Tiki's Oil Painting... now with pics!

[thefreakytiki]

  As some of you may or may not know I used to be an artist.  I went to school and made a decent living doing it... and then life choices (nothing dramatic) has separated me from what I used to really enjoy.  Once I hit the big Four-O last month I have decided to get back up on the horse.  People deal with midlife in different ways.  I am happy with my Life, Wife, Car and house so instead I am going back to a different "mistress" that brought me great joy.  

  I have never been into drugs or drinking, but I will never forget the "zone" you can get into when painting.  It was a high that I REALLY enjoyed.  Time whizzes by and when you call it "a night" (at say 3AM) you step away from the canvas with amazement that YOU were the one that created what is sitting in front of you.  It's an intoxicating consciousness that has an indescribable reward.

  It's been 20 years since I have indulged and I'm not gonna lie... I'm scared shitless of what may come out of my hands.  I have that weird fear that is the same as meeting your old High School sweetheart after 20 years.  Your memory of the way she her looks is probably different  from how she looks now.

So with all that said, I signed up for classes at my city's "Art Association".  I'm sure I'll be surrounded by a bunch of old ladies but I am still looking forward to it immensely.  It is a very open, freewheeling class for beginners and intermediates (I am treating myself as a beginner all over again).  I was just sent the materials list and I look to all of you for help...

- I remember that outside of what we leaned in grade school about the color wheel, I remember something that we can make any color out of 7(?) basic pigments... do any of you know those colors?  I know Hooker Green, an Umber and a Sienna, Cadmium Red, Cadmium Yellow, a Blue (don't know which one) and I think Titanium White.  Does anyone else know what I'm talking about?  My memory is fuzzy.

- I want to focus on portraits.  I remember a professor teaching me that you can make ANY skin tone from 4(This number I DO remember) specific colors.  I remember Cadmium Yellow, an Umber and a Sienna (can't remember if were specifically Burnt or Raw versions) and one other color.  I think it was a Red but once again...my memory is fuzzy.  

- What is the difference between Bristle brushes and Sable brushes?

- I also remember someone once telling me Oil Paints are like wine.  As they get older their colors become bolder.  Any truth to this?

- Anyone suggest any brands for brushes or paints verse other?

- Anyone suggest any purchasing strategies (i.e. Michael's, Blick, Utrecht, Pearl etc...)


Thanks and Karma to all for the help.  


the Tiki

[Steve Raker]

I played with oils a little in the '80s when my grandfather used them to copy paintings (and therefore teach himself to paint). 

I still have some old tubes of the oil colors you mentioned.

The best advice he ever gave me was to 'keep it wet'!

[Wormworth]

Great to hear you're getting back to painting!

I think it would help you get back into the game and answer your questions to read a good book on the subject. There is no one answer to your question of seven basic colors, the palette changes from artist to artist, and when you paint more, you find yourself leaning more to certain colors. You can buy oil color tubes in sets of 6 or 10, and those will have most of the basic colors. You need a cold and warm yellow, red and blue and some earth colors - I use Crimson Red, Cadmium-Hue Red, Ultramarine Blue, Phtalo Blue (has different names on different brands), yellows whatever I get my hands on and yellow ochre and raw or burnt sienna, good black and white to go and possibly some green or purple hue.

James Gurney has written a brilliant book Color and Light which goes into some advanced painting stuff, but he has many examples of a limited palette - using three-five colors for a painting.

The skin tone can be done with very different colors, it has more to do with the relation of colors and your general color scheme.

[AztecLos]

If it's something you love doing, then I hope you are successful. Just start doing it little by little and let it build. 

[aelfinn]

Tiki!  I love reading this and cannot wait to see what you come up with (assuming you're gonna share wit us here)

I know exactly how you feel and went thru a very similar situation this summer!  I've always loved drawing but as my career turned towards software development, I turned away from art and creative endeavors...  I would pick up the pencil and paper and do a little doodle here and there, but for pretty much the entirety of my 20s I let my artistic side just idle.

then this summer I stumbled upon this forums sketchbook challenge and SHAZAM!  I almost feel reborn and rejuvenated!  I can only hope that you can get as much out of this endeavor as I have been able to from mine

Cheers Brotha!

[Robert]

First, congratulation, Tim and I wish you all the luck and success in the world!
Secondly, don't get too frustrated early and deter yourself from working. It's easy to get impatient and we are our hardest critics when it comes to our work, so remember to take a deep breath if you should ever get frustrated.

- What is the difference between Bristle brushes and Sable brushes?

Now mind you this is somewhat subjective, but I find the bristles hold a bit more paint, but are also stiffer when compared to the sable brushes.  This has advantages when starting an underpainting as your primary objective may be simply to apply paint to the surface and create a foundation for future layers.  Cost is also a factor, as bristle brushes are cheaper than sable brushes.

- I also remember someone once telling me Oil Paints are like wine.  As they get older their colors become bolder.  Any truth to this?

Good question.  Not sure about this.

- Anyone suggest any purchasing strategies (i.e. Michael's, Blick, Utrecht, Pearl etc...)

I don't think any one place is better than another when it comes to purchasing your paints. But remember that you definitely get what you pay for when it comes to the brand of paint you purchase. So, if one tube is priced an additional 1-3 dollars more than a different brand, you are purchasing a brand that has a more saturated pigment per suspension than the cheaper brand.  So in essence, you'll probably need less paint than the more inexpensive brand.  I would say the same is true for brushes.  There is a world of difference between the $10 sable vs. the $30 sable brush, in my opinion.  One brush simply handles differently the next and has a better tendency to clean up compared to the cheaper model.

Thanks and Karma to all for the help.   


the Tiki

I hope this helps to some degree, and again, congratulations on your decision to get back into the game! 

[Wormworth]

Vernson already answered well to these questions, but I'll throw my two cents as well..

- I also remember someone once telling me Oil Paints are like wine.  As they get older their colors become bolder.  Any truth to this?

Since I'vee been using other paints, I have some oil tubes from more than ten years ago, and have yet to look if they're still ok to use. Some of my paints oils have dried up, and the oils can separate from the pigments a bit. But the are quite durable.

- Anyone suggest any brands for brushes or paints verse other?

I agree with Vernson that artist quality colors are the way to go, but there is wide price range on good paints as well, you need to think about your budget and if possible try different brands, there are small differences from brand to brand, but also certain pigments are more stronger by nature. With brushes i buy reasonably cheap ones, since I'm lousy at taking care of them. But if you're more meticulous, it may be a good idea to get a few good brushes, but again try out what kind of brushes work best for you.

I'm sure you can get good advice at a good art supply store.

[thefreakytiki]

From the bottom of my heart, I thank you all for the kind words.

I am SO hyped for this.  I have been watching a TON of youtube videos, reading a bunch of websites and spending time at my local library.  I just finished getting all my supplies so I plan on putzing around before classes start.

I love you guys!


Tim
the Tiki

[Bluenote77]

Like the other fellows mentioned, congrats on jumping back into the oils.

No reason to be scared at all! 

First, no one is going to see your work if you don't want to besides the ladies in the class right? You don't need to worry about anyone critiquing your work, especially right away.

Vernson, Wormworth, and the others have already given some great advice that I would follow. My two cents is this though...

If you're just jumping back in, don't worry too much about reading books or the right kind of brush yet. It sounds like you've got a good idea on some basic colors to start. I would jump in with some brushes that you may have already, or just pick up some cheaper ones to start out with. Don't get bogged down on the details.

Start large! You can usually find some larger cheap canvases at Michael's. They run sales all the time and usually put out pretty good coupons. Plus you don't have to worry too much about making the perfect painting if you're not too invested in it.
I say start large to get yourself to painting again. I don't think you'll get too caught up on the details of the painting if you do so. Personally speaking, I wouldn't dive right into a portrait right away. I would start by setting up some sort of simple still life (not a vase of flowers and fruit) but an object that would be similar to the shape of a head to help find the different planes of the object, and how to use color to describe the planes.

Good luck! Stay loose, and happy trees. 

[thefreakytiki]

Son-of-a...

So my classes were supposed to start this Friday but I just got an email saying that the class was cancelled due to a lack of enrollment.  When I called to see if I could transfer to another class they stated that many other classes were cancelled as well (they believe/blame it on the economy and the "want vs. need" when it comes to expenses).

This will not slow me down, I am already on the hunt for another option.   


the Tiki

[Wormworth]

Son-of-a...

So my classes were supposed to start this Friday but I just got an email saying that the class was cancelled due to a lack of enrollment.  When I called to see if I could transfer to another class they stated that many other classes were cancelled as well (they believe/blame it on the economy and the "want vs. need" when it comes to expenses).

This will not slow me down, I am already on the hunt for another option.   


the Tiki

Sad to hear.

But if you have a work space and the motivation, starting it by yourself can be a good enough option, if you already have the know-how of the using paints. You'll be able to work more flexibly, anyways.

Find a good "how-to" book for guidance, look at painters you love and study their technique and go from there. A lot of it's trial and error, anyways. Some video tutorials can be inspiring and helpful.

There is a Britsh tv series "Landscapes Through Time with David Dunlop" which is amazing. And the James Gurney book "Color and Light", too.

If you can't get into any proper class, maybe if you can find some artist to give some critique and guidance, I feel a good mentor can be more helpful than a teacher in class environment. 

Good luck!

[thefreakytiki]

Sad to hear.

But if you have a work space and the motivation, starting it by yourself can be a good enough option, if you already have the know-how of the using paints. You'll be able to work more flexibly, anyways.

Find a good "how-to" book for guidance, look at painters you love and study their technique and go from there. A lot of it's trial and error, anyways. Some video tutorials can be inspiring and helpful.

There is a Britsh tv series "Landscapes Through Time with David Dunlop" which is amazing. And the James Gurney book "Color and Light", too.

If you can't get into any proper class, maybe if you can find some artist to give some critique and guidance, I feel a good mentor can be more helpful than a teacher in class environment. 

Good luck!

Thanks for the words of advice.  I'm happy to say that I have found a new class (with better hours for me as well).  I just got back from meeting with the teacher this afternoon.  She is a hoot.  I explained my situation and needs and she seems VERY encouraging.  She comes off as a lovely older english woman who "lives and breathes" art.  It feels like it will work out 100 times better than what I was signing up for before.  See, everything happens for a reason. 

She asked me what I want to work on telling me that she specializes in portraiture.  I told her that that is exactly what I want to do as well... eventually.  I told her that for now all I want is her to BEAT the fundamentals into me first.  I am in no rush and I'm only doing this for me not anyone else.

As a side note, here is a bunch of her recent commissions...

http://www.edwinacaci.com/commissions.html


Thanks again for all of the encouraging words and advice... I'm off to work on a "Planes of the Head" painting (I'm sure I'll be doing 100s of these. 


the Tiki

[Robert]

That's excellent news, Tiki.

Perhaps you may have found a mentor as well, which is something that cannot be overlooked.

[thefreakytiki]

   OK so I started my first class last Friday.  It's a small class of 4 plus 1 teacher.  My teacher is an accomplished portrait artist (which is what I want to do eventually).  She wanted me to jump right in and do a portrait but I was confident enough to try it.  I told here that I want to deal with basic fundamentals first.

   For my first piece I chose an image of "Planes of the Head" created by the artist John Asaro... http://www.planesofthehead.com/  This way it's a nice combination of Portrait/Still Life/fundamentals.

   When I showed the image to my teacher she was very pleased (I aim to please ).  She asked me if I wanted to start the painting by drawing with a pencil and then paint it OR go straight to drawing with a brush and paint.  I told her that I had never drawn with a paintbrush only with a pencil.  With her delicate English accent she asserted that I WILL be drawing with a paintbrush then... case closed.  Oofa!

    With that being said here was my first painting...




  Considering I haven't created ANY art in 18 years I was surprised but not pleased.  I quickly learned that not all oil paints are created equal.  Some are very transparent and others are ridiculously opaque.  Because of this their is a secondary fine art to mixing colors.  My painting quickly started to become muddy because I was using 4 different colors to do the above painting.  Yuck!

    I went home after the class and wanted to try this again, but simplify it with a new set of rules.  First I decided to draw the picture with a pencil instead of a paintbrush (hence being able to ERASE any goof ups early on).  Second rule, I ONLY used two colors, Titanium White and Raw Umber.  This way I can work on VALUES a bit more easily.  With these rules in place this is my second attempt...




    I am So much happier with the second execution (Even though I do see mistakes I made after the fact).     I plan on doing these types of fundamental "Planes of the Head" painting for at least the next 6 months.  The other realization I made is that I need to upgrade my paintbrushes immediately, the student level brushes I bought REALLY suck.  A fellow classmate lent me one of his during class and I could feel the difference immediately.

I can't wait to show my teacher the painting I did at home and have her rip me a new one. 



the Tiki

[Bluenote77]

Great start for both pieces.

I think the aspect of drawing with a paintbrush or pencil shouldn't be a big issue at this point. I generally start with a paintbrush and a very "watered down" color. I didn't have any hesitations about this because I apply quite a bit of paint and build up a thick canvas.  I know that the original "drawing" is just to lay out the composition and that's about it. Once you've gotten a few paintings under your belt and become more comfortable with the materials, you'll feel your paintings growing and changing as you work.

"Because of this their is a secondary fine art to mixing colors"

There in lies the objective of painting. That is the key that separates a "drawing"with paint from a "painting".

Looking forward to some more paintings! Keep us posted.

[Robert]

Great start for both pieces.

I think the aspect of drawing with a paintbrush or pencil shouldn't be a big issue at this point. I generally start with a paintbrush and a very "watered down" color. I didn't have any hesitations about this because I apply quite a bit of paint and build up a thick canvas.  I know that the original "drawing" is just to lay out the composition and that's about it. Once you've gotten a few paintings under your belt and become more comfortable with the materials, you'll feel your paintings growing and changing as you work.

"Because of this their is a secondary fine art to mixing colors"

There in lies the objective of painting. That is the key that separates a "drawing"with paint from a "painting".

Looking forward to some more paintings! Keep us posted.

Definitely concur with this methodology. 

I, too, often will struggle to separate the drawing from painting when painting.  And when it comes to mixing hues, therein lies it's own art, at least craft to the art of painting.  Viscosity, saturation, opacity are all key elements before the painting even occurs.  It's a challenge that is never ending, yet gratifying all the same.

[thefreakytiki]

Thanks for the critiques/info folks.  Keep 'em coming because I truly appreciate it.  My next study will be the same head but a 3/4 view.  I am trying to figure out how to "up" the challenge yet not overextend.   

BTW, Karma for the input.


the Tiki

[GrimlocksPS]

I have a healthy respect for those who paint with Oils. its something I could never quite do.

That second painting is beautiful.

[thefreakytiki]

OK, so my next class is this afternoon.  I am continuing with the "boring" still life object.  Here is the image I will be working from...



I'll post my study later today.  Once agin, I appreciate the feedback.


the Tiki

[Steve Raker]

What's with that kooky 'vulture eye'? I may not be able to stand it and chop it up and bury it under my floorboards.

....or is it Nick Fury?