After surfing around trying to locate a site that allowed for free exchange of information for artists actively working in various traditional techniques - and not really finding such a thing, I have decided to create my own. So here it is: a low barrier bulletin board focussing on the painter’s craft. I’m hoping this can grow into an online community of some sort. Thus, people are welcome to post comments, questions, information, links – according to the appropriate category (oils, encaustic, fresco, etc…) - anything that relates to the knowledgeable use of craft in making fine art.
There are books and courses a’plenty for getting started but a resource of open, free and informative practical experience is something else again, indeed. I’m starting things off by transposing the technical info from my personal website which has been there for years, but now can become interactive. Thus, here what I have from my own knowledge and experience (very little of it came from my university years in art studio). It has been arranged into various categories according to the topics or themes on the right. Comments, corrections or contributions are more than welcome in fact, they are desired. In addition, I am not setting myself up as an expert of any sort (other than that of experimentation) and I would not encourage anyone else to do so, either. Let this space be the kind of open, informative possibility that the internet fosters.
This site is an outgrowth of my own personal website, thus criticism (positive or negative) of my own work is welcome but that’s not the point. To comment on a particular post, just click on the small word “Comment” at the end of the text, create a user name and supply an email address (for WordPress validation and thus not for me) and you’re off and running. Abusive content, personal advertisements and spamming, etc… will be banned. Otherwise, please consider yourself welcome here – and have at it!
May 12, 2009 at 10:24 am
Hi, Ellen
It’s such a nice surprise. Each painting is so fresh, so different from one other even that the viewer has the same perspective.
And for the rest of the sit, I think that is so difficult to find digested information about techniques to paint. I find that is a big and unselfish effort. Thank you for sharing with us. By, G.
May 13, 2009 at 7:29 am
Gina, thanks for the encouraging words!
May 27, 2009 at 4:01 pm
Hi Ellen,
Thank you for taking the time and effort to distill this really useful information. I’m sure I’ll check back from time to time as I need a specific nugget of instruction included here.
Happy painting, your website looks good, too.
Susan
May 27, 2009 at 4:21 pm
Hi Ellen,
Thanks for doing this, there is a great deal of helpful information on this site!
Do you subscribe to International Artist magazine? It’s very good, too.
Best,
Katie Horacek
May 27, 2009 at 4:35 pm
Hi Katie,
Thanks for the magazine tip. I’ll check it out…
May 27, 2009 at 6:40 pm
Hello.
My name is Alex Hunter. I make high end carved gallery frames in Toronto Canada. I am originally from Belgium. Can anyone tell me if there is an art magazine published in Belgium .
Thanks.
Alex Hunter
Paramount Picture Frames
Toronto Canada
May 27, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Hi Alex,
In what language? High end contemporary art? Surely there is, surf around and you might find something? I can look too, but I don’t know of anything off hand.
May 29, 2009 at 10:09 am
So glad Ellen has produced the ‘fertile soil’ for planting our seeds of faith’ in ourselves as creative visual artists. I hope to contribute more after Open Studios week at Redearth in Bickleigh, Devon, where I have my workshop…..Nigel.
January 4, 2010 at 10:40 am
Oh my god loved reading your article. I submitted your feed to my reader.