Art Instructions, Tips, Articles and Student Showcase.
Greetings everyone.
And Happy Independence Day.
This is the day the United States celebrates the birth of its nation. It’s a day of festivities typically marked by picnics, ethnic festivities, family outings and a firework show at the end of the day.
We mentioned before that the Alexander company would be raising their prices come July 1, 2008. This is the line of products that Darrell now uses and recommends. Companies generally raise their prices on an annual basis, however; the Alexander company has not raised their prices for nearly ten years. So the value of these products have simply increased and increased over time.
We have been informed that come July 1, the price increase will range from 44% to 50% higher.
So let’s have a sale, stock up now and help defer the sticker shock. Now is the time to stock up on your special supplies.
And to help you, use coupon code JULY for an additional 15% off. Good until July 1, 2008.
As a young minister in Kentucky , I was asked by a funeral director to hold a grave-side service for a homeless man, who had no family or friends. The funeral was to be held at a new cemetery way back in the country, and this man would be the first to be buried there.
I was not familiar with the backwoods area, and I soon became lost.
One of the things I like to do with a good teaching painting is to add components to it so students can easily learn new elements without the pressure of an entire painting. For example, I’ll teach them how to paint a cabin in Sylvia’s Falls as a warm-up in the beginning of a class.
It’s something we can do in our 5 minute daily lessons. Something to think about if you have trouble making trees, painting cabins or buildings, rocks, small animals, etc…
Just use an older painting and add stuff to it daily.
Until tomorrow……..
Darrell
David Chan writes and asks why so many lions? Did I finally find the subject matter I’ll paint the rest of my life.
David, what I’m showing here are a couple of things. What I paint each day and I’m also giving an example of how I prepare a series for filming. The next series being filmed is the wildlife series. I’m modifying my normal wildlife technique to include Valerie stewart’s pet portrait techniques. This will allow you the ability to peek over my shoulder and see how I work out new subject matters, perfect the technique and then select the most dramatic paintings for filming.
I must receive this question at least 3-4 times a week.
Yes. We can always go back and correct a painting.
Yesterday was a good example. I’m working on a lion portrait. He’s sitting just at the edge of the jungle, watching the dinners go by. Sharp teeth and powerful jaws. Only something’s not right. I can’t figure it out. So I go over to the computer and am browsing the email. Margie has sent me one that says the eye is wrong.
I encourage everyone to paint at least 5 minutes a day. It does not matter if you paint an entire picture each time you sit down at the canvas, or merely improve upon one of your paintings in process.
To encourage everyone, I am showing what I do each day.
Today I got up a bit early. Couldn’t sleep. Too hot to go into the computer room.
The good news is my studio is in the basement. And on a hot day, that’s the place to be.
So I did the second step on the eagle, which is taking the underpainting canvas and developing the wildlife portrait further. Take a look at the two steps below.
And here’s Step1. 
If I get any more time today, I shall work on my elephants. I have a mother standing with her child. You may have already seen this before. 
I sat down today to really give the Alexander leaf and badger brushes a real work out. I wasn’t too sure what kind of flower painting to do. So I just started with the basic poppy and surrounded a couple of red poppies with the white poppies. Couldn’t leave well enough alone, so added the turquoise wildflowers and a couple of daisies. Three buds for each of my children and leaves surrounding everything. I love the brushes. I could not tell the difference between the badger brushes. The leaf brushes work very well and one can even do the petals with them as well……..but you need a very light, light touch.
Darrell, I am enjoying your paintings so much. I look forward every day for my e-mail of your paintings. They are just simply wonderful. I also enjoy your stories you write. Painting is what you feel inside and putting it on a canvas water, streams, tress, flowers,all these thing are of such beauty. As I told you before I love painting old barns with fences also winter scenes old cabins. I get up every sat. morning to watch bob ross. I really love watching him paint as I love the way you explain your paintings. My husband tells me I am getting hooked on your lessons . They are great Darrell, hope you have a wonderful day. Marlene.
Thank you Marlene and may your day be blessed ten fold!
