Day 30 of 30 Day Challenge!

 

"Tell It Like it is"          5" x 7" image

Day 30 of 30 Day Challenge! 

Here we are at the end of another year's challenge. I did it!! I love how much these goals make me grow as an artist. This sketch was all I had time for today. Although I was hoping to have time to add color to this, it is what it is.  This does have my design lesson in it though, so that’s good.   This one will become a Little Fabbey also,       just like the other one I showed you a couple of days ago. I named it, "Tell it like it is" because it looks like this person has said something they shouldn't have. :)

 

Tip #30: I may have said this before, but it bares repeating.  My most important words in design are:  Repetition, variation, and dominance.  Every time I do a painting, I check these 3 words off the list. When I’m stumped as to what is wrong with a painting, one of these 3 words usually solves the problem.  When I have a vertical line, I repeat that either as a shorter line or varying it by making the next one horizontal.  Circles are repeated in different sizes.  When I have a diagonal line leaning toward the right, I make a diagonal line leaning toward the left.  That creates balance.  When all is said and done, one value should dominate.  either texture or calmness should dominate.  Cool or warm... one value should dominate.  You get the idea...  In this sketch I have a light pathway that leads the viewer through the painting.

Day 29 of 30 Day Challenge!

 

"Bike for Mike"      $75         11" x 11" image

Day 29 of 30 Day Challenge:

I’ve had friends staying with me all week, so it’s been hard to keep up.  This morning, I did a really easy one.  This is called, “Bike for Mike”, and is acrylic, image size 11” x 11”. If interested, go to my website, karenknutson.com  and click on Shop All. 

 

Tip of the Day:  Zoom into a subject for a different take on it.  It will be recognizable as a bike without having the whole thing.  Then you can have fun with textures in the background.  I took a close up photo of a bicycle years ago when we were on Mackinac Island, and used it for my reference.  I started this painting with a busy underpainting.  Mine is acrylic, and that process is on my video, which is available through this link.  https://painttube.tv/products/karen-knutson-fun-with-acrylics?_pos=2&_sid=eed455fbe&_ss=r.  Once you get your busy underpainting on, I negative paint around the bicycle.  Then I can glaze with another color to add interest to that color.  Below are the steps of this painting. 

Day 28 of 30 Day Challenge!

 

"People Watching"          $75          7" x 11" image

Day 28 of 30 Day Challenge:

Here I was, hidden behind some palm trees off the beaten path, I enjoyed people watching and did this plein air painting.  It’s called "People Watching”, and was painted on location at Casperson Beach, my favorite beach in Venice, FL.  It’s 7” x 11” image, watercolor and permanent marker.  If interested, go to:  karenknutson.com  Funny thing that happened.  After about 45 minutes after I started this painting, a rather plump lady planted herself on her lawn chair right in front of my scene that I was painting.  She had to know that she was obstructing my view.  Luckily, I had taken a photo before she arrived, so I had that for reference.  I grabbed my camera when she sat down there too.  Got a good picture of her, so she will be in one of my next paintings!  So there! I will show her!  Haha.

Tip 28:  Painting with friends is such a good thing.  If you’re not in a plein air group now, I advise you to join one soon.  Talking, laughing, and sharing art tips can really boost your creative spirit.  When I plein air paint, I remember everything about that painting, when seeing it again.  I remember the smell in the air, the sounds, the frustration if my painting is going badly, and the conquering feeling when I like my paintings. I always learn something new when I paint on location, because I take the time to really SEE and study things.  There were 37 painters out on this day.  We had a critique afterwards.  I treasure my plein air times so much.  

Day 27 of 30 Day Challenge!

 

"Got my Eye on You"     NFS        5" x 5" image

Day 27 of 30 Day Challenge!

Many of you may know that I have a new love:  Sewing what I call, “little fabbies”.  They can be used as pot holders, but mainly they are used as an art piece for people’s kitchens.  I did this drawing with that in mind.  It will become a Little Fabbey as soon as I have a free day to sew again.  “I’ve got my Eye on You” is a 5” x 5” drawing on paper, using a permanent marker.  To see all my past paintings in this challenge, go to karenknutson.com 

Tip #27: Try thinking of things as cutout shapes.  If you had to use scissors to cut out every shape to make a painting, it may make you simplify things down to less shapes, which is always a good thing. 

I started the Little Fabbey craze as a challenge to myself to use my own paintings as ideas for these.  And I thought that the practice of cutting little pieces of fabric would make me simplify things down to a bare minimum.  I think this one is pretty simple, but will let you know once I start sewing those small pieces for the eye.  

If you are interested in purchasing any of my Little Fabbies, they will be featured on my website very soon!  Check out karenknutson.com and then click Fabric Art.

Day 26 of 30 Day Challenge!

 

"Dismissive Attitude"    6" x 8" image     $55

Day 26 of 30 Day Challenge! This blind contour wire drawing made me laugh at what ended up on the paper.  I called it , “Dismissive Attitude”.  Doesn’t she look like she would rather be anywhere but here? She makes me laugh.  This drawing is 6“ x 8”, permanent marker on paper.   If interested, go to karenknutson.com 

Tip #26:  Don’t lift your pencil when drawing.  Seriously! Linkage is one of the best things you can do for your paintings.  Wire drawing means a drawing that resembles a wire sculpture.  Think about it.  Everything has to link in a wire sculpture.  I love wire drawing!

Day 25 of 30 Day Challenge

 

"Chicken Little"     9"x 12" image,      $125

Day 25 of 30 Day Challenge!
I did this one backwards.  First I did the wire drawing.  Then I coated the whole paper with matte medium, let dry and then painted with acrylics. Usually, I coat the paper with matte medium first, then I paint a colorful underpainting, then I draw my subject.  It was fun to mix it up!  “Chicken Little” is 9” x 12” image, acrylic on paper.  Available through my website, karenknutson.com  Then click Shop All. 
Tip #25:
Mix up the order that you do things.  It may lead to great discoveries.  I loved the glassy feel of the paper after coating it with matte medium, and I added 3 layers to the background to get the antiqued blue look. Below is the wire drawing beginning.

Beginning stage:  Wire drawing on uncoated paper.

Day 24 of 30 Paintings!

 

"Snook Haven"     7" x 11"       $95

There’s a special place in Venice, FL called Snook   Haven.  It really feels like you are deep in the jungle.  Our plein air group paints there often. I love the cool atmosphere and the views are incredible. This painting, “Snook Haven” is 7 x 11”, watercolor, painted on location. If interested in this painting, go to karenknutson.com  and click Shop All.  My favorite thing about this is the light pathway. And that is today’s tip. 

Tip #24:  Always look for a way to connect one of the values for linkage. Don’t lift your pencil as you draw.  I like to connect lights , but many artists like linkage of midtones. I like to link the viewer's eyes to at least 3 sides of the painting.  Below is my painting in black and white so you can see the light pathway easier.  

Black and white version of "Snook Haven"

 

Sent from my iPhone

Day 23 of 30 Day Challenge!

"Canoe Trip"    4" x 7" image.    $45

Day 23 of 30 Day Challenge!

This started as a total abstract, but when I got back from it, I saw a person in a canoe, so I named it, Canoe Trip. There are even trees in the background, and that was totally unplanned.  This is a very small painting, image 4” x 7”, and is watercolor, mixed media, and gold embellishments.  If interested, go to karenknutson.com and click on Shop All. 

Tip #23: Adding richer chalk-like texture with Caran d’ Ache water soluble crayons.  I love using them for last minute touches.  The mountains in this painting were done using these neon crayons. Just scribble with them like you use crayons.  Then afterwards, smudge that area using a moist brush, and it will even become more vibrant. 

Sometimes, I make my own paper palette by scribbling little squares on a scrap paper, and then use them for a light easy palette for plein air painting.  I love using these incredible crayons.  Below is the painting before I used the moist brush on it, so you can see the difference from the finished painting above.

Addition of caran de' ache crayons in the mountain area.

 

Day 22 of 30 Day Challenge!

 

"Cardinal Art".      8" x 8" image    $95 

Day 22 of 30 Day Challenge!
Because I’m a bit of a hoarder, (not terrible, but I do like to save things), I keep small pieces of collage papers in a special bag.  This painting was created by using those.  “Cardinal Art” is 8” x 8” image.  If interested go to karenknutson.com and click on Shop All. 

Tip #21:  Tear pieces of collage to about 1 or 2” pieces.  Stack in different colored piles.  Cover the entire sheet of watercolor paper (about 8”x 8”) with acrylic matte medium and quickly position the collage papers on the paper as fast as you can, securing the top with matte medium also to seal the papers.  Let dry.  Draw an animal or whatever simple subject you want and negative paint around it, using acrylic.  This is such a fun process and a great way tp use up tiny papers.  My friend, Nancy was going to throw away a bunch of them when we were at a Paint-in together and I said, I’d take them. She had the rule that anything less than 3 inches got thrown away.  I quickly made a fun painting with her collage pieces, and she said, "Well, I’m going to have to start saving those again.”  My friends call me the Bag Lady, cuz I save everything.  Haha.  Below is my first layer.  Notice how I repeated colors and changed the shapes of the papers.

First layer of collage on paper.

Day 21 of 30 Day Challenge!

 

"Voice of Reason"  $75  (5.5" x 6.5" image)

Day 21 of 30 Day Challenge!

"Voice of Reason” started as a doodle session, trying out many different types of eyes.  By the time I got done, the figure in the middle seemed to be looking both ways!  So, I named it "Voice of Reason", as he seems to be listening to both of the others. I think this is my favorite of all the paintings so far.  I love letting the painting talk to me, really letting go and let it become whatever it wants.  I did this a few days ago, while I was visiting my mom.  I can’t wait to add color to a larger version of this. I’d like to make it very large and very bright. If interested In this drawing, go too karenknutson.com 

Tip #21:  Be willing to let go and just play!  You may learn something, just by accident.  I love working out the design with these 3 value sketches in only black and white.