The Artist's Reference: Color Definitions Simplified

HUE is the basic name of the color: red, blue, yellow, orange, green, purple.

PRIMARY HUES are Red, Yellow and Blue

SECONDARY HUES are those you get when you mix two primary colors.

ORANGE = Red + Yellow
GREEN = Blue + Yellow
VIOLET = Blue + Red

TERTIARY HUES are those you get when you mix a primary with a secondary color.

YELLOW-ORANGE = Yellow + Orange
RED-ORANGE = Red + Orange
YELLOW-GREEN = Yellow + Green
BLUE-GREEN = Blue + Green
RED-VIOLET = Red + Violet
BLUE-VIOLET = Blue + Violet


VALUE is the relative degree of lightness or darkness of a hue - it's grayness (white to black) - place any color on a black and white copy machine and you'll see it's value.

TONE is created by adding both
white and black to a hue so that
the color is grayed down

SHADE is any hue with black added

HUE refers to the pure color


TINT is any hue with white added

CHROMA refers to the hue's intensity or dullness

The difference between chroma and value is this. . .

with chroma you are considering how pure or intense the hue is.

with value you are paying no attention to the hue and are only considering the lightness or darkness.

Got it? Now go paint!

Still don't have it?
Go paint anyway! The whole idea is to have fun with this.

25 Ways to Improve Your Drawing Skills

Do these and you're Guaranteed

to Improve your Drawing Skills!

1. Draw

2. Draw by copying
    others drawings

3. Draw more

4. Draw more than
    yesterday

5. Draw when you don't
    want to draw

6. Draw when you DO want to draw

7. Draw doodles while waiting on the phone

8. Draw with finger paint


9. Draw on a chalkboard

10. Draw when you have something
     to draw
.
11. Draw when you don't have
     anything to draw

.

12. Draw with a stick in the dirt

13. Draw with your toes in the sand

14. Draw in the air with your fingers

15. Draw on your best friends back (try it with a feather)

16. Draw in the fog on your mirror

17. Draw in the spilled sugar on your table

18. Draw with water and a paintbrush on the sidewalk

19. Draw with your children (kids LOVE #18)

20. Draw in the dust on your
      furniture

21. Draw on your smart phone or tablet

22. Draw every day

23. Keep drawing

24. Draw with your fork in your mashed potatos

25. Draw with just your eyes 
     (see: "Improve Your Drawing Skills in 60 Seconds")
 
Any questions?

Just as you would not think you could learn to play a concerto after a few lessons... You can't learn to draw in just a few minutes or even with a few lessons. Art takes years to master — to master ANYTHING you GOTTA do the time - there's just no way around it.

What Differentiates an Art Teacher from a Master Art Instructor?

What Differentiates an Art Teacher from a Master Art Instructor
(This article was inspired by Cynthia)

I wasn't always what I consider, a master art instructor. I began teaching because my friends asked me to show them what I was learning. I was an art teacher, a craft teacher, a fellow student and explorer – I was just . . . me. I was stumbling my way through the experiences just as they were.
 
I didn't feel like my work was any better than theirs. In fact, I usually viewed others artwork as way better than my own (and I still do). And I wonder why they were asking me then to teach them. "What did I have to give that was different?"

Then one of my college professors shared something with my then husband. He said that I was a Leader. "Wendy? A leader?" was his response (and also mine when this was related back to me). "Wendy who never tells anyone what to do or how to be? Wendy who moves through life with her head in the clouds, paint on her hands and a vague understanding of how the real world operates? Wendy who has no understanding of business or management or... or... anything??"

And this college professor replied, "Yes. It's the Wendy who is always, always watching, hanging on every word, demonstration, technique and soaking in every idea related to art. The Wendy who eagerly jumps into trying everything – who tries and fails – tries and fails – tries and fails over and over, searching for and gathering all the seeds of success. The Wendy who can't wait to begin a new project and asks in earnest for her work to be shredded in a critique so she can make it better . . . The Wendy who shares everything she learns with anyone who asks with infectious enthusiasm".

Ah! There was the key that changed my life.

How I ALWAYS See My Students:

• I see their vibrant joy and excitement as they learn and grow through their own personal journey of exploration.
• I see their beautifully completed paintings from the beginning and through all their progressions.
• I hold this vision when they cannot see it and focus on bringing them to it.
• And because I know they can do it – they know it as well and they have more faith in their abilities.
• When they have more faith in themselves, they relax and allow their best to become.
• They do this, not I.
• All I do is hold the vision by pointing to the doors and then keep them open.

Thank you My Students for the Gifts YOU Give to Me

• You don't know this but you teach me every day, and often many, many times in every class.
• You make me stretch and grow, to become a better artist and to be worthy of teaching you.
• I think about you everyday. I think about how I can help you see more and I look forward in delight to each time I get to add your photo to the Student Showcase.
• You show me better ways to see, gentler ways to share and higher methods to expand my knowledge.

• You open your hearts to me and trust me with your fear.
• I feel valuable because of your love and appreciation.
• My heart leaps with every single one of your successes, because they are mine too.
• You bring me up when I feel down and fill me up when I am empty.
• You are a blessing in my life. You are my reward.
• We laugh together in class and you bring me smiles in my quietest alone moments.
• You humble me with your creativity and the incredible beauty that you evoke every day.
• I am better because of you. Not only a better artist, but a better human being, a better woman, mother, daughter, friend and visionary – and better at just plain being happy.
• I love you all.

~ Thank you with all my heart and soul,

Wendy Froshay 

From 3 Generations of Artists
GrandDaughter, Mother, GRAND Mother