BeckerArt FLOAT-YOUR-PIGMENT Newsletter June 9th

Published: Tue, 06/09/15

Hello 

Welcome to the FLOAT-YOUR-PIGMENT Newsletter #6 Subject Matter

This week I am sending you my newsletter from Lac-du-Flambeau at Dillman's teaching a 4-day workshop to some amazing student artists and I want to thank them for joining me this week. 

This newsletter is about picking your subject matter, which is a very important matter when it comes to painting. My best advice has always been "Paint what you know and love and once in a while go out and explore for new subject matter that you will get to know and love".

On June 13th, I will be at the Lake Geneva Paint-In is happening June 13th and 14th info below

My Saturday Classes at The Studio McHenry started the pay-as-you-go summer sessions at $20.00 per class. NO Saturday Classes on JUNE 13th, JUNE 20th, AUGUST 1st. 

My Thursday Class will NOT meet on JUNE 11th, June 18th, JULY 30th, AUGUST 6th

Trying new Subject Matter for a Creative Boost
I'm always telling my student to paint what you know and love and try using you own reference material. Taking your own photos helps you in getting to know your subject matter personally.

Once in a while try a new subject matter and try painting it in a different style or even on a different kind of paper. Trying new things helps your creative process.

Below I had my class paint the Chicago Blackhawks Logo and I told them to be creative and don't just make it a copy of the logo but make it a work of art. Here is what I came up with, and I show you the stages I took to paint it.
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Step 1: I drew it on 300lb Arches paper and then did a wash over most everything
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Step 2: forgot to put a orange yellow in the hair, so I added it in this step.
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Step 3: My big washes were done so now I start painting my dark details, always remembering to Float my pigment.
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Step 4: Finished my details in the logo itself.
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Step 5: I finish it off with adding an abstract wash to the background. I used bubble wrap to get the small dot circle pattern.
I have 3 Favorite Subject Matters
My 3 favorite subject matters have always been, city scenes, rainy scenes, and water-related scenes. I believe the reason for liking this subject matter is because of my love for the city of Chicago and the water related love is from growing up in the Chain-O-Lakes area of Illinois.

I can't stress enough to my students about painting what you know and love.

When in a class and you are learning about painting, that is the time you can experiment and try different subject matters and different techniques and materials.
Not your Photos.... ask Permission to Use
I tell my students to take their own reference materials and know your subject matter, but there are times when you will be using someone else's photos,  make sure you ask for permission to use them.

There is a place on the internet that puts artists and photographers together and it is
Paint-My-Photo
 http://paintmyphoto.ning.com/

Here you can download photographers photos and use them for your painting

For learning purposes, this is fine but when you start looking to get established I highly recommend you find and take your own reference materials and establish your own style.
Go to Paint-My-Photo
June 13th & 14th I'm in Lake Geneva at The Paint-In
Paint-In June 13th in Lake Geneva
​Stop by June 13th and see some of my works and watch me paint while I am on the street in Lake Geneva Wisconsin.
More info on workshop HERE
Link of the Week​.
If you are a watercolorist you probably have used Arches at one point or another, and you know that it has gone way up in price over the years.... I constantly am looking for deals on this paper and I just spotted this deal today.
 For any other info please email me at david@davidrbecker.com