buttons, mugs, mousepads and stickers. Sale code is SALEJUSTFORU; then hit redeem. Discount applied at checkout. On sale until November 26, 2009 @ 11:59 p.m., PT. Calendar 44.4% sale also continues. See my shop announcement.
http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist*

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Acrylic Transfers for Art Works

This calendar has images of my art on each page. Buyers can customize my products. Zazzle.com's calendar sale continues. 44.4% discount. See my shop announcement. http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist*

I am working on an acrylic transfer to use for my holiday card. Acrylic is such a versatile medium. I had put layers of matte medium on both sides of acid free mount board. When dry, I put a layer of gloss gel medium on the board. I immediately placed a photocopied image of a Santa Claus scene face down on the medium. It should dry in hopefully 24 hours and I will be able to lift the paper off the medium and see the transfer image. It is important to use a photocopy transfer image. Computer ink usually runs.

Click on title of this post to go to my Zazzle internet shop. Links to my other shops are at the top of this site.

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Glaze with Acrylic Heavy Body Paints

This calendar with images of my paintings is available at my Zazzle shop. Calendar sale of 44.4% discount continues. More sale information is available at my Zazzle shop announcement. I purchased this calendar while on sale. I would be interested in knowing if you prefer this calendar or my other calendar with the year, 2010, in gold lettering on the cover page. You can customize these and other products.

http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist*




I use heavy body acrylics. When I want to glaze a colour over a dry layer, I put a bit of water to make the paint less viscous. I am then able to mix this paint with gloss gel or liquid mediums. This makes the paint easier to fully mix it with the medium and easier to glaze.




Click on title of this post to go to my Zazzle internet shop. Links to my other shops are at the top of this site.







http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Zazzle.com Sale on Calendars

ZAZZLE.com SALE: Calendar sale starts for as low as $9.98. Discount 44.4% on all calendars. Sale code is CALENDARS998; discount applied at checkout. On sale until November 23, 2009 @ 11:59 p.m., PT.

http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist*



http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Drying Time with Acrylic Paints

An image of my painting After the Dance. The original painting was sold. Posters and prints with or without borders and in a variety of sizes are for sale at http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist* . The image is also available on clothes, mousepads, mugs and more.


I paint with acrylics. I use heavy body acrylics as I like their abilities to paint directly from tubes, mix with mediums and paint with thick strokes and glazes. Although I paint with fast drying acrylics, I become impatient while I wait for a layer to dry. The addition of mediums can make the drying time longer. Since I glaze with both gloss gel and liquid mediums, I wait for the layer to dry. It is helpful to place your hand under the canvas and test if the area is cool. If the area on and under the canvas is cool, the layer is not dry.


Click on title of this post to go to my Etsy internet shop and view my original paintings. Links to my other shops are at the top of this site.





http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Painting Flower Stems in Water

Women's hooded shirt with an image of my painting, Evening Sail. Zazzle’s Veteran’s Day Sale continues. http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist*


When items, i.e. stems of flowers, are in water, refraction occurs. The stem changes direction as it passes into water. You also see refraction when the stem enters the vase. Refraction happens when an object shifts from one vehicle to another of different density. Stems also appear lighter and more intense when seen through water.


http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Canada's Remembrance Day

Today is Canada's Remembrance Day. I will remember.

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

New Zazzle.com sale

ZAZZLE VETERANS DAY SALE: Zazzle.com 's sale is $5 off orders of $35 or more. The sale ends Nov. 15/09 @ 11:59 p.m., PT. The promotion may not be combined with any other promotion, i.e. poster, print sale. The promotion code is VETERANSDAY9. http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist*

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Painting White in Art

Postcard based on a detail from my painting, Waterfalll in the Mist. I recently changed all my greeting cards and postcards on my Zazzle shop. I love the colours and textures in this postcard. Click on title of post to go to my Zazzle shop.

How do you paint, white? White picks up the colours around it. The cool blues of the sky are seen in a white blanket, outside and facing upward. When white is reflected on white, the colour is a yellow white.

Remember the Zazzle.com sale. 40% off posters & prints until Nov. 12/09, 11:59 p.m. PT. Code is HISTORYPOST4. http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist*

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Further Analysis of My New Painting & Remember Zazzle Sale

Building in Landscape
Original Fine Art Painting
Acrylic on canvas mounted on wood stretcher bars
20.4 by 25.5 cm, 8 by 10 inches

I previously discussed my painting, Building in Landscape; I wrote about its focal point. I again show it in a black to white gray scale. This painting is in 2 point linear perspective. The right side of the building and path connect to a vanishing point on the horizon line. The left side of the building also points to a vanishing point on the same horizon line (eye level). I keep viewers from staying in the back of linear perspective with a semi circular background of trees. My arrows indicate that each major shape points to the building. This is not the compositional structure, radial burst, which contributes to a dynamic image. This is convergence; each shape meets at the focal point. The painting is calm. The cast shadow tells us that the sunlight is coming from the right of the building. The front of the building is the local color. It is not in light or shadow.

[Click on title of post to go to my Etsy internet shop; the original painting is available. My links to my other internet shops are at the top of this site.I have not yet put this painting on Zazzle or FAA.]

Remember the Zazzle.com sale. 40% off posters & prints until Nov. 12/09, 11:59 p.m. PT. Code is HISTORYPOST4. http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist*

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Zazzle.com Sale on Posters and Prints

Zazzle.com is having a sale. 40% off posters and prints. The sale began Nov. 5/09 @ 12:01 a.m, PT and ends November 12/09 @ 11:59 p.m., PT.The promotion code is HISTORYPOST4. The sale will be applied at checkout.

Click on title of post to go to my Zazzle shop. http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist*

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Focal Point & My Painting; New Zazzle Award

Card with border based on my painting After the Dance. I received an award from Zazzle.

My painting, Building in Landscape; acrylic on canvas.

I wanted to discuss a painting not yet posted on my internet shops. The painting, Building in Landscape, is also shown in a black to white gray scale. In this post, I write about the focal point and techniques I have already discussed. The focal point is the building, particularly the side with the door. My focal point has the lightest light and the darkest dark. I painted the dark door with a warm blue and then a muted orange red. I was careful not to create a hole or space in the painting. This can happen with dark colours. All shapes lead to my focal point. The focal point is at different distances from the 4 edges of the painting. There are paths from each side of the painting to the focal point. There is more detail and hard edges in this area.

As a separate issue, yesterday I received Zazzle’s Today’s Best Award for my card with border, based on my painting After the Dance.

[Click on title of post to go to my Zazzle shop.]

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Painting Dark Colours in Art

Frosted glass mug with an image of my painting, Cherries, available at my Zazzle internet shop. Click on title of post to go to my Zazzle shop.

Dark colours are richer when they are transparent and warm. I started out painting with watercolours and I learned to mix vibrant dark colours, i.e. pthalo green and crimson. I did not use black paint. When I started painting with acrylic paints, I found I could achieve black local colours best using black paint. (Local colour is the object’s colour, i.e. red apple, black coat.) I use Ivory Black paint over a blue underpainting to achieve a rich black as a local colour. I then add strokes of colours over the black, i.e. red, green. I do not use black paint to make shadows, cast shadows, shades or darker colours.

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

The Picture Plane in Art

What is the picture plane? The flat surface on which artists work is the picture plane. Artists may use elements on their support to emphasize the flat surface. Artists may also use elements to emphasize space behind the picture plane. It is this use of elements that produce space and depth. For example, in space, colours move toward cool blue and are muted. The first colours that fade are yellow and orange hues. Artists might use linear perspective and overlap to achieve depth. I like some depth in my paintings. I am also constantly aware of the need for a well designed picture plane. Many people see space as a move backwards; artists can also use elements to make their image move in front of the picture plane. We see art works where a child’s leg appears in front of the picture plane as if the child is moving forward and out of the picture.

[Links to my internet shops are at the top of this site.]

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Zazzle.com Sale; My Paintings on Etsy

Zazzle.com is having a sale. It includes up to 58% on cards; up to 35% on T-Shirts/Shirts; up to $4 on mugs; up to $5 on postage stamp sheets and up to 35% on bags. No promotion code or time line has been provided but I will add this information to my Zazzle site when available.

My original paintings are sold at my Etsy internet shop and shipping worldwide is free for all my paintings. PayPal gift certificates for my Etsy shop are available on this site.

Links to my internet shops are at the top of this site.

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Warm & Cool Colour Temperatures in Art

Greeting card with an image of my painting, Autumn Landscape, available at my Zazzle shop.

In my painting, Autumn Landscape, I wanted to achieve the warm golden yellow, reds and oranges of autumn. Colour temperatures are warm or cool. Yellow, red and orange are warm colours (hues) and green, violet and blue are cool colours. But the range of a colour varies from warm to cool. An orange yellow is warmer than a green yellow. My colour palette in my painting is primarily muted warm colours. There are cool colours, i.e. the blue water. The cool colours contrast with the dominant warm hues.

[Click on title of post to go to my Zazzle internet shop and see more items with this image. The original painting is on sale at my Etsy shop and shipping of the painting is free worldwide. Links are at the top of this site.]

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Compositional Structures in Art- Radial Burst

Women's hooded shirt with image of my painting, Evening Sail, available at my Zazzle shop.

The radial burst is also a compositional structure in art. This structure has shapes and lines that move out from a central point. It is a dynamic, emotional structure; not like the calm image on this shirt. I call the radial burst structure, convergence, although it is technically not correct. It reminds me of one point perspective where shapes and lines move toward a vanishing point on the horizon line. (Design and Composition, Nathan Goldstein)

[Click on title of post to go to my Zazzle shop. Links to all my internet shops are at the top of this site.]

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

"Autumn Landscape" - New Painting, Compositional Structures in Art

"Autumn Landscape"
Acrylic on canvas
20.4 by 25.5 cm; 8 by 10 inches
All rights reserved

I was interested in painting the autumn colours and the rocks. I previously wrote about the compositional structures in this art work. There are 3 vertical shapes emphasizing strenth, action and power. There are 2 strong horizontal shapes emphasizing calm. Both structures emphasize stability.

[Click on title of post to go to my Etsy internet shop to purchase this painting. Fine art prints in different sizes on archival paper or canvas are available at my Fine Art America internet shop.]

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Painting Cast Shadows in Art

I previously wrote about cast shadows. Cast shadows in paintings usually have some blue because of the sky’s colour. Cast shadows can provide viewers with information. We can see the direction of the light. We also know the shape of the object casting the shadow. We can tell the time of day; at noon cast shadows are short and have sharper edges. We can tell the manner of the place of the cast shadow. The cast shadow gets lighter and bluer as it moves away from the object casting the shadow for it gets bluer from the sky. The cast shadow is usually darker close to the object and lighter as it moves away from the object. When I am out walking, I examine the details of cast shadows. I also do this when I am inside.

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Zazzle.com Sale Today-Oct. 22/09

Zazzle.com is having a sale today until 11:59 p.m. PT (October 22). The sale includes 50% off custom bags and 10% off mugs and T-Shirts. The code is CAPSLOCKDAY9 and the sale will be applied at checkout. http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist*

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Compositional Structures in Art- Emphasis on Vertical and Horizontal

I am working on a landscape painting. While my format is horizontal and there are horizontal shapes, the emphasis is on 3 vertical shapes; 2 vertical rock formations separated by the vertical shape of water. While horizontal compositional structures emphasize calm, vertical structures emphasize action, strength and power. Both structures suggest stability. With my use of colours and shapes, I hope to engage viewers in a dynamic painting. (Design and Composition, Nathan Goldstein)

[Links to my internet shops are at the top of this site.]

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Compositional Structures in Art- Even Spread

Image of my painting, Burpee Tomatoes, is on mousepad available at my Zazzle shop.

The even spread is a unique compositional structure with the spreading of elements across the entire picture plane. In my painting, Burpee Tomatoes, you can see the even spread of the orange and green circular shapes of the tomatoes. This calls attention to the art work’s second dimension of the picture plane. (Design and Composition, Nathan Goldstein).

[Click on title of post to go to my Zazzle internet shop. Links to my internet shops are at the top of this site.]




http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Compositional Structures in Art- The Diamond

The “diamond” is a compositional structure used by artists. It brings stability to the art work and is frequently used with other structures. The diamond breaks the picture plane into 4 sections. The 4 tips of the diamond might also lie at the edge of each side. Along with the grid and the circle, we see many compositional structures artists use in their work. (Design and Composition, Nathan Goldstein)

I am pleased to announce that yesterday, I received Zazzle's Today's Best Award for my poster with an image of my painting, "The Wreck". Links to my internet shops are at the top of this site.

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

A New Zazzle.com Sale

Zazzle.com is having a new sale; 10% off prices. The sale is from October 15/09 @ 12:01 a.m. PT until October 18 @ 11:59 p.m. PT. Use code: SWEETESTDAY9. The sale will be applied at checkout. Click on title of post to go to my Zazzle shop. http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist*

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Achieving Depth in Art

There are ways artists can achieve depth in their art. I have discussed linear perspective. Using “repoussoir”, artists put a large object in the foreground and viewers see this and then move to other objects. We frequently see tree branches in the left foreground. Vermeer used this technique to achieve depth. He placed curtains, tables, etc. in the foreground. Objects in the background are lighter, less clear and muted. If the objects are light, in the background they are darker. Colours move toward a light gray value. There is less contrast in the background and colours have more blue. Overlap of objects is an excellent way to achieve depth. These are a few methods artists use to achieve depth.

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

A Problem with Linear Perspective in Art

Frosted glass mug with image of my painting, Cherries, available at my Zazzle shop. Click on title of post to go to my Zazzle shop. Take advantage of Zazzle's weekend sale.

I wrote about linear perspective. Leaving the viewer in the background can be a problem when artists use linear perspective. How do artists handle this problem? One point perspective can be used. Placing the viewer in an atypical location can be used, i.e. left front. Artists can block the background, i.e. a car in urban art. Place a figure in front of the vanishing point. Cezanne was a master in emphasizing the picture plane.

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Zazzle sale this weekend

Zazzle.com is having a sale this weekend to celebrate Columbus Day. All prices are reduced by 14.92%. The sale begins October 10 and ends October 12 @ 11:59 pm, PT. Check Zazzle details. http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist*

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Painting Clouds in Art

The image on this women's shirt is a detail from my painting, "Waterfall in the Mist". Click on title of this post to go to my Zazzle internet shop.

When I am outside I often stare at the sky and clouds. It seems in Toronto, Canada, we only have cumulus clouds. These clouds are low and are seen mainly in good weather. The tops of cumulus clouds are in the shape of a sphere’s top and the bottoms are flat. We have other types of clouds, i.e. in bad weather, but the sky is so dark, I can’t see the clouds. Clouds show perspective and the darkest dark of the cloud is usually lighter than the ground. Clouds reflect the colours around them and therefore the colour of the clouds is influenced by the ground. I like to paint some light pink in the bottom of my clouds for contrast.

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Compositional Structures in Art- Diagonal & Triangle

Images of my painting, Cherries, on infant's shirt and mousepad.

My painting, Cherries, has 2 underlying structures. One structure emphasizes diagonal shapes and creates tension and movement. The other structure created by the cherries is a triangle and brings stability to my art.

[Click on title of post to go to my Zazzle internet shop. The original painting is available on my Etsy internet shop.]

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Compositional Structures in Art- Two Centers

Greeting card with image of a detail from my painting, "Waterfall in the Mist". I also created a mug with this detail.

Two centers is another structural composition. This structure can create tension in art or stability. This structure is used by artists primarily when they want tension in their work. I previously wrote about the structure, the bridge. In a bridge structure, the two shapes are united by a bridge and therefore, more harmonious. (Design and Composition, Nathan Goldstein)

[Click on title of post to go to my Zazzle shop.]

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Compositional Structures in Art- Central Location

“Central location” is another compositional structure. You see this structure often in portrait paintings. It is important that the central image be unified with the background. Artists achieve unity by repeating elements in both the central image and background. Objects in front of the central image also help unify the art. (Design and Composition, Nathan Goldstein)

[Click on title of post to go to my Zazzle internet shop. Links to all my internet shops are at the top of this site.]


http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Fine Art Cards; Greeting Cards of my Original Paintings

Orange Lily; one of my favourite cards. A set of 5 or 10 cards makes a nice gift.

[Click on the title of this post to view Etsy internet shop.]

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Painting Mist in Art; "Waterfall in the Mist". Facebook Fan Page

"Waterfall in the Mist"

Acrylic on canvas mounted on wood stretcher bars

20.4 by 25.5 cm; 8 by 10 inches.

I wanted to emphasize the mist created by the waterfall and atmosphere. After the painting in colour was done, I painted several glazes of gloss medium with white over the necessary shapes. I made any needed adjustments. Once dry I added speckles of bluish white and then speckles of white.

I created a fan page on Facebook. If you wish to join my fan page, click on badge on this site.

[Click on title of post to go to my Etsy internet shop.]

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Zazzle Award for Postcard Based on My Painting, "The Grain Mill"

Email re Zazzle Award Annoucement. My painting, The Grain Mill.

On September 24, I received Zazzle’s Today’s Best Award. This award was for a postcard based on my painting, “The Grain Mill”. I first posted this painting on August 17 with an article about focal points. On August 19, I posted it in black and white with an article about light and dark values in fine art and gray scales. On August 23, I posted this painting with an article about eye movement in art. The painting was included in my article about painting waterfalls on September 21.

I sell my original paintings and fine art greeting cards at my Etsy internet shop. Shipping is free world wide for all my original paintings. Fine art prints on archival paper or canvas are sold at my Fine Art America shop. Links to these internet shops are at the top of this site.

[Click on title of post to go to my Zazzle.com internet shop. Choose my art & product. Select the colour, style & size. Customers from other Zazzle portals can go to their sites, i.e. Zazzle.au and search “babad”. Then under any product, click “arlenebabadartist” and you will be at my shop page. ]

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Change in Zazzle shop site

My Zazzle site is now www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist* I changed to .com because while this requires payments in U.S. dollars, it results in reduced prices for Canadians. I hope it will also clarify zazzle.com sales for all customers.

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Compositional Structures in Art- The L Shape

My new, unfinished painting’s compositional structure is in part based on the L structure. The L shape structure usually results in dynamic art. A large shape on one side continues on the other side of the work. The L shape structure may isolate the L shape from the remaining shapes in the art. One solution is to overlap shapes among the L shape and the remaining shapes. One can also repeat elements in both sections, i.e. colour, texture. These techniques will achieve unity in an L shape structure. (Design and Composition, Nathan Goldstein).

Links to my internet shops are at the top of this site.

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Zazzle Octoberfest Sale

Kids T-Shirt's image is based on my painting, After the Dance.

OCTOBERFEST ZAZZLE SALE: Did you receive an email with your personal code? This sale is for free shipping on purchases of $35 or more and can be used once. It applies to U.S. addresses only and to buyers on zazzle.com. It can be used in my store. Log in at http://www.zazzle.com/ . Click on title of post & you will get to my Zazzle shop (read your Zazzle email for more information). The sale ends October 5, 2009 at 11:59 p.m.

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Painting Waterfalls in Fine Art

Bag with image of my painting, After the Dance. My painting, The Grain Mill.

I am currently painting a waterfall and mist. There is a change of direction in waterfalls. There is the top plane and the vertical waterfall. In the original image, the planes of the waterfalls have a sharp edge. Since the waterfall is not my focal point, I made the change of planes more curved. In my painting, The Grain Mill, you see 2 waterfalls. The waterfall directly facing the viewer has a sharper edge at the plane change then the waterfall at an angle.

Images of my painting, After the Dance, are available currently as a T-Shirt, bag, poster, mug/cup and a magnet at my Zazzle shop. I will be adding images to more products. I also take requests. The sale on all my items continues. The original painting was sold.

I sell my original paintings and fine art greeting cards at my Etsy internet shop. Shipping is free world wide for all my original paintings. Fine art prints on archival paper or canvas are sold at my Fine Art America shop. Links to these internet shops are at the top of this site.

[Click on title of post to go to my Zazzle.ca internet shop. Choose my art & product. Select the colour, style & size. Customers from other countries can go to their sites, i.e. Zazzle.com or can go directly to my site. Many Zazzle sales are only available to U.S. customers registered on Zazzle.com (read the sale details). My products are public. Therefore, these sales are also available at my store. Go to http://www.zazzle.com/ and sign in. Search “babad”. Then under any product, click “artbyarlenbabad” and you will be at my shop page. ]

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Linear Perspective in Fine Art, Part 2

In my prior post, I wrote about linear perspective. The technique assists viewers in seeing a 3 dimensional object on a flat surface. My painting, Abandoned Barn, Winter, is in 2 point perspective. The edges recede from the viewer and converge at 2 central points (vanishing points) on the horizon line (eye line). My painting has a high horizon line (eye line, marked HL). On the left side, the top & bottom of the roof converge to the left vanishing point (VP). Any parallel edges on the left side, i.e. edges of a window or door, would also converge to this vanishing point. On the right side, the small window’s upper and lower edges converge to the right vanishing point on the same horizon or eye level. As planes, i.e. the side of a building, move away from us they also decrease in size. Objects also decrease in the distances between them. If you look at the posts of a fence, you see there is less distance between each post as they move further into space.

Images of my painting, Abandoned Barn, Winter, are available currently as a poster and a male hoodie at my Zazzle shop. I will be adding images to more products. I also take requests. The sale on all my items continues. The original painting was sold.

I sell my original paintings and fine art greeting cards at my Etsy internet shop. Shipping is free world wide for all my original paintings. Fine art prints on archival paper or canvas are sold at my Fine Art America shop. Links to these internet shops are at the top of this site.

[Click on title of post to go to my Zazzle internet shop. Choose my art & product. Select the colour, style & size.]

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Linear Perspective in Fine Art

This is a poster of my painting, Covered Bridge. This painting is done using linear perspective. Linear perspective assists viewers in seeing a 3 dimensional object on a flat surface. The edges or lines, i.e. the right edge of the roof on my bridge, recedes from the viewer as does the right bottom edge of the bridge. These edges converge at a central point (vanishing point) on the horizon line (eye line). My painting is done in 2 point perspective; both the front and right sides of the bridge converge to 2 vanishing points on the horizon line.

There is also 1 point perspective and 3 point perspective. In one point perspective, one side of the object faces the viewer, the second side recedes. Therefore all lines converge to a single vanishing point on the horizon line. In Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting, The Last Supper, the artist used 1 point perspective. While the table front faces the viewer, all other lines lead and converge at the Christ figure’s head, the vanishing point.

This is a brief description of linear perspective. It is important that artists ensure viewers are not trapped in the background‘s vanishing points & I will review later how artists can achieve this objective.

Images of my painting, The Covered Bridge, are available currently as a poster and mousepad at my Zazzle shop. I will be adding images to more products. The original painting was sold.

I sell my original paintings and fine art greeting cards at my Etsy internet shop. Shipping is free world wide for all my original paintings. Fine art prints on archival paper or canvas are sold at my Fine Art America shop. Links to these internet shops are at the top of this site.

[Click on title of post to go to my Zazzle internet shop. Choose my art & product. Select the colour, style & size.]

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Elements & Principles Apply to All Art

I have written about the elements and principles of art. Many people call these fundamentals, the abstract design. The elements and principles apply to all forms of art. I am a representational artist; viewers of my art are reminded of actual subjects, i.e. landscapes. In non objective art, the art work comes from the artist’s imagination and does not look like actual subjects. Abstract art is derived from actual subjects but has been altered by the artist. From non objective art to photo-realism, the elements and principles apply. (See the book, Art Fundamentals, Theory & Practice; Ocvirk et al.)

I sell my original paintings and fine art greeting cards at my Etsy internet shop. Shipping is free world wide for all my original paintings. Fine art prints on archival paper or canvas are sold at my Fine Art America shop. Links to these internet shops are at the top of this site.

[Click on title of post to go to my Zazzle internet shop. Choose my art & product. Select the colour, style & size. 10% off sale applies to all my items on Zazzle.]



http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

My Zazzle Shop Sale

Posters of my painting, After the Dance.

I am having a 10% reduced price sale on all items at my new Zazzle shop. I am celebrating the opening of my store and the upcoming seasonal holiday. The sale price is already included in my listed prices. The sale ends on January 2, 2010 at 10:00 a.m.

[Click on title of post to go to my Zazzle shop.]

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Integration in Fine Art

It is important that foreground, middle ground and background in art work are integrated. I wrote about unity and ways that artists achieve unity, i.e. repetition. You see a second object outside a window or you see the background through the branches of a tree - integration. A cast shadow of one object or the object itself may overlap areas. Reflections of objects in windows or water provide integration. A large shape such as a tree in the foreground might overlap the middle and background of a painting. Artists strive to achieve unity in their works.

I sell my original paintings and fine art greeting cards at my Etsy internet shop. Shipping worldwide is free for all my original paintings. Fine art prints on archival paper or canvas are sold at my Fine Art America shop. I sell images of my art on products, i.e. T- shirts at my Zazzle internet shop. Links to these internet shops are at the top of this site.

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Cast Shadows in Fine Art

Cast shadows are seen when an object blocks the light, i.e. the cast shadow of a tree; the cast shadow from an arm crossing over the torso. Cast shadows generally have 3 gradating values (light to dark gray scale). The cast shadow is darkest near the object casting the shadow and become lighter as it moves away from the object. They usually have 3 edges; moving from hard to soft edges. A shadow becomes warmer as it moves away from the object. Cast shadows provide artists and viewers with information. The shadow shows the direction of the light source. It can tell us the time of day; cast shadows are shorter at noon. Cast shadows show us the shape of the object casting the shadow and the surface on which the shadow lies. Cast shadows are darker than the form shadow of the object. A cast shadow is lighter further away from parts of an object or object. The higher curved handle of a spoon has a lighter cast shadow at the point of the curve. (I have not discussed shadows created by translucent objects.)

Fine art prints on archival paper or canvas are sold at my Fine Art America shop. Images of my paintings on products are sold at my Zazzle internet shop. Choose my art & product. Select the colour, style & size. Links to these internet shops are at the top of this site.

[Click on title of post to go to my Etsy internet shop. I sell my original paintings and fine art greeting cards. Shipping is free worldwide for all my original paintings.]

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/

Repetition - A Principle in Fine Art

My painting, Orange Lily. Bag with image of my painting.

Repetition is a principle in art. Artists repeat or use similar elements in their works. The artist may repeat colours, shapes, lines or other elements. I wrote about dominance and unity. Repetitions of elements can achieve these additional principles. An artist might repeat a specific colour, i.e. orange (hue). If the main hue in a painting is orange, then this hue would likely be the dominant hue. It would also unify the work. In my painting, “Orange Lily”, I have repeated the colour, orange.

I sell my original paintings and fine art greeting cards at my Etsy internet shop. Shipping is free world wide for all my original paintings. Fine art prints on archival paper or canvas are sold at my Fine Art America shop. Links to these internet shops are at the top of this site.

[Click on title of post to go to my Zazzle internet shop. Choose my art & product. Select the colour, style & size.]

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/