Art and Faith During Troubled Times

In Inspired by Faith, author Robin Landa address the why to creating artworks of faith.  "Artists choose to paint religious and spiritual works in order to reveal their beliefs to themselves, to others, and to God...Painting, one of the most dynamic and complex mediums we have ever invented, allows us to seach out our minds and souls, revealing our inner worlds.  Art makes ideas, feelings, and beliefs visible to ourselves, as we create it, and to others, when they see the finished work.  Art affects its viewers, influencing people, awakening their perceptions, stimulating their senses and enlightening their minds and souls." 

My painting teacher who taught me much about color theory often talked about an artist having "soul" in their work.  Although I was not a color theorist, nor my works impressionistic as his were, I admired much about his work, and sought to emulate his use of color.  I tried to incorporate the color knowledge he taught me within my own style of painting. He told me that my work had a lot of "soul."  It's not something I can thoroughly explain but what an artist believes comes out, indescribly, through their work.

We have reasons for creating.  Something moves us.  If we experience much in our hearts as a result of our faith, then we somehow want to express this visually so that others might share our experience.  We want to make our faith come alive for other people.  As I painted Jesus Coming Forth From the Grave during an Easter worship service, someone in the congregation remarked to the person sitting beside them, "I've always known about Jesus, but when I saw this painting I realized He is alive!"  This brought tremendous meaning to me and made all the long hours of learning to paint worthwhile.

Especially in times of widespread difficulty it is often artists that capture images that express what many feel.  Such days are with us now.  We search for comfort and meaning in the aftermath of horrible violence.  Artists of faith paint, photographers of faith take pictures, musicians of faith play new music and writers of faith compose sensitive compositions to light the candle of belief and trust in God and give others a way to share their hope.

In these days may you use your God-given talent to encourage someone with faith.

Vibrant Color Part II

A key in learning to paint color vibrantly is observation.  When we are young we learn that the sun is yellow, tree trunks are brown, the leaves are green and the sky is blue.  After we learn this elementary approach to color we tend to stop looking.  We really don't observe in large part how light affects everything.  The local color of that tree trunk may be brown (we will term colors differently in the future, but for now I'll say "brown"), but take a closer look.  Look at the side the light hits.  Now I'm going to say one of those "Jimisms."  Don't say what you think you see, but what you really see."  In other words, really observe what you see and throw out your default that says that tree trunk is brown.  Look.  Chances are where that sunlight hits the trunk there is sections that are yellowish, orangish...maybe even some pink.  I know, you are thinking I'm crazy by now, but really look.  Stare at it.  And check out those shadows.  Not just dark brown.  You may see cool shades of blue, purple, green - yes maybe muted blue, purple or green but nonetheless colors that would be best described by those terms! 

It takes awhile and concerted effort in observing to start to see the vibrancy of colors all around.  And yes, at first I thought my teacher was a little loony at first until it clicked one day and I too, started to really observe color in objects.  Many an artist has described this as "scales falling off the eyes."  All of a sudden what was not seen is in clear view.

Observing - it is a key to much as we learn to paint pictures of the world around us with realism and vibrancy. 

And that reference to 'scales falling off the eyes," - that is a direct quote from the Apostle Paul's life - when he was blinded by the light as he encountered the risen Christ, and then was healed and given his eye sight back.  Powerful stuff.

Introduction to Acrylics

What is Arylic?

"The dictionary tells us it is a glassy thermoplastic made by polymerizing methacrylic acid and is used in castings, moldings, coatings and adhesives.  But as a painting medium, acrylic can best be defined as versatile.

An acrylic painting can resemble anything from a watercolor to an oil, though the techniques used in applying this medium are its own.  With a great variety of brushes, as well as a palette knife, sponge, tissue paper or even your fingers, you can apply acrylic in any consistency ranging from thin washes to virtually sculpted impasto.  It is workable on paper as well as fabric and wood.  Acrylic can be used with a whole spectrum of techniques from glazing to crosshatching, including scrubbing, sanding, spraying, bubbling, collaging.  There are acrylic paintings in every style and genre, created in the studio or on location outdoors.  To top off the list of acrylic’s attributes, it is extremely durable and colorfast when finished, and it is correctable by a variety of methods at any stage".

 -Earl Grenville Kileen, The North Light Book of Acrylic Painting Techniques.

Liquitex Paints (my favorite – a little commercial – they are my favorite because they are true to color – limited palette).  From the Liquitex Paint website:  Liquitex.com 

Liquitex is a professional range of products developed for the acrylic art specialist by the world leader and authority in acrylic innovation. Our colors and mediums have been developed as a comprehensive system for work on virtually all surfaces and with an unlimited range of specialty effects, from thick sculptural techniques to thin permanent watercolors or inks and everything in between. The range is renowned for its versatility and is exceptionally well suited for all applications, from traditional to experimental to cutting-edge contemporary. Our palette includes Medium and High Viscosity Professional Grade Paints, BASICS and BASICS MATT Student Colors, Specialty Paints, Surface Preparations, Additives, Mediums and Varnishes for artists.

Drying Time:
The dry time for all water based artists acrylic media depends on how quickly the water can evaporate from the application. This is dependent on –

• The thickness of the product. For example, fluid varnishes will dry much more quickly than thick gels.
• The thickness of the application. For example, thin applications will dry much more quickly than thick applications.
• Relative temperature and humidity of the environment. For example, applications on warm, dry days will dry much faster than on cold, damp days.
• Absorbency of the substrate. For example, applications on absorbent surfaces will dry more quickly than on a hard, non-absorbent surface.

There is a difference between dry time and cure time.
Dry time is when the surface feels dry to the touch.
Cure time is when the acrylic film is fully stable, close to its maximum durability, water resistant and less vulnerable to attack by mild solvents. This usually takes at least three days for thin applications and may take much longer (up to two weeks or more) for thick applications such as with Liquitex Super Heavy Body Color .
For paint applications other than blending, wait until the surface is touch-dry before applying more paint. Thick applications should be firm and no longer 'springy,' with no obviously wet portions remaining beneath. Dry time can be accelerated by using a hair dryer.
For varnish application, paint must be cured before varnishing. For two coats of varnish, wait until the surface feels completely dry to the touch before applying a second coat. This means that there should be no feeling of dampness to the hand when placed on the surface. Dry time can be accelerated by using a hair dryer. A good rule of thumb is to wait at least 12 hours between applications of varnish.

Colors:  Color theory from my painting teacher, Jim Faber
Limited palette:

Napithol Red Light

Cadmium Yellow Light

Hansa Yellow Light

Phthalocyanine Blue

Acra Magenta (used to be called Acra Violet)

Titanium White

Yellow Oxide (optional – convenience color)
 

Resources:
Paint, brushes, canvases, artist materials

Locally (Humboldt County), I recommend Ellis Art and Engineering Supplies – owned by Darryl LaTorre.  For online sources I have always used Dick Blick art materials (dickblick.com).
 

Favorite Books:

Heart of the Artist book  (optional, recommended) by Rory Noland.

The North Book Light of Acrylic Painting Techniques by Earl Grenville Killeen (optional, for extra enrichment).  Available through Amazon.com – new and used books.  (published in 1995).  Also available through abe.com (used books).  I was a contributing artist.

The  Bible (the book of books)
 

Other helpful items:

Easel 

Water containter

Paper towels

Hair dryer

Spray bottle with glycerine

Palette (enamel trays are excellent)

Plastic wrap

Spray bottle – plain water

Good lighting

Reasons to Explore Creativity:

Have fun – creativity is a good and gracious gift from God.

Grow in appreciation for others unique gifts and talents

Glorify God – dedicate your giftedness to Him for His purposes.