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Jeff D
Mar 21, 2023
In Share your Work! Let's see it!
I don't know why, but I've been obsessed with trying to figure out acrylics. I mean, you would think I'd try to get better at my less than stellar oil paintings. But, that is a different story. Actually my hope is that if I post my below average paintings it might spark more to the conversations here. I mean if I can't post this junk, your stuff has to be WAY, WAY better. This is way out of the norm for me. I don't really paint flowery type stuff. But, all of the dogwood trees around here gave me the urge to paint a pink tree. I understand that compositionally it isn't correct. But, no matter. It was fun to do. Once the grass layer dries completely, I might add some dandelions. But, for now, I'll just stare at it for a while and see where it takes me.
Spring Tree content media
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Jeff D
Mar 14, 2023
In Curated Art Resources/Articles
This is from Alexander Art's daily email. Personally I've had OK luck with sand paper and odorless mineral spirits. However, this would seem to get you back to an almost blank canvas. When I've used my process, you get a "stained" canvas. But, I'm OK with that. The oil paint covers right over it. Here is Alexander Art's tips: One of our recent website visitors asked a question about reusing a canvas on which she had a dried painting. She wanted to know the best way to remove the paint and “save” the canvas. A wet painting is easy to remove. Scrape off the paint with a palette knife, wipe down the canvas and start again. Dried paint is different. I called Alexander Master Artist, Tom Anderson and asked for his advice. It turns out Tom reused canvases often when he had his studio in California. So he gave me a six-step process for removing the dried paint and preparing the canvas for a new painting. Here they are. Step 1: On a table, lay the canvas flat and cover the painting with a layer of oil. You can use inexpensive vegetable oil. Pour a small amount of the oil directly onto the canvas. Using a cloth or rag – spread the oil over the entire canvas and let it “sit” overnight. The oil will soak into and soften the hardened paint. Step 2: With a palette knife, begin scraping with a horizontal motion. Lift the softened paint from the canvas. Be careful not to puncture or tear the canvas. This step will remove most of the heavy paint. If necessary, repeat steps one and two until you have removed the majority of the paint. Step 3: Prepare a mixture of 2 parts Soft Scrub; and one part water. With a two-sided non-scratch scrub sponge and using a circular motion rub the mixture onto the canvas. Use the rough side of the sponge. This will help remove paint that may still be in the weave of the canvas. Step 4: Wash the canvas with clear water and let it dry. You can use a hair dryer (“LOW” heat setting) to help speed drying. You can also repeat steps three and four if you like. Step 5: With some fine sandpaper, rub the surface of the canvas to remove the last traces of paint. By this point, the old painting should be nothing more than a blurry image. Be careful not to damage the canvas as you sand the surface. Step 6: To begin preparing the canvas for your new painting, apply a layer of Magic White™; and let it dry. If you want, you can apply a second layer of Magic White. The old painting should be completely covered at this point. If you prefer, you can tone the canvas with Burnt Umber or Permanent Violet This creates an under-layer for the new painting. You can even use a black paint, like our Artist Black Medium™.
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Jeff D
Mar 07, 2023
In Share your Work! Let's see it!
My wife wanted a pink and purple abstract painting like the ones you see at TJ Maxx or Ross. I had some metallic oil paints I've wanted to mess with and a junk canvas. You'll soon see these at Goodwill stores across America! :P
Abstract?  Or just poor painting!? content media
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Jeff D
Mar 07, 2023
In Share your Work! Let's see it!
Well, this is what I had in my head. But, my balloon drawing skills aren't where they need to be. So, while this is rather amateurish, it's what was trapped in my head, and now it's out. And that is a really good feeling. Now that I've made the decision to just, "shut up and paint", rather than worry about every technical detail, it's been liberating and fulfilling. It may not be pretty, but I'm creating, and I like that!
Paintin' ain't easy content media
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Jeff D
Mar 05, 2023
In General Discussions
I hate painting on dry canvas, so I thought I'd give the gessoed hard board a chance again. This was a brand new Richeson board (yes, I bought it from you, Brian!). While I like painting on a very smooth a slick surface without any medium, I can't for the life of me get the paint to hide brush strokes like I can with canvas. I'm not sure if it will show on this in-progress painting, but every brush stroke shows. I'm using good paint. Well decent paint, Bob Ross and Richeson. I'm using good brushes. And allegedly good hard board. Any ideas?
Gessoed Hardboard content media
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Jeff D
Jan 16, 2023
In Share your Work! Let's see it!
Have you ever painted a turd, but something in the paint really draws you to it? I finished this one in class yesterday, and quickly took it to my car, to bury the evidence. When I got home, I put it on my easel with the intention of scraping it off and savaging the canvas. But as I stared is the thing, something makes me actually like it. Nothing is correct in the painting, the colors are completely wrong. It looks like a kindergartner took all the colors in his 64 crayon box and just started coloring away. Having said that, I still like it. I've put it on my wall next to my favorite painting, which is an acrylic painted by Karen. At least I'm doing things as I'm told in class this year. :) Well, other than the Crayola colors...
Strange thoughts by Jeff content media
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Jeff D

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