Why Choose a Blue Underpainting?

'A Light in the Darkness'             8x10         pastel       ©Karen Margulis
available $150

You know me. I don't like to waste good pastel paper. So when I used a piece of Art paper to demonstrate an exercise for the Patreon group I knew I would repurpose it somehow. I had made some marks with a blue pastel so the first thing I did was to add other blue marks.....some dull blue and some turquoise on top of the darker blue marks. Just random blue marks. Then I used my old cheap paint brush and some rubbing alcohol and liquified the pastel marks. I let it drip and mingle.

The result was the blue abstract underpainting shown in the photo below. I had to decide what to do with it. The blue reminded me of ice. It made me cold so I thought 'snow'! I went through my winter reference photos and found the perfect scene. A sun setting in the distance of a very cold winter scene. The blue underpainting was perfect. WHY?

The blue underpainting was an alcohol wash over some demo marks

Underpainting color choices matter! Especially if you have a light touch and allow layers to peek through. I like my underpainting colors to peek through my final layers. Because of this the colors I choose need to harmonize with the upper layers. I can choose more than one color for the underpainting but sometimes it is easy to choose just one color family. In the case of this painting I knew I wanted a feeling and mood of cold. Using the cool color of blue will help promote the cool feeling the scene. I also know that my reference has a small area of orange. Since blue is the complement of orange I know that the blue in the underpainting will make the orange glow more exciting.

The first dark layer of the painting. You can see the underpainting peeking through.

The pastels I used for the painting

Holiday Wish List for the Pastel Artist

'Santa Hide and Seek'            12x9       pastel       ©Karen Margulis
available in my Etsy shop. $125

It's that time of year! Have you made an artist's wish list? Perhaps you are starting to think about setting goals for 2019. I always begin the new year with a good studio cleaning and nothing spurs me on better than having to find a home for some new supplies! Here are a few suggestions to get you started on your wish list. I shared this list last year but they are still my most used items in my studio!

1.  Any size Heilman Box. The ultimate gift besides a full set of your favorite pastels is a great pastel box. I use and recommend the Heilman Box. Click here to see my recent review.

2. Any set of Terry Ludwig pastels. The ultimate pastel! This is my favorite pastel brand and any set would be a treat. If you are on a tight budget consider the smallest sets. The 14 Most Requested Violets is fantastic. All sets on sale through December 31. www.terryludwig.com

3. Cretacolor Pencil Lead holder. This fun drawing tool is a great addition to any artist's supply box. Read my recent blog post about this fun tool here. Find it here:https://www.amazon.com/Cretacolor-BC31036-Ergonomic-Lead-Holder/dp/B0049V37C4

4. Analaogous Color Wheel. Everyone who sees me use this color wheel wants one. It is a great tool for helping resolve color problems or choosing a palette for a painting. Read my blog post about the wheel here. http://kemstudios.blogspot.com/2015/11/my-favorite-color-tool-comes-to-rescue.html

5. White Artist Tape and Dispenser.  I can't do without my tape dispenser for my roll of white artists tape. it makes life so mush easier since I use this tape every day! Read all about it here: http://kemstudios.blogspot.com/2012/01/my-most-indispensable-studio-gadget.html
Buy one on Amazon click here.

7. Diane Townsend Pastels. I love all pastels but next to Terry Ludwigs I would have to add some Diane Townsend soft form pastels to my list of favorites. Add a few to your collection! http://www.townsendpastels.com

8. Art Graf Artist Tailor's Chalk. These are not at all like they sound! They are a must have for underpaintings. I love the earth tones and the primary color sets. Read about them on my blog here.
http://globalartmaterials.com/artgraf.php

9. Hand Care Basket. Artist hands take a beating! From handing pastels to the frequent hand washing they need a lot of TLC.  I like to first protect my hands with Gloves in a Bottle barrier cream.  I wash my hands with Lava soap and a nail brush. And finally I apply a good quality had cream. My favorite is Weleda Skin Food.

10. Sketchbook by Hand book Journal Co.  Just in time for starting a sketchbook habit. I love these little sketchbooks. They come interesting sizes that fit easily in your bag. Perfect for sketching on the go! http://www.globalartmaterials.com/travelogue.html

Do you have anything you would like to add to this list? Add them in the comments!

Do You Listen to Your Paintings?

'Winter Magic'           8x10         pastel          ©Karen Margulis
available on Etsy. $150

Do your paintings ever speak to you?  Do they tell you want they want to be sometimes?  Do you listen or do you push on with your original idea?  My paintings don't always talk to me but when they do have something to say I usually listen.  It always leads me on an adventure!

Take today's painting.  It began as a demo for my Patreon page this week.  I was showing the the group how to block in a painting from a value study and how to paint fir trees. We have been studying trees and this was part of the final tree demos. The original photo was a bad reference. It was dark and hard to see. The composition wasn't interesting. I needed to figure out how to make it interesting. My plan was simple.....move some trees around but keep the cool moody late summer day.

But then this painting took on a life of its own.

The reference photo and the plan

I was working from a reference photo that had a  green meadow withdrew yellow grasses.  I chose violets  for the underpainting and used an alcohol wash.....I started painting the trees and then the moody sky and I was ready to paint the green and yellow grass.......when all of the sudden I realized that my original plan wasn't going to be interesting.

The painting was talking to me!  It wanted to be a winter scene with gently falling snow!  And so that is what I did!  It is no use to fight with a painting to force it to fit your original plan. It is more fun to listen to it and let it take you on an adventure. You learn more and might just end up with a more interesting painting. It certainly will be a better interpretation of your photo!


If you would like to see the complete step by step demo it is available on my Patreon page. It is just a $4 a month subscription that you can cancel easily at any time! www.patreon.com/karenmargulis

How to Ship a Pastel Painting: New Video Tutorial

'Winter in the Park'.           9x12         ©Karen Margulis        pastel
available on Etsy  $175

I've got shipping unframed pastel paintings down to a science. Since I have been selling my work online for the past 10 years, I have shipped many pastel paintings to their new homes. The method I use has not failed me. My paintings arrive safe and sound. I only ship unframed paintings. If I need to ship a framed piece to a show I use an airfloat box. 

So what is my shipping method? I make a foamcore sandwich! I just released a video demonstrating how I make the sandwich.Click on the link below to see the video on my YouTube channel. While you are there be sure to follow my channel so you know when a new video is posted.

https://youtu.be/BTvmtYN3NSo

Here is a written description of the foam core shipping sandwich. 

1. Cut the foamcore so that it is a few inches larger than the painting. I use a utility knife. I cut a double wide piece, score it in the middle so that it can fold shut.
2. Tape painting inside the foamcore using white artist tape. I hinge the tape. See my post on hinging tape here.
3. Cut a piece of glassine paper slightly larger than the painting and tape it down to cover the painting. I usually only tape two sides so the glassine can be lifted to view the painting. I get my glassine on rolls and cut it to fit. A roll lasts me a long time.
4. Close the cover of the foamcore sandwich and tape shut. I have printed a label with instructions that I put on the foamcore (see below)
5. I slip my foamcore sandwich into a clearbag that has a self adhesive strip. I include some business cards, a bio, pastel care information and a thank you card.
6. I have just started to wrap the whole package in nice gift wrap with a handmade card.

Here is the foam core sandwich

The painting is now ready to be slipped into a padded envelope or Priority Mail box depending on it's size. If it is over 8x10 then I have to make my own box from a couple of Priority Mail boxes. I save my Dakota and Blick paper order boxes for shipping large paintings. I use USPS for all of my shipping and after shipping hundreds of paintings I have never had a problem (knocking on wood here!)

A completed package ready to go into a Priority Mail box

I hope that if you are an artist or a buyer you have found this post useful. And of course to see the packaging in purchase why not treat yourself to an original painting! www.etsy.com/shop/karenmargulisfineart

Come Paint with Me in Florida!

'Gentle Breeze'          10x8          pastel         ©Karen Margulis
available $150

  It is a cold day here in North Georgia! The perfect day to paint palm trees and dream about a trip to Florida! Fortunately for me it isn't just a dream. We will be taking Bertie the Art Spirit (our pop up camper) to Florida in February for a winter break. The timing worked out perfectly to accept the offer of a workshop with the Pastel Society of Central Florida. The two dayworkshop will be held in Leesburg Florida on February 20 and 21st. Below is a screen shot of some information and you can click on this link to access the PCSF website.  I am excited about the opportunity to share and I'd love for you to join us!

Click Here for the link to more information and registration 

Information about today's painting: This painting was done for the artist's choice demo for my Patreon page. We have been exploring trees for the past month and so it was fun to show how I paint palm trees. The painting is 10x8 on Uaart 500 with a 3 value  dry wash. I used the Terry Ludwig Red Rocks set and a few misc. Nupastels.

Terry Ludwig Red Rocks set and an assortment of Nupastels

New Video Demo available this week on my Patreon page www.patreon.com/karenmargulis

What is Soft Mystery in a Painting?

'At Peace'              9x12              pastel          ©Karen Margulis
available on Etsy $165

I don't remember where I came across this quote. Sadly I don't even know the author but it is one that often comes to my rescue. It helps me remain true to my desire to paint with more expression....to paint what I feel rather than render every detail as they exist in my reference.

" The human mind delights in soft mystery"   unknown

It really is amazing how we are able to piece together bits and pieces and make them into a whole. We really don't require much information to fill in the blanks. We prefer it that way. It allows us to participate in a painting. If we see a few blades of grass rendered in detail surrounded by larger blocks of grass color we can assume that the entire area is the same type of grass. We don't need every blade of grass to make this assumption.

A close up view of the distant land mass NO detail at all.

Soft Mystery....keeping this thought in mind as I paint reminds me to decide where I will put clarity and detail and where I can just suggest it.  Take the distant mass of trees and  shrubs in the distance of today's painting. The trees are in the distance so I don't want to paint the them with detail and hard edges. I want to simply suggest a FEELING of the trees. A gentle brush of green and orange pastel is all that is needed. Soft mystery to suggest the foliage and grasses in the distance. In the foreground grasses only a few strokes to suggest grass is all that is needed for our brains to fill in the rest. 

Painting notes: I am working on commissions this week.  I love to paint landscape commissions and have a few openings on my schedule for holiday commissions. Contact me for details! karenmargulis@gmail.com

Listening to an Underpainting

'Autumn Glory'           12x9.         pastel         ©Karen Margulis
available on Etsy.  $165

 Oh the wonderful surprises I find in my studio! Actually in my studio storage room. We converted our garage into a hang out room for the kids when they were teens. Now I have taken over the space with art stuff. I'll show you a picture someday but it is a scary place!  Yesterday I started the process of organizing the space. I do it every December! I love uncovering forgotten surprises so I was excited to find a fun underpainting.

The problem is I no longer have any idea what I was trying to paint. The reference are long gone and forgotten. Not really a problem! It is actually a gift. Now I can look at the underpainting and let it speak to me. What does it suggest? What do the colors want to do? What does this underpainting want to be?

It is clear to me that this underpainting wants to be some yellow trees. So I took out my fall foliage photos and chose one with warm autumn colors. I decided to go with  autumn golden trees with a dark background. I didn't really look at the photos to paint rather I let the underpainting guide my shapes and my imagination did the rest!   It was fun to let the underpainting guide me and I can't wait to do the next one!

An oil stain underpainting 

close up detail

Try This: Do you have unfinished underpaintings in your studio? Why not listen to it and let it guide your next painting. Let your imagination go and have fun without the restraints of a photo!

A Simple Way to Suggest Detail in a Painting

'Autumn Glory'         pastel     2.5 x 3.5    ©Karen Margulis

 It is one of hardest thing to do for some of us. Getting away from the tendency to put in every detail in a paining. I hear it often.....'How can I learn to SUGGEST detail"  "I don't want to paint every leaf on the tree!" The first step it awareness. If you know you have a tendency towards putting in too much detail and information in a painting that's a start!  There are many things you can do to move away from detail and into the area of suggestion. I'll share a fun idea in today's post.

Paint something tiny!

Last week I focused my blog posts on painting mini pastels....paintings that are 2.5x3.5 inches. I have heard from some of you that you love minis and some of you have been trying them. I hope to convince more of you on the value of making minis a part of your painting practice.

All set up and ready to paint (and make a video)

While it is true that you can paint detail in a small format it can help you move to more suggestion if you let it.

• Don't use pastel pencils or even too many hard thin pastels. They are easy for detail which you want to avoid!

• Use your big pastels for larger marks. I use both full size pastels as well as smaller leftover bits. (see my Box of Bits in the photo)

• Practice making marks on small paper. The more you do the easier it will be to manipulate a pastel in a small space.

• Start the painting with big simple shapes. Then decide where you will add a touch of detail.

• Add a few spots of detail....not everywhere!!! The eye will fill in the rest.

Display your minis in frames or use tiny easels

Have fun painting minis!  We spent a month last year learning  all about painting minis. I paint the mini shown below in the video. See the video here www.patreon.com/karenmargulis

'For the Love of Texas'        2.5 x 3.5     pastel  

Be Open to Inspiration: Pastel Demo

'Prairie Winter'        9x12        pastel        ©Karen Margulis
sold

Sometimes it is a simple thing. One look and the seeds to a painting are planted. When this happens to me I try to act on it. An inspired painting is so much more meaningful than one that is done without excitement. 

Inspiration arrived in the mail yesterday. My friend Annika in Finland sent me a little package with 5 pastels from Russia. "They are no Terry Ludvigs" she wrote. But I was intrigued. It was just the exoticness of pastels from Russia sent to me from Finland that got my wheels turning. I could tell they were quite hard but the colors immediately made me want to paint. They reminded me of the dried and colorful grasses of winter. I had just the subject to paint. The seeds were planted and there was no turning back.

I am completely in love with the public park near my son and daughter-in-law's apartment in Chicago. There is a naturalized prairie area that speaks to me in all seasons. I had the perfect winter picture of the prairie. The Russian pastels would be perfect for the prairies grasses. (They are Olki pastels)

I started with a quick drawing on a piece of blue canson paper. I chose blue because it was all that was left in the pad....the wrong reason but I knew it would work for a cold snowy landscape so I lucked out.

The next step was the underpainting. I used the Russian pastels and a few of my other pastels to block in the big shapes by value.

I chose to blend in this first layer to create some mystery and softness. Now I can decide where to put the most clarity and detail.

In this photo I have developed all of the areas from distant trees to the snow covered path through the prairie grasses. I left the grasses as solid shapes. They are made from big simple shapes with a few pieces of grass put in to give the illusion of a lot of grass. The viewer will fill in the rest. See a close-up photo below.

I used the Russian pastels to paint these grasses and they were perfect! The hard edge allowed me to paint lyrical grass. I was able to paint broken lines that look more believable than thick line. The colors were just right. Just as I had visualized.

I have a full plate and a big acrylic painting on the easel but these Russian pastels inspired a painting and I am glad I listened and took the time to get the painting on paper! Be open to inspiration! You never know what will trigger an idea and if you can listen and take time to get your ideas on paper it will be such a good feeling.

Lesson from an Unintentional Underpainting

'The Quiet Time'         8x10        pastel        ©Karen Margulis
sold

A interesting thing happened in the studio today. I didn't plan it. But I did embrace it. And what could have been frustrating turned into something joyful. It was time for my daily painting. I didn't really have a plan other than wanting to reuse a piece of paper from my reject pile. I pulled out a nice 8x10 piece of white sanded paper. It had a few blue and gold marks from an old demo. It would be the perfect candidate for an alcohol wash.  But I didn't get the results I expected.

The unintentional underpainting

I should have brushed off the pastel marks before using the alcohol. There was more pastel on the paper than I thought and as soon as the brush with alcohol hit the pastel it turned into a gummy blob.

Note: Alcohol washes work best with thin layers of harder pastels. Soft pastels such as Terry Ludwigs may get thick and pasty. Also....pure colors give more vibrant results.

Not only was my pastel turning into a thick mess, the light pastels I had used made it even more pasty. In a bit of frustration I took the handle of the brush and started drawing into the thick pastel mess. I started to see a marsh emerge! I started to get excited and continued drawing my big shapes with the brush handle.

When the underpainitng was dry I painted the marsh I had envisioned and the texture from the thick pastel and scratch marks worked beautifully in my favor. An important lesson was revealed.

"There's nothing quite as beautiful as the unintentional."

            Lyle Carbajal

Perhaps Bob Ross would call it a Happy Accident. But the lesson was clear. Sometimes things happen that are unexpected. We can either fight it or try to change it to our original plan.....or we can embrace it and let something more beautiful emerge.

Try An Underpainting with Vodka!

'Summer Joy'             11x14            pastel               ©Karen Margulis
sold

There was a misunderstanding. Or so I thought. Whatever happened it inspired me to try it....a Vodka Underpainting!  I was working with one of my online mentoring students last month and the assignment was to do an alcohol wash. I was certain I clarified that I use isopropyl alcohol. But when the assignment was done she told me she had used vodka for her alcohol. hmmmmmmmm. 

I didn't see why it wouldn't work. It's a clear liquid. We just need to wet down the pastel with a liquid. Her painting was wonderful!  She explained that she had seen a Youtube video of a Vodka underpainting so decided to try it.

Well know you know me....if I haven't done it yet I need to try it myself.  So into the liquor cabinet I went for a bit of vodka. 

a little bit of vodka in my empty cup

 I didn't use the good stuff. It was actually Costco brand and at about $10 for a big bottle makes doing Vodka underpainting pretty cost effective. You really only use a tiny bit.  I really liked using the Vodka. It had no odor. I sort of made the pastels spread very smooooooth.  I had put down a layer of Nupastels in warm colors on an 11x14 piece of Uart 500.   It immediately started making interesting drips. I call them spiderwebs or root systems. Usually I get this effect with turpenoid and not as much with rubbing alcohol or water. But the vodka made cool drips.  It did take longer to dry than rubbing alcohol.. I would say nearly 30 minutes for it to be completely dry.

The vodka underpainting when dry

Working on the dried underpainting felt the same as any other wet underpainting. I saw no difference. I did manage to cover up all of the cool drips which often happens. Sometimes I am successful at leaving them show and other times I get carried away with pastel! This time I did get carried away and even added some shaved pastel flowers!

I did enjoy using the Vodka and will definitely give it another try!  Maybe a painting party is in order...cocktails and underpaintings!

close up of texture

Don't forget it's Cyber Monday!  Give art this holiday season!  I am offering  a 20% savings on everything in my Etsy shop. Use coupon code GIVEART at checkout.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/KarenMargulisFineArt

The JOY of Painting

'Orange Tree Study'          ©Karen Margulis           pastel      12x9
available $165

 Painting is truly Magic. Artists take a blank canvas or piece of paper and create something from nothing.  What could be more exciting than to create a new world on a flat surface.  This is what I love best about painting. Creating something from nothing is such a great feeling. It is pure joy.

I went through a photography stage before I decided to learn how to  paint. I love photography. Capturing beauty and interest with a camera is also magic.  But painting is even better.  Painters don't have to wait for the right light or the perfect moment. We can imagine it. We can invent it. We can create it.

Some artists develop a fear of the blank canvas. It is scary. What if you mess up?  I don't let this fear stop me. In fact  I am never afraid of a blank surface. To me it represents possibilities. A chance to create a new reality. It doesn't matter if the painting doesn't turn out. It is the process of creating that is the high. Besides we can always fix it.

I am thankful for having the opportunity to experience the pure joy of painting! Being able to share this joy with you here on the blog and over on Patreon is icing on the cake!


This tree painting was the subject of a video demo on painting tree trunks over on Patreon. www.patreon.com/karenmargulis

A Grateful Artist: 10 Reasons to be Grateful

'Autumn Walk'            16x20           pastel          ©Karen Margulis
available $450

I have much to be thankful for. Family, good friends, good health and much more.   Being a full time artist has provided me with a whole new set of things to be thankful for.  I'd like to share 10 of them with you.

1. The gift of sensitivity.  I am grateful for the ability to look at the world in a different way. As I have developed as an artist so has my eye and sensitivity to subtle beauty.  I not only notice the obvious beauty like a fiery sunset, but I notice the simple things like a shaft of warm light across a meadow
2. My artist friends.  I love all of my friends but there is a special bond I share with my fellow artists. We just see things in a different way. Many of my artists friends were the 'different' ones in their family so when we get together and share so many things in common it is a great feeling. I love my artist friends!

1. Art Supplies!  We love them and we need them to create. We probably don't need as many supplies as we crave (cavemen made art with burnt sticks)  But part of the fun of creating art is to try new supplies.  And who can resist a new box of gorgeous pastels!
2. Travel.  I have always had wanderlust but being an artist gives me opportunities to travel. Trips to conventions, workshops and art events take me to new places to discover.  I am grateful for my good friends who love to travel and for the trips we take together. I am also thankful for the opportunity to travel and share the wonderful world of pastels with new friends around the world!
3. Collectors.  I approach my art by painting the subjects that I love but when a painting connects with someone and they are moved to have it hang in their home....there is no greater feeling of satisfaction. I am grateful for the people who enjoy my work.
4. The internet.  Even though artists struggle with balancing time online with painting time, I am grateful for the ability to connect with so many artists and art lovers online.  Being an artist can often be a lonely endeavor and having an online community to share work and ideas has been invaluable to me. Being active on social media has led to many connections and new friendships! 
5. Enjoying my Day Job.  I am grateful for being able to work as an artist full time. I wake up every morning with a spark of excitement for the day. I can't wait to go down into the studio and go to work every day!
6. Magic.  I am grateful for the chance to create something from nothing. It may not always be a success but just having the opportunity to turn a blank canvas into something.
7. Books.  I love books, especially art books.  Being an artist gives me a good excuse to collect books. I need them. I need them for instruction and for inspiration. I think I'll buy a new book today!
8. Sharing. I love to learn so I am grateful for the opportunities to learn from other artists but I learn just as much from sharing what i've learned with others. I love teaching and sharing on my blog and I appreciate all of you who visit every day to see what I have to share!

Are you shopping today? Don't forget to consider the gift of original art. Thanksgiving Day is the last day f my Thankful Event sale. All of my original pastel paintings are 50% off. See them all at this link: www.etsy.com/shop/karenmargulisfineart

The Gift Of a Sensitive Eye

'Down in the Meadow'           10x8        pastel        ©Karen Margulis
available $225

It is a common complaint. Finding something to paint is a stumbling block for many. Before I give my two cents on this topic I will share a wonderful quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson.

"Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not."

 This quote strikes a chord with me as I am always reminding myself and my students that beauty is everywhere. We should be able to find something that touches us and inspires us wherever we look. We have to approach our search for inspiration with the mindset that there is beauty in everything. We only need to be open to it....to really SEE it. It isn't enough to just look around us. We need to feel the beauty and be sensitive to it. This is something I am thankful for.

I don't use beautiful and perfect reference photos for my paintings. I use small and dark photos. (bad photos) This allows me to pull out the beauty that I see inside of my mind and put it into the painting. I have discovered that  bad photos lead to my best paintings. My favorite places to paint are not the most spectacular. They possess a quiet and simple beauty that speaks to me because I am open to them.

What are you thankful for as an artist? 

the dry wash underpainting

Two more days for the 50% discount on original pastel paintings!  New work has been added including today's painting! Check the out at www.etsy.com/shop/karenmargulisfineart

Do You Have an Art Tribe?

'Savoring Sunset's Glow'         11x14       pastel      ©Karen Margulis
sold

Being an artist connects me to other artists. This community of like minded people is a treasure. One doesn't need to be a professional artist to benefit from being a part of the art community.

 It took me 42 years. But I found my tribe. Being a part of a community of artists is something I am very thankful for.  I am lucky to have family and friends who are not artists and they enrich my life tremendously. But no one else quite gets me like a fellow artist does. I have had this discussion with many of my artist friends. We all agree that often we are the oddballs in our family. Who else gets excited by the way the late afternoon light makes even a garbage can beautiful?  Who else understands the pleasure in spending hours looking at art supplies?  I could go on......

My artists friends get it.  It is an exclusive club but one that is very welcoming. I have met some of the most wonderful friends through my involvement with pastels. They inspire me. They motivate me. They make me laugh. From beginners to professional artists....we all get it.   I am privileged to be able to learn from the best artists and in turn to share with others.  I am grateful for this blogging platform and social media that allows me to connect with artists around the world. 

So a special thank you to all of my artist friends....from my VIPS, my Art Spirit Friends, my wonderful teachers (you all know who you are)  to the friends around the world that I have met and thoseI have yet to meet in person....Thank you for sharing this journey with me.  I am proud to be a fellow artist and friend!

Check out this quick video from the IAPS Vice President Christine Ivers. She is talking about the benefits of the IAPS convention which is a great way to meet your pastel tribe!