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Category: Musing About Art

February 21, 2012
Kathy
4 Comments

The Wonder of Light – Lava Or Water?

Posted in Musing About Art, and Other Artist Work

Light is such a big part of art .  How a subject is lit, where the lighting is coming from, how the lighting changes the colors are some of the lighting questions that come into play with how a  painting is composed.  What type of lighting  – natural  sunlight, incandescent, florescent light, all cast different shades of white onto a painting. The "perfect " light is natural sunlight.

Now what happens when nature decides to throw a curve ball into the "perfect"  lighting with a spectacular sunset?

AP photo by Bethany Gediman, Daily Mail

This AP photo was taken by Bethany Gediman –  courtesy of the Daily Mail

Is it lava flowing down the cliff? Or is it just a simple waterfall?

"A window of time just opened in Yosemite National Park when nature photographers wait, as if for an eclipse, until the moment when the sun and earth align to create a fleeting phenomenon. This marvel of celestial configuration happens in a flash at sunset in mid-February — if the winter weather cooperates.  On those days the setting sun illuminates one of the park's lesser-known waterfalls so precisely that it resembles molten lava as it flows over the sheer granite face of the imposing El Capitan."  UK Daily Mail.

Youtube photo clip courtesty of UK Daily Mail of Yosemite waterfall

Youtube photo clip courtesy of UK Daily Mail
"…Photographers look for  the lowest angle of light that will paint Horsetail the colors of an iridescent sunset as rays reflect off granite behind the water. It materializes in varying degrees of intensity for the same two weeks every year.  'If you hit it at just the right time, it turns this amazing color of gold or red-orange,' said Frye, a photo instructor with the Ansel Adams Gallery in the park." – Daily Mail

How  cool is that?!

 
November 14, 2011
Kathy
4 Comments

Teal: The Color of Excellent Taste

Posted in Musing About Art

Teal: The Color of Excellent Taste

I'm always fascinated by the colors I see in nature. Pinks and purples in a sunset, metallics on a pigeon, pearly iridescent inside an oyster shell, blues of the sky and sea.  Today I'm looking at one of the colors of this Fall – Winter season – Deep Teal. (1)  It is one of the Pantone colors of the season.

Color of Teal

Teal…green-blue…..blue-green…?  Teal is a mix of green and blue, but is considered to be a Green. If more blue is mixed in, it becomes a Teal Blue and moves in to Turquoise family.  Confusing isn't it?!  It is one of those colors, like mauve, that is a combination of two colors and everyone has their own perception of what the color is. I always ask a customer who wants teal, if they are thinking of a teal green or a teal blue.

So where did the color teal come from?

Teal emerged on the scene in 1917!  That's the date it was first recorded as a color name in English. (2) But let's go back further – where did the color teal come from?  

Green-winged Teal

Photo credit: Cornell Lab of Ornoithology

This duck is called a Teal. In fact, here is a  whole group of ducks known as Teals. This fellow above is a Green-winged Teal.  The color name teal comes from the green stripe of color on his head.

So what is the color psychology of Teal?

"Cool and constant, teal indicates stability and resistance to change. If teal is your favorite color, you are a sensitive individual, and have excellent taste. Optimistic and trusting, you have a high degree of faith and hope, easily trusting others." (3) Sounds like a terrific choice of color!
 

1 -http://www.pantone.com/pages/pantone/Pantone.aspx?pg=20834&ca=4

2 -Maerz and Paul A Dictionary of Color New York:1930 McGraw-Hill Page 205; color sample of Teal: Page 101 Plate 39 Color Sample L7

3 – http://www.sashasouzaevents.com/publish/psychology-of-color-7a236/

September 16, 2011
Kathy
5 Comments

The Great Tomato Escape

Posted in Musing About Art, and Reference Photos

The Great Tomato Escape

What in the world? I opened the blinds this morning to see this….. 

tomato on gate

A not quite ripe tomato hanging on out on the gate handle.  Some blemishes, but no bite marks,  just hanging out.  I'm guess a squirrel hauled it up there on to the perfect eating platform.. Either that or the tomato was on it's way to jumping the gate for the Great Tomato Escape…. 

This would make for a odd  painting. Lots of contrasts: soft tomato, hard wood gate, dull gate, bright colorful tomato….Would the more philosophical among us read symbolism into a painting of a tomato on a gate handle?  Or would it just be a weird painting? Or could I turn into a children's art by painting it in a  whimsy style and creating a story around it? Or take it in the opposite direction and lean it into a Salvador Dali like surreal art ? Something to think about……   : )    Have a wonderful weekend!

September 6, 2011
Kathy
7 Comments

Catalog Daydreaming

Posted in Musing About Art

Catalog Daydreaming

Dreams —-> Enter Here. That's what I think when I see a big thick catalog in my mail box. There is something  wonderful about a big catalog arriving unexpectedly in the mailbox. Looking through pages of paint color samples, brushes of all shapes, pastels, canvases, and lots and lots of art supplies is such a idea generator. 

New cataog goodies

Thick catalogs are becoming an unusual sight in these digital times. Is it going the way of horse and buggies? Will I be rambling on about catalogs only to have my future grand kids give me a blank stare and ask what a catalog is?……. !

I am going to scoop up this catalog before it becomes a relic of the past, and open the pages and daydream about new colors, how to use that odd shaped brush, and generate new ideas for paintings.   : )

August 1, 2011
Kathy
4 Comments

Color Is Key For Children’s Art

Posted in Musing About Art, and Reviews

Color Is Key For Children's Art

It's hard to miss all the great back to school sales! This is a great time to pick up some art supplies for your children at a cheaper price. However there is nothing more frustrating to a budding artist  than to have paints or crayons that only produce pale, faint colors.  The best children's art supplies have saturated color ie. color pencils  and watercolors that show show up boldly on paper.

Craonys

From my own experience as an artist and a mom, Crayola beats all the others hands down.  And they are still inexpensive, especially now with the sales. Crayola has done a great job with watercolors and color pencils that paint brightly with saturated color.  Their crayons are also full of color and not overly waxy.   This is a great time  to take advantage of the sales and get some great, fun, and on sale, art supplies.