Newsletter December, 2003 A Free Newsletter for Those Who Love to Paint

Color of the Month

Cadmium Red - A warm, bright, strong, rich red. Like most paints there are differences among brands. Also each line usually offers three versions of cadmium red: light, medium and dark. Personally, I only use cad red medium on my palette. The light version is usually too orangey for me and I can achieve a comparable hue by mixing the medium shade with some cad yellow. I have not found enough uses for the dark version to keep it around since I can achieve a similar hue by mixing the medium shade with burnt sienna.

True cadmiums are very expensive, it is a dangerous chemical and needs to be handled carefully. A tube labeled CADMIUM RED MEDIUM HUE means that it contains a paint created with a different pigment that will give you the same color but that will have different properties.

Cad red is great for flowers or any warm red object. Be careful when making a lighter value, if you just add white you will get a pink, not a light red. Instead add cadmium yellow to lighten it or first lighten the cad yellow with white before adding it to the red, again to avoid pink. To darken the value add raw umber, I think this gives you a richer color than by adding black. I will also use raw umber to glaze over a red area to darken the shadows if needed.

Cad red is a strong pigment, you don't need much if you mix it into another color. Mix cad red and phthalo green for a wonderful dark brown. Variations of this combo is great for autumn foliage.

Warning! Cad red (most reds really) can be thugs. They will want to take over your palette and your painting. Without any help they seem to jump all over the place - everywhere but where they belong. They will mix with anything near it, so be careful and keep them isolated as long as possible.

Tool of the Month

Hand Lotion = Put lotion on your hands before you paint and again after your painting session is over and everything is clean. Use a good one that does not leave your hands slippery. Personally I use Avon's Silicone Glove or Gloves in a Bottle (www.glovesinabottle.com). Oil paints and thinners and even plain soap can be harsh. The lotion can help protect your hands for the chemicals in them. Save your hands and you will be able to concentrate on your painting better if your hands are not sore.

Splotches Are Your Friends

When you paint, you are creating with areas of color - not just lines. You really are not painting a leaf nor an orange - just areas of color. When you put an field of color onto your canvas, you are using splotches of colors.

Splotches are irregular shapes. Unless you are using the technique of pointillism, your painting will have many different sizes and shapes of splotches. Good variety will help create interest in your painting.

To make the most of your splotches, keep these guidelines in mind and you will get better results.

- get the shape right. Look at what you want to transfer to your canvas. Make a splotch a little smaller than you think it should be. Make sure you have your shape and angles right. Now fill it out to the right size.

- start with a mid tone value.

- vary the color, mix a little something else into your splotch.

- add your highlight.

- add your shadow.

It is always easier to make something larger than to make it smaller. When you are beginning your painting, take your time and get your splotches right.

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