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Alina Bradford's BlogPosted by Alina Bradford The article How to Frame Your Artwork Basics was a big hit with readers. It also led to more in-depth questions. So, I asked some professional artwork framing experts to answer some of the reader’s questions. They turned into these articles: Choosing Mats and Frames For Your Artwork and Sell More Paintings. I also got this email from a reader: Alina, Hello. I'm the owner of Bucks County Gallery of Fine Art in New Hope PA. I have been selling fine art and doing professional custom picture framing for the past 28 years. I'd like to respond to some of the answers already appearing in this article. Regarding complimenting art with frames, I have always helped my clients to make the best presentation by selecting a frame and mat that will attract the viewers eye to the main subject of the painting. As an example, if the painting is a landscape with a red farm house, maybe Autumn colored foliage, and blue sky, I would suggest the possibility of using a gold frame with red or umber highlights as to draw attention to the red barn, which is the main focus. A red frame altogether, would draw the viewers eye to the frame and away from the main subject. Therefore, just using the red highlights will attract rather than detract from the red barn. It is not necessary to Mat oil or acrylic paintings on canvas. A mat would cheapen the look of the painting. However, a mat is not only a correct method of framing a artwork done on paper such as a watercolor, pastel, acrylic, oil, or just about any medium on paper. Aagin, the matting should draw the viewers eye to focus on the main subject otherwise known as "Complimenting" the art. Regarding the type of frame an artist should place their oil on canvas into for sale, my suggestion is the following. A wide range of ready made "Plein Air" frames are available in gold, silver, and wood tones that are most preferred by art collectors. The width of the frame will vary from 2 1/2 inches to about 5 inches. The proportion should be determined by the size of the painting. These frames are available through most art supply stores and some art galleries, including Bucks County Gallery in New Hope PA. They are very reasonably priced, and most of all make a great presentation which will help sell your artwork. There should be no consistency in frame choices form one painting to the next, unless every one of your paintings are done in the same season, or are the identical subject matter and most importantly, the same identical colors. Caution should be taken in what advice I am suggesting. You will get different answers to the same questions by interior designers, inexperienced picture framers, and your neighbor that thinks they know what's best. You should seek the advice of a professional picture framer. Sincerely; Howard Cooperman Bucks County Gallery of Fine Art I hope all of these tips help you! Alina Posted by Alina Bradford I received this email a while back and thought I should share it with my readers: To the point, I am an South African Artist, painting preffesionaly the last 10 years or so. I am doing mainly seascapes art its my Passion, Love the sea and everything with or about it. I have read your Blog and decided to give the crits a go. I have many seascape done, so i decided to pick the latest of my works done. Its called a "New Day" its done oil on canvas using only Palette Knife, Size 950 mm.X750 mm. Inspired by the way the ocean gives and takes. The beauty it gives overpowers in totality what may have taken in ravishing storms or any other means, I have come across people that dislike the ocean with passion as to this fact. Sadly so as its wonderment and poignant beauty can not be measured. There will aways be a new day. Thank you Alina Fanie Smit (Seascape Artist South Africa) Well, Fanie, you wrote to me asking for a critique, but I can't give you one. Your work takes my breath away. It is perfect the way it is.You are a very gifted artist and hopefully my readers will enjoy your painting as much as I have.Thank you so much for sharing,Alina Posted by Alina Bradford Susan Andrus is our first Painting/Drawing at Suite 101 critique. Her painting is on 10 1/4" x 14 1/8" 300 lb. cold pressed paper. You can see her painting here. First, I would like to congradulate Susan on the beautiful facial expression in the painting. You can see the genuine happiness and contentment radiating from the subject. My only suggestion is to incorporate shadow and light a little more to show shape and depth in objects. For example, the rock wall behind the lady seems flat. A little shading around the stones will help it pop, giving it more of a three-dimensional look. The nose and ears on the lady could be rendered a little more realistically, but overall, the face was done very nicely. Overall, Susan did a wonderful job on selecting harmonious colors and giving her subject a cozy environment. Great job, Susan! Alina Posted by Alina Bradford A while back I wrote an article about the fantastic art centered hotel, NYLO, in Plano, Texas. Well, next Monday, August 11 6:30 - 9:00 NYLO will be having its first inagural NYLO Art Night. The Art Night will feature the artwork of two fantastic artists, Vanessa Neil and Greg Piazza. For more information visit NYLO at 8201 Preston Rd. Plano, Texas or call: (972)624-6990. Posted by Alina Bradford I tend to try to paint things that are pretty. A pretty tree, a pretty mountain, a pretty flower. And, though the painting may turn out pretty, it rarely sells. What does sale? The paintings I create while I'm feeling moody, angry, or depressed sell. Why? Because, I am putting my feelings into my painting. I'm not concerned with the painting being pretty; I'm concerned with applying my feelings to the canvas. I remember one painting in particular. I created it while I was depressed. Pastel dust flew and when I was done, I thought to myself, "Great mood, but it's not something someone will ever want to buy." The next art show I entered, I decided to give the little pastel painting a chance. Another artist fell in love with it right away. "I don't know what it is," she said, "but I love it." It just goes to show you, emotion is just as important, or more important, than the pre-established ideas that we have about beauty. Make your next painting come from the heart! Alina Posted by Alina Bradford Hi, I came across this free oil painting ebook by artist Andrew Whyte and thought that I'd pass it along to my readers. It has a lot of useful tips on basic oil painting techiques, paints, canvases, and more. And, hey, it's free. You can't get much better than that! Enjoy, Alina Posted by Alina Bradford The art of comic books have always amazed me. Every single panel requires a team of illustrator to build the story into a page-turning good time. If you are aspiring to be a comic book artist or if you’re already working on a comic, these articles are sure to impart some new information. How to Make Comics:The Steps to Creating and Illustrating a Comic Book This is our latest article on comic illustration. It takes more than one illustrator to create a completed comic book. The penciler, inker, colorist, and letterer are all important to the process. This article talks about what each of these artists do to make a completed comic. How to Ink Comics: Learning Inking Skills and Techniques This article is a comic inking demo for those interested in becoming an inker. Comic Artist’s Resource: Links for Comic Book Artists and Illustrators This article lists some great resources for artist aspiring to dive into the world of comic illustration. Enjoy! Alina Posted by Alina Bradford When I first started out as an artist I didn't have a clue about choosing the right pencil for my graphite drawings or which paper was best for my watercolors. Today, I'm a lot smarter, and a lot pickier, about my art gear. Why? Because I know that your art is only as good as the materials you used to create it. If you find yourself vexed over paper types, canvases, drawing tools, pastel brands, and more, I have the solution. Take a look at these articles:
If you have a specific question, feel free to contact me! Alina Posted by Alina Bradford I set up my Google Alerts to let me know when interesting articles or blogs about art or artists pop up on the web. Today, I recieved an alert that had a link to Painting with Pop, a touching blog written by the son of a deceased artist. This post contains the sweet and amazing tail of a mural he painted with the help of his father. It is a must read. Enjoy! Alina Posted by Alina Bradford I just got back from Helena, MT two days ago. As soon as I got home I just had to write about all of the great places that artists just have to see while they are in Helena. Small Town Helena, Montana has Big Art is what resulted. The article is June's addition to the Destinations for Artists article series that Painting/Drawing at Suite 101 has been doing all year. Helena not only has all of the wonderful fine artist attractions mentioned in the article, but it also has one of the best arts colleges in the country, an amazing performing arts community, and family attractions for the young and old. I must say, I was really impressed with Helena. It has the offerings of a big city in the quiet, laid-back atmosphere of a small town. If you get a chance, go visit the nice folks in Helena...and tell them Alina sent you. Alina Posted by Alina Bradford I am so excited. Independence Day is one of my favorite holidays. Fireworks have a lot to do with this. They are so colorful and expressive I just have to photograph and paint them. Our article How to Paint Fireworks shows you how to capture the beauty of fireworks on canvas. My tip: take photographs of the fireworks to use as a reference. This article provides some great tips. I hope you have a lot of fun this 4th and I would like to say thank you to all of the men and women oversees this holiday working to keep the USA free. Alina Posted by Alina Bradford Ever want to get your art honestly critiqued? Well, now you can! Each month here at Painting/Drawing we will feature artwork by you. The artwork will get balanced and fair critiques and we will let others add their comments. (Don't worry, callus and mean comments will be deleated.) So are you ready to bring your skill to new hights? Email me clear digital images of your artwork to be featured for critique, along with its dimensions, medium, and any other information you would like to include. I look forward to seeing your work! Alina Posted by Alina Bradford Many artists don't realize all of the legal issues that come with running an art business. It is important to know where you stand when it comes to copyrights, model release forms, and painting people to protect you and your art. Here are two articles that can help: How to Use a Model Release Form Using Other People in Artwork Legally When you use real people as models for your artwork, it is important to have them sign a model release form to protect you legally. This article shows you how and has a sample release form. Protect Yourself from Copyright Infringement Lawsuits You may think that copyrights and public domain have nothing to do with artists, but they are very important for protecting your art and your reputation. This article tells you everything you need to know to protect your artwork. Enjoy! Alina Posted by Alina Bradford There is one art show that I love more than any other and it is happening in just a few weeks! I'm so excited! Here's all about it from my article Beavers Bend Resort Park, May's Destination for Artists: "During the third weekend of June, the Forest Heritage Center opens its doors to artists young and old as it holds its annual Owa-Chito Art Show and Sale. This art show is held by the Oklahoma Art Counsel and draws artists from many nearby states such as Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas. It has categories for children to professional artists. The show and museum is free to view and entry fees are minimal. Artists interested in entering the competition can contact the Broken Bow Chamber of Commerce at 113 West Martin Luther King Drive Broken Bow, Oklahoma, 74745, telephone number: (580) 584-3393 or the Idabel Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture at 13 North Central Idabel, Oklahoma, 74745, telephone number: (580) 286-3305." If you live in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, or Arkansas you should really consider entering this fabulous show. I have several times and have loved it. Alina Posted by Alina Bradford I love summer! There are so many things to draw and sketch! If you need some summer insperation, take a look at these articles: Summer Painting and Drawing Ideas Get More Creative Ideas this Season The great warm weather can bring out a host of things to paint or draw. Here are five ideas for summer themed paintings or drawings. Ten Tips to Inspire Creativity Boost Your Art Inspiration with These Ideas Everyone can get into a creative slump. Here are ten ways to stimulate your creative juices and generate fresh inspiration. Learning to See and Draw the Parts of a Flower Learn how to identify the shapes and parts that form flower, leaves, and stems to make beautiful floral drawings and paintings. Enjoy! Alina Posted by Alina Bradford I looove pastels. They are extremely portable, easy to clean up, and can give you a wide range of looks. If you want to start painting in pastels, or if you have already started and want to learn more, I have the articles for you. Our newest article, How to Blend Pastel, teaches you how to take your chalk pastel paintings to new level using blending techniques. How to Choose an Art Pastel Brand shows you how to choose the right pastel for your type of painting. How to Use Soft Pastel has all the basics on how to get started drawing and painting in soft pastel. For those of you that love the look of oil, but hate the mess, we have the article How to Use Oil Pastels. Oil pastels give you the look and feel of oil paint and with the freedom of pastels. This article shows you the basics of working with this great medium. So, no matter what your skill level, we have your pastel needs covered. Enjoy! Alina Posted by Alina Bradford I am so excited! Now you guys can comment on articles! So, feel free to leave your opinions, thoughts, ideas, and more to every article on the Painting/Drawing site. This new feature really makes me happy because I love hearing from readers. Some of the most interesting ideas here come from emails I get from you guys. Now, you can bypass the email and leave your thoughts in seconds. One request, though...Try to be nice and try not to use vulgarity. Let's have fun and share ideas! Alina Posted by Alina Bradford Nothing burns me up faster than someone taking facts and twisting them to get a whole nation of artists riled up over nothing. That is exactly what Mark Simon over at Animation World Magazine did when he posted this shockingly inaccurate and un-researched article, Mind Your Business: You Will Lose All The Rights to Your Own Art. It cries wolf over the hotly debated Orphan Works legislation, which will actually protect artist’s rights, not get rid of them. Obviously, Simon didn’t bother to even read up on the Orphan Works legislation, because most of his ranting is vastly different from what the Orphan Works legislation is actually about. His article started a nation-wide panic in the art community that was most felt in the forums of art forum communities such as deviantART. I would like to set the record straight, though, for all of you out there that would like actual facts about the Orphan Works legislation. Here are some helpful links that take you to facts, not rants. Six Misconceptions About Orphaned Works This gem by Meredith L. Patterson is a researched article with lots of links to government websites about the Orphan Works legislation. Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property This website has the actual hearing on “Promoting the Use of Orphan Works: Balancing the Interests of Copyright Owners and Users” straight from the law makers, themselves. Copyright Term and the Public Domain in the United States This site contains all the information you need to know about current copyright laws. Alina Posted by Alina Bradford Okay, I'd thought I had heard of every kind of gimmick proclaimed as "art." I was wrong. It seems that German artist Gregor Schneider has decided that his next exhibit at the Haus Lange museum in Krefeld, Germany will have a person literally dying for it. Yep, that's right; the exhibit will be of a real person dying in front of a live audience. Many artists, including Schneider, say that death is beautiful and should be celebrated. While this may be true, let's be honest. This is just a controversy brewed to boost Schneider into the spotlight. Many people, including myself have started crying "boo" to this selfish and exploitative way to promote your career as an artist. What do you think? Tell us and your comments could be featured in my next blog. Alina Posted by Alina Bradford The internet is amazing. I really don't know how civilization went without it for so long. For me, as an artist, the Internet is a treasuretrove of knowledge. My new, favorite Internet goodie? Art videos! My latest article, Free Videos for Artists, lists seven fantastic free videos for artists. The article includes tutorial videos, entertainment videos, and inspirational videos. If you would like to find some videos of your own, try going to YouTube and typing in "art" or "painting." I love doing this because you come up with such a wide range of fasinating videos. Or, you can be more focused and type in "drawing tutorials" and come up with gems like this one by Toby Malek. Here are a few more drawing tutorials that are free to view:
Enjoy! Alina Posted by Alina Bradford I frequent a writer's forum called the Absolute Write Water Cooler. While this doesn't sound like an interesting place for artists, it really can be. You'd be amazed at how many questions come up about book illustrations! Many times authors want to know where they kind find talented illustrators to colaborate with. Other times you can find posts from people wanting to get into the illustration business. My latest article "How to Paint Illustrations" gives some great tips on how to make your illustrations work for books. I think it is important to learn not only to draw illustrations, but paint them as well. This article helps budding illustrators know when to paint, how to find ideas for painted illustrations, and more. Enjoy! Alina Posted by Alina Bradford So, you’ve seen the video of his new line. Now read about what inspires this artist who turned his sketches into a business in fashion. This interview with Daniel Vosovic is a revealing look at his feelings about creativity in your artistic nitch, how every artist should carry a sketchbook and why, and more. Posted by Alina Bradford Hi all, I had a fancinating conversation with Daniel Vosovic last night at the permire of his new line at the NYLO (pronounced ni-low) hotel in Plano, Texas. You may remember Daniel V. from Season 2 of Project Runway. Well, now he's large and in charge with his new line, a book on the way, and more. You can veiw his fantastic runway show here. Keep an eye out for my inview with Daniel later this week. We talked about art, boosting creativity for sketches, and keeping your vision as an artist fresh. No artist will want to miss it! Untill then, Alina Posted by Alina Bradford Hi all! Starting Thursday, March 6th I will be stating a video blog of the fantastic NYLO grand opening for the Artists Destinations Series. Check back here for off-set live videos of Daniel Vosovic's NYLO Fashion Show, after party, the red carpet event and more. Then, make sure to keep an eye out for an interview with Daniel Vosovic about his artistic vison, the imoprtance of drawing, advice for aspiring creative types, and more! This is an exciting time for Painting @ Suite 101 and I hope you will join us for the action. Alina Posted by Alina Bradford Alina, I read your article about copyrights and infringements at suite101.com. I wonder if you are able to answer a question for me, or lead me in the right direction. I have been in the multimedia field for a while now, straying from my fine art and illustration roots. I've slowly been moving back to them and taking photos at local reenactments as reference. My question is this. To what extent can I use the photos of reenactors I've taken as reference for my paintings without seeking the reenactor's permission? There is some info on the web concerning obtaining subject release if their photo is to be reproduced or distributed but I'm finding it hard to find anything concerning the legality of interpreting the photos I've taken into works of art. This is of concern to me for many reasons. One, of course, is that it may be logistically impossible to obtain releases. Another reason is that because of size the faces in the painting/illustration and treatment of each often make the likeness to the subject negligible. But since I would like to start reproducing prints, I want to make sure I'm legally covered. Any light you could shed on this subject is appreciated. Thanks, Chris http://www.centuryillustration.com Hi Chris, Good question. After some research, this is what I have come up with. The best way to protect yourself from legal ramifications is to make the people look as little like the people in the photo as possible. The clothes really don't matter, but people own the rights to their own faces, so you can't really use their faces on products of any kind without permission. Otherwise, yes you will need a release form. Hope that helps! Alina Posted by Alina Bradford Just when you thought the firestorm that came from the cartoons of Muhammad awhile back were settling down, a new controversy is brewing. Apparently, many Muslims are upset that the information site Wikipedia has pages with art images of Muhammad. According to Abdul Azis, a reporter at The Jakarta Post, a petition has been created to force Wikipedia to remove all images of Muhammad from the site. I took a look at the links provided and was shocked to see that the whole outcry is not because of a cartoon (which I maybe could understand), but of fine art that has been created over the centuries. This goes far beyond the Wikipedia site. One must ask what the objectors will have done to the original pieces of art after the digital images are removed from the web? Should all art of Muhammad, no matter how reverently done or important to the art world, be burned because some are offended? This reminds me of book burnings. Who gets to say what the world can enjoy as art and literature? Religious groups? The government? Where do we draw the line and say "enough"? I do like what the reporter, Abdul Azis, a Muslim, had to say in his article. It sounds so nice and simple, but I'm sure that art will never be able to bend to everyone's will, tastes, and beliefs. You can check out the web pages in question here and here, then send me your opinion and it may be used in a future “sound off” blog. Alina Posted by Alina Bradford A week ago my hard drive started to crash. Luckily, I noticed and backed up my files quickly before my laptop completely went up in flames. Why does an artist need to back-up their files? Well, I have digital images of my art work, promotion materials, and one-of-a-kind digital art on my computer. A crash without backed-up files would have cost me years of work. I've had this happen before, and, guess what? My files were not saved. Oh, yes, I cried. How can you keep you files safe? Well, the easiest way is to open an email account just for files. Then, email all your files to this email address. Not only is this a great way to back-up your files, but it is also a convent way to access you files if you are using another computer. There are more sophisticated ways of backing up your files. I use Dell DataSafe, but there are many other great sites out there. They automatically backs-up your files every few days. I also use (just in case) a 1GB flash drive to back-up my files. So, back-up your work often! There's no excuse! Alina Posted by Alina Bradford The Painting Fool is an A.I. robot created by Dr. Simon Colton Ph.D. in 2001. The robot is said to be able to read the expressions of a person's face and be able to put the feeling on canvas. Unlike Photoshop, The Painting Fool tries to copy the way an artist (human) goes about painting a picture, instead of just producing an image that is a copy of the original. Supposedly, the robot uses appreciation, skill and imagination just like a real artist. Recently, the robot won the Best Machine-intelligence Demonstration at the British Computer Society's Specialist Group on Artificial Intelligence (SGAI) conference. I have mixed feelings about The Painting Fool. I am amazed that technology has come so far, but on the other hand I wonder if making robots this "smart" is dangerous to the human race. No, I don't mean in The Terminator way! I mean, if robots become so smart that they can create beautiful, pleasing art, then will there be a need for humans? Already machines make our lives so simple we are becoming increasingly obese. What happens if machines become so smart that humans are need for nothing, not even the simple joy of art? What is your thought? Email them to me and I'll post them in our next blog! Alina Posted by Alina Bradford I love to create paintings with Photoshop and Corel. There's something about creating with my Wacom pad I just love. The problem, though, is that all these great paintings are stuck in my computer and can't be hung on the wall. I was kind-of depressed about the situation until I learned about the company imagekind.com. They take digital images and print them on the canvas of your choice, and even frame them, then they ship them to you. I was skeptical about the quality, but I tried it anyway. I took a painting that I created with Corel and downloaded it to the site. Then I picked what dimensions I wanted it to be, and then picked a frame. I got the painting about a week later. Wow! It looked like I had painted it right to the canvas. I showed it to my husband and he couldn't even tell the difference. The framing was very professionally done and came complete with a wire hanger. I am really impressed and thought I'd share my experience with other artists out there wanting to make their digital works more "real." Alina Posted by Alina Bradford I recently got an email from a reader about oil pastels. She has just started using oil pastels and would like to know if I could recommend some books and pastel papers. These are great questions and I thought I'd share them with other readers. Here is the response that I sent her: My article Painting With Oil Pastels is a good place to start learning about oil pastels, if you haven't read it already. Also, this article is helpful for choosing papers, Art Paper Terms and Uses. On good books, I would just go to my library and read all I can about oil pastels. Also, most of the rules that apply to using colored pencils for paintings also apply with oil pastels. I started out using colored pencils and found that it was an easy transition to oil pastels. One of the key factors to remember is that heat is what will make your oil pastels look like paint. Warm the pastel in your hand to get it ready to use, or let them sit in the sun for a few minutes. Make sure that you use a paper that has plenty of "tooth" to grab hold of all that creamy pigment, otherwise your painting will end up muddy. I like to use canvases with a pre-treatment of gouache or paint for extra texture. Hope this helps! Alina Posted by Alina Bradford Hi! This month the site is unveiling its latest article series: Destinations for Artists. Every month you will be able to find a new article here on a hotel, resort, or other location that would make a great vacation for an artist or those interested in art. This includes places that don't just decorate with artwork, but make a conscious effort to display fine art much like an art gallery or museum. Some of these locations also will offer packages aimed at artist. You can read the January Destinations for Artists article here. Keep an eye out for the February Destinations for Artists coming soon! Alina Posted by Alina Bradford Our latest article by guest author Cynthia Cummens shows how to draw dragons. Here are some more tips on drawing dragons from Cynthia: For years, artists have been drawing beautiful and magnificent dragons. They are mysterious creatures which captivate us, and the ways to draw them are as limitless as our imagination. Remember a few simple ‘rules’: • Understand, at least in a basic way, the anatomy of horses, alligators, crocodiles, birds and cats (just to name a few). That way, when you draw your dragons, you can focus on the story you’re telling rather than worrying about anatomy. • Gather your photo references before you begin! • Watch movies about dragons to see how other artists conceptualized their appearance and the ways in which they sit, walk and fly. Cynthia is a very accomplished artist and her website is very cool for anyone who loves Star Wars, like me. Give it a visit! Alina Posted by Alina Bradford After reading my article How to Frame Your Artwork ,Stan Parchin, Feature Writer of Museums and Art Galleries wrote in with this question:
Can you explain the importance of acid-free paper when matting and framing a print? That would be her top-most question right now. Great question, Stan, and one that many artist are interested in. Acid in matting and framing materials will eat into a print over time, slowly destroying it. I have seen this so many times. I'll buy a piece of art and decide to re-frame it. When I take the print or painting out of the frame it will be discolored and yellowed where the mat had touched it because the mat was not acid-free. Or, worse yet, the acid from the mat had eaten through the painting or print, leaving spots comparable to moth holes. The whole point of framing a print is to keep it damage free, so it doesn't make sense to mat and frame it with something that will damage it. In my article Art Paper Terms and Uses I go into explaining the importance of archival quality art products and how to find out if your product is archival. Thanks Stan! Alina |
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