Painting

[Turk]

Can anyone tell me a good websites and/or books/e-books about painting techniques?

[stlukesguild]

Turk... you're still here!? So am I. What specifically are you looking for? The cennini forum offers some in-depth technical feedback in the more "classical" or traditional approaches to painting:

http://forums.studioproducts.com/

Wetcanvas, the largest art forum (and one of the largest forums in any venue) on the web offers a broader array of artistic dialog, but I'm uncertain whether they would fill more specific questions as to technique.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/

The ARC or Art Renewal Center offers the largest on-line art museum but is very conservative/classical in its leanings. They have some posted technical articals but could certainly point you in the direction of assistance with technical questions.

http://www.artrenewal.org/

You might also check out oil painting.com

http://www.oil-painting-techniques.com/index.html

[Turk]

Yeah i actually came back Stlukesguild, i was sick so i couldn't use PC for a long time. Since i am bored of drawing (cuz i am drawing since years) now i want to learn painting in this summer. So i can reflect my thoughts on canvas with colors. I actually tried it before, but i didn't have an art teacher or even a handbook. :D So i knew what i want to paint on the board accurately, but somehow it didn't work. Basically i need to know how to control and use dye.

Cennini forum and wetcanvas.com seems good. I am gonna register there, thanks.

[stlukesguild]

Turk;

What sort of paint are you using? There are currently a few Middle-Eastern artists that have begun to make a splash in the US. I believe that the one I am most familiar with is either Turkish or Pakistani. Her work utilizes the traditional medium of Middle-Eastern book illuminations: a type of water and gum-arabic based paint that was used in the traditional miniatures. Personally, I am most familiar with oil paint, although I have used acrylic and watercolors as well. While I know that you are familiar with my abstract collage work:

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k255/Stlukesguild/133-J.jpg

... I do have experience painting in a more "realistic" manner:

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k255/Stlukesguild/14-Christine-TheLetter.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k255/Stlukesguild/14-Coupleresized.jpg

In fact after some 4 years I am returning to painting from life once again. The works are certainly less ambitious than my earlier paintings... but they are simply a starting point as I get a feel once more for the medium.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k255/Stlukesguild/12.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k255/Stlukesguild/13-CompositionwithRedBookssmall.jpg

Certainly it will take you a while if you are unfamiliar with the painting medium to get a handle upon it. Color alone increasing the difficulties (and the potential) ten-fold, while you also must gain a handle on the technical aspects of how the paint works and eventually gain an ability to use the sensuality of the medium to your advantage. Good Luck!:thumbs_up

[Turk]

Thanks, i am going to use oil paint or acrylic. Btw, i like the third painting best.

[stlukesguild]

Turk;

I used acrylics for about a 6-month period of time. While I liked some of the brilliant colors I disliked the extremely rapid drying time, the manner in which it eats up your brushes, and the fact that it lacks the sensuality and glow of oils.. many art educators now swear by acrylics as an introduction to painting (no fumes or toxic chemicals and cheaper as well). Personally I love oils (even the smell:lol:). There are many various techniques to oil painting. Some involve a highly finished underpainting which is then painted with a number of layers of transparent "glazes". Other techniques involve layers of opaque paint paint painted wet-into-wet (ala prima) or in layers after the previous layers have dried. Many artists, myself included, utilize a combination of these techniques. You might look into the major techniques and artists who utilized each. For example, for glazing check into Van Eyck, Vermeer, Titian, Rubens. For Wet-into-wet or ala prima look into John Singer Sargent, Frans Hals, Edouard Manet, etc... For artists using scumbled layers built upon dried previous layers look into Monet, Titian (again), Balthus, etc... And for artists combining various techniques look especially to Rembrandt.