Happy New Year News!
Since I haven’t written a new post in almost a month, there is a lot to cover!
Winter Hibernation
Must admit, in January, the coldest part of the winter, with the longest nights and shortest days, I like to hibernate. Warm weather chores give way to stacking and hauling wood and shoveling snow(although not so much snow this year!). Since I heat 100% with firewood, there is a lot of wood to move! Reading by the fire and sleeping in, covered with dogs and a cat, all snuggly warm, is another joy of winter. Winter should be for hibernating. I think the bears have it right.
But, too much news, too little time so I will dive right in.
Experiments
I like to experiment with new materials, techniques, and subject matters in the winter when I am not rushing off to shows. Recently, I got a simple selection of acrylic paints to try painting with those. Some romantic notion of quick drying paint for live event painting was dancing through my head.
I got two of each, a warm and cool, of the primary colors, plus white which is what I use for oil painting. With the six colors plus white, I can mix pretty much anything I want. The simplicity gives me the freedom to mix complex color relationships with basic complementary colors.
Mission Impossible
I have tinted my panels with acrylics forever but I wanted to try actually painting with them. I discovered real quick that it was virtually impossible to mix colors without the paint drying on my palette. I couldn’t even go make a cup of tea and come back to anything workable. Trying to mix colors resulted in lumps of dried paint getting mixed in. Forget mixing a range of colors from two complements. Maybe this is why so many people think acrylic paintings look so different from oils.
Maybe acrylic painters rely on using paint straight from the tube and have a wide range of pre-mixed, tube hues to work with. Or maybe they use a medium to slow the drying time. Clearly, it is going to take some more experimenting to find a way to make them workable for me.
Back to luscious oils
To be honest, I didn’t even finish one small painting before switching back to the oils. Luckily, oils can be applied over acrylics (the fat over lean rule) so I was able to complete the painting in oil.
Revamped Website
I have also spent some time revamping my website. Mainly the HOME PAGE making it less wordy and more visual. So the HOME PAGE is real simple and clear, making it easy to go quickly to the area of interest. I also removed all the videos after learning they slow down the HOME PAGE and lower the ranking on search engines. Check it out and let me know what you think.
Reviews, Better Than Ever
Leaving a review is now easier than ever. An email will go out to a buyer a couple weeks after the purchase and they will get a link to review the artwork that was purchased. Reviewers will be able to upload up to three photos of their artwork. For reviews without a photo, the reviewer will receive a 10% special savings coupon code. If 1-3 photos are included, the reviewer will receive a 15% special savings code good towards their next purchase.
Reviews and photos help future collectors feel confident about making a purchase while rewarding present collectors. If you have made a recent purchase(last six months or so) and want me to send you a link to submit a review, let me know. In the future, these will go out automatically when a purchase is made.
Onto painting!
So, this little painting is a scene from the Medical Freedom Rally held at the Indiana State House in Indianapolis in September. This lady had painted “Defy Tyranny” on the back of a wedding dress, like some stars wear messages on the red carpet. I am still painting wedding dresses, just in a bit different setting. LOL.
Defy Tyrants, Medical Freedom Rally
Upcoming Wedding Planning Event
Speaking of weddings and wedding dresses, I am going to have a booth with my wedding paintings at the Biltwell Event Center in Indianapolis on January 30, 2022. Use coupon code GALLERY to get free tickets.
January 30, 2022, Sunday, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. VIPs, 12:00 – 4:00 p.m.: Engaged Indiana Wedding Planning Event, Biltwell Event Center, Indianapolis, Indiana.
I guess that covers it for now.
Wishing you and your loved ones a very Happy New Year! Many blessings, peace, and joy!
Happy trails,
Charlene
Philippians 4:8
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
