The Journey to Best Wall Paintings: Stepping Into the Big Show

Painting by Ellen Zinder Untitled Landscape - shown 48x48 (original 36x36) 

(Dated 6-22-24 canvas #1)

Here we go again, aiming high for those very best walls we artists crave for! 

Artists eventually need a reason to paint beyond filling the walls of their home, family, and friends. What then? Painting with friends is comfortable—a sandbox where everyone loves our artistic offerings and encourages us. But stepping out into the real world and sharing our art is more complicated. Just because you've sold a few paintings in the past doesn't mean you're ready for the big show. The big show means galleries, national and international exhibitions, peer credits, and a few awards—credibility. That part takes time.

BUT! First, we must have a solid product offering. Yes, art is a product, and we are special because our product is handmade—a rarity in the future. Certainly before our 70-year copyright expires. Speaking of copyrights, high-quality digital capture of our best works is far more valuable than the original until that time comes. Food for thought Ellen!

 

Ellen Is a SIP Summer Boot Camper. She finished her wonderful landscape at the end of the 3rd session. This is her "FIRST" Best Wall Painting and it passed the wall test with flying colors too! Ellen's challenge, will her next match her first.... because consistent quality is important.

Every SIP artist understands this and is on a journey to create "Best Wall Paintings," stepping out of their comfort zones into a very crowded, competitive world of art as emerging artists, as we are often referred to.

Statement art, or "Best Wall Paintings," can take on many forms, filling volumes in the largest museum libraries. It's a lofty thought, indeed. I like to keep things as simple as possible. After all, this is just wall art with the possibility of immortality.

This blog is jam-packed with information about stepping out into the big show. But more importantly, it’s about not getting ahead of yourself—having a product first! What exactly is that? Art can be a finishing touch to any interior/exterior installation or a major focal point, depending on size. Today, art has become essential to our well-being, and the demand is greater than ever before in history.

SIP has walls to paint for, thanks to CAC. Real or imaginary mockups we often use today in our eCommerce digital world. Wall art must be shown in true-to-life context to transfer ownership. Never before in history has it been more important for the artist to become involved in every aspect of their artistic career than now. We are the drivers of how fast we progress too.

Good Art Survives

Good art survives because it resonates and stands the test of time. By focusing on creating "Best Wall Paintings," SIP artists are preparing themselves for the big show and beyond.

Looking forward to seeing everyone’s homework!

Follow us and join the journey. This summer, it’s all about creating "The Best Wall Painting."

Summer Boot Camp 6/15/24 - Feature SIP Artist - Johnye Bennett

 

Here we go again, aiming high for those very best walls we artists crave for! 

ABSTRACTIONIST - Johnye Bennett

SIP Artist Johnye Bennett is a charm when she stepped into the world of abstraction awhile back - A happy painter, yes, but deadly serious about her new career as a full-time artist.

Last week Johnye brought in two large canvases - one she worked on and one that looked familiar. It was reborn into a best wall painting during the week in her studio. She's doing something rather interesting, recycling old canvases that missed the "best wall" mark by painting over them without hesitation. Confidence is built with experience, seeing our work on walls and with sales. All true for Johnye.

The minute I saw this 48x48 canvas, I knew Johnye hit her mark well. The lead photo and the room below proves my point. The  white floater frame add a spark of freshness in both rooms..

This week she grabbed another and jumped right in - over the next few hours it morphed into shape. Not sure it was complete when she left but, the canvas looked good in my eyes. 

ON THE WALL 

The room has 10-foot ceiling as many homes do today. The 60x48 works well over the proverbial sofa. The painting commands attention, pulls you and make a statement. As a designer my choice here.

Johnye's abstract resized 48x36 works but lacks the power to pull the viewer in as it did in her original 60x48 canvas above.

Lop off a few feet to a 8-foot ceiling and the size is a bit more comfortable in this setting. Size is a huge variable in art selection. SIP Artists solved that problem by having high quality digital captures done of their best works to share beyond the original work.

This week, because of Father’s Day we only had Saturday to work on our best wall paintings.  Saturday, we had a full studio with too much to cover here in a single post.  So, I'll break it down into several posts.

Looking forward to seeing everyone’s homework!

Follow us and join the journey. This summer, it’s all about creating "The Best Wall Painting."

Summer Boot Camp 6/8/24 - A weekend of Paint and Canvas

 

 

 

Here we go again, aiming high for those very best walls we artists crave for!

 

 

On the WALL

Saturday, Bev completed her seascape painting from last week (untitled)  panorama canvas at 24x48. A little punctuation and this little jewel was ready for a BEST WALL introduction. 

 

Below, a new Aspen canvas on the horizon.

Bev is doing something different, not the subject, one she does well but how she's painting it. Instead of working the whole canvas at once. Some of us start at the top and work down completing the painting as we go - as far as we can take it, good parts and dull parts. She started at the side because it's a vertical moving painting with a stopping point at every tree. You might say it's a 9-square approach.

Bonnie and Poppies  

Bonnie's process is a layer system, especially when she painting Poppies. She wants them to pop and be as red as possible. However, when working in oil, it takes time for each layer to dry. Most of her colors are transparent, which often take longer set up. Neo meglip helps with drying regardless some reds and greens resist drying. When Bonnie's poppies hit the SIP Gallery wall they capture a new wall quickly.

 

Saturday, she worked out her poppy arrangement. Notice her first finished layer, the background is painted in complete. The poppies are "shaped" painted over the blue sky with Titanium white Windsor Newton Griffin fast drying alkyd white. Most if not all SIP Artists use this white as a standard. It can also be mixed with other whites oil paints to speed up drying times. 

 

Sunday at days end the poppies were in lifting off in full bloom! The poppies over the green grass were layered many times. Stems and buds are next.... The tricky part!

 

 

JO started another 9-Square only it is a 30x40 canvas. So it was converted 9 equal rectangles.  She has the first rectangle looking good. The first few rectangle will establishes her pallet and can take a bit longer.The grid works well on complex compositions.

Homework is an important component to SIP Summer Boot Camp. While everything is fresh in her mind continues on at home studio. She's leaving on a trip and wants to leave with all 9 rectangles done. Creative energy escapes with long lapse between sessions. If you wake up with your painting, your still in it.... when not, Sign it and move on.

Three more rectangles done in Jo's studio 

 

Johnye, brought in 2 large abstracts. The one she is working on has a "Brat" under new paint layers  - knowing Johnye, it will fall in line and turn into a spectacular best wall painting. Not sure whats going on with the other one.... looks familiar.

Jan, below is starting another seascape only this time with wild horses galloping on the shoreline.

 

Celebrating the thoughts of homework doing horse studies to get the feel of movement for her wild herd.

PAINTING LONDON

Believe it or not, this is a color reference - I was shooting into the sun. It was cold out.

The reference was taken about 10 years ago from the walking bridge adjacent to the London Eye. I have painted this view many times since. As you can see below, I monkeyed around with the original shot in Photoshop to use as a color chip, helps get the ball rolling.

My London canvas #1493 was started Saturday, dried over night for a second layer on Sunday. Like Bonnie's poppies I can remove anything I don't want or paint over it or add to it. I always smooth out any obvious texture after each session - If it's a good move the mark found a forever spot - won't change it.

At the end of the Saturday session: My top portion was well developed - I managed to get a few areas at the bottom more than blocked in for the Sunday session and getting rid of mixed paint on my pallet it won't be of any value the following day. Easy to go over with fresh paint to maintain my wet-in-wet style.

Nice clean work area

I'll talk more about the pallet and working off a mud pile. 

A link to a U-tube video shows it clearly   

Sunday, I started at the top and worked my way down into the lower section.

 

Saturday detail at days end 

  Sunday detail at day's end

Study your work at 30 feet - you'll see things much clearer. Bonnie is contemplating her next poppy move.... always looking for perfection.

We had a great weekend with one best wall painting on the wall, several in progress and a few new canvases started.

Looking forward to seeing everyone’s homework!

Follow us and join the journey. This summer, it’s all about creating "The Best Wall Painting."

SIP Summer Boot Camp 6/1/24 - A Weekend of paint and canvas

 

Here we go again, aiming high for those very best walls we artists crave for!

 

 

Saturday Session - Jan's First day

Recruit Jan is exploring a subject she wanted to get better antiquated with.... Seascapes - Session one looks well on its way to some collector’s future best wall.

SIP 9-Square

The 9-square is a starter exercise for a recruit who is a bit rusty or changing directions. Jan is normally an abstractionist. Thinking about impressionism, she started out with her chosen medium acrylics....

1st Square painted with acrylic paint

The acrylics were very difficult to work with because acrylics dried darker. No matter what we tried matching the actual color of the Hydrangea's was a challenge. If it were an abstract or something that is more free form acrylics would work well. A representational artist this would be unacceptable. I'm sure one would learn how to compensate for the color change. However, I look at it as one more hurdle to manage in the learning curve - better to avoid. Oil with Neo Megilp will not change color. Plus, the preferred medium of collectors, galleries and most fine artists worldwide. 

It sounds like I'm knocking acrylics, not intentionally. I use oil enhance acrylics in my Diving into Abstraction work + oils....it depends on your skill level. It's hard to tell the medium and not important if the painting works! Stick around, I'm sure we will get into acrylics before the summer is over.... might be my next canvas.

Intervention

Jo discussing materials and technique with SIP Artist Kathy Rivera. Jo decided she would start Sunday's session with oil and stop struggling with her acrylics.

Speaking of Kathy, she Started her Rose painting during the Saturday session.... Nice start! 

 

Sunday Session

Jan's moody seascape got to the finish line with her first 40x30 SIP canvas - not signed yet! Best to sleep on it, never can tell what time will reveal. I took the liberty and placed it framed in a great setting needing a special finishing touch!

 On the wall test

Jo's Sunday session went smoothly, she completed 2-more squares in oil. Color match was good from square to square.

 

 

At the day’s end, Jo will have some homework ahead completing the remaining squares on her 9-square project.

The 9-sqaure is a proven method of learning to paint shapes and color matching. Basically, to achieve the best result, the nine squares should be done in a checkerboard design. Fill in all the BLACK squares first. This is about painting color shapes and setting scales. The WHITE squares teach color matching side to side and top to bottom. (Jo did not use the checkerboard system.)

 

Almost everyone in SIP has done this exercise.  They are always surprised at the results. Notice in the Sunday session Jo completed 2 more squares.... not bad. It means she's getting more comfortable and is established her color base. As a coach the exercise gives me a very clear evaluation of a new recruit's skill set. Check it out below

HOMEWORK DONE!

 On the wall test

Congratulation Jo Kennedy!
 

SIP Artist's Terry and Bev - Terry's new stag painting finished

 

Bev is adding a warm glow to her latest Seascape

Liz is thinking about Margaretta's.... while noodling clouds into perfect shape!

SIP Artist Johnye Bennett attended the Sunday session with (2) 48x48 abstracts to finish up. (both are acrylic)

At the end of the day - one was being a BRAT!

However, the same painting below was properly sorted out a bit later in her studio - A transformation, wouldn't you say?

Problem Child to a Best Wall Painting!

 On the wall test

This one below was well behaved! It deserves a wall too!

My pond painting below has been lingering on for well over month...a bit here and there. Sunday, I signed it - in truth, it could handle more marks here and there.

 On the wall test

 

 

We had a great weekend with four of the best wall paintings on the wall, several in progress and a new one started. The studio ended with Liz making our favorite Margaritas to celebrate a job well done!

Looking forward to seeing everyone’s homework!

Follow us and join the journey. This summer, it’s all about creating "The Best Wall Painting."