(Submitted by Wally Lush)
The ferry, like time, waits for no man it seems. Missed the one I wanted to take to Centre Island and walked to meet everyone – and walked, and walked. Got to the Sunshine Center for Seniors and had a much needed coffee then scouted painting locations. I missed the gang that was there – 5 more I hear. But they had a successful day at least. Better luck next time.
(Submitted by Wally Lush)
On a very windy, drizzly, cold morning three of us showed up to make art. We quickly decided that setting up easels in the nasty weather was a bad idea but we could wander and take reference photos. So that’s what we did. Here are a few of them. Perhaps one will become a painting. Better luck next time.
This Friday was very popular with record attendance for a Friday Night Club presenter. It might have been because Linda Montgomery is an award-winning illustrator, a reputable OCAD instructor and a very amiable presenter coupled with the promise of free goodies from Liquitex.
We had a surprise visit by Jacklyn Rosenblat-Gwartzman, proprietor of the celebrated Gwartzman’s Art Supplies on Spadina Avenue in Toronto and a supplier of Liquitex products. She shared the sad news of her father’s passing in February and offered discount coupons for members visiting her store, where they could pick up loot bags.
This evening Linda talked about some new and improved products, namely acrylic gouache and soft bodied acrylic paint, acrylic inks etc.
Softbody
This low viscosity professional acrylic paint gives excellent coverage, a satin finish and high levels of artist-quality pigment for archival brilliance.
It is very versatile and can be used to paint, pour, glaze or print on almost any surface.
While many artists may think soft bodied is just a watered-down version of heavy body, Linda explained that the two paints have compatible binders and have the same pigment load. You just have to choose the right consistency for your project. It only makes sense to choose and softer consistency with some mediums like pouring medium. Conversely, one might be best to use heavy bodied paint when using pastes or heavy gel medium.
Acrylic Gouache
Gouache, body color, opaque watercolor, or gouache, is one type of water media, paint consisting of natural pigment, water, a binding agent, and sometimes additional inert material. Gouache is designed to be used with opaque methods of painting.
A primary difference between water colour and gouache paints is that gouache is more opaque than watercolor. The opacity of gouache comes from the white pigment or chalk that is added along with the colored pigment and binder in order to make it less transparent.
Gouache is very comparable to both acrylic paint and watercolor paint but is its own entity. Gouache paint is opaque but becomes translucent when water is added. While gouache paint is similar to water color paint, it is different in that it’s more pigmented, is heavier, and provides more of a texture when painting
Acrylic gouache provides the most intense colors, a flat, matte effect, no brush strokes, no cracks and no need to dilute.
Superb fluidity and application, all with a permanent, water-resistant finish when dry.
Another feature of the above products was the new squeezable bottle with a spout that can be cut to allow for heavier application of the paint.
Linda answered many questions verbally and with a demonstration and eliciting audience participation. She brought many samples of the properties of each medium and clearly has a penchant for art instruction.
This was not Linda’s first visit to DVAC we hope it will not be the last.
Further information about Liquitex can be found at
(Submitted by Jessie Gordon)
Club member Ingrid Mueller presented the process of using plaster drywall compound to create relief for painting and bas relief works of art. Ingrid showed examples of paintings she has completed and described the process and the materials and tools she uses. She entertained the large audience assembled with her anecdotes of finding tools and materials at rock bottom prices at local stores. She always works on a hard surface, either wood or metal and applies a layer of compound that quickly becomes firm. The material can be carved or added to and is quite flexible in its uses. She demonstrated using various tools to create pattern and design on the image and even squeezed the material from an icing applicator to make spaghetti-like strips. The club members peppered Ingrid with questions ranging from where to get supplies, how to paint on the relief once it is complete and the archival permanence of the finished work. All enjoyed the presentation and look forward to trying it themselves and seeing Ingrid’s next work using this technique.
To see more of Ingrid’s work visit her website at:
http://ingridmuellerart.simplesite.com/
PASTELS – Why not? This question was answered by our guest, Clarence Porter, as he set out to enlighten us on the fundamentals and ease of use of pastels.
Clarence is a professional freelance illustrator and painter. He teaches various courses in the Visual and Creative Arts diploma program at Sheridan. He also has his Pastel Artist of Canada Master Pastelist designation and is a signature member of the Pastel Society of America. His work has been shown in many group and solo shows.
Clarence is an engaging and experienced instructor and organized his presentation in order to fulfill a number of learning outcomes.
Papers with tooth are also called sanded papers. Much like regular workshop sandpapers, they are manufactured for pastel painting and come in a variety of grades.
Clarence prefers Uart, but there are a variety of brands that produce great results. Clairefontaine Pastelmat, Sennelier Pastel Card, Mi-teintes Touch, Colourfix etc. You can also create your own substrate on any surface by applying a pastel ground. Golden Pastel Ground is an acrylic preparation for pastels on canvas and other supports. It creates toothy surface similar to papers used with pastel and chalk. For an even rougher texture Fine or Coarse Pumice Gel can be added. Acrylic Ground for Pastel can also be tinted with acrylic colors.
Pastel painting is making a comeback. It is a fun and vibrant medium that is quite forgiving. So, did Clarence answer the question? PASTELS – WHY NOT? Although there was maybe a half dozen people in attendance who use or have tried pastels, perhaps there will be some recruits in the future.
Clarence Porter has an engaging personality and endeared himself to our DVAC Friday Night Club. You may view his work at the following link: http://www.porter-arts.com/Galleries.html
(Submitted by Ingrid Mueller)
This evening was filled with revelations made possible by CARFAC General Manager Elissa Pendergast.
CARFAC – Canadian Artists’ Representation/Le Front des Artistes Canadiens, is an organisation of 1,000 members, founded in 1968 in London by Jack Chambers, Tony Urquhart, Kim Ondaatje, Greg Curnoe, and Ron Martin. In short, CARFAC provides advocacy and an abundance of resources for artists. Its national office is in Ottawa and it boasts 8 provincial affiliates.
Elissa spent the evening explaining much of what CARFAC can do for artists in Canada. The following is an abbreviated version of her presentation:
Advocacy:
• Negotiating, in concert with other artists’ associations (e.g., ACTRA, Writers’ Union of Canada) with the provincial government to establish Status of the Artist legislation
• Providing summary legal advice through VALCO (the Visual Artists Legal Clinic of Ontario
https://www.carfacontario.ca/VALCO-Visual-Artists-Legal-Clinic-of-Ontario
• Providing publications and webinars which educate artists on how to advocate for and protect themselves.
• Advising artists by phone, email and in person on how to deal with the many issues which artists face in their professional practices.
CARFAC Ontario is committed to providing up-to-date resources for artists, as well as answering frequently asked questions pertaining to practicing as an artist in Ontario.
Member Services and Artist Resources:
Our brains were overflowing with information and questions and we are grateful to Elissa Pendergast for enlightening us.
The very best way to fully understand what CARFAC is and what it can do for you is to visit their website and/or contact Elissa. Links are provided below.
Facebook/Twitter @carfacontario
Instagram @carfacontario.ca
(Submitted by Jessie Gordon)
Club Members enjoyed the presentation by Gary Smith, a successful Toronto painter who is widely shown with international commissions and sales. Gary described his career, his exhibitions, teaching and referred to many trips to teach and exhibit in China. His presentation for the evening was an introduction to an on-line course he is developing called There’s Magic in those Shadows, What do Professional Artists know about Shadows that I don’t? Gary showed slides that will be part of the course and demonstrated the effects of light and shadow on a sphere. He described the different types of shadow including Form, Core and Cast and described how colour is affected by light and shadow. Gary’s course will be available on the web site: www.patreon.com/GarySmithLivingtheDream/posts soon.
Attendance was lighter than usual due to the buildup of ice on the sidewalks, but 25 members attended and really enjoyed the presentation. Thanks to Sylvia and many volunteers for a successful evening.
(Submitted by Ingrid Mueller)
Award winning artist, John Hood has a BFA from Concordia and spawned from creative parentage. His experience spans years as a muralist and has paid his bills as a property manager but in 2017 he made the leap to practice as a full time easel artist.
John’s intense knowledge of the mechanics of oil painting and his eloquent delivery made for an evening of intense Q & A while he demonstrated working up a tonal under painting in oils on a toned ground.
John did a demo for us using a photographic reference as a master image. It was a half tone (not full colour) – an “imprimatur” – a monochromatic underpainting as a preparation for a developed work in colour.
(Submitted by Ingrid Mueller)
Sharlena Wood is no stranger to DVAC but always a welcomed guest. A vivacious and charismatic personality, she is well known in the GTA art community, as her busy schedule reveals her as an instructor at Luc Sculpture School, Visual Arts Mississauga and a selection of other studios around Ontario
Sharlena, the consummate artist whose favorite colour is orange as apparent in her funky coiffure, shared her signature abilities with mixed media (combining acrylic painting and drawing) in tonight’s demonstration, starting with a prepared acrylic painting of a fox.
Her preference of substrate for this particular method is a wooden panel, as adherence of the mediums will not be compromised.
The following are the steps of her process as supplied by Sharlena:
Steps/Notes
1. Acrylic painting – keep it simple, block in or layer and develop as much as you want. Approach the painting in your favorite style. It can be more refined and specific if desired or very loose and abstracted. All spectrums work well as a base painting. A unique approach to the wildlife subject is the freedom at the beginning of an art work, painting loose and liberated, because the details and refinement can come later with drawing.
2. Dry Media Ground application all over the acrylic paint or in specific areas. Allow to dry. You can get by without Dry Media Ground if you use an absorbent surface i.e. birch panel or watercolour paper & thin, watercolour-like acrylic layers. Potential issues: too much texture, thick acrylic, gloss factor, not enough tooth for layers of pastel. Acrylic mediums with matte finishes can also stand in as they can offer a little tooth but none of them compare to actual ‘Dry Media Ground’ medium. Tri-Art brand recommended over all other brands – offers same surface as Jack Richeson’s Colourfix Sanded Pastel Paper.
3. Charcoal Powder application all over or in specific areas, then use Erasers to pull out the light, negative shapes and any areas that we really liked. Why Charcoal Powder? It will take care of the mid-darks very quickly. It is easily erased. It will also come in handy later for softening and toning down pastel colours for shadows. You do not need to use Charcoal Powder if it seems too dramatic for you.
4. Drawing. Any Drawing Media can be used i.e. coloured pencil crayons, conte, charcoal pencils/sticks, graphite pencils/sticks, soft pastels, nu pastels, water-soluble graphite, water-soluble pencil crayons, litho crayons, etc. Experiment with the pattern from the reference. Remember that we all, as human beings, have a natural talent to recognize patterns – even false patterns (make one up). There is no wrong or right – whether simplified, realistic, or ornamental – it’s all good. Repeat patterns and colours – so important! Reinforce darks and lights – the eye goes to the darkest of darks, and the lightest of lights. Too much pastel in an area = the surface is ‘clogged’ and will not hold any more pastel, so use a brush and ‘sweep away’ some of the underlying pastel, or apply more dry media ground to this specific area (or secret option #3 is to accept what marks and colours are there, let it be. move on!)
5. Krylon Crystal Clear spray – hold can 2-3 feet from your work, and apply many light layers, build up very slowly and don’t aim to ‘varnish’ or create a clear coat, or you will saturate the pastel. This step simply sets the pastel/charcoal, so even after many layers, the pastel should still remain soft and somewhat workable. May need to be framed under glass, ask you framer about UltraVue glass and clear or black ‘spacers’.
The end result was a painting that was both colourful and intriguing.
Unlike some other artists, the fact that Sharlena is so willing to share her process with us is very much appreciated. She is a superb, imaginative artist and welcome at DVAC anytime and we thank her for sharing.
You may view her work, workshops and become inspired by accessing the following links:
Facebook and Instagram
@sharlenawoodart
(Submitted by Ingrid Mueller)
Marjolyn Van der Hart wasted no time launching into her collage demonstration. The results of her efforts are remarkable and Marjolyn has been successful in selling her work to a loyal following in Canada and throughout the USA via juried art fairs and shows.
She has been painting since 1988 and has a BA in Mass Communications as well as a residency in a New York Arts program. In the beginning she considered herself to be an impressionist painter who occasionally used tissue paper in her work. This soon transitioned to collage, using the resources of media involving classic films, vintage magazines and found photos, wallpapers and a variety of gift wraps and papers. Much of her work is nostalgic with themes of feminism, escape, yearning for love, etc. Once the background is in place she then adds to the narrative with surrealistic imagery to complete the scenario.
Marjolyn stressed that memories are triggered by images and patterns, hence she is always in search of vintage wallpapers and photos and other media to complete her work.
Wooden panels and substrates are recommended although supported canvas can be used. She coats the surface with modeling paste but said that glue and acrylic mediums can be used. Then she applies papers (tissue, wallpaper etc.) cut or ripped into assorted shapes using acrylic gel medium allowing it to dry thoroughly before the next step.
She will sometimes use acrylic transfers that she applies to a white surface (painting a portion of the surface with white acrylic paint). Next, Marjolyn applies acrylic medium to the surface and the photo on both sides and allows it to dry. She then sands of the papers/medium and VOILA! The image has transferred to the surface.
Depending upon the theme, Marjolyn will paint an image or use stencils to add to the narrative. Text, numbers or patterns can enhance a painting and give it personal relevance.
Marjolyn has a home studio but spends a good deal of her time on the road, sharing her talent with fans around the continent. She seems to have a handle on art business and writes a blog regularly as well as being very active on social media. Perhaps a workshop about doing art business is in our future with Marjolyn.
You may view more of her work on social media and her website through the following links:
Blog: https://marjolyn.com/blog/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marjolyn.vanderhart
On-line store: https://www.memoryartgirl.com/
Website: https://marjolyn.com/
