http://www.arttocherish.com/gifts-art-blog.html This blog covers aspects of: Gifts of art, purchasing art, painting holidays, drawing and painting classes and commissioned art. en-us gifts art Mon, 10 Oct 2011 16:52:52 GMT Mon, 10 Oct 2011 16:52:52 GMT arttocherish.com http://www.arttocherish.com/gifts-art.xml <img src="http://www.arttocherish.com/images/AutumnBerries.jpg"> Being an Artist means that you have to dig in deep sometimes to release that much needed charge of creativity. Painting or drawing that same old thing time after time may give you a "name" but it will stifle your real artistic talent. It is true that most artist draw or paint certain subjects far better than others, but that does not excuse trying! At a recent, and very successful Open Day for Artists, the portfolios and sketch books of the majority of my guests showed a strong penchant for the obvious. Page after page revealed almost identical works with a rather predictable diminuation in the standard of the work..... Where some people, though, had explored other artistic challenges, a lot of the work was really good. During the day, this aspect of artistic exploration was given out as a challenge to the guests and they and I were quite pleased with the results. I shall be repeating this event soon so please keep an eye out for the announcement of my next Open Art Day. <<a href="http://twitter.com/art4always" class="twitter-follow-button"data-show- count=false>Follow@art4always</a> <script src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js "type="text/javascript"><script> Mon, 10 Oct 2011 16:35:28 GMT http://www.arttocherish.com/gifts-art.xml Just to let you know that I shall be holding a series of Open Day Art workshops commencing Sat. Oct. 1st at 10.am. Places are strictly limited so please e-mail me if you would like to enroll on one of these (free) art workshops. Remember to follow me on twitter - twitter@art4always Kind regards, ANNE. Sun, 14 Aug 2011 15:45:11 GMT http://www.arttocherish.com/gifts-art.xml <img src="http://www.arttocherish.com/images/wintertree.jpg"> Painting winter scenes can be rather daunting, especially if they do not depict a lot of snow. Icy light is essential to describe the intense feeling of cold in such work. This is simplified if a background or foreground of snow is visible, but less so, when just the feeling of really chilly air is used to set the scene. The painting shown here was painted by me using acrylics on primed board. As you can see, the light was softened yet cooled by the addition of yellow to the sky and on the tops of the hills. The starkness of the bare, wind-blown tree, accentuates the sensation of a bleak coldness. The stryation of the sky colouring also adds to the wind-driven aspect of the lone tree. The immediate foreground, however, has been painted in soft grey/lamp black and sap greens with just the hint of yellow to reflect the colouring of the sky above. The latest winner of the Fine Art Print is Patricia Kavanagh of Dublin. You too can win a fine Art Print by just submitting your e-mail address. Keep on painting and drawing and enjoy the pleasure your work will bring to other people. <a href="http://twitter.com/art4always" class="twitter-follow-button"data-show-count=false>Follow@art4always<a/><scrip src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js "type="text/javascript><script> ANNE. Wed, 27 Jul 2011 15:39:13 GMT http://www.arttocherish.com/gifts-art.xml <img src="http://www.arttocherish.com/images/ alpha1.jpg"> <img src="http://www.arttocherish.com/ images/alpha2.jpg"> Getting to grips with sketching means understand what that term means. It does not mean a painstaking illustration, re-drawn and possibly rubbed out time and time again. What it actually tells you is that the artist made a drawing, on the spur of the moment, without any alteration whatsoever and what they drew, is what you see. In this instance, I drew two views of a l930's Alfa Romeo, using a .005 grade (inexpensive) water-proof, drawing pen (ink pens can be unforgiving)in a small sketch pad - one that I tend to have with me at all times. Yes, of course, there are mistakes, but the value of a sketch is that one has captured the true essence of a subject -at first go! Try this yourself and see just how fluid your artwork can become by practicing this tecnhique. Kind regards, ANNE <a href="http://twitter.com/art4always" class="twitter-follow-button"data-show- count=false>Follow@art4always</a> <script src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js "type="text/javascript><script> Sun, 17 Jul 2011 16:23:34 GMT http://www.arttocherish.com/gifts-art.xml <img src="http://www.arttocherish.com/images/modart.jpg"> Most artists develop not only a style that is unique to them and is also readily identifiable. Furthermore, they also tend to work in a somewhat limited range of materials. That can be a good or a bad thing, depending on how you, the viewer, regards it. However, it does us all good to "break out" from time to time and try something that is quite different and possibly executed in materials not normally used by us. In the painting shown here, I was experimenting with a range of more or less technical forms, intersperced with one another in a particular space. I had previously executed a quick sketch of what I wanted from this work and then transferred the main elements onto a large sheet of 300gsm paper. The paints used were both gouache and acryic and the work, when finished was sealed with an appropriate varnish. I quite like this work and plan on another painting in a similar genre but using totally different colours for the next project. Remember to keep your entries coming for the free draw for a Fine Art Print and keep an eye out for news regarding my forthcoming Art Classes, Courses and Workshops here at my Art Studio in Brittany. ANNE. <a href="http://.com/art4always" class="twitter-follow-button"data-show- count=false>Follow@art4always</a> <script src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgetjs "type="text/javascript"><script> Sun, 17 Jul 2011 12:07:22 GMT http://www.arttocherish.com/gifts-art.xml. <img src="http://www.arttocherish.com/images/alpha1.jpg"> Fri, 08 Jul 2011 17:08:33 GMT http://www.arttocherish.com/gifts-art.xml <img src="http://www.arttocherish.com/images/sunnyarch.jpg"> One thing I ask my students to do, is to take a camera with them wherever they go. This enables them to take a photograph of whatever sight they might like to draw or paint. Ideally, one could take a painting pad, paints, mixing medium and brushes..... but in a very hot or wet or windy situation these are not appropriate. The camera though allows you to keep on record that scene, that you can transfer later on to your paper or canvas, etc. The above scenario was shot on holiday and when I returned to the comfort of my studio, I used it for the basis of a watercolour. This is something I do occasionally, as from time to time, the realism of the photograph (or even the size of the paper or canvas I am working on) does not accommodate the full details of a photograph. This does not detract from the final work but creates an original work of art. Please keep your entries coming in for the Fine Art Print - we have added some more and I wish you every success with your various art adventures. The latest winnder of the free Fine Art Print will be announced next week. Remember too, to follow me on twitter at:- art4always. Kind regards, ANNE D'ALTON. Thu, 30 Jun 2011 16:55:45 GMT http://www.arttocherish.com/gifts-art.sml <img src="http://www.arttocherish.com/images/pet.jpg"> Many people own a pet or two and to give them an illustration of their cat or dog, parrot or horse, etc., is more than just a gift. It is a lifetime momento. Keeping such work simple rather than cluttering up the page or canvas with a multitude of objects is essential. In the instance above, I have illustrated a bull terrier, showing her in three different positions but without any "props" whatsoever. The addition of flooring or furniture or even a background landscape, would, I believe, have detracted from the impact of this simple watercolour. Traditional paintings of animals or birds usually have "fussy" surroundings, often taking away from the main theme of the art work. To-day though, we tend to project the subject forward without the use of much colour or objects in the background, unless called for. Try drawing and perhaps colouring-in one of your own or a local animal. If the first sketch is not to your liking, ( which is quite often the case) do it again and again until you are satisfied with the work. Then you can make someone really happy with an attractive and accurate representation of a creature they love. Congratulations to Judith Evans from Rhyll who is this month's winner of the Fine Art Print and remember to sign in to Twitter where you can follow my Art exploits on "art4always". Kind regards, ANNE D'ALTON. Tue, 21 Jun 2011 11:06:27 GMT http://www.arttocherish.com'gifts-art.xml <img src="http://arttocherish.com/images/newpainting.jpg"> Being asked to access other peoples' artwork can be flattering or, if it is bad, embarassing. On the whole, the general level of artwork is reasonable. Every so often, though, I come across some-one with real talent. The downside is that for the most part, even very gifted artists often lack that one ingredient that is absolutely vital and that is, DISCIPLINE. Many artists produce work, perhaps unknowingly, that just pleases them! Their standard of draughtsmanship is poor: the composition is uninteresting - often either too minimalistic or too crowded and the presented work is actually untidy! Keeping a sketch book is invaluable if you seriously want to avoid these mistakes. Even as you skim through the pages of your work, if you are consistent in doing an illustration each day, you will soon build up skills in artwork and layout that make your work stand out from others. The illustration shown here, is in essence a rather simple one. I drew it in pencil and finished most of it in watercolour; all on cream coloured, 300gsm paper. The background painting is an "arc" of Clematis whose focus has been reduced by the use of the hand holding the paint-brush. As you can see, not all of the floral subject has been painted in: this is a deliberate tactic, purposely designed to add interest to the painting. Knowledge of anatomy and of botany is of course, essential when creating such an artwork: these too, are a matter of disciplined practice. Keeping the work and the colours in balance is important so that the viewer can see a pleasant whole and not a pile of unconnected and possibly visually jarring objects! Continue to enjoy your painting and remember to follow my on twitter - art4always. Kind regards, ANNE. Thu, 26 May 2011 15:49:45 GMT http://www.arttocherish.com/gifts-art.xml <img src="http://www.arttocherish.com/images/Conceptart.jpg"> We all have our traditional view of the protrait. Often this is painted in oils or acrylics or in watercolours. The usual format is for the features to be fully painted in to give us a somewhat photographic representation of the subject in question. But why not change this a little? Why not challenge your normal concept and execution of such work? In the example shown here, I have deliberately painted in just one portion of the sitter's face - the upper right hand side - using the eye to catch the viewers' attention. The left hand area of the eye was barely painted in and the same technique has been applied to the forehead. The remainder of the face and the hair were left uncoloured as per the original pencil drawing. This work has been executed on primed canvas and matt varnished. I did not know how my Client would react to this way of portraying him, but I was delighted with his reaction. I have since been commissioned to create several more portraits in a similar vein, each though, with a totally different "take" on the areas of impact and colour. Remember to follow me on Facebook and on Twitter. Next week, I will announce the latest winner of the free, Fine Art Print. Keep on improving your painting and drawing techniques. ANNE. Wed, 18 May 2011 08:56:53 GMT http://www.arttocherish.com/gifts-art.xml <img src="http://www.arttocherish.com/images/drawing.jpg"> New students sometimes ask "what will I draw"? The answer is, of course, "everything". Now this may appear to be a trite response, but, a good artist should be able to draw (and draw well) all the everyday objects that surround them in their daily life. As in the example above, this is an ink montage of a number of items, not particularly related to one another, but composed in such as way as to make an interesting composition. Whether you decide to illustrate a series of garden utensile, or a group of vases; a triptych of someone's face or a sailing boat, try to draw it or them as well as you possibly can. If the first drawing does not please you, tear it up and start again. Practice will improve your work and if you know you can do better, then don't produce less than the best! One useful exercise is to draw an item three times on the one page. These drawings can be of three identical sizes or they can be of different sizes. You can turn the subject around to show different views too. Doing this will allow you to create a more interesting work and will test your visual creatitivity. Furthermore, a trio of drawings, well illustrated and composed, tends to be of far more interest to the viewer, than just one single drawing. See what you can do this coming week and remember to follow me on facebook and on twitter. Regards, ANNE. Sat, 07 May 2011 14:45:38 GMT http://www.arttocherish.com/gifts-art.xml <img src="http://www.arttocherish.com/images/dailyapple.jpg"> We all know the adage about the daily apple keeping the doctor away, etc., but this can be applied in the real sense of painting just one item a day. This will keep bordeom at bay! It will also improve your overall illustrating, drawing and painting skills and techniques. Setting yourself too large a task each and every day is usually too much for most of us. Being realistic and drawing or painting just one small item per day - preferably in a notebook - not only increases one's abilities as an artist but it also provides a useful and often pleasing reference from which to work out larger scale works at some point in the future. Incidentally, avoid where possible making your work too small. People like to see, even in a notebook, work that is visually impacting and stimulating. Tiny works are all right for miniaturists, but not for general viewing. Enjoy your work and remember to enter for the free Fine Art Print. You can follow me on twitter - art4always. Regards, ANNE. Tue, 03 May 2011 13:42:46 GMT http://www.arttocherish.com/gifts-art.xml <img src="http://www.arttocherish.com/images/manual1.jpg"> Here in France, posters depicting every conceivable event are usually illustrated, not photographically but as artistic illustrations. Keeping in with the tradition of the great French illustrators such as Toulouse Lautrec, etc., these posters are vibrant, colourful and very eye-catching. They are not limited to any one subject but often included all the events that will take place at a particular venue - a common feature of French events. The standard of artwork is high with great attention paid to detail. This is an area of artwork that I think is rather side-lined by "smart" digital posters. And although the latter are useful, they are neither evocative nor are they potential collectors' items! Trusting you will have a very happy Easter and congratulations to Henri Clement from Nantes, who is the latest winner in the free draw for a Fine Art Print. Please remember to send in your e-mail details if you want to be included in the monthly free draw. Kind regards and keep on with your artwork. ANNE. Fri, 22 Apr 2011 12:48:40 GMT http://www.arttocherish.com/gifts-art.xml <img src="http://www.arttocherish.com/images/leaves.jpg"> As an artist and art teacher, I always want to produce the very best work possible. But, I also recognise the immense value there is in producing work that just lets the paint flow from the brush! Art as a therapeutic and healing medium is well documented and is valued for its potential in improving peoples' mental as well as physical health. Here, you do not need to produce that impeccable artwork, nor that stunning illustration. The artist can let their emotions rule their brush! The final artwork may or may not be recognisable, but the tension in the artist is released and perhaps even their true feelings can be brought to the fore by this simple form of painting. I am always intrigued when we work on this type of artwork, to see people relax so much when the colours flow onto their paper or canvas. It is a non-judgmental area of art, but one that in its' own way, is a unique contribution to any artists' portfolio! Continue to enjoy your drawing and painting and remember to e-mail us at www.arttocherish.com for a chance to win a unique FREE artwork or Fine Art Print. Kind regards, ANNE. Mon, 14 Mar 2011 14:34:04 GMT http://www.arttocherish.com/gifts-art.xml <img src="http://www.arttocherish.com/images/purplepoppy.jpg"> Painting in one colour is something many people reject out of hand. They feel they cannot accurately portray their subject without the use of several colours. However, if you look closely at my painting of a purple poppy, you will note that I have added, here and there, the merest hints of other colours to emphasise the main hue. The whole idea of monochrome (single colour) painting is to give the impression to the viewer that just one colour has been used in the work. Yes, the main body of the painting has been executed in just a single hue, but this was then "backed up" by the careful and delicate application of other colours as and where necessary. Keep on enjoying your drawing and painting - lots to do with Spring arriving - and remember to enter into the free draw for that Fine Art Print. Kind regards, ANNE. Sat, 26 Feb 2011 11:40:45 GMT http://www.arttocherish.com/gifts-art.xml <img src="http://www.arttocherish.com/images/puppystudy.jpg"> One of the ways with which to add value to an artwork is to illustrate a subject, not one, but two to three times. In the painting here, I have painted the same puppy in three different poses. This adds artistically to what would ordinarily be a pet portrait and of course, the Client gets better value for their money! Keeping an artwork simple as in this instance also adds to the value of the artwork. No complex props have been added to detract from the painting and the positions of the puppy speak for themselves. Artwork like this is relatively simple but is abundantly appealing to people buying or commissioning works of art. Please keep your entries coming in for the chance to win a free illustration of your own home. Kind regards, ANNE. Thu, 17 Feb 2011 17:30:41 GMT http://www.arttocherish.com/gifts-art.xml <img src="http://www.arttocherish.com/images/newideas.jpg"> I Am inviting you to start off your New Year with a unique chance to win a free, original line and wash illustration of your house! As usual, these entries will be chosen via a draw of the e-mail entrants' submissions. The winner of this very special prize will be notified and requested to send a good quality colour photograph of their home, as an e-mail attachement. Please keep your drawing and painting enquiries coming in and they will be answered in rotation. THIS MONTH'S ART TIP. When painting in watercolours, use only a little colour at the tip of your brush and let the water contained in the body of the hairs carry and flood the colour as you wish. Continue to enjoy your artwork and try a different subject (even a tiny sketch) from time to time. ANNE. Fri, 04 Feb 2011 17:07:49 GMT http://www.arttocherish.com/gifts-art.xml <img src="http://www.arttocherish.com/images/africanskies.jpg"> Most artists, and I count myself in here, irrespective of the medium, look at their boxes of colours, with addiction! That tempting array of hues and shades, of pastels and tints is almost irresistable, but, quite often, a bold painting such as the above can be created with just the use of the three primary colours:- yellow, red and blue. In this instance the mediums used are acrylics, on board. The subject is very simple but dramatic. The inspiration for the painting was a nature programme I saw on t.v. about the African Continent. The evening skies were so magnificent that I simply HAD to paint them. Enjoy your painting and congratulations to Kathleen Ryan from Dublin, who has just won a Fine Art Print. So, keep your entries coming in please. ANNE. Mon, 17 Jan 2011 12:05:01 GMT http://www.arttocherish.com/gifts-art-blog.html#Annes-art-advice---Gift-Cards <img src="http://www.arttocherish.com/images/redapples.jpg"> Gift cards can be a lucrative side-line for an artist. To-day, though, the appeal to the buyer is impact rather than content. People who purchase gift cards want them to be bold and eyecatching as well as well illustrated. Also, simple cards sell well. In this case, I have used just one glossy apple. Using the tiered formation gives height and depth to the work, which was balanced out by the use of a warmly tinted wash. This illustration was painted using gouache paints. N.B. Remember to fill in and e-mail the form on my web-site for your chance to win one of the two Fine Art Prints. Enjoy your drawing and painting. ANNE. Sun, 09 Jan 2011 18:23:14 GMT http://www.arttocherish.com'gifts-art.xml <img src="http://www.arttocherish.com/images/weirhouse.jpg"> The drawing I have chosen for this blog is not a particularly complex one. There are several interesting details in it, however, that add to the overall feeling of a very old property. The artist will note that I have not tried to "straighten" the property - it does in fact lean heavily - and must be rather damp inside.... This illustration was done with a charcoal pencil, with different weight applications used to give denser or lighter areas as the work dictated. As charcoal has a tendencey to smudge, the work was sealed by use of a spray sealant. Try using this medium while illustrating a couple of older buildings: you might really enjoy the results. ANNE. Tue, 28 Dec 2010 20:24:32 GMT http://www.arttocherish.com/gifts-art.xml <img src="http://www.arttocherish.com/images/profile.jpg"> When drawing a subject for a portrait, there are two things all artists should keep in mind. The first is to avoid drawing your own face! Now this might surprise you, but all too often, I have noticed how artists have superimposed their own face onto their portraits. Yes, it is subtle and possibly an unconscious statement, but this "transfer" can be quite obvious to another portrait artist. The second is to avoid putting in all the lines on a person's face. In a drawing this will seriously age the sitter and can make your work look quite amateurish. Remember this advice and see how much better you now are at capturing your sitter's expression and demeanour so accurately. Have a very happy and peaceful Christmas. Kind regards, ANNE. Tue, 21 Dec 2010 16:39:53 GMT http://www.arttocherish.com/gifts-art.xml <img src="http://www.arttocherish.com/images/cottage.jpg"> As you are no doubt aware by now, I really enjoy illustrating buildings, particularly in the mediiums of line and wash. This is quite a simple drawing of a house. However, I deliberately added in the cows to give variance and life to the work. Few colours have been used as I like to let the drawing speak for itself. I admit to using Artists' Watercolours but stick to my favourite inexpensive disposible, line drawing pens, sizes 0.1 and 0.05. In the trade these are known as "pigment liners". Draw something nice for yourself as a personal Christmas Gift - or for someone else... Here's wishing you and yours, a most Happy Christmas and a prosperous 2011. p.s. The last winner in this year's draw for the Fine Art Print is Jeannot Guerlaine from Lyons. ANNE. Fri, 17 Dec 2010 11:48:52 GMT http://www.arttocherish.com/gifts-art.xml <img src="http://www.arttocherish.com/images/fruitnflowers.jpg"> When drawing or painting an item(s) it is not always necessary to confine it/them to the confines of the page or border. In this instance, the composition is on the diagonal - reinforced by the fact that I placed the two apples outside the framework of the composition. This gave movement to the composition and it also makes it more interesting to the viewer. This technique can be used even with borders, but do not overload. Keep this type of addition to the minimum. Regards and keep warm in this very cold weather. ANNE. p.s. Remember to send in your entries for the free Fine Art Print. Sun, 05 Dec 2010 15:06:54 GMT http://www.arttocherish.com/portraits.html But the gift of a portrait can be a wonderful one, that will give great pleasure to both the giver and the receiver.A portrait immortalises the sitter. Fri, 19 Nov 2010 19:49:15 GMT http://www.arttocherish.com/pets.html Many people own a family pet or two.... These are usually much loved and are regarded almost as members of the family, and they are often the subject of treasured drawings and portrait paintings Fri, 19 Nov 2010 19:46:34 GMT http://www.arttocherish.com/annedaltonbiography.html Gifts: Art gifts are ALWAYS unique, original and personal Fri, 19 Nov 2010 19:30:09 GMT http://www.arttocherish.com/privacy.html gifts of art....We will never share your information with anyone. See full policy here. Thu, 18 Nov 2010 11:20:42 GMT http://www.arttocherish.com/-META-name=-KEYWORDS-content=-gifts-art-blog.html As my site is currently in the process of being built, blog entries will commence in mid- April 2009 approx. Subscribe to my RSS feed- <b>above LEFT</b> (it's easy) and you will be automatically notified when new entries are published. Try it . You'll like it! ;-)) Warm Regards,and Thank You for visiting my site. Anne. Mon, 30 Mar 2009 12:11:58 GMT