Category: Painting

Yippieee! We just launched a new website for people to purchase fine art reproductions on canvas. There are many artists to choose from and more added daily. The name is Dynamic Paintings on Canvas - check it out. Choose from Vincent Van Gogh, Claude Monet and even many up and coming artists.
We are also looking for artists - contact Dynamic Paintings on Canvas for more information. We now have a total of four websites all related to printing on canvas:
Digital Photos on Canvas
Digital Photos on Canvas Express
Dynamic Paintings on Canvas
DP Canvas

Thanks,
Mike

YouTube video showing still life painting - he makes it look easy.

Digital Photos on Canvas, LLC

Corel Painter X provides hope for those of us who may feel that we need some assistance in finding an artist’s eye for aesthetics and design. In addition to setting the standard for professional art software, Corel Painter includes easy-to-use features that focus on the fundamentals of art technique and theory. The new Divine Proportion composition tool is one of those features, and it is especially useful when determining the layout for a painting.

For years, it has been generally accepted that we appreciate paintings and designs that allow our eyes to flow around an image to take in its visual elements. By applying the principles of Divine Proportion, virtually anyone can compose a relatively balanced painting. With Corel Painter X, the new Divine Proportion tool allows you to start with optical guide lines that have been used for centuries to achieve some of the world’s most famous painted compositions. Not being an accomplished artist myself, I decided to put this theory to the test.

I started with a blank canvas with an approximate size of 10 inches wide and 6.5 inches high. To turn on the Divine Proportion tool, I clicked Window menu > Show Divine Proportion, and then enabled the Enable Divine Proportion check box on the Divine Proportion palette. With the Divine Proportion palette, I can flip and rotate the grid to whatever composition flow I desire. Remember, the center area of the Divine Proportion spiral is where the main focal point or key element of your painting should be positioned. This is where the viewer’s eye should first be drawn to and then flow outward to take in the rest of the painting.

With the grid in place, I can now roughly sketch in my composition. I’ve chosen a 2B Pencil from the Brush Selector bar, and a medium-to-light gray color tone from the Colors palette. Keep in mind that you can adjust the opacity of the guide lines if you need to better see your sketched lines. Also, I created this sketch from my head; using a reference photo for a subject would be easier. By following the horizontal and vertical grid areas, along with the focal view spiral, I found that I could quickly and easily sketch something with balance.

Next, I considered my light source and choose a color scheme to express the look and feel of the painting. I decided that this painting will have a rustic or golden glow caused by the setting sun after a hot summer day in the Tuscany hill country. I used the Layers palette to create a new painting layer. Then, for reference, I reduced the opacity of the sketch layer and positioned it on top of the painting layer.

After approximately an hour of brush swapping and painting, I end up with the following painting. Give it a try for yourself. The Divine Proportion tool will help you understand visual balance and flow.

YouTube video on how to stretch canvas. Great if you order canvas print from Digital Photos on Canvas Express.

-George

The preparation of a painting ground will differ depending on the medium. If oil paint comes in direct contact with a canvas or board it will cause some deterioration. So it is best to follow a few basic steps.

Traditional Oil Painting Ground (canvas or wood panel): Traditionally, oil gesso was used as the painting ground for oil (and alkyd) paintings. Since the oil in this sort of gesso is detrimental to the surface it is suggested that one use sizing of some sort.

Rabbitskin glue is most often recommended. Make a solution of approximately 2 ounces of rabbitskin glue to one liter of cold water. Place in pan and heat until glue is dissolved. NEVER BOIL GLUE. Allow the glue to cool to room temperature. If it takes on the appearance of jelly, then you are ready to apply it. Heat again until it dissolves (chalk dust or whiting can be added at this point, but is not necessary). Apply liberally to the surface to be painted. The sizing should penetrate into the fibers and will not create an even surface.

Once the sizing has cooled, One may begin to brush on gesso. Use broad regular strokes in one direction. Allow to dry completely. The drying will vary, but it will probably take several days. When dry, sand surface lightly to take off fabric burs. Repeat gessoing process, but brush across the directional strokes used in the first layer. Once dry, it will be ready for paint, although one can continue the sand and paint process to create smoother grounds.

Acrylic Gesso: Acrylic gesso can be used as a ground without any sizing or other surface preparation. Oil paint will adhere to surfaces that have been coated with acrylic, but acrylic paint will not adhere to oil surfaces. So acrylic gesso is a good ground for both acrylic and oil media.

Brush gesso directly onto raw canvas or panel using long regular strokes in one direction. Once dry the surface can be sanded. Then apply another coat of gesso (the first one will soak into the canvas or panel and act as its own sizing) using long regular strokes across the first. Once dry, the surface can be painted or one can repeat sand/gesso process.

Rabbitskin Glue also makes the canvas more taunt than gesso.

-George

YouTube video of a one minute space painting.