I look at an incredible amount of art…

I am inspired by so much of the work I see every day. Just check out some art websites like FASO (Fine Art Studio Online), NOAPS (National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society), as well as what artists are posting on Facebook & Twitter…and you will see really phenomenal work being created in oils, watercolor, acrylic, and colored pencil.

So…the challenges with my own paintings

have become about how to give whoever is viewing them, the feeling that they are actually there, in that moment, with that subject…or in other words, a way for me to be able to convey a ‘more real than a photograph’ impressionism, which possesses the color and light values, along with enough detail to satisfy my need to express the technical abilities that I have been working so hard and so long to perfect. There is also the challenge of making sure that my paintings do not look as if they appear to be exactly like the photo I’m using as a reference, or worse…like another artist’s work!  Speaking of that,  I do spend a great deal of time either thinking about or looking for ways to create a niche for my own work, in order to set it apart from other artists…both, because of how I want to feel fulfilled as an artist with my own individual style, and also so that I will be able to feel comfortable offering it for sale as something that is a unique piece of art. I am sure that if you asked most artists they would without a doubt say, that this is the least favorite part of being an artist.

My new philosophy…well, actually it’s not that new.

I am simply re-visiting something that I have always believed, but haven’t focused on its true importance…until recently. I have been finding that it can be applied to any subject I decide to paint…and what it comes down to for me, is how; by only using the subject’s form in the photo as the blueprint, that it can be the catalyst for what it can become as a painting.  In a photo, the space within in the subject’s (or subjects’), borders; is merely a starting point. That space becomes the place to create my own version of what I see, a place where the clues are found which will dictate the colors, highlights, shadows, and values, of hopefully of something completely unique…something that is based on that form, but having its own, new, character and soul. If I pay attention to what I have learned, by ‘studying’ all of this art that I see…together with that and with using the skills I have accumulated, I will get closer to what I envision as my best work.

It turns out…that there are no guarantees.

Even when I think I’ve found the most perfect photo…once I get started painting from it, I find that can’t always make what drew me to it, become the focal point for the painting that I had in my head. Sometimes I have found that the answer I’ve been seeking for what I want to be able to do, as well as to become as an artist, already exists in my experience. I may not have embraced its importance until now…I just needed to be open to it.

Kind permission was given for use of this photo reference, by Lynne A. on Pixabay.

“Balance” received an honorable mention award in Cape Cod Art Association’s Easel Art – Summer 2016.

~ THIS PAINTING HAS SOLD ~

Oil on canvas ~ 18″ x 24″ © ArtistKarin Press Cohen – 2016

If you would like to have a painting done of this ballet dancer, I can create another one very similar to it, in various sizes. With all hand-done artwork, there will of course, be some small differences…no two paintings will ever be exactly alike. Please contact me using the form below.

Contact Me:

Commissioned oil painting of a female Shih Tzu, named Charlie. This was a very difficult painting to do, since what happened to Charlie is so very tragic. She passed away this past August, from an infection that she caught while she was lost back in July…when she ran away after being frightened by some firecrackers that were set off by some neighbors. She was found ten days later, but the infection Leptospirosis, (a spirochete bacteria) that dogs and cats can contract from drinking from puddles or eating contaminated food when they’re outdoors…wasn’t caught by her vet in time. ‘Lepto’ is CURABLE with antibiotics if it’s caught early enough…so knowing the signs could save the life of your pet or someone’s pet you know. Charlie is still missed very much by her ‘parents’ who are my dear friends, who commissioned me to do this painting of her.

Here’s a link to more information about Lepto, on the American Veterinary Medical Foundation’s website:

https://www.avma.org/public/PetCare/Pages/Leptospirosis.aspx

“Charlie” ~ Oil on canvas – 8″ x 8″

I utilized images of different sailing vessels, known as “schooners” and “clipper ships”, applying varied backgrounds… (i.e. ocean, sky);  as was typical of the paintings of that era.  I often added local lighthouses found on Cape Cod,  & the islands of Nantucket & Martha’s Vineyard. Detail was paid to provide as many of the authentic details, such as; rigging, deck appointments, and  even crew members; (many times the sea captain of a particular vessel can be seen holding a telescope scanning the sea).

$300

Oil on canvas ~  16″ x 20″ – © ArtistKarin Cohen (framed as pictured above)

Getting back to oil painting after approximately a 10 year absence…

in many ways has felt like an awakening. First what I realized was that it was not unlike ‘riding a bike’, and once I sat down with my paints & brushes it began to feel like ‘home’ to me…however; there was a certain amount of trepidation as I pictured having to re-create my long-ago established ritual of placing the paint pigments in a particular order that I had once tuned to ‘perfection’. Amazingly, I was shocked & thrilled to discover that when I opened my paintbox; all the same pigments were still left in the exact order as I had used them the last time I had been painting… so long ago!

Since returning to painting…

I have had a chance to re-evaluate my techniques, not only with the brush strokes I am using to apply & blend each of the pigments I employ to create each element the way it exists in my mind…but also in the way in which I hold & manage my brushes. I need to have them ‘available’ yet I struggled at first to both, keep them within reach yet far enough away; as not to contaminate each with the other. The smaller studio space I find myself in now, compared with others I have inhabited before; possesses some constraints concerning where my materials are placed and how easily they are for me to access. This, in addition to rediscovering the painting methods  and techniques I had developed over time, has presented a real challenge for me. I am confident that with my determination to resume the journey I was on to realize my potential as an artist,  that I will adapt & be able to overcome any of these obstacles… as I attempt to recover the level of fluidity of motion I had previously come to enjoy.

Color:

Color has, and remains…the component that excites me most as an artist.  In many ways color is the driving force, in creating the essence of the feeling and emotion that a painting evokes. For myself, it  is found in the process of interpreting each subject by using color to draw out an element’s form. How each one is affected by the color directly adjacent to it, as well as underneath it…will determine how color as a whole will relate to the entire painting .  I need to mention, that it is also important to consider the color that is already present on the canvas, when you are applying layers of color.  With previously added layers,  if you are painting using a wet-in-wet method,

Value:

In similar ways as with color, the way in which ‘value’ affects each object, (as well as the entire painting); is an essential element in giving the viewer the ability to distinguish shadows and highlights. (As well as all other levels of light and dark in between them). Value determines whether a particular element will stand out from another, and I must always pay careful attention to ensure that objects that are next to each other DO NOT become too close in value, or they will seem to ‘disappear’…essentially becoming one element. The act of ‘squinting’ during the process of painting helps me to better assess how each of the values relates to the others.

Blending:

Adds a feeling of cohesiveness to a painting; and as I mentioned before, I need to pay a great deal of attention to them…particularly in how the colors and values will change when one or more colors merge. Obviously when colors are blended they are affected by one another and each will be influenced, and become darker or lighter, depending on which is more dominant in its intensity. I determine how to proceed by calculating the volume of paint to use, (i.e. the thickness of the pigment being added, to the one or ones that have previously been applied. How thick the pigments are, that I’ve already applied onto the canvas…and equally important; is how much medium I’ve added to them, will ultimately determine how they will interact with one another. This of course does not apply to paint that is already dry from earlier painting sessions.

Brush Strokes…

Surprisingly, I found that re-acquiring this particular skill, was the one I struggled with most.  The brushes were the same I had always used…the paints and mediums weren’t any different, so I had to accept that it was I who had changed.  Time had adversely affected my eyes, and apparently to a certain extent, my dexterity…and I realized that had to learn to compensate for them, in order to return to the place where I had left off artistically.  What I determined was, that what the thing that affected these things, was actually rooted in how I was sitting in front of my easel. Some adjustments in distance as well as seat-height, were basically what were needed.

Cleaning My brushes:

I use a non-toxic, odorless solvent to remove paint that has built-up on the brush during painting, in order to ensure that the pigments are at the purest level when I apply them. This is a very important step for avoiding a ‘muddy’ appearance to the painting, and takes some necessary attention on my part;  and requires that I discipline & force myself to do so…despite the interruption in my focus. Often while I’m painting I feel that I am transported to a ‘place’ that approaches the state of mind where time & place fade away; and having to be ‘practical’ becomes a distraction to the level of the flow of mental energy I have reached. The alternative would be to ignore the likelihood of tainting what could have been  be a pure, pristine harmony of pigments…compromising the results in both my satisfaction and quality of my painting.

In conclusion…

I feel that the process of re-evaluation of my former techniques has been an asset for me, in rediscovering why oil painting has been and still is, the thing that drives me as an artist… and what fulfills, exhilarates as well as satisfies, my soul.

Art is design, and it can take an unlimited number of forms. Anything you can imagine can be designed… from the smallest details in a pair of earrings to a full-sized mural on the side of an old brick building.

Art is not only what someone sketches, paints, decorates, arranges, cooks, molds in clay, photographs, prints, or sculpts… to mention a few.

Designing an event can also be an art…

Wedding Receptions, as well as Anniversary, Birthday, & Religious celebrations such as bar/bat mitzvahs; and even solemn occasions like post-funeral gatherings; are all opportunities to express creativity & an ability to design & plan a special event for family members, friends, colleagues, and other people in our lives. The time and effort that is spent coming up with an idea, searching for an appropriate venue, choosing materials that create a desired theme & ambiance, or the elements necessary to achieve a truly impressive & professionally executed presentation for an company function; will be reflected in the final product.

What really makes a successful event, after planning the important items such as; finding & reserving the location, knowing how many will attend, determining whether you will be providing food & refreshments, (including wine, or other alcoholic beverages such as champagne in the case of an anniversary or engagement party, a rehearsal dinner or wedding reception); is the attention paid to the details. This is where you have a chance to express your creativity and style, and bring all the elements together to make an event special; or a professionally executed business affair, a success.

Some of the details that require attention, in order to make the designated room or area look complete; include, using a color scheme or ‘palette’ that reflects the nature of the event & consider the time of year in which it is being held. Also, choosing colors that compliment & work with one another, as well as ones that evoke a certain mood or the personality of the person or persons you are providing the event for; will portray the effect you are trying to convey.

For example…

with wedding receptions or events;  there are many elements & details involved in even a small, intimate gathering. Wedding events usually have several traditional components, such as:

• Meals (which could be either a full-course dinner, formal luncheon, or a more casual buffet).
• Dancing, which means you need to address where to have a designated area for this activity & in the case of an outdoor wedding, how you want to have it styled with options of different materials, such as parquet flooring; or an already existing area, such as a wooden deck, stone or gravel patio.

For a child’s birthday…

you would either be using bright colors, (possibly in the primary spectrum; or colors that are intrinsic to the type of theme chosen. This would of course depend on whether it’s being held for a boy or a girl, however; it is also important to keep in mind the type of personality of the child, when deciding on a theme and the choice of colors.

you will need to get started. These products are available at many online retailers…or even better, if you are lucky enough to have an art supply store right in your town or area of the city, they will probably have everything you need or most will order anything they don’t have in stock.

OIL PAINTS – These come in a variety of colors, (or ‘pigments’); and vary in quality depending on their grade. Most companies offer different student & professional grade oil paints, assuming that beginners will be experimenting more and they alter their prices accordingly. For most colors you will only need the 37 ml tube, however; for White & Black, which you will use infinitely more than the others; they are available in 200 ml tubes. Another consideration is that certain oil pigments contain cadmium, lead, mercury, & cobalt; which can be absorbed through the skin, (or inhaled by those who mix their own paints using powder pigments). Many oil paints considered toxic, are now offered in a ‘hue’ form that does not contain volatile ingredients; & there are also newly fabricated’ water-soluble’ oil paints that clean up with soap and water.

BRUSHES – There are many varieties of oil painting brushes which are differentiated by their type of bristles. They come in different sizes & shapes, as well as materials; to give you the option to create different textures & also for covering different sized areas of your painting. (See my post titled: Like a Pen to a Writer…a Knife to a Sculptor and also you can follow this link about Selecting the Correct Paintbrush.

CANVAS – There are many different types of canvas to choose from. When you are just beginning, pre-stretched ‘cotton duck’ is less-expensive and you don’t need the more expensive linen type. Cotton duck usually comes pre-primed with gesso, so it saves you a step. After you’ve been painting for awhile, you will probably want to use linen that you stretch on canvas stretchers yourself, since it’s more cost-effective & gives you a greater flexibility of sizes. It’s also a better quality canvas that you should use if you want to sell your work.

EASEL – An easel is a necessary thing for you to place your canvas on, while you are painting. Your canvas needs to be in a vertical vs. horizontal position, (I find around a 45 degree angle to be the most comfortable); in order for your painting to have the correct perspective. If you try to paint on a flat surface, you will not be happy with the results; since of course, a painting is meant to be viewed vertically & all the elements you would be painting would be affected by looking at it horizontally. Easels come in a variety of styles and materials, including wood, metal, table-top, ‘sketch-box’ or ‘French Easel’, ‘A-Frame’, etc. Choosing the appropriate easel depends on the size of the area you have to paint in & whether you are intending it for indoor or outdoor use, (landscape painters usually use the French Easel, since it is intended to be portable; & keeps most of your supplies inside).

PALETTES – These are available in different types of surfaces, including: wood, metal, paper, & glass. A palette is the surface used for mixing paint & having different colors of pigment available during a painting session. You will need to choose one according to your preferences of ease of use, clean-up & durability.

PALETTE KNIFE – This tool is used both for mixing pigments, as well as apply them to your canvas for specific types of textures. I find that a thinner, more flexible ‘blade’ is easier to mix with; as well as to execute more of a range of textures in your painting.

OIL PAINTING MEDIUMS – These come in several types and have different consistencies & uses. These vary in their properties of drying time, giving the artist more or less time to ‘work’ with them… (also called ‘working time’). Linseed Oil & Artist Painting Mediums, are a few of the types available; possessing different properties depending on what your needs are. I keep a few different ones on hand, so I have the option if time is a consideration. When you are 1st starting out, you should use one that has the longest working time; since you’ll need that while you are learning to work with paints and mediums.

TURPENTINE – Turpentine is a solvent that is also used to thin paint, to make it easier to apply; as well as what is needed to clean your brushes. You have to be very careful when using turpentine, however; since it is absorbed through the skin, and proper ventilation is necessary to avoid inhaling harmful vapors. It should only be handled by persons old enough to understand the risks. Mineral Spirits are absorbed to a lesser degree, in fact they say it is not absorbed through healthy skin; but you still need to be careful using them. I use a product called ‘Turpenoid’, which is odorless; however, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use it in a well-ventilated area. It is suggested that hardware or industrial grade NOT be used, since it contains impurities that are removed in artist-grade turpentine or mineral spirits.

CLOTHING –  You’ll want to wear comfortable clothes that you don’t care whether you will get paint and other substances like painting medium on.  I usually wear an over-sized shirt over my clothes, that I can wear numerous times;  and a pair of old jeans or shorts.

Below you will find articles on various subjects related to art & artistic design, including:

Click On An Article In One Of The Categories Below To View :

Oil Painting Techniques:

~Click Here to VIEW ALL RELATED ARTICLES ~

• Technical Aspects Defined
• Photo Selection
• Composition
• Composition… again
• Anatomy of an Oil Painting
• List of Oil Painting Materials
• 1st Time Oil Paint & Brush Use
• Brush Selection & Techniques
• Mixing & Blending Oil Paints
• Shading & Highlighting Techniques
• Painting Details in an Oil Painting
• Watercolor vs. Oil Painting

Resources For Artists:

~ Click Here to VIEW ALL RELATED ARTICLES ~

• From An Artist’s Perspective…
• So You Want To Be An Artist
• Learning About Art, Artists, & Their Work
• Introducing Your Artwork

Resources For Web Design:

~ Click Here to VIEW ALL RELATED ARTICLES ~

• Web Development Company
• Web Design Themes & Templates
• Website Report Card
• Web & Logo Design
• Telling Apart Good vs. Bad Web Design
• The Difference Between a Web Designer & Developer
• Creating Visually Appealing Website Design
• Today’s Graphic Art Software
• From Oil Painter to Digital Artist
• GIMP Edited Photos

Articles are added regularly… check back often to see what’s new!

If you want to see a wide-variety of different types of artwork, as well as to view prints, serigraphs, lithographs, Giclee, etc. that you like & might want to purchase to hang on your walls… you can do so by finding a website that lists artists by name & category & that also sells their work. Prints of oil paintings by famous artist masters to contemporary artists can be found at many places online.

For example… you can learn a lot about the type of art you prefer & the artist who created it, by simply having a resource that provides you a way to see examples of oil paintings and other work by many different artists.  By perusing different artist gallery websites, or visiting online stores that sell prints of their work; (unless of course you are fortunate enough to be able to afford the high-priced originals);  you can view available work by current,  as well as more well-known artists.

Visiting websites that sell art can also help you to facilitate learning about oil paintings…

as well as; art, artists, and their work; as well as the to explore the many different categories of art that exist…  from the earliest to the most contemporary. You can also visit Art History sites, where you can find many resources to help you learn about artists, art movements, different art cultures, as well as the chronology of art through time.

Visiting art museums & art galleries is also an excellent way to learn about artists, & their work , as well as  the many categories of art.  Some museums offer classes in Oil Painting, Art History, & even offer opportunities to participate in classes online.

Oil paintings and other forms of art were all around me…

My own experience with learning about art, artists, & their work, started when I was very young. I became captivated by the prints of  oil paintings  of ballerinas, that hung on my bedroom wall… and I remember thinking that they appeared to have movement. They were prints of original works painted by a famous painter who was to become one of my favorite artists;  Edward Degas.  I remember asking my mother to take me to see more of his oil paintings, which were hanging in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston; where I also participated  in the “Young People’s” art classes for several years when they were being offered in the 1960’s.

Going to classes at the M.F.A. opened up a whole new world for me…

While attending the class, the instructor would often take myself and the other students upstairs to one of the many different rooms where the museum’s art was exhibited.  I saw oil paintings, as well as many examples of other types of mediums.  I remember wanting to try them all!

Besides oil painting,  I was able to try & to gain hands-on experience using pastels, pottery, sculpture, & charcoal; and I was also very fortunate to be able to learn about composition, perspective, color theory, & art history.

You can click on the following  names to view oil paintings of some of my other favorite artists:  including  Mary Cassatt ,  Edward Henry Potthast   as well as Edward Degas.

Now that you’ve finished some  ‘successful’  pieces of artwork,  (in other words… when you look at what you’ve painted you really like what you see); you might have reached the point when you are considering the possibility that you’re ready to submit them for consideration, & maybe even for sale; to people other than your friends & family…

You truly are at a crossroads!

Some artists never get past the fear of having their technique, style, & impression of a composition critiqued by other artists or art professionals…in fact, some never even try, for fear of that type of rejection.  This is a BIG step for most artists… and once you’ve made the decision to proceed, you need to know how to present your work  as well as yourself as an artist;  in a professional manner.  You can do so with a professional, attractive, artist portfolio.

Building an Artist Portfolio :  Introducing Your Artwork… Getting started

First, you’ll need some photographs of your work… that will show your work in an artist portfolio  accurately & in a flattering manner, unless you are physically bringing examples of them with you to a place where they are to be ‘juried’;  (i.e. submitted for consideration for entrance into an art show, association, gallery, guild, etc.)  to be accepted or rejected by their panel of judges.  Many artists find that they can take decent photos with a digital camera, however; if you’ve never done so, once you have the finished product; compare how they look to others you see online.

Building an Artist Portfolio :  Introducing Your Artwork… Choosing Images

Are the images sharp? Do they represent the colors as close to what they really are when you see them in person?  Do they have any defects that could detract… such as showing the camera’s flash, etc.?  If so, and by changing a few things; such as lighting or the settings on your camera, (you may want to have them taken by a professional photographer or by someone you know, who has the ability to make them look professional).  Having an artist portfolio of printed & digital photographs of your artwork are a good way to show others what your work consists of, as well as for submitting them to galleries, or displaying them online.  Online galleries & artist websites are a new way that artists are now exhibiting their artwork, and there are also sites that promote the work of many artists by providing them various ways to do so.

Building an Artist Portfolio :  Introducing Your Artwork… Resources

Some of these all-inclusive art/artist websites, provide artists with a free customized website, with an … “Ecommerce” shopping cart, (click on this link to visit an eCommerce Web Developer) which makes it possible for visitors to purchase your artwork… tools for converting your artwork into print media, (limited-edition prints, posters, greeting cards, etc.); as well as exposure on the internet that allows you to ‘get your feet wet’, so you can tell how well your artwork is received before venturing to create a website that will be showcasing your work alone.

Your artist portfolio  should contain a variety of subjects and styles, and should not be limited to only one type of media if you engage in several.  Choose the most colorful, interesting ones that demonstrate your ability as an artist.  One tool that artists use to promote themselves & their work,  is a biography or ‘bio’; which describes how they got started in art or other venues.  An artist bio gives a description of their background in art, & will often explain how they arrived at choosing the subjects and the techniques they used to achieve their results in their finished work.

Building an Artist Portfolio : Creating An Effective ‘Bio’

Other elements that you can include in your artist portfolio  ‘bio,’ to let people know about you as an artist, include things  such as:  the types of art classes you’ve taken & the names of the places where you attended them; as well as awards you may have received as a student or in artist shows and exhibitions.  Finally, it can be a good idea to also include a section in your artist portfolio bio, about your impression of your artistic experiences… past,  present & future.