Inspiration Friday..You are an Artist

'Into the Moody Marsh'       8x10       pastel     ©Karen Margulis
sold

"If you hear a voice within you saying 'You are not a painter', then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced"   Vincent Van Gogh

I love this quote by Van Gogh. If you paint or create art ...you are an artist.  You may be new at painting or you may be at a cross roads in your journey but as long as you continue to make art I believe you must consider yourself an artist.

I often see hesitation in my students to refer to themselves as artists. Perhaps they believe that they aren't good enough to be able call themselves artists. But this hesitation can prevent growth.  In order to grow as an artist you must work hard at your art. Being afraid of failure or of not doing it right or not being good enough can be paralyzing. This fear stops many from painting.

I am going to give a copy of this quote to my students. I want them to believe in themselves and know that if they paint they are artists. The more they paint the faster their skills will grow.  Thanks Vincent for the inspiration!

the underpainting for 'Into the Moody Marsh'

Today's painting is one that I have had for awhile. I had done an oil underpainting but put it aside. I didn't want to cover up the interesting drips. I used a very light layer of pastel to preserve the underpainting.

Pastel FAQ: The Development of a Commission

'Together'       11x14     pastel 

It is magic when I can create a painting that matches someone's vision.  That is part of the joy of working on commissions.  I know a lot of artists who don't enjoy painting commissions but I welcome the challenge.  I have met so many people with interesting and sometimes compelling stories.  I could write a book based on the commissions I have done and the stories behind them.

Commissions are a challenge though. When someone wants a special painting they usually have a vision in mind or at least strong feelings about the subject. My job is to try to figure out what they want and get as close as possible without sacrificing my style. Here are some photos of my most recent commission along with my commission process.

My working space with reference photos and study

The 5x7 study for the painting

Step 1: I painted the gulls before the background

1. The first step in the commission process is to agree on size and pricing. I don't request payment in advance because I want the client to be completely satisfied. I have only had one cancelled commission and it was due to an illness in the client's family.
2. Next we discuss the idea for the painting. I try to get as much detail as possible about subject, colors, composition, mood. I have the client show me photos of my work that best matches their vision.
3. I then do some small color studies. I use the paper and underpainting techniques that I plan to use for the final painting. Through email, we discuss the color study and agree on the final details.
4. Time to paint! When I am finished with the painting I take several photos and email the client. If needed I will make changes until the client is pleased. 

The story behind this commission: The painting is based on a poem written by the client. The painting includes elements in the poem and each element has a very special and personal meaning. The client initially saw one of my seagull paintings but requested a commission that would incorporate the elements from the poem. 

I welcome commissions in both oil and pastel. I am currently accepting commissions for the holiday season. Please email me if you have an idea for a special painting.

Painting from Photos Made Easy

'Fields of Gold'            8x10           pastel              ©Karen Margulis
available for $125 paypal here

 Working from photos is not always a bad thing for an artist.  I work from photos most of the time. But I have a few rules about using them.

1. I will only work from my own photos. I never use any other photo reference. It must be from my camera and I must be the photographer. Why? Because I am the one who experienced the place and time the photo was made. I have a personal connection to the photo which I will be able to infuse into my painting. 
2. I prefer to work from less than perfect photos.  I take a lot of photos and they aren't all worthy of a calendar (not too many are)  Some might be out of focus, or the color may be off or the composition is less than ideal.  Bad photos help me make better paintings because they give me the freedom to interpret the scene. I would be too tempted to try to copy a perfect photo. There is nothing to improve!
3. I never work from photos that are professionally processed. I print my own on regular inkjet paper. I usually choose to fit four 3 x 5 photos to one page and I cut them apart. This saves me money and time. Also I am more tempted to copy a nicely printed photo. (see #2)

My reference photo shelf

It is very easy to go into your photo program and print out photos. When I don't know what I am in the mood to paint I will browse my picture files on my computer. When something sparks my interest I'll print them out on cheap paper.  All of these photos add up. I have a not so fancy system of boxes with dividers to organize them. I have categories marked on the dividers. It is a system that works for me. (as long as I refile them....my students will be happy to see that the photos are all neat, filed and ready for class to begin!)

Here is an underpainting with my reference photo at the top left

I encourage you to work from your own photos of you don't already. Get into the habit of carrying a camera where ever you go and put them in the computer so you can print them out when inspiration strikes!

How to Make a Photo Collage of your Art

'Nest Box Treasure'          5x7        pastel          ©Karen Margulis
available in my Etsy shop $50

There is something satisfying about seeing your art work displayed together. Maybe it is a feeling of accomplishment or satisfaction that you do have a real body of work. You can learn a lot from looking at your work when it is in a collection. Do you have a consistent style? What are you doing well? What could you improve?  It isn't always easy to evaluate a collection of your work. Pieces get sold or maybe on display somewhere. It takes up space and time to get them all together. I found a great way to compile a collection of your art in the form of a photo collage!

The collage I created at Collage.com with my nest paintings

I was recently introduced to the website collage.com.  After making a few photo collages I have to say I am hooked. I can see so many possibilities for these collages. I can make collages of my paintings and use them  to evaluate a body of work. And that is just the beginning!  Here is a little about Collage.com taken from their website:

Collage.com is a website that lets you upload pictures, make them into a custom collage, and order high-quality printed products featuring your collage. You can also share Collage.com collages online for free. Each collage can include hundreds of pictures arranged either in one of our 50+ shapes, or however you like.
The key technology that differentiates Collage.com from other software is its patent-pending auto-placement engine. Collage.com will automatically arrange photos to cover any shape without gaps or overlapping – something you can't get anywhere else! But that isn't all. Collage.com also lets you place photos anywhere you want. It will automatically adjust surrounding photos to eliminate gaps and overlapping, leaving a picture-perfect custom collage!

I can say without hesitation that it was very easy to create a collage. It is a very user-friendly website. You can make a collage just a few simple steps.

1. Choose a product and size...poster,cards,canvas, mug, mouse pad
2. Choose a shape. There are over 100 shapes including my favorite...words! I chose a custom word and just typed in 'nest'/
3. Add photos. Either upload your photos or get them from Facebook. You can add up to 500 photos. I used photos of my art work but of course you can collage any of your photos.
4. Create and share your collage with the click of the mouse. Of course you can purchase your creation and when you see them you will want to! 

Visit Collage.com and give it a try. See how easy it is to visualize a collection of your paintings all together in the form of a photo collage.  Now imagine the possibilities for using these photo collages in the promotion of your work. I will be posting more on this in my Business Tips column soon!
You can purchase a print of my nest collage at collage.com. click here 

Pastel Demo...I found my Stan Sperlak Pastels!

'The Moment of Truth'        9x12       pastel      ©Karen Margulis  SOLD

Did you ever put something in a safe place so you wouldn't misplace them?  Did you forget that it was there?  That's what I did a couple of years ago with my set of Terry Ludwig 'Stan Sperlak' pastels.

 I bought them at Stan's workshop and when I got home I put them on my pastel shelf. I didn't want to mix them into my studio box and I used them a few times. Until they got buried. If you have been following my Studio clean-up then you saw the 'before' photos of my pastel corner. I had so many unmarked boxes piled on top of one another. Sadly I didn't even know what treasures I had buried in the mess.

Imagine my excitement when I uncovered this box of special order Terry Ludwig pastels chosen and signed by Stan Sperlak. I had been stingy about using them for fear of using them up and then they got buried. I'm glad they did. It feels like Christmas!  To celebrate I did a painting from one of the photos I took at Stan's farm back when I bought the pastels. Below is my step by step demo.

My nearly pristine set of Terry Ludwig 'Stan Sperlak' pastels

1. (from top left)  I am using white Wallis paper. I will be doing a turpenoid wash underpainting. I start by putting down a layer of hard pastels.
2. I brush in the pastel with turpenoid. I use an old stiff bristle brush. You can see the drips at the bottom.
3. This stage shows the finished underpainting. I like how the turpenoid liquifies the pastel and creates interesting drips and webs.
4. When the underpainting dries I start by putting in the darks. I am using only the Stan Sperlak TL pastels.
5. In this step I put in the lights. I put in some pale peach and yellows to the sky and I start to put in some lights in the field.
6. Now I refine the treeline putting in skyholes. I add some more color to the field including some of the blues in the shadow areas.
7. I continue to refine and add details to the grasses.
8. Now it is time to put in the sunlit weeds. Thais is what I loved about this scene....I was packing up when I saw the light on these weedy things....the magical light turned weeds into things of beauty.
9. I put in a few more punctuation marks (some more red spots) and call it done!

Now that I am finally organized I will not be losing this set again. By the way, I highly recommend a workshop with Stan Sperlak. You can read my review in this post HERE.  Stan will also be doing a demo at the 2013 IAPS convention that you won't want to miss!

Studio Tour...How I Store my Pastel Paper

'Desert Fire'           5x7       pastel           ©Karen Margulis
purchase painting $45 with paypal HERE

The Great Studio Clean-Up continues.  Today's project included the paper and shipping corner. I am fortunate to have a great space for storing paper. I have a nice little corner with room for the rolling baker's rack that I got at a thrift store for $20. I am able to store full sheets of paper on this rack.

I haven't keep this area neat and organized.  In the frenzy of creating I would throw scraps of paper on the shelves (I don't throw any paper away)  Paper was piled up and all mixed up. It had gotten so bad that I couldn't tell what I had any more. I am so happy with the way my little area is now that I gave it a make-over. Have a look!

My Paper Corner

• The paper rack is now organized and each type of paper has it own shelf. I took any paper that was 8x10 or smaller and put them by size on a smaller in & out style shelf. Now I always have paper ready to go!
• All small scraps of pastel paper is now kept in a big clear box. When I have free time I will cut the scrapes into usable standard sizes and put them on the small shelf by size.
• I made room for my canvas and panels for oil and acrylic painting. 
• The bottom shelf on my unit now holds a variety of Clear Bags. I use these bags for shipping.

Next to the Paper Corner  is a shelf dedicated to my shipping and framing supplies 

My Shipping Corner

•  The prize of my shipping and paper corner is my paper cutter. Every artist who works on paper should invest in one! (mine was $7 at the thrift store)
• The top shelf holds the in & out box with small pre-cut pastel paper. The box next to it hold scraps of wrapping paper used for gift wrapping sold paintings.
• I have a roll of glassine paper but the basket on the shelf holds the smaller scrap pieces. No paper goes to waste!
• I keep all of my notecards, business cards and literature for collectors together in drawers. I plan to keep this area stocked.
• Foamcore....I use a lot of foam core. I ship my painting in foamcore sandwiches (as well as for painting supports). I put scraps in a garbage can to be used for who know what. (can't throw them out!)
• The bottom shelf holds my framing supplies. 
• Note my window which has beautiful north light. 

It feels great to be organized for a change!  Next on the list is to clean my outer studio....yes I have two studio areas. Stay tuned for more on that.  Today's painting is a small pastel that I uncovered in a pile of scraps! You never know what treasure are in your piles of scraps!

A Tour of my Newly Organized Pastel Corner

'Evening Comes Quietly'         16x20          pastel           ©Karen Margulis
painting available with paypal $250  click here

after the sun sets
the forest begins to glow
and the fireflies dance
-kem

It is day three of my studio clean-up. It was desperately needed. It had been a few years since I really organized.  As an artist friend of mine put it...she cleans here studio quarterly...every four years! That sounds about right. Yesterday I tackled the books and today I cleaned my pastel corner. I thought you might like a tour.  Here is a 'before' shot.
 

Before I organized I emptied the shelves filled with boxes of pastels

The first thing I did was empty the shelves next to my easel. They were filled with boxes of miscellaneous pastels. I also had several trays of pastels that I had never put away. It was a dusty mess!  Whenever I get a new box of pastels I have to decide if I will keep them in their own box or if I will incorporate them into my big studio box. Here is my thought on this problem:

• If you are new to pastels or still building your collection I recommend taking them out of the manufacturer's box and putting the pastels together in a box such as the Heilman Box. This way you can organize them by color and value. It is much easier to paint when you don't have to hunt and peck through several boxes.
• If you already have a studio box with plenty of pastels then keep it stocked but by all means keep some of the specialty sets separate.  I like to keep special pastels such as iridescents in their own box. I also like to keep sets put together by my favorite artists in a separate box. I have my McKinley set, a Jimmy Wright set and a Stan Sperlak set in their own boxes. I like to use these sets sometimes just for a fun challenge.

My Special Pastel Boxes

My Pastel Corner

Here is my newly organized Pastel Corner! My easel is a Blick H-Frame that I love. I can hook my butcher trays under the knobs with my working palette. My studio box is a homemade box with foamcore lids. On the top shelf I have fixatives. I keep all of my underpainting supplies on another shelf unit. The next shelf holds all of the specialty boxes. (see close-up)  On the next shelf I have pastel pencils, clips,color wheels, and my box of Diane Townsend lights. I keep these separate. I'll be posting on why soon!  In this photo you can see my dust catcher tray which is a piece of metal flashing.

I feel great now that it is done. I am excited to get painting now!  I have just a few more areas of the studio to organize and then I am done!

Today's painting is a 16x20 demo that I did for my recent workshop with the Lake Toxaway Art Guild. I finished it at home and changed the time of day to twilight. Look closely for the fireflies!

How to Build Your Art Library

'Down a Country Road'          8x10         pastel         ©Karen Margulis
painting available on Etsy $80 click here

I love books. Maybe I love books as much as art supplies. Having a library of art books is an essential part of being an artist. And as much as I love reading on my iPad e-books will never replace my art books. I turn to my art library for inspiration and for instruction. I have instructional books, art history books, books devoted to favorite artists, non fiction books.  I can read and reread them and I always learn something new.
I usually have a stack of art books in my bedroom and I read a few pages of one every night. I'd like to think I absorb the information and process it while I sleep. I do sometimes dream about something I've read so I think it is true!

My art library is in dire need of organizing. I can never find a book I am looking for because there is no rhyme or reason to my shelves. I just got a pile of new art books donated by a friend and I need to make room on my shelves. That donation was a wonderful gift but here are other ways you can build your art book collection.

Piles of my Art Books waiting to be organized

• Thrift Stores. Even if you aren't a thrift store shopper, try them and head right to the book section. Scan the shelves for art books. They are usually larger than most other books so you can do a quick scan. I recently scored two beautiful books on Sargent at the Goodwill.
• Garage and Estate sales. This is hit or miss but sometimes listing for these sales will mention that books are available.
• Book Sales. Usually your local library has periodic book sales where you might pick up some good art books.  You can sign up for updates on book sales in your area at www.booksalefinder.com
• Second hand book stores. If your town has one of these shops you are in luck!  I have made some great finds in our local second hand book shop.
• Ebay. When I am feeling the urge for a new art book I will browse the art book category on Ebay. I especially like to look at the lots of books. I have picked up an out of print hard to find book that was included in a lot of art books that weren't that great. I got the whole lot for a great price.
• Amazon. I like to treat myself for birthdays/holiday gift with a nice art book. I keep a wish list and let my family know about it. 

I will be posting soon about my top favorite art books so stay tuned. If you are new to my blog. I;d love for you to sign up for updates. If you are on Facebook and Twitter you can follow me on both. Links on side bar.  Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Today's painting is the demo I did for a private student. 8x10 pastel on canson paper

Pastel Q & A ...Do You Use Fixative?

'The Coming Storm'           11 x 14      pastel          ©Karen Margulis
purchase painting with paypal $175  click here

To Fix or not to Fix....that is today's Pastel Question.  I get this question from both artists and collectors. Do I use fixative on my pastel paintings.  The answer is Yes and No.  I use fixative to create special effects or to restore tooth to an overworked painting.  I never use any fixative on a finished painting.

What do you do to a finished painting?

• I have always found that fixative darkened and dulled my colors so I preferred not to use them. I realize that there are some fixatives such as Spectrafix that claim not to change the colors, I have tried Spectrafix and have been pleased with the results. But I am so used to not spraying that I'd rather not take a chance with them. ( I once had a spray bottle squirt our blobs of fixative and ruin a painting so I don't want to take the chance of the happening again)
• I build up my paintings in thin layers on sanded surfaces so I have very little dust build-up. I find that a good whack on the back of a finished painting is enough to dislodge whatever loose pastel is on the paper. I store paintings in between layers of glassine paper until framed. If I sell an unframed painting I cover with glassine and give instruction for proper care. See my post here on shipping pastels.

close up of the texture achieved with fixative

Spectrafix and Blair workable Fixative...my fixatives of choice

When do you use fixative and what kind do you prefer?

• I love using workable fixative to create special effects. I take advantage of the fixative's darkening effect when I want to darken a passage in the painting.
•  Fixative will restore tooth to overworked areas but the pastel layers on top of the fixative will be rougher. I happen to love this effect and exploit it.
• I find that working over a layer of dried fixative creates an interesting textural effect. The pastel skips over the 'fixed' layer allowing the darkened layer to  peek through. (see photo)
• To get even more interest you can let the fixative drip or dribble on your painting. The little dark spots can be exciting in the right place.
• I have worked pastel into wet fixative for an almost sculptural effect.

Do you have a pastel related question for me?  I am making a list of questions to use in this weekly blog topic so comment below of send me an email with your question.

How the Magic Hour Can Help Your Paintings

'Golden Hour Glow'        18x 24        pastel          ©Karen Margulis sold

'Blue Hour Silence'           11x14      pastel           ©Karen Margulis  $175

You know it when you see it.  It's commonly known as the Magic Hour by photographers but understanding it can help artists create more compelling paintings. Simply put the Magic Hour is the time period around sunrise and sunset when the light takes on qualities that make everything more interesting. Objects glow with color and light and shadows are more interesting.

I like to consider myself as somewhat of a photography buff so I am always aware of the Magic Hour. But I just learned something new that I want to share. There is actually a Golden Hour and and Blue Hour.  The Golden Hour is when the sun is just above the horizon such as just after sunrise and just before sunset. The light is warm and things just glow. The Blue Hour is the time just before sunrise and just after sunset. Both of these times create conditions that are ideal for taking reference photos or getting out to paint.

• For an excellent description of the Golden and Blue Hours along with wonderful photos to illustrate them see Fred Hatt's Blog post on the Magic Hour HERE

Photographers often wait to take photos for the Magic Hour and plein air artists often avoid painting during mid day when the light is flat and uninteresting. Whether you paint en plein air or just take photos to work from....waiting for the Magic Hour will give you much more interesting possibilities for paintings. Even a garbage can can be beautiful when glowing from a setting sun!  The problem is the Golden and Blue Hours are not precise and don't always last very long. I have an excellent tool to help!

• I was so excited to find this tool online. It is a calculator for calculating the Golden and Blue Hour.  Simply put in your location and time of year and the calculator generates the time and duration of sunrise, sunset, Golden Hour and Blue Hour.  Now you can plan your painting or photography outings to coincide with the times of the Magic Hours!  Here is a link to the tool. I put in Moab Utah in August and these were my results.  

I am thrilled to find a calculator for the Magic Hour. Sure I always knew the times before and after sunrise and sunset were the most exciting....but it is good to know just how long these times actually last.  I hope that you will find it helpful. I encourage you to get outside at the Magic Hour and look for the light. I promise it will result in better paintings!

The Business of Art ...A Great Resource for Artists

'A Welcome Change'          9x12         pastel       ©Karen Margulis
painting available at Daily Paintworks $125

I remember my very first art sale. It was a small painting that I auctioned on Ebay. I believe I sold it for $25. I was thrilled. I didn't really intend to make a living with my art but it I thought it would be nice to sell a few paintings here and there to help with the cost of supplies and classes.

That was a few years ago. Since then I have retired from my in-home childcare business to paint and teach full time. I have found many other outlets for promoting my work besides ebay and I am always learning how to best market my art and my classes. It can be overwhelming!  It is a challenge to balance painting time with business/marketing time. If you are new to selling your art it is hard to know where to begin! I am always learning something new about the business side of art so this weekly blog topic will focus on ways to help you with balancing business with creating. Here are two great resources to get you started.

•  When I decided to focus on my art full time the best thing I did was read Alyson Stanfield's book 'I'd Rather be in the Studio'.  She does a wonderful job breaking down the essentials of taking charge of your art career. I highly recommend it! I also came across another great resource for artists.

•  I'd like to share a website I discovered.  I was happy to be introduced to this site  Artpromotivate.com   I am still going through the archives but it is filled with articles designed to help artists promote themselves and stay inspired. I found one post that I'd like to share. It is filled with great information. The post lists the most FAQ dealing with a wide range of artist issues such as selling online, preventing creative block, taking photos of your work. Check it out here.

close up of 'A Welcome Change'

 Today's painting was unearthed from a pile of unfinished work. It was started in a workshop with Ann Templeton but it was lacking something. I decided to add some iridescent pastel to the grasses. You can see them better in this close up shot. I like the subtle shimmer these pastels added to the painting.

Demo Monday ...Painting Daisies in Pastel

'Garden Delight I'      4x6       pastel    sold

'Garden Delight II'       4x6      pastel     $40

It's Demo Monday!  Today I decided to do two small pastels that are meant to be displayed together. They are only 4x6 painted on scraps of white Wallis Museum paper. I don't want to waste any paper so why not paint some small florals!  I chose to do a watercolor underpainting. I love using watercolor on a white surface. The colors just glow on the white paper!

Demo photos from top left across

I decided to work on both of these little paintings at the same time. This way I could help them relate to one another. They make a great pair!

1. Sketch my design and block in darks with watercolor.
2. Add more darks and hints of orange and green. Let darks start to dry.
3. Add more yellows and bright greens.
4. Start adding pastel beginning with darks. Complete the background shapes before starting flowers.
5. Block in cool blue and purple petals.
6. Work on centers of flowers layering yellows.
7. Now I add the pale yellow and very light yellow (almost white) to the petals.
8. Put in some stems and more hints of golden yellow in the background (these are black eyed susans)

 These little paintings are a good example of doing quick daily studies. They took me under an hour and the time limit helped me to be more painterly with my flowers.

An Interview with Karen Margulis..Daily Paintworks Artist in the Spotlight

'Tiny Treasures'         8x10         pastel            ©Karen Margulis  available $80 here

  I am excited to be the Artist in the Spotlight at Daily Paintworks.com. This week you can read my interview on the Daily Paintworks blog. I will also be giving away an 8x10 pastel to a Daily Paintworks follower. I am sharing a snippet of the interview here and I would love for you to visit the DPW blog to read the interview and leave a comment if you wish.  Click Here for the link to the entire article

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

I took art classes in high school, but didn't start painting until my own children were in high school and I found myself with extra time. I started doing a small daily painting and posted it to my blog so that I could improve my painting skills. I have been doing a daily painting for 7 years now!

Did you have any stops and starts in your painting career?

Once I started painting, I haven't stopped. I recently retired from my day job to paint and teach full time. I can't imagine ever stopping now that I've rediscovered art.


What mediums and genres have you experimented with? Which ones have "stuck" and which ones have fallen away? Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

I started with watercolor, but quickly discovered that pastel was my passion. I love the vibrancy and the immediacy of pastels. I have recently started exploring oils and I really do enjoy the texture I can get with paint. I look forward to working to improve my skills with the brush....

'Maine Lupines'   8x10   pastel

 This painting will be given away to a lucky Daily Paintwork's visitor who has recently purchased work on DPW.  Click here to read the article and see the details of the giveaway.

My Secret for Cleaning an Art Studio

'Violet Ranch View'        10x10   pastel     ©Karen Margulis  sold

My studio is in need of a good overhaul.  It gets that way after a year of painting. Things don't get put back in their place. Books and magazines get piled up. Papers, pastels and paints are overflowing their allotted shelves. It's a mess!

When I was a teenager my mom gave me a sign which said "Creative Minds are Rarely Tidy".  And I am not so tidy even though I do try.  But the disorganized piles of supplies and paintings build up and it gets to a point where something has to be done. The mess starts to sap the creative energy from me.  I go into the studio and want to paint....but feel as though I should be cleaning instead. Not good! I know I just have to do it but it is hard to get motivated. Here is my secret.....

Go out and buy something for the studio!  It could be something big you have been needing like a new easel. Or it could be something as simple as some nice baskets for the shelves or a fun area rug.  If you don't want to buy anything then find something to repurpose. Paint that old chest of drawers and fill it with supplies. Move furniture around. The idea is to bring something new and fresh into your space.  It works for me because It motivates me to incorporate the new so I have to organize and spruce up the old.  Silly, I know but it really works.

Before shot of my messy and disorganized studio

 So I am taking the morning to go find some baskets for my shelves and tomorrow I will stay home and clean the studio!  In tomorrow's post I will share some ideas for getting through and organizing the clutter.

Today's painting is one I discovered in a pile of unfinished work. It is a view from Moulton Ranch in the Grand Teton National Park. I used Diane Townsend pastels on black toned Uart paper.

The Accidental Wildflower Series

'Where the Meadow Fairy Plays'            16x20           pastel             ©Karen Margulis
purchase with paypal $250

Painting a series is a great learning experience. It is a challenge to discover how to take the same subject and create a new and interesting interpretation.  I have a series going that has come about by accident, I am learning so much from these paintings though so I am going to continue with the series. Let me explain...

If today's painting looks familiar somehow that is because I have painted a similar meadow with Queen Anne's Lace many times. I didn't even realize just how many times until I was going through some unfinished work.  I came across several of the same size and composition...all unfinished. They are demos that I started for my Wildflower workshops and demos done for various art groups.

 I find that I choose this particular scene to paint because it helps me illustrate so many of the things I want to share with the group. It allows be do discuss underpaintings. layering. atmospheric perspective, designing a painting and arrangement of flowers, choosing a focal area, finishing marks,  It is just a great subject for a demo. But I don't need 10 of the same painting so I am finishing each one and changing them in some way.

I decided to make this demo painting into a soft early morning  landscape. I added some pearlescent pastel which to me gave the painting a magical glow. I felt like it would be the perfect place for the meadow Fairies!

 For this painting I added yellow flowers by dusting some yellow pastel and pressing it in with a rolling pin.

I ended up brushing out this painting leaving a ghost image. I changed the color palette completely from a green blue sky day to a warm late summer day.

I will be writing a review of my Lake Toxaway workshop this weekend. Be sure to come back also to read my interview with Daily Paintworks. I will be next week's Artist in the Spotlight!

Hollyhock Memories

'Hollyhock Memories'        4x4"       acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas  $50 purchase here

I just returned home tonight from teaching a workshop in beautiful Lake Toxaway North Carolina. I had a wonderful time and met some wonderful artists. I appreciate all that was done to make the workshop a success. A special thank you to Char Holbrook for coordinating the workshop and for being such a wonderful host. It was a fantastic experience for me. A big thank you as well to my good friend Jayne. It was even more fun to share this week with you!

I didn't have a chance to prepare an instructional post but I wanted to share a recent acrylic painting. This one is 4x4 inches on gallery wrapped canvas. It is a new addition to my small acrylic and ink paintings. They are so much fun to do. I am working on putting together  a step by step demo of my process.

Lowcountry Sunset...Getting that Sunset Glow

'Lowcountry Magic'          10 x 20     pastel          ©Karen Margulis    purchase $150 with Paypal

close up view of 'Lowcountry Magic'

close up view of 'Lowcountry Magic'

There is magic about the sunset in the South Carolina Lowcountry.  I have seen some spectacular sunsets. Some of my favorites have been in the Southwest. But I have to give the prize to my most spectacular sunset to one I witnessed by accident in Beaufort South Carolina. Never had I seen such a wonderful combination of sky and water glowing with orange and golden light.  It is hard to capture this in a painting without it looking fake. But it was very real!
There are a couple of things I try to do when painting a sunset to give it an authentic feeling.

• I try to go bolder and more intense with my color. I find that photos often don't show the true colors and unless I am using the correct setting the photos often look washed out. I like to pump up my colors to compensate. So instead of a pale peachy color I will go for the intense oranges.
• I try to infuse some of the sky color into the edged of the trees and land shapes. If the sky is glowing orange I will scumble some orange over the edges of the trees. This both softens them and gives a little glow to them. 
• I pay attention to the colors in the land or foreground. Often photos show the foreground as a black or very dark silhouette. In real life you would see more color though it will be dull. So instead of using black I use some of my dull dark and dark-middle value colors. (see my close ups)

I will be spending a week this Fall on Pawley's Island in a cottage on the beach and marsh. I have my fingers crossed for some beautiful sunrises and sunsets!

Pastel Demo...Hollyhocks in New Mexico

'The Old Town Greeters'     12x12    pastel     ©Karen Margulis sold

It is demo Monday!  Last week my demo was a close-up view of some hollyhocks. This week I have painted a light- hearted and fun pastel version of the Old Town Hollyhocks. If yo have been to Old Town in Albuquerque New Mexico then you have probably seen these happy Hollyhocks gracing the store fronts. I have had so much fun interpreting these flowers in both acrylic and pastel.

Step by Step Pastel Demo

1. (from top left)  I am using white Wallis sanded paper. I begin by doing an underpainting with thinned acrylic paint. I am using the same palette as I used in my acrylic version of this painting. I thin the paint with water so it won't be too thick and clog the tooth of the paper.
2. I liked the underpainting so I don't want to cover it all up with pastel. I decide to lightly scumble some pastel in the same colors and values as the acrylic just to unify the background shapes. The door way needed to be darker as well. The background is now finished and I can add the flowers.
3. I block in the general shape of the blooms. I use the side of my pastel to make blocky marks. I am not at all precise! For the white flowers I block in a pale blue.
4. I continue to develop the flowers....I add the centers staring with a dark read-orange. I also begin to put in the stems and leaves. I use a dark cool blue.
5. The flowers are done now I add more leaves using lighter and warmer greens. 
6. I decide to have some fun with this painting and add in some dark lines. I really love playing with lines. I used a stick of compressed charcoal to draw the lines. Finished!

I hope you enjoyed today's demo. If you want to be sure to see the next one I invite you to sign up at the sidebar to receive updates!

Three Easy Steps to Improved Paintings

A few of my Landscape Variation Paintings  each 5x7 pastel    Bid Here $40 each

There is a learning curve in painting. When I first started painting the visions of my paintings were always so much better than what I managed to paint. It was frustrating. I wanted to paint with ease and confidence.  I realized though that it would take more than going to a weekly pastel class to improve. I needed to practice... a lot!  Over the last 7 years of painting I have tried to paint something every day even if it was just a small study.  Sometimes it was hard to fit it in and sometimes I wasn't motivated or inspired.

 It helped me to give myself small (sometimes big) challenges. The paintings I am sharing today were a part of a challenge to paint 100 5x7 variations on the same landscape. I managed to do 100 in about 3 months. It was the best thing I have ever done for my painting. I learned so much about color and pastel technique. I want to repeat this exercise now that it has been 2 years.

If you want to see your work improve faster then take up a challenge. Start small. Here are three easy steps to get you started.

'Green Variation'       5x7    pastel

1. Make the challenge manageable. If you work and it is hard to find time start off with a small challenge. A good one is to paint three small studies a week. Set a limit of say 25 paintings to finish. If you are too ambitious it can get overwhelming and you will be more likely to quit. Write down your challenge and post it where you will see it!
2. Prepare in advance. Set aside some time to prepare your supplies....cut enough paper, choose your photos/subjects, set up a space where you can leave your supplies out. This is so important to the success of the challenge. If you have to set up and get supplies ready every time want to paint you are eating into your painting time. You are also more likely to not want to hassle with setting it up and cleaning.
3. Keep track of your progress. I track my progress through my daily painting blog posts. I am accountable to the blog. Find a way to be accountable. Keep a diary or write it down in your calendar. If you can see that you are being productive you are more likely to be motivated to keep it up!

Do you have any personal painting challenges to share? I am always looking for new challenge ideas!

I will be offering my landscape challenge paintings for sale through Daily Paintworks auction. These six are this week's paintings. You can see them all HERE Opening bids start at $40

A Tip For Controlling Pastel Dust

'Light Up the Night Sky'        11x14        pastel          ©Karen Margulis  SOLD

A shower of pastel dust falls gently as I paint. What to do with this dust is the question. Pastel artists are quite resourceful and have devised ways to collect this dust. If we don't control it somehow it will fall from our paper and cover the floor or our shoes!  I have been using a piece of folded kraft paper that I place under my drawing board. I call it my paper gutter and it has done a good job of collecting the dust as it falls. That is until now.

My new dust collecting gutter.....a piece of metal flashing

I have a very creative student who is always finding ways to repurpose materials into art supplies. She was frustrated by the paper gutter. It got in the way of her hand and it just didn't hold up for long.  She was on a hunt for a better gutter at where else....Home Depot!  She found a great solution. It is a piece of lightweight metal flashing. The best part of this goody is the price....it is just 99 cents for a 42 inch piece!

•  It is the perfect size and shape for resting under a drawing board. 
• It comes with the front edge already bent so it sits nicely on the easel ledge.
• It is lightweight and stack-able if you want them for more than one easel.
• The slick surface means that pastel dust slides right off into the trash or a collection jar (in case you want to make pastels from your dust)
• She recommends cleaning the gutter with pledge to make it even slicker. The dust just slides right off for cleaning.
• The edges are sharp so I taped mine with artist tape. Another friend recommended coating the edges with rubber paint.

Here is a closer view of the new dust collecting gutter

 Today's painting is my interpretation of a meteor shower in honor of the Perseid Meteor Shower. It is based on a night photo I took out west at Jackson Hole Wyoming.