20 Minute Painting - Lake Breeze

LAKE BREEZE
16" x 20" approx.
Flat Canvas with about 1.5 inch border for framing or mounting
Price on Request

This is the first painting in a new series inspired by my participation in Art Battle. In Art Battle you are only given 20 minutes to complete an 18" x 24" painting, in a boiler room competitive environment. You must start with a blank canvas, use only 11 acrylic paint colors (see list), no medium, gel, or additives and use only brushes and non mechanical tools. You are not even allowed a water spray bottle.

Allowed Colors

Titanim White
Unbleached Titanium
Burnt Sienna
Burnt Umber
Black
Bright Yellow
Bright Orange
Bright Red
Phthalo Green
Pthalo Blue
light Cyan

I found that the limited palette and timing forced me to make quick decisions about color mixes. I worked with a bigger brush and stood a t an easel to give myself freedom of movement. The larger canvas forced me to move faster with sweeping strokes. Standing made it easier to step back and gain perspective. The result was a fresh and impulsive painting that embodied everything I've learned in my painting career.

The new series builds upon the Art Battle concept to produce a more finished and saleable work. Painting fast means sometimes little mistakes happen and places are left bare in error. Therefore this new series allows 20 mins for the initial painting with an extra 10 mins for adjustments after allowing the paint to settle and any errors to emerge. I also don't want to build up an inventory of large paintings, so I will probably paint a bit smaller and likely on unstretched canvas which is easier to store.

I'm not sure how often I will create one of these paintings, or as yet what I will name the series, however, it will be at least one a month. If you have an idea for naming the series please leave me a comment.

SAFE HARBOUR - DAY FIVE

SAFE HARBOUR

by Sea Dean
6" x 6" Acid and Lignin free Canvas Card

To view my online Gallery of originals please visit Daily Paintworks
Shop for Limited Edition ACEO here
More from my fellow intrepid and brave artists attempting the 30 paintings in 30 days here

The moment I saw this beautiful photo by my internet friend Bob Jones, I knew I had to paint it. Trouble is when? My busy life means I was painting this at 3am this morning. 

I'm in luck, yesterday, I finally found my halogen painting light which had disappeared during the move and how happy I am. This means I can paint at night with ease because the light I was using before, a strong daylight, was making the colours too intense and throwing off my values. Ahhhh!

This is quite an unusual colour scheme for me, but in the spirit of the 30 day challenge I'm KISSing my paintings. Nothing sloppy here, it means KEEP IS SIMPLE SEA so I chose a limited palette using "pushed" versions of the colour in the photograph. The edge of the boat is a more intense bright red but I couldn't get it to photograph well. The main colours are Cerulean, Sap Green, Dioxazine Purple, Raw Sienna, Naphthol and Cadmium Red.

As you see, I made the angle of the boat slightly more upright and cropped it for compositional purposes.

Thanks Bob.

Bob Jones © 2014

Cat # 14135 Safe Harbour - POSTED ON THE 30 IN 30 BLOG AS # 31

A FACE ONLY A MOTHER COULD LOVE - A DAILY PAINTWORKS PICK

A FACE ONLY A MOTHER COULD LOVE
Original Painting by Sea Dean
5" x 7" Canvas Panel

To view my Gallery please visit Daily Paintworks

This was a challenge by Carole Marine on Daily Paintworks. When I first saw the photo, I was quite intimidated because I had never painted a fish before and I wasn't sure I could capture his beauty. However, when Carole posted her version I was inspired. I thought it would be interesting to use a similar palette to Carole to see if I could capture the same energy that her painting has. I used Titanium White, Cadmium Red Medium, Cadmium Yellow Light, Cerulean Blue and some Phthalo Blue ink for the darks. 

It took quite a long time to paint because I had trouble getting dark enough and light enough values, but after I added straight T White and Phthalo it was better. I like my fish. He's so ugly he's beautiful don't you think?


Cat # 14118 A Face only a Mother could love.

SUNLIT WALK III - Abstract to Natural Progression Series

SUNLIT WALK III

SUNLIT WALK III
7" x 5" on canvas panel
PROFESSIONAL ACRYLIC PAINTING BY SEA DEAN

SUNLIT WALK II

SUNLIT WALK IV

SUNLIT WALK I

To view my Gallery or purchase this painting please visit Daily Paintworks. Larger originals or prints may be available by contacting me.

This is the second in a series of paintings moving from a abstract to natural in four steps. I like all the paintings in the series which can be purchased separately or together. They would be spectacular hanging in progression along a hallway. 

See the entire series at Daily Paintworks, but save on Shipping by purchasing the set below.


Purchase complete set through Paypal below

Cat # 12010 Sunlit Walk III

SWEETNESS and THE TOP 20 PLACES TO SELL YOUR ART

Even if you are not taking Leslie Saeta's Art Marketing Class, if you're an Artist this is the one thing you need to do to increase sales, listen to this internet radio show.  
THE TOP 20 PLACES TO SELL YOUR ART

And DAY TWO of Leslie Saeta's class is about promotion.

Here is a painting from earlier this year that I don't think had enough exposure. I know I'm the Artist, but I really love this happy little painting. The colour combination is unusual and I think, pretty awesome. I know I always say this, but it is even better in real life. It has iridescent bronze accents in the wrapping and lovely loose brush strokes. One of my best paintings this year.

To me pretty candy is directly related to happy times like romantic evenings, Birthdays, Valentine's Day, Easter and Christmas. PAY ATTENTION GENTS, I would give this as a gift with a box of candy, one can be eaten and one kept as a memento of the occasion. Girls like this kind of thing!

SWEETNESS
ORIGINAL ART ACEO
2.5" x 3.5"
To view my Gallery or purchase this painting please visit Daily Paintworks. If there is no current bid you may contact me for the "Buy Now" price. Larger originals or prints may be available. 


To create my own little celebration, and as a thank you to my wonderful patrons, I am starting this auction 7pm GMT Saturday at just $1.


Cat # 13002 Sweetness ACEO

INTO THE LIGHT AND FOREST LIGHT DUO - MONET OR MANET?

FOREST LIGHT
ORIGINAL ART
3.5" x 2.5" ACEO
To view my Gallery or purchase this painting please visit Daily Paintworks. If there is no current bid you may contact me for the "Buy Now" price. Larger originals or prints may be available.

MONET OR MANET?
I've always love Claude Monet and I'm sure there isn't a nature Artist working today who isn't influenced by him to some degree. However, Edouard Manet's bolder style speaks louder to me. Even Monet was influenced by Manet for a while until he developed his own style, and I can see why. Since visiting Paris and seeing many works from both of these famous artists I have to say I would prefer to paint like Manet. 


In his early career, Manet mastered the use of luscious patches of light and dark, placed close to each other with few transitional shades. This shows clearly in his floral studies. His treatment of peonies  in this painting at Musée d'Orsay, is absolutely stunning. He also used this style to create massive impact in larger works like "Olympia", also at the Orsay.

I even find Manet's colours more appealing in the flesh, because many of Monet's later works drifted towards muted transitions and unusual colour combinations with a surprising amount of raw canvas showing beneath the paint.

My latest Duo here, started out with subtle gradation closer to the layered colours of Monet, but when I stepped back I realized they would benefit from more highly defined contrast. This is more evident in the effect of light on the foliage and both these paintings capture the contrasting dappled light on the forest trail. The ACEO miniature was the first in the series and is therefore a little closer to Monet's staccato transitional style. The larger work displays more of Manet's influence. 

Which do you prefer?






INTO THE LIGHT 
ORIGINAL ART by Sea Dean - 8" x 6"

Cat # 13095 Forest Light - Cat # 13096 Into the Light 

LEMON and WHAT DO YOU SEE?

LEMON

ORIGINAL ACEO OOAK  
2.5" x 3.5"
To purchase this painting or view my Gallery please visit Daily Paintworks. As always, larger originals in the same series or prints may be available. "Buy Now" price available on any auction where bidding is not underway.

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

The use of colour is a crucial factor in selling your art. Colour theory is a gigantic study, but how can you be sure you're seeing colour accurately? Here is a fun colour accuracy test to use, it only takes a few minutes! Vision changes as we age so it's a good idea to check regularly and adjust accordingly. Last time I did this 7 months ago I scored 22 and this time, 8, so I'm glad my colour perception is improving, which probably has a lot to do with painting every day.

As many Artists seem to be revamping their studios ready for spring, I found this interesting article on lighting and I imagine the same rules apply to decorating a studio.

"As we age, the lens of the eye becomes less flexible, and our lighting requirements change. The ability to focus on near objects decreases, which explains why many people need reading glasses as they get older. The lens of the eye also becomes denser and yellower, decreasing the transmission of light, so that more light is often needed to see. This changes how we perceive colors; they become more muted and muddy. Just try looking through a yellow filter to see what I mean — you'll benefit from lighter colors surrounding you. The eyes become more susceptible to glare as well, making the need for contrast greater.

There are many other issues that affect aging eye lenses too, so older eyes require different lighting solutions. These solutions won't benefit just them; they will also help create more beautiful household surroundings. Considering the right amount of light, location of the light source and color temperature will improve your and your family's sense of well-being."
How to Light a Kitchen for Older Eyes and Better Beauty
Anne-Marie Brunet, CKD, CBD

And as Artists spend increasing amounts of time marketing their work on the internet, I thought it was important to include a video on 5 ways to prevent computer eye strain.

And lastly here are my latest paintings on auction at Daily Paintworks

Top: Cat # 13051 "Lemon" ACEO
Left: Cat # 13056 "Venetian Aqua" OSWOA
Center: Cat # 13060 "Paws" (Pal Portrait Commission)
Right: Cat # 13055 "Southern Sunrise" ACEO
Center: Cat # 13059 "Kiss Me" ACEO 

"Lemon" and "Paws" - Posted on Leslie Saeta's weekend Blog March 2nd

TEA AND HYDRANGEAS

TEA and HYDRANGEAS

ORIGINAL ACEO OOAK  
3.5" x 2.5" 
To view my Gallery or purchase this painting please visit Daily Paintworks. For immediate shipping inquire about the "Buy Now" price available if there is no current bid. Ask about larger originals in the same series or prints.
 

Hydrangeas always remind me of my Nana. At her house, when you came out of the kitchen, there was a cold outside loo directly across from you. A few steps down past the laundry copper was what today we would call a patio, but to her was the back yard. In front of you was the shed where all the action took place, mangling the clothes, fixing things, storing the boys precious motor bikes etc. And on the right was a tiny garden, with a concrete edge, in which brightly coloured pansies and Nana's huge blue and pink Hydrangeas were always in bloom.

The kettle was always on the hob in Nanas kitchen and strong tea was served up to all and sundry with heaps of white sugar and creamy milk. If you were lucky it was laundry day and there was spotted dick or treacle pudding steamed in the laundry copper. Or perhaps there was baked rice pudding or homemade jam on a crusty white bread. Ah those were the days!

Now Nana had a secret! There was no such thing as tea bags back then, so there was the challenge of what to do with the tea leaves. Never one to waste anything, Nana would pop out to the garden patch, swish around the spent leaves with a bit of water from the tap and empty them at the base of her Hydrangeas. This completely confounded me, why put black tea waste on such a beautiful display of colour? But one day Nana told me her secret, that tea was what gave the Hydrangeas their colour and made them grow big and beautiful! Needless to say whenever I see a Hydrangea I think of my Nana.

Now every time you see a Hydrangea you will think of my Nana too and perhaps one day you will pass on her secret to your granddaughter.

Cat # 13040 Tea and Hydrangeas

ROSE SORBET and SIGNATURE COLOUR - DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE CHALLENGE

ROSE SORBET 
Abstract Rose Series 
ORIGINAL ART 6" x 6"
Ask about larger Originals or Prints in the same series.
To view my Gallery or purchase this painting 
please visit Daily Paintworks. 

"Signature Style" is so important to your success as an Artist. Here I will address your "Signature Colour" palette.

One of the things I constantly hear from buyers and curators is how important signature style is. When a buyer or curator is looking through a gallery online or offline they want to be able to identify a particular Artist without reading the information. Curious but true! With the advent of online Art marketing it is increasingly important to develop unique style, because thousands of pieces of Art are available at the click of a button. Buyers want their purchase to stand out from the crowd.

One of the components of signature style is signature colour. Whatever your medium, you must develop a unique colour palette so your work is instantly recognizable.  

For this exercise, group your recent works together in one place. Artists who have completed the 30 in 30 challenge by making a collage of their January work, will find this easy. Click here and page down to Jan 31st to see many Artists who have done this. Or click here to use the Pic Monkey collage tool yourself. If you have an online gallery where you can see many recent paintings on one page, this will also work. If you sell through shows, exhibitions and galleries, you will at some point be able to photograph a collection of your work on a wall. Others may have to resort to leafing through a portfolio, or laying work on the floor to do this exercise.

Get a pen and paper and make some notes. It helps if you squint or soften the focus with photoshop. Another trick is to cover with a thin net curtain, so the subject matter doesn't distract you. Make a note of the predominant colour. There will probably be one main colour and several secondary ones; this is called your "palette". Note the intensity; are they muted or bright, soft or hard edged, transparent or opaque, thin washes or thick impasto; each one of these aspects affect the quality of the colour. 

Your signature colour could be pre-mixed by a manufacturer and come with a fancy name but it's more likely a blend of two or three pigments creating a distinctive look. You will also find if you squint and step back that your selection of colours amalgamate and create one colour from a distance, often this is what attracts buyers from across the room. Signature colour tends to change with the seasons, or as an Artist develops, so this should be done regularly to see if you're drifting too far from your look. It's particularly helpful to do this if you are having trouble selling your work.

Part of becoming an Artist is experimenting with colour combinations. Beginners often repaint sections many times until they are happy but experienced Artists mix by instinct and practice. Likewise, once you have identified your signature colour palette you will find it easier to choose supplies and eliminate certain aspects which don't sit well with you, without making an expensive mistake. 

It's always fun to experiment, but remember that your previous customers search for a common thread. The patron's original purchase was partly made because it worked with their decor and they aren't going to redecorate their home to match the painting unless it is a David Hockney, but they may purchase a painting to match another they already own. A new series, using a different palette, may attract new buyers, but it could also alienate your precious loyal fans. By all means learn and grow but keep a modicum of commonality to your work.

Here are some links to famous paintings which use a distinctive palette

Matisse
Picasso
Botticelli
Leonardo

Have you chosen your palette for the "Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge" Challenge yet? Consider not only your signature colour but that of the Duchess. 

Remember you will be able to submit your finished painting from 8th Feb. Go to my blog of Jan 31st to find out how. Have fun with it, Catherine is young and current, so avant gard may be just the right style for her. The original commissioned portrait was in a super realistic style (including wrinkles) but yours can be a Picasso or a Hockney.

Please stay tuned for more FREE tips and lessons by clicking on "Follow by Email" on the left. 

Cat # 12032 Rose Sorbet - Posted as # 9 on Leslie Saeta Weekend Post Feb 10th

AND THE FLOWERS SANG and FEBRUARY EVENTS AT PAINT A MASTERPIECE

AND THE FLOWERS SANG

ORIGINAL ART 8" x 10" (20 cm x 25 cm)
Thick impasto style with bronze highlights 
Ask about larger Originals in the same series or Prints. To view my Gallery or purchase this painting please visit Daily Paintworks.

January was quite a hectic month with my commitment to 30 paintings in 30 days and hosting a visitor for 3 weeks. This month I plan to cut back a bit and catch up with requests. I created this painting, "And the Flowers Sang" in November but recently decided it needed some extra work. I really love the result. It is larger than my recent ACEO series but still very affordable through Daily Paintworks.

 

Here is the February 2013 News for Paint a Masterpiece

1. If you haven't heard already I have launched a challenge to create and submit a portrait of Catharine, Duchess of Cambridge. (See Jan 30th post). Submissions accepted Feb 8th - March 8th 2013. Please send a link to any Artist you know, even if the challenge is not for them they will know Artists who would enjoy it.

2. For the courageous non-portrait painters, I will be giving free portrait lessons throughout February on this blog in conjunction with the above challenge.

3. My gallery at Daily Paintworks this month features, Hearts, Flowers and Tropical Ocean Views in celebration of Valentines Day and a desire to fly south.

4. My painting this month will be mainly commissions and larger works, so I will likely blog only 2 or 3 times a week.

5. My auctions at Daily Paintworks continue with bids starting at $1. A great opportunity to pick up an original piece of Art.

I welcome comments below. If you have a challenge posting use Anonymous but please put your byline.

 Cat # 12114 "And the Flowers Sang" - Posted as # 16 on Leslie Saeta Weekend Post Feb 2nd 2013