Value in Painting - Black and White Boards

"The most important aspects of a painting is VALUE  and DESIGN. These two trump colour, texture etc." Nicholas Wilton

Value is essentially the lightness and darkness of a colour. The correct use of value gives a painting (both abstract and representational) depth.

I must admit, because I use a lot of colour, the values can sometimes go awry and I have to always be very conscious of that. So getting more of a grip on this, is my goal for this aspect of the course.

The second assignment of the Art2Life course, was to create two boards using only black and white. I based one on one of my failed paintings to see where I could make improvements and the other was purely abstract.

This one still exists as shown, I have yet to put colour on it

The first one, received some limited palette colour:

I have not taken this one forward and I shall have to find it again in my pile of unfinished boards. I can see it is too busy (so obvious now) and it needs to be unified.

Adding Calligraphic Marks using Acrylic Ink

One of the hardest things I find to do is scribble/calligraphic marks which seems to come so easy to many artists. To me, mine don't look natural and I have to manipulate them by painting over them, thinning the lines with paint or using transparent paint to make them 'sit' in the painting. 

I use a range of different tools - oil pastels, pencil and pen, but today I discovered I enjoy making these marks, and they look more natural, with acrylic ink direct from the bottle using the dropper supplied.

I'm great at purchasing art supplies (my favourite hobby) but often don't make use of everything I buy. I purchased some acrylic inks several years ago but only ever created a few ACEOs, so I am delighted to find another use for them.

Some of the marks on current works in progress

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Everyone Likes BLUE

A MOMENT IN TIME

Medium: Acrylic on Panel
Size: 30 cm / 12 inch x 30 cm / 12 inch x 5mm

AVAILABLE

It's always a little disappointing to discover you're average. Blue, along with teal and purple are my favourite colours. Teal and purple all contain blue of course.

"By the 1920s, researchers were just about ready to throw in the towel regarding that straightforward question, “What’s your favorite color?” People’s answers appeared far too idiosyncratic to study in any substantive way. But as statistical tools and color standardization improved during the decades that followed, a pattern slowly but surely began to emerge.

Everyone liked blue..."

Continue reading this article in Artsy Magazine
 

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Adding Texture to Acrylics Part 1

My visitors have all gone home and I am enjoy the peace and quiet lost in painting again.

As usual, I am working on several paintings at once but they all look a little flat so I am injecting some texture into them.

The best way to do this is at the beginning of a painting is using gesso or modeling paste. You can also use these on an in-progress painting but, as they are opaque, you will lose any colour already down.

One method I enjoy using, because it brings up a lot of unexpected surprise, is laying down two, three or even four layers of acrylics on top of one another and then scraping through the acrylic.

Use thick paint for the best results and wait for the paint to touch dry before adding another layer. I like to wait until the top layer is just touch dry before dragging the scaper through the paint. The effects are different according to how dry the paint is. Practice this to see the different effects. The wet paint also lifts off some of the dried paint underneath, giving interesting results.

The first photo is the work in progress. The grey is layered on top of the cream which is on top of the base painting colours and the scraper has been pulled through the paint.

This is a closer look at the texture achieved.

In this photo I have added another layer of blue to the top right hand triangle and again dragged the scraper through the paint.

Smell the Roses, framed painting

Smell the Roses

by Marion Hedger

30x30cm

AVAILABLE

Framed in a black floating frame, ready to hang.

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Works in Progress

Click here to view the slideshow

Three abstract paintings in progress
by Marion Hedger. 

I am on a circles theme at the moment.

These are acrylic on panels, different sizes

Visit my abstract collection

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A Place for Music

A Place for Music

by Marion Hedger

Acrylic on canvas, no need to frame.

AVAILABLE

CLOSE-UP OF THE DETAIL

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Which Way is UP?

Click Here to see the slideshow

Help me decide which way round to frame this colourful abstract.

Meadow Song

Intuitive Abstract Art

by Marion Hedger

Part of the 'Connections' series

Medium: Acrylic on Panel

Size: 30 cm / 12 inch x 30 cm / 12 inch x 5mm

AVAILABLE

Finished with a high gloss varnished and polished with wax to give a satin glow.

Framed in a black floating frame, it is ready to hang on arrival.

The overall framed size is 34x34cm and 3cm deep.

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Wonder, Intuitive Abstract Art

Wonder (5014)

Intuitive Abstract Art
by Marion Hedger
Part of the 'Connections' series
Medium: Acrylic on Panel
Size: 30 cm / 12 inch x 30 cm / 12 inch x 5mm

AVAILABLE

Finished with a high gloss varnished and polished with wax to give a satin glow.

Framed in a black floating frame, it is ready to hang on arrival.

The overall framed size is 34x34cm and 3cm deep.

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Abridged, Intuitive Abstract Art

Abridged (5006)

Intuitive Abstract Art
by Marion Hedger

Part of the 'Connections' Series

https://artbymarion.co.uk/workszoom/2437391

AVAILABLE

Finished with a high gloss varnished and polished with wax to give a satin glow.

Framed in a black floating frame, it is ready to hang on arrival.

The overall framed size is 34x34cm and 3cm deep.

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Work in Progress on my easel

Work in Progress

Both are 40x40cm

I am treating these two painting as a diptych at the moment. Time will tell if they will remain joined or go their separate ways.

Let me know if you think they should remain as a diptych or you can see them splitting up.

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Whispers, Intuitive Abstract Painting

WHISPERS
Intuitive Abstract Painting

by Marion Hedger

Part of the 'Connections' Series of abstracts

30x30cm acrylic on panel

AVAILABLE

Will they come closer together to hear the gossip? or drift further apart?

Finished with a high gloss varnish and polished with wax to give a satin glow.

Framed in a black floating frame, it is ready to hang on arrival.

The overall framed size is 34x34cm and 3cm deep.

Abridged, intuitive abstract

 Abridged

Intuitive Abstract

Part of the 'Connections' Series of Intuitive Abstracts 

AVAILABLE

Sometimes we feel alone, but there are always connections if we make the effort to try and connect

Part of the 'Connections' Series of intuitive abstracts.

Finished with a high gloss varnished and polished with wax to give a satin glow.

Framed in a black floating frame, it is ready to hang on arrival.

The overall framed size is 34x34cm and 3cm deep.

Beyond What we Know, intuitive abstract painting

Beyond What We Know

by Marion Hedger

Part of the 'Connections' Series of Intuitive Abstracts 

AVAILABLE

This intuitive painting is an interaction between the painting and viewer. Imagine what you can see.

Finished with a high gloss varnished and polished with wax to give a satin glow.

Framed in a black floating frame, it is ready to hang on arrival.

The overall framed size is 34x34cm and 3cm deep.

Intuitive Abstract - Escape Route

 Escape Route (5004)

by Marion Hedger

Part of the 'Connections' Series of Intuitive Abstracts 

AVAILABLE

Making connections is a good thing but sometimes we just need to escape to somewhere quiet. From her 'Connections' series,  this intuitive painting by Marion Hedger captures our interactions in a busy world.

"This painting shows the busyness of everyday life, look closely and you can see lots of activity. At the same time there are escape routes away from all the activity"

Finished with a high gloss varnished and polished with wax to give a satin glow.

Framed in a black floating frame, it is ready to hang on arrival.

The overall framed size is 34x34cm and 3cm deep.

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Imagining Possibilities

 Imagining Possibilities

by Marion Hedger
AVAILABLE

A contrast between light and dark. Imagine what possibilities this painting conjures up and let me know .

30x30cm (12x12") on panel

framed in a black floating frame and shipped ready to hang

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A Time of Promises

 

 A Time of Promises

by Marion Hedger

Connections Series of Intuitive Abstracts 

AVAILABLE

An intuitive abstract painting with a hint of nature. The blues and lilacs of this piece will fit into any decor. 

30x30cm framed in a black floating frame and shipped ready to hang

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No Rules only Principles

Work in Progress (5012)

12x12in

Acrylic on 5mm board

In the course Nicholas Wilton always stresses that what he is teaching are PRINCIPLES not rules. They are there to be used and should underlie the art but they are only guidelines.

A piece of serendipity this morning when I read Brad Teare's interesting post on debunking the myths on rules in art. I am so guilty of this, I read something and think 'Ah yes, I must do that'. Sometimes it takes me a while to realise it is not my way or my style etc.