Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Color Magic


The question was asked by an astute writer, "How do you come up with all of the wonderful color mixtures in your paintings?

Let me say first; I found in my reading....that we all have rods and cones in our eyes. We each have the same number of rods.......that path through which we see light and dark. But cones, come in various amounts to each recipiant....Cones enable us to see colors. So having varying amounts of cones, accounts a bit for the different tastes that we have in color.

But, let me give you my progression: Years of study, reading, and experimenting have brought some expertise, yes, but, let me give you a bird's eye view of some recent learning:

At the week's end, I usually scrape the palette clean. One time, pushing the knife through some colors, I was fascinated by the exciting mixes achieved. I decided to take these mixtures and push them onto a small 9"x12" canvas. Letting imagination soar, I created skies, land , trees, rocks, etc. I initally entitled these paintings, 'AFTA," meaning "After." The more that I created them, the better I liked the spontaneity. Now, I found that I couldn't wait until the end of the week. I was on my way with the new world of Pochade Magic. I found that I could look at a scene, and use the "afta" method to render it.

My last two televison series on PBS have been to show how to make a finished painting from the small Pochades. (Series #600 is currently on.......and available for $30, series #700 will be released in the Spring. Both series have a couple of bonus features on the two DVD set. It shows me concocting a Pochade.........................

Has that been some help?

Thursday, January 24, 2008

The first step must be taken

A blank canvas, a blank sheet of paper, can all be very intimidating. Some people have the wrong idea. They feel, everything comes easy for one who has been doing it a long time.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Sometimes all of that knowledge leads one to the crossroads of making a decision from many different perspectives. Not paralyzed by fear of making a mistake, but paralyzed by the fear of not making the right choice in technique or composition.

Planning and preparation are good.........and prayer helps too!

Claude Buck use to have a brilliant art student who couldn't decide how to place her items in a composition. She was stymied by fear. Finally Claude hit upon a solution. He would have her use her objects and place them in the composition of some famous artist. This solution gave her great confidence and much success.

Learn from others. Study great art. And be willing to try!

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Let's see if it can be done!

I just returned from presenting a demonstration at the Ventura (CA) art club. They didn't tell me that I was on for the demonstration until one day before the demo. But remembering what my great art teacher friend,Claude Buck told me his mother said when he suggested doing something irrationale, she would never say "No." Rather, she simply said, "Let's see if it can be done."

Armed with that resolve, I packed the car and drove the 24 miles South. It was a grand experience for all present.

Never fear failure.

In my two recent PBS TV "Painting With Paulson series (#600, which is currently playing across the land, and series #7oo which will be released in April) I feature concocting and completing a painting from small inspirational pieces, called Pochades. No finished painting for me or the viewer to reference as the painting progresses. As a result, it is an absolute, exciting adventure for both of us!

Check out www.pochademagic.com to see some recently completed Pochades.

Are you willing to try???????????????? I hope so