How to See More Colors than Most People!

Want to really SEE what I’m talking about?

Grab a pencil and paper. Now go find a rose - a real one (you don't have to pick it). An artificial flower won't work - honest.

Choose a colorful blossom that is pink or peach or variegated, to make it easier this first time (dark reds or whites are more difficult).

Spend 10 minutes studying the color of this rose. Write down every color you see.

After about 5 seconds you'll have listed the basic colors and feel like you are done.

Keep looking!

You'll begin to see subtle color differences. Make up names for them. You might see: soft peach, rosy peach, orangey peach, golden peach, pinkish peach, pale pinkish peach, pale pinkish-yellowish peach, greenish peach (yup, I said greenish peach).... you get the idea.

Aim for a listing of 100 different colors.

The point isn't to uniquely "name" each color. The point is to "SEE" the differences in the colors. Make note of all those subtle, subtle changes.
 
When you can see it, you can paint it. When you can paint it, your paintings will glow.

Now obviously, these images that I have on my blog can't possibly show you the amazing variations of color. You can look at photos and images on the web - but you still won't see all the colors until you sit down with the actual object (rose, tree trunk, lemon, whatever....) and STUDY it with the eyes of an Artist.

How to Store Art Brushes So That They Last For Years

What's the BEST way to Store Your Art Brushes?
Protect your investment - take good care of your Art Brushes and they can last you for years. Store your brushes by either laying them on a flat surface, or standing them on the handle (bristle end up) in a storage container.

Before storing your brushes this way, make sure they are as clean and as dry as possible. (Read Caring for Art Brushes)

Never, never, EVER store your brushes, bristle down in a brush holding container.

In fact, don't leave your brushes sitting bristle down in your water or cleaning fluid - even while you are painting!

Types of Storage
My favorite method for keeping your brushes in great condition is a canvas brush holder that allows you to place each brush into it’s own pocket. The best ones allow you to stand your brushes up while you are using them and then allow you to fold, creating a protective case, or roll the canvas and tie it into a bundle. These are great for transporting your brushes to workshops, for plein aire painting and traveling with your supplies.

If you prefer something more durable, there are many styles of boxes and canisters that will keep your investment safe. Some double as water or solvent containers. Be sure that you purchase something that will keep your brushes suspended and secure, to avoid damage during transportation. Be careful of canvas brush holders that do not have separate pockets.

Here are some great canvas brush holders on Amazon:

Bamboo Mats as Brush Holders I also caution students about rolling brushes in bamboo mats. These can be rough on the hairs of fine brushes and cause them to break off.

There are new types of brush holders that allow you to hang your cleaned brushes with the bristle end pointing downward, while keeping the hair or bristle end free-hanging. These are great for storing your brushes while they are still wet and allow the moisture to drain away.

Water Basin
For keeping your brushes moist during the painting process (especially if you are using acrylics), you can use a brush basin that allows your brushes to lay suspended in the water or solvent. I don't recommend leaving your brushes in the solvent or water for long periods of time (overnight or for days), unless you are trying to remove dried medium from them. Clean your brushes thoroughly and them store them properly at the end of each painting session.

The easiest and least expensive is to use a nice jar, bottle, coffee can, potato chip can, or whatever strikes your fancy (this works best if you intend to keep your brushes in your studio and not transport them). Just be SURE to stand your clean & dry brushes with the handle down and the bristles UP!

Death of a Brush

Never, never, NEVER, tote your brushes loose in a case, box or bag. This will ruin your brushes just as fast as not thoroughly cleaning your brushes!

Having A Great Time - Wish You Were Here!

Sometimes it's just uber fun to show a typical day here at Froshay Fine Art Studio!

This is Shel.

He's lovingly referred to as our Studio Mascot!












Teresa is always trying something different — and always pulling it off!












Chanel curls up on the studio stools and gets as comfy as a cat.

How DOES she do that?!












Quiet and shy, Chi creates masterpiece after masterpiece - and always with a sweet smile!

Corrine tackles her glorious paintings with enthusiasm and style.

(She makes everything look sooooo easy!)








Roberto brings class to class every time.

Here he's just arrived but looks ready to hit the coast for a plein good time!

 

Ritu and Mary discuss the finer points of mixed media.

We share and share and share!











Mary giddy over creating a super fun 'bling' project.

Bet you can't guess how she did it!











Jamie helps Qiuqu find her missing palette.

There's a really funny story behind this photo...

There's one in every crowd . . .

 Shel our Mascot shows off once again!

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY EVERYONE!

Oil Painting: How to Mix a Rich Black (And Why You Should)

Amanda Fried

Paying it Forward
I've recently had the pleasure of working with an art student who came to me 9 years ago while she was a freshman in high school. Amanda studied with me for 4 years and after graduation went on to pursue a career in the arts. This summer between semesters, Amanda asked if she might intern with me.

What a wonderful delight to have her back in my studio but this time working with her to create visions of mine while sharing the ins and outs of running an art business with her.

New Videos for New Students
Amanda and I have been spent the past two weeks joyfully creating my New Student Orientation Videos for Oil Painting.

I make these 15 videos available for each new oil painting student who signs up for my art classes — and I've also provided them for my current students for review purposes. (If I missed sending you the link, please let me know).

"I can't thank you enough for making these videos. 

I am so beneficial from the clip #12 to #15. 

Very appreciated your time and effort!!

And the clips are very clever, short, simple, and easy to absorb."

~ Cynthia (current intermediate art student)

Why would you want to mix black when you can easily squirt out a black that's already available in a tube?

This short clip shows you how to create your own rich blacks and just one of the many answers to the above question. More are available in my classes and there are soooo many reasons to choose a rich black over a tube black (just ask any of my students).

#12 How to Mix a Rich Black © www.FroshayFineArt.com  

Next week we're beginning work on a series of new art videos for watercolor students! Whoo-hoo!

Thanks Amanda for helping my dreams to come true!

.

How To Live Longer And Healthier Through Art

Did you know... art helps you live longer and healthier?
Written by Guest Author: Tien Frogget

Did you know that looking at art on a regular basis affects your brain more than you know? Not only does it just affect the way you think and feel in the moment, but scientific studies have actually proven that art can make your brain healthier and even promote a longer life span!

In a study where human guinea pigs were hooked up to a brain scanner and shown 30 different works by world-renowned artists, they found that when the viewer looked at a piece of art that they really enjoyed, blood flow increased to the brain by 10 percent (the same as looking at a loved one!)

The test was carried out by selecting dozens of people who were chosen at random but were picked because they had no prior art knowledge. In this way, they would not be influenced by current trends, the popularity of the artist, and other people's tastes. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measured blood flow in the medial orbitofrontal cortex -- the part of the brain associated with desire and pleasure.

The increase in blood flow was directly related to how much the viewer enjoyed the piece. When they were shown works that the viewer thought was ugly, often times either little or no blood flow increased to the brain. Even though it may seem obvious that looking at something beautiful will make you feel good, the scientific study proved that it affects our brain even more than we previously thought. 

Viewing Art Helps You Think More Clearly
This study helps us to realize and define even more clearly that art is not just a luxury, as so many seem to think. Hanging a piece of art on your wall that you love does more than just make you feel good every day (as if that benefit wasn't enough!) If it can cause increased blood flow to your brain that helps you to think more clearly and have healthier cognitive function, then it can also improve your overall health.

Not only then do we want to spend extra time carefully selecting art that beautifies our home and work spaces, but it becomes increasingly important to provide beautiful art in places where it is imperative to our health -- hospitals, dentists, doctor's offices, chiropractors, wellness centers, spas, the list goes on and on. Finding someone who can bring in art that will positively affect the people who will be viewing that art is of the utmost importance.

A soothing image might help an anxious dental patient while they are having a cavity filled. A calm and peaceful work of art can effectively help someone waiting in an emergency room who is worried about a loved one. Or even something as simple as a relaxing painting can help someone who is usually stressed to find relaxation at a massage center.

Art is not just something that you hang on a wall to make a room a little prettier. It is in fact a necessity to our everyday life and cognitive health. This is why budget cuts that slash out creative and art programs in schools can be so detrimental to the health of our children -- often times much more so than we think. Even something as simple as placing the right art in your children's bedroom can make a difference. Consider letting your child tell you what makes them feel good and what they want to have around them on a regular basis. Something that makes them comfortable and happy can help them sleep better, think better, be more creative, and even study more effectively.

Take the time to select the right art for your living and workspace:
If you don't know what kind of art to choose, contact Froshay by calling 949-551-1987. She's a master of how art and color affect the environment and specializes in creating beautiful art for any space. 

Student Success Story: Jamie's Maui Painting

Triplets
See that gal? The first one on the left with the long blonde hair? Well that's our Jamie.

And why is she standing with three other people - each holding the same painting?

That painting is of Napili Kai beach resort on Maui, a very special place to Jamie and her family. In the 1960's Jamie's grandparents began visiting every year. Now 4 generations of her family have made Napili Kai a summer family vacation tradition. The resort holds many joyful memories for her and her family.

Last fall Jamie began creating her own original painting of this bay from images and her memory. She came to class several times every week, put in hours on her own at home and incorporated a number of private lessons in order to complete the piece before the Christmas holidays.

It was a lot of work but she made it with about a week to spare and had the painting imaged, printed and framed. And you can see the happy smiles as her family received them for Christmas.

Transformation
Although she intended this as a gift for her family, Jamie's greatest gift actually became a gift of inner growth. All her hard work and time has resulted in an exceptional mastery in oil painting.

I watch her in my classes deftly executing painting after painting with superb skill and speed. She put in a lot of hours last year - and now it's totally paying off.

A few months worth of investment has created Jamie into a first-rate artist. You go girl!

Artists: Expand Your Creative Observation in Just One Week

Increase your powers of Creative Observation with this simple daily exercise and you'll notice the difference in just one week!

DAY 1
Choose an everyday object and observe it using all of your senses:

• Study it, observe it's color, texture, patterns, shape and edges.
• Pick it up and feel it's textures and the weight of it
• Close your eyes - what does it smell like?
• Tap it with your fingers, how does that sound? Does it make a 'thunk', 'rustle' or a 'ping'? Run your fingers across it, can you feel a change in texture?
• Is this something that would have a taste? Is so, what would it taste like? Compare it other things.

Now put the object away - out of sight. Pick up your drawing pad and draw the object from memory. Include as much detail as you can and also aim at creating impressions of sound, smell and taste.

DAY 2
Again pick up the object and focus on it with all your senses, just as you did on day One. Again put the object aside and without looking at your previous drawing, draw the object once more. You don't have to draw the object from the same angle or position as you did on day One. In fact, it's best if you draw today using your new insights.

DAYS 3, 4, 5, & 6
Each day do the same things: observe, put aside and then draw the same object from a different perspective. Make sure that you DO NOT look back at any of your previous drawings.

DAY 7
On this final day SKIP observing the object - just draw it using all of your previous memories and senses. When you are finished with your final drawing, go back through all of your drawings and compare them. What changes do you see? How much has your observation of the object improved?