kyoudaisuke: May 2017

A Tip for More Painterly Paintings

'Meadow Walk' 8x10 pastel �Karen Margulis
available $145

I surprised myself this weekend. I started a new sketchbook devoted to value studies. That's not the surprise! What surprised me was how much time I took to do just four small value studies with graphite. I didn't mind at all. In fact I thoroughly enjoyed taking my time developing these little sketches.

I used a Sketch n Wash pencil by General. It allowed me to create graphite washes. That was fun!

I started with a middle value wash and tweaked and darkened some areas while removing some areas with water. I used my small reference photos for these studies. I had such a relaxing time working on these sketches and the result.....a more painterly painting!

TIP: Paint without a reference photo using only a small value study as your inspiration.

Small value sketches done with a Sketch and Wash pencil

Spending time doing a value study allows you to get to know your subject. You work out the composition and the value map. When it comes time to actually paint all you need to do is decide on a color palette.

Working from a value study gives you all the information you need. It gives you the freedom to paint with passion and expression. You remember only the important details. You don't get bogged down with the unessential. You give your memory and imagination free reign to create a painting that expresses how you FEEL about the subject. Try it!

I am going to try to do at least one black and white value study in this sketchbook every day. This discipline will help me be more interpretive with my subjects.

My Process: Blocked in the big shapes with a Masters Shadow Stix

Wet with water

Added some color in the first layer

Finished!

A Great Way to Display Daily Paintings

'Wild and Free at the Beach' 5x7 pastel �Karen Margulis
available $45

'Still Free' 5x7 pastel $45

Wouldn't it be nice to fill your studio walls with art! I have a large paneled wall and wanted to find a way to hang my small daily paintings. Thumbtacks were out because I didn't want any holes in the paintings. I wasn't keen on using the sticky tack stuff either. I was thrilled to discover PaperCrickets....the best invention for hanging paper!

A section of my wall with some of my old Variation Challenge paintings hung with Papercrickets

A close-up of a Papercricket in the frost color

What is a Papercricket? Here is a quote from the Jerrys Artarama website where you can purchase them.

"The PaperCricket is a paper-friendly push pin that secures photographs, postcards, Artist Trading Cards, posters and similar paper products onto a bulletin board or drywall without puncturing the paper. No holes! Great for offices, classrooms and dorm rooms!
Besides not puncturing the photo or paper item, the PaperCricket's flexible wing design allows you to slip the item in and out without pulling the "cricket" off the wall or bulletin board, allowing less damage to a wall surface. Available in Frosted or Black finishes."

I love them because it is so easy to leave the crickets in place and slip the painting out of the clip with no damage. Great for artists and collectors! You can buy Papercrickets at Jerry's Atrarama

Today's paintings are part of another variation challenge series. This time....the landscape as we find it at the edge of the beach. Each painting is 5x7 on Uart and Pastelmat.

Inspiration From a Poem

'Signal to the Skies' 9x18 pastel �Karen Margulis
sold

I was inspired by a line in a poem. I am working on my Memorial Day poppy series and I was searching for a painting titles when I found the poem. One line in particular gave me the idea of choosing an unusual long and tall vertical format. It could be no other way. Here is the poem with a link to more information.

We Shall Keep the Faith

Moina Michaels 1918

Oh! you who sleep in Flanders Fields,

Sleep sweet - to rise anew!

We caught the torch you threw

And holding high, we keep the Faith

With All who died.

We cherish, too, the poppy red

That grows on fields where valor led;

It seems to signal to the skies

That blood of heroes never dies,

But lends a lustre to the red

Of the flower that blooms above the dead

In Flanders Fields.

And now the Torch and Poppy Red

We wear in honor of our dead.

Fear not that ye have died for naught;

We'll teach the lesson that ye wrought

In Flanders Fields.

oil stain underpainting

Step by Step Poppy Demo

'A Gentle Breeze' 8x10 pastel �Karen Margulis
sold

Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. Join me today for a step by step demo in pictures of today's daily painting. I am working on an 8x10 piece of tan Canson Mi-Teintes paper. I begin with a dry wash underpainting using 3 values of pink. I establish the dark shapes first. I then paint the sky. I continue building the painting from big shapes of green down to the details of the flowers and grasses. I spray the grass a few times with workable fixative to create texture.

I thoroughly enjoyed painting these poppies and I hope you enjoy the process through my photos.

Let's Paint with Red!

'Love Red' 7x5 pastel �Karen Margulis
sold

I love red. It isn't my top favorite color but I enjoy painting with red. There is something special about pushing a soft piece of red pastel into the paper and getting a rich vibrant mark. So in honor of Valentine's Day I decided to paint with red.

I had a scrap piece of Uart paper that I had done a quick poppy bloom demo for a student. I decided to take some water to brush in the pastel. I had some watercolor handy from another project so I added a bit of red watercolor. Then just for fun I sprinkled some kosher salt all over the wet pigments.
The result was a cool underpainting. Perfect for some poppies.

The underpainting with watercolor, pastel and salt

I really like the underpainting so I didn't want to cover it all up with pastel. I decided to paint the poppy blooms first then see what the background needed.

I still like the underpainting background!

I decided it didn't need much so I very lightly scumbled some peach pastel keeping with the red theme. I added hints of a few stems and called it finished. That was fun! How about painting some poppies? Here is a tip:

Progression of color for a red flower

Instead of using just one red pastel for a poppy consider building the bloom from dark to light and cool to warm.
Start with the darkest value violet or cool red that you see. I like to use purple and brick red for the shadowed part of the flower.
Increase the intensity and warmth of the reds as you layer the petals.
Use the side of the pastel to paint larger chunky petals.
Paint the petals in the direction that they would emerge from the center....how they grow.

If you like these tips and want more poppy tips have a look at my PDF demo available in my Etsy shop for $6. Link here:https://www.etsy.com/listing/263334117/pastel-painting-lesson-demo-pdf

Membuat Program Perhitungan Nilai Di linux Ubuntu

Assalamualaikum teman-teman senang bisa menulis lagi di blog kesayangan ane ini, nah kali ini ane mau share program di terminal linux kebetulan saya memakai linux ubuntu dengan membuat program perhitungan nilai, cocok banget untuk megetahui nilai kita selama belajar sehingga kita bisa mengetahui nilai yang kita hasilkan selama ini. Baik langkah pertama adalah buka terminal linux anda dengan menekan ctrl+alt+t di keyboard.

1. setelah terbuka ketikkan � pico� (di sini saya mencontohkan pico kuis ) kuis untuk nama file nya kebetulan saya membuat program ini untuk kebutuhan tugas saya, jadi anda bisa mengganti dengan sesuka hati anda.

2. Selanjutnya ketika shell dari linux terbuka ketikkan koding seperti di bawah ini

3. Setelah selesai mengetikkan koding seperti di atas langkah selanjutnya adalah untuk menyimpan file nya dengan cara tekan ctrl+x di keyboard lalu tekan tombol y pada keyboard

4. Setalah itu ketikkan nama file yang ingin anda buat kalau sudah yakin tekan enter pada keyboard maka file kita akan tersimpan.

5. Langkah selanjutnya memastikan file kita sudah tersimpan, yaitu dengan cara ketikkan perintah � ls� pada terminal linux, setelah mucul beberapa file , lihat nama file anda yang sudah anda buat tadi, nah di sini kebetulan saya tadi buat nama file saya yaitu kuis. Nah file kuis sudah ada dan berwarna hijau pastikan juga file anda sudah berwarna hijau.

6. Langkah selanjutnya memanggil file kita yang sudah kita buat tadi dengan cara ketiikan perintah chmod 755 nama file anda, di sini saya mengetikkan chmod 755 kuis lalu enter, setelah itu ketikkan lagi ./kuis . Nah program kita sudah terbuka. Pertama saya mengisikan nilai 90 pada tab semua nilai, hasil nya sebagai berikut:

7. kedua saya mengisikan nilai 80 pada tab semua nilai, hasil nya sebagai berikut:

8. Selanjut nya saya mengisikan nilai 70 pada tab semua nilai, hasil nya sebagai berikut:

9. Selanjut nya saya mengisikan nilai 60 pada tab semua nilai, hasil nya sebagai berikut:

10. Selanjut nya saya mengisikan nilai 50 pada tab semua nilai, hasil nya sebagai berikut:

11. Selanjut nya saya mengisikan nilai lebih besar dari nilai 100 pada tab semua nilai, hasil nya sebagai berikut:

12. Selanjut nya saya menambahkan operator � (min) pada tab semua nilai, hasil nya sebagai berikut:

Sampe di sini dulu ya, jangan lupa di share ya guys biar yang lain pada kebagian ilmu untuk membuat program perhitungan nilai. Sampe ketemu di waktu berikutnya. Wassalam

Would You Like to Paint Poppies?

'Summer Sun' 8x10 pastel �Karen Margulis
available $185

It is the perfect weekend for painting the red poppy. If you haven't had a chance to try my digital demos now is a great time. I have a wonderful PDF demo all about painting beautiful sunlit red poppies! This is an information packed digital demo with 30 pages and 54 color photos.

If you aren't familiar with my digital demos they are step by step pastel painting demos with photos and narrative of each step. It is not a video but in some ways even better because I have taken photos of every step of the painting and spent a lot of time writing my thoughts and sharing tips about each and every step. I share photo demos on my blog but the pdf demo include a lot more information.

You can download the demo and view it on a computer or tablet. Or if you like a physical booklet you can print it out. This is demo # 13 and I am happy to share my tips for painting poppies (or really any landscape element lit by the late afternoon sun)

This new demo is available in my Etsy shop for just $7. Click here for the demo.
Click here for all of the pdf demos.

A screen shot of my new digital demo

A Sneak Peek

Bonus feature in the demo: Building a Flower

This is a pastel demo but for my acrylic and oil painting friends....the information in the demo can certainly be applied to your medium. I am approaching my oil paintings the same way I paint a pastel.

Don't forget that I have my mini pastel poppies available for just $25 which includes shipping. There are still a few remaining in my etsy shop. www.etsy.com/shop/karenmargulisfineart

When the Muse Visits You Must Respond!

A Profusion of Poppies! A collage of my mini poppy paintings. Each one is 2.5x3.5 inches pastel
each available in my Etsy shop for $25 each including shipping

Every once in awhile it happens. I go a bit crazy and just can't stop painting. I get hooked on a subject which turns into a series and I can't stop. I was even painting in the evenings which I never do. I just had to see how many variations on the theme I could come up with. This time it was poppies.

I was working on some mini aceo/artist trading card size paintings to bring to IAPS (more on this later) and one of them was a poppy painting. I love painting poppies, especially the red ones so I decided to do a couple more. Then a couple more. Before I knew it I had taped 6 more pieces of Uart paper to my board. The 6 more. I couldn't stop.

With each one I challenged myself to make it different from the last. I changed compositions. I changed color palettes. I asked myself how many sky or background colors could I use? I tried up close and personal and meadows filled with poppies. I finally stopped at no.22. I could probably do 20 more. I am that inspired!

Below you can scroll down and see all 22 mini poppy paintings. I am making them available through my Etsy shop for $25 each which includes shipping. Click here. Enjoy!