Tonight I wanted to try out a new gadget my dad made for me- it holds my video camera closer to my easel so my big ol' hair doesn't get in the way. My oils are at the gallery, so I thought I'd give painting in acrylics a whirl. I had seven tubes of acrylic paint, a glass of water, some old brushes and a 9x12 canvas panel. What could I lose? I lost a lot of patience and some pride! I rattled on and on and the thing took almost an hour! So I replaced the audio with some music and compressed the time to about eight minutes. It still may be too long- you'll have to judge. Anyway, here is the result of my effort to paint with acrylics.
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Art Workshops/Art Retreats Downtown San Antonio
Paintings and Works-in-Progress by Susan Carlin. Portraits, figures, still life, the occasional landscape, and abstracts
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About Me
- Susan Carlin
- San Antonio, Texas, United States
- I'm a painter in San Antonio, Texas, and co-owner of a private studio called Whistle Stop Corner for the instruction and enjoyment of the Arts.
Workshops and Events
Whistle Stop Corner
Art Workshops/Art Retreats Downtown San Antonio
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Some of my videos
Blog Archive
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2008
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June
(24)
- Progress on Pee Wee
- Finish of Grampy and Kaiden, Beginning of Pee Wee
- Video of Demo Portrait of Suzanne
- Progress on Grampy and Kaiden
- Mid-workshop report...
- Video of Vanessa Painted From Life
- Oh Happy Day
- Video of Acrylic Cowgirl, 8" x 10" on panel
- The Acrylic Portrait and Portrait of Alicia
- Video of First Acrylic Portrait
- 'La Villita Day To Remember' ...reworked.
- Finish of Libbi and Suzy Q
- Another painting of Libbi, this time with SuzyQ
- Two paintings on eBay right now...
- Full exciting day- 16x20 oil portrait of couple fr...
- Finished demo from workshop
- Workshop complete... weary and happy
- Halfway through workshop.. oil demo portrait
- Two one-hour portraits today
- "Braids" painting on eBay, and new Riverwalk painting
- Last minute 16 x 20 pastel
- Live your own dream
- Great site with David Darrow painting LIVE
- Riverwalk Cafe Ole, Part 2
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June
(24)
"The primary benefit of practicing any art, whether well or badly, is that it enables one's soul to grow."
-Kurt Vonnegut
"Meditate. Live purely. Be quiet. Do your work with mastery. Like the moon, come out from behind the clouds! Shine."
-Buddha
-Kurt Vonnegut
"Meditate. Live purely. Be quiet. Do your work with mastery. Like the moon, come out from behind the clouds! Shine."
-Buddha
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- Stacey Peterson
26 comments:
Oh goody, I get the first comment.
It's really effective having the portrait emerge so quickly, though I enjoy your commentary. Maybe a voice-over like Chef John does. Or sometimes a long video in time and sometimes short.
And it's a fine little portrait you've painted. Can see any reason to lose a bit of pride though I sympathize with losing patience. Look at it again, you'll like it!
After reading your blog entry I wasn't sure what to expect in the video - the first commenter is right, watch it again. The portrait is great. You are being too hard on yourself - I admire your ability to draw the face and get the right proportions with your brush and I enjoyed seeing each step - even thought it was speeded up one could get the steps. Thanks Susan, it really helps to watch your process.
Thank you Dianne and Chris- I'm exhaling now. And I'm sitting here looking at the portrait, dying to keep working on it until it's better... but why? My pride, I suppose, and to see if I could get a handle on the medium. Speaking of medium- davethepaintingguy mentioned there's an acrylic drying-retardant medium that might make acrylics behave more like oils. At least, for 4-5 minutes. I'm gonna to get me some. (That's Texan for I'm going to get some.)
I liked it! The video set up, the painting process, and the finished product. But then, I could probably sit for days watching you paint. It was a little like 'speed painting', but I liked the ability to see the steps and see the finish in a short amount of time. The couple of oil landscapes I've painted have taken weeks & weeks. I cannot image your daily schedule!
When you get you some of that gel (that's Georgian for "when you......gel"), report back on how it works. I abandoned acrylics years ago out of rebellion because in undergrad school,(in the 60's)we were allowed to use only acrylics because the art instructors thought oils were antiquated by them. Now I'm thinking, acrylics might be fun after all.
Susan, This is wonderful. Dave needs to learn to paint a portrait in a hour, lol. I have learned one thing watching you two, you need to start off dark with portraits. I'll have to give it another try.
Well that was impressive. I watched it before I read the post and felt you should back off the caffine. Now I got it.
Excellent demo.
I like the portrait, I like the music, I like all the things I can learn by watching, and I LOVE your big hair.
Susan, thanks for your note on my blog. Good to see you, too, on Dave the Painting Guy. I had to leave early for dinner, but got to see it almost to the finish.
Another fun to watch video, Susan. I love your process, the way your apply paint with such confidence. The music was a really nice touch.
I really enjoyed that ! Yeah Dad, but, I too like your big hair.
So,I sat & wondered who the little girl was, it is a lovely portrait.
I am looking forward to more videos.
I liked the music too. But, I found myself wanting to ask questions, that I am sure you talked about, "as you were rattling on". Maybe mix it up abit. amy
Oh & thank you for sharing your story at my blog. amy
All I can say is "Oh MY Gosh!" It was wonderful! thank you. What a great gift.
Wow. I'm going to make more videos. I really appreciate your feedback Everyone. Amy, maybe I can go back through the video and see if I said anything worthwhile and perhaps I can just clip those bits out.
The photo was from wetcanvas.com and is one of dozens her artist/photographer mother has posted in the copyright-free image library. I've painted her several times, but this is the first time I've used this pose.
Thank you all for taking nine minutes to watch the video and yet another minute to leave a comment!
Wow! everybody thinks this is a great portrait, so they must be right Susan. Changing mediums when you are used to another can be frustrating, the interactive paints that you are using have a longer open time and you can rehydrate them by spraying the surface with water (I have just been reading up on them)apparently they are different from conventional acrylics so you maybe have to use a retarder from the same maker.
I love to watch you paint I learn so much, and I really enjoy listening to your commentary, but the music was lovely too.
Susan, I loved your video!!! I'm amazed at how you can just begin with a brush and get a likeness right away! I love the portrait, too. You're just awesome! And, thanks for your comments on my blog.
Make another video! It's great to be able to watch you paint, even if it is veeerrry fast.
What a way to start my morning. I sat spellbound watching that magic brush spin. You are incredible. You nail the likeness immediately and then just "go to town". Fun to watch.
Such a great portrait. Acrylics dry dark for me, did you find that true? You do nail a likeness quickly .. I guess experience and practice pay off!
The video is great. The music is nice, but I, too, miss your comments.
It is 60 degrees here in Michigan...ahhhh. Sorry for you today! We have 5 more days of this lovely weather before heading back to Texas.
I really enjoyed watching this video. I think the portrait is a success! Watching you craft those gorgeous skintones was the best part for me.
Thanks! -Sarah
Thank you, Diana, Ann, Marilyn, Jo and Sarah. Ok, I'm overwhelmed. Thank you all so much for your responses. I spent another few minutes tweaking that painting last night and loved that I could polyurethane it immediately afterward. The pros and cons of acrylics seem to all be about the drying time. I didn't notice too many other differences -if you don't count the fact that I wasn't familiar with those particular colors, that is. I'll give it another go soon!
Oh, Jo, I didn't necessarily notice the acrylics drying darker, but I was swimming as fast as I could so I wouldn't drown, so I'll try to pay more attention to that.
At first I thought the shadow was way too dark compared to all the white of the board, but you know just what you're doing.
The way you blocked in the skin tone first in the eye is very informative. The so many painted eyes that I have seen look so sunken in and that is a good way to approach it.
I feel portraits are my weakness, but after watching this I may have to give it a try again.
Love how you use the whole handle of your brush instead of holding it up at the tip. I hold it like that too.
Fascinating to watch. You scared me to death when you put all that dark on her face. You had such a good likeness, then it was gone, then it was back. I don't know how you use the brush holding the end of it. To me it would be like painting left handed. Great job. I have no idea how you know what colors to use on the face.
Hi Susan,
I ablsolutely loved this video..lovely portrait and so enjoyed your choice of music. The dark/light in this portrait makes for high drama, love it. I see in the finished painting that you did go back and tweak the chin area, right on! (Right on, who says that in our generation? I've picked it up from my 19 year old son). Fits here! Thanks so much for sharing your process Susan.
Susan, The brush is mightier than the sword! All that black was just the perfect way to start that painting; do you just know intuitively when to begin that darkly?
Did you bring up the lights methodically, as it seems you did, watching you paint? It is a splendid display of portraiture, I think the best yet. Ann Byrd
Hi Susan! I've been trying to finish this portrait of my son for weeks and have painted over it several times. I had no idea starting dark might help. I do have to say though that I find the quick drying and the darkening as it dries quite difficult to handle. Seeing you work so fast is very frustrating to me - I'm so slow, and a terrible perfectionist. Being this way put me off painting for twenty years and i'm only just getting back into it. I'll see how it goes.
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