The Joy of Painting Pictures

When first starting to paint on a canvas it was a totally new experience for me. My first baby was just a few weeks old and while walking with him past a shop it was fun to go in and explore the paints and things on display. Something inside was pushing me to buy some and have a go. Selecting a few student oils on the advice of the shopkeeper it meant taking some canvas boards and brushes along with me. A nice picture of the Darling River in New South Wales was the inspiration for my first painting. Believe it or not that work still hangs on the wall in my home some 48 years later. Despite it being in student oils it is as good as the day it was painted. Since then many paintings have followed and graduating to artist oils was not such a big deal.

The results are magic and over time they seem to grow in color and perfection. Tempted to put a few in exhibitions was another experience as it taught me that good painting are valuable to others as well as myself. The gift artists have to draw and paint beautiful scenes is extra special and many have natural talents born within them. This happened to me. As a young child, there were always paintings pouring out of me over paper using chalk as the medium. That was all there was available in those days as it was during the Second World War years mainly. With the memory of my reincarnation, it is highly likely that in my previous life art was one of my pastimes. Carrying such things over from one life to the next is something my experience taught me.

This was emphasized because of the other language that also came with me and through which my communication with the Spirit of the Universe continued. It was obvious that link that led me into the craft shop that day and which has guided my hand ever since. Painting is one of those wonderful hobbies that allows the inner voice to be heard. It sill guides me in everything I do and probably no more so than while painting and writing. For anyone who believes they would get pleasure from expressing their talents on canvas, there is nothing stopping them from giving it a shot.

They don't need much to start and there is no telling where it might lead them. They don't need to even draw these days as one can project an image onto the canvas and paint it. There are also many different techniques and paint mediums now that range from watercolors to pastels and so on. Norma Holt has knowledge that enables her to understand many issues. Political, social and behavioral problems are usually on her list for the discussion and the depth of her research will amaze. 

Painting Outdoors or In the Studio

My experience with painting happened when I first visited my uncle's graphic arts studio, where I took contact with the tempers and brushes as well as other materials used in that activity. I remember that the jars of tempera came from Germany and Holland. The tempera is a material that is diluted with water, and using a brush is transferred to the paper. It is a painting that covers, contrasting with watercolor that is transparent or the ink that could be. The oil is a material that covers as well but offers a different texture and its use is more for paintings over canvases. The use of the tempura was destined for commercial work. Additionally, to my experience with tempera in mostly commercial works, I also got experience with oil painting. Indeed, when I was in high school, I had the opportunity to attend an oil painting course, taught by a professor at the School of Fine Arts in Lima, during the school holidays.

In there I learned a lot from the technique of oil painting, and especially the painting of still life and models that took place in the school halls. After these initial experiences, which were as painting in the studio, I could say that my first experience of painting outdoors was when I attended school painting contests. In such contests participated all high school's students of the city. The organizers carried us to some interesting square, where generally one of the buildings was a church or the municipality local. The material that we used was an oil painting on a rigid cardboard base. Some participants used shoe polish as a paint. The winners of the contest got prizes and diplomas. At one time I rented a room in my aunt's house and there I remember working many oil paintings. I had learned to prepare the canvases and that made my work easier and more economical. A few years ago I became more interested in watercolor painting.

I already had experience with such material, but I think that after seeing the works of watercolor artists in the art salons that were organized in my city, I felt a desire to learn more about this technique and began to paint with it. I decided to do some watercolors outdoors and for that, I looked for the scenery outside the city. Scenery with fields, trees, rivers and blue sky. Furthermore, it's important a sunny climate, because in order to paint outdoors is advisable a sunny day, as there are lights and shadows that contrast the painting. The best time to paint outdoors is to do it before or afternoon because in those hours the shadows are much better appreciated. Actually, painting outdoors is really a very pleasant experience and it's more when you achieve a good painting, as it's the same as winning a challenge.

It's advisable to take an easel and a folding chair, although in the field you can find somewhere to sit. The easel must be supported with a weight, which can be a stone that hangs from it. This is done so that no unwanted wind will pull it down. The paper must be previously glued to a wooden base, but you can also use watercolor blocks whose sides are glued. Furthermore, you need to consider that painting an outdoor watercolor is a process that must be executed quickly, as the sunlight changes rapidly and there may be variation in colors, although not so much informs, except when you are painting animals like cattle, horses or birds. Finally, you must overcome the situation of being seen by the people or someone who comes and makes comments. Generally, there are few who stop to observe when one paints, and if it happens you should remain concentrated in your painting.