I came into the intriguing and creative world of art after a lifetime spent in fashion and design. I found it was a natural progression as I had always been fascinated by the wonderful colors of nature and filled with a desire to capture this beauty on canvas.
I derived great peace in recreating the vivid colors of spring and found it to be a huge source of comfort through the dark winter months. The impact of the bright hydrangea blossom immortalized in oil, in infinite bloom, was enormously uplifting.
In order to embark on this adventure, I realized very early on that a great deal of research and experimentation was necessary.
I would sit for a time and really absorb the atmosphere while I studied the landscape and its characteristics. It took time to decide on the subject matter, and I studied a series of shapes to help me present how the landscape and nature spoke to my imagination.
The Artist & Her Tools
Then I had to learn about the different materials, tools, and equipment, paper, stretched canvas, boards, sketching pads, pencils, and many more materials that are necessary for the artist.
To start, I sourced some sketching pads and some soft charcoal pencils. I started out with a pad and pencil and sat outdoors with a blank page. But I soon started feeling daunted by the enormous task in front of me. I suddenly thought that it all seemed so difficult and out of reach.
It was not the easy task it had appeared. I had visions of reproducing the beauty around me and visualized layering an oil paint with a lovely buttery consistency in vivid colors on my canvas.
However, I persisted with my task, knowing that finding inspiration can be the hardest part, but having the correct pencil to start is a good beginning.
My Inspiration
I found inspiration in my garden, a radiant, rich hydrangea in deep pink; it seemed so beautiful in the bright afternoon sunshine. With excitement and anticipation, I made my first strokes on my page, using the soft pencil for shading; I worked through trial and error for several hours.
Making successful drawings begins with observing what surrounds us, not just merely glancing at the subject but truly studying every part of the blossoms, really seeing it all as if for the first time.
A totally new appreciation of nature and the world around us comes from really studying and scrutinizing it with new eyes.
The next step in my adventure was selecting the materials and equipment to start painting. A studio easel is a worthwhile investment and will hold any size canvas in a steady position. I choose a lightweight beach wood Radial easel, which has a central pivotal joint that tilts to provide an alternative, yet secure working position.
My Acrylic – My Favorite Medium
There are several mediums available; the most popular are acrylic and oil pastel; choosing the right medium is vital, but experimentation can be fun. There are major differences between watercolor and acrylics; they are both water-soluble but differ a lot in pigment, surface, and usability.
Each medium needs technical knowledge and a lot of practice. My favorite medium to work with is acrylic as it is more forgiving for beginners; it is a fast-drying medium and is water-soluble but becomes water-resistant when dry depending on how much paint is diluted.
The joy of painting is in exploring the different mediums and choosing the one that you fall in love with. Finding the right medium can be a challenge; I tried Windsor and Newton and found my own personal preference is oil.
It is such a pleasure to use the rich buttery texture, and there is nothing to beat the vibrancy of the colors. I started with about eight colors and built up a set as I went along.
My Canvas
I found the 9×12 canvas to be a good size to start and bought some canvases already primed. The choice of canvas can affect the end product; a heavyweight, quality canvas is suitable for stronger oil paint. It is advisable to give the canvas a couple of coats of gesso, which dries in about thirty minutes; it will then need a coat of thinned-out acrylic.
These steps are important because if the canvas is badly primed, the paint will soak into the canvas, and the painting will have a poor finish.
My Brushes
Most brushes will have instructions on them as to whether they are suitable for oil or water paint. I opted for a selection of round, square, and fan shapes in different sizes, I started with a small collection, and it grew as I continued painting.
I have totally enjoyed my wonderful journey into the world of art. Spending hours painting plein air is so relaxing that time passes in the tranquility of the outdoors.
Donegal – Painting At Another Level
A trip to Donegal took my painting to another level; the beauty of Mt. Errigal, its majestic dome disappearing into the clouds, or the cliffs of Sliabh Liag as they sweep into the Atlantic.
However, my absolute favorite place for sitting with my easel and paints is down in the Poison Glen, where the landscape is so inspiring; the moody mountains cast an atmospheric shadow over the lake, and the nineteenth-century white marble church stands proudly in the valley with only the sheep for company.
I have been traveling to Donegal to paint twice a year for the last decade. I exhibit in galleries in Dunfanaghy and Falcarragh in West Donegal, and my work is popular with visitors from all over the world.
Two of my favorite themes are bog cotton and meadow wildflowers, which always capture the imagination of visitors and have been particular favorites of American tourists.
Painting is a wonderful way to relax and escape the mundane and routine; it can carry you to a world of color and imagination where there are no limits to the possibilities of creating an alternative world on canvas.