Art Blog - What Makes A Painting Work

Celebrating What You Value via Your Art Ideas are everywhere. You can't begin to paint all of the paintings that are lined up_no, they are pushing and shoving one another-- for your attention. Except, sometimes... Some days the inspiration center wakes up on the wrong side of the bed. You are caught in doom and gloom and a drab landscape of the mind, the creative side of your is just grousing around. In other aspects of life when caught in such a mood, it helps to act like a happy energetic person. Behavioral scientists tell us that when we act happy we are more likely to become happy. When we behave with energy we create energy. The brisk walk, the run, the dance session, energize instead of exhausting us. Uninspired? Act inspired… Continue reading… 2 comments

Primary colors attract us from the nursery on up. They are not boring. I read some time back of a gallery owner who said that paintings with each of the three primary colors in them were most likely to sell. I don't know how wide spread this experiences. Perhaps the big three in the world of color used together give the viewer a sense of wholeness, of balance and harmony in the universe. Perhaps they are just bright and jolly and make us want to smile and kick like that infant in the nursery. Used as all or the major part of a painting strong primaries are exciting. If your painting has been feeling a bit tired, doing a few works strictly in a palette of primaries may be just what you need to shake your art up a bit. Even a small work in primary colors can shout yoo-hoo! across a room… Continue reading… 5 comments