Create an Abstract Landscape Diptych with Paint & Mixedmedia
Finding the Heroes in Your Painting
Great Art has clarity. The viewer is instantly drawn to it because it doesn’t confuse or overwhelm. It’s strong in message, even if the message is only “look at this gorgeous colour” or “look at this lovely combination of shapes”. In this video I demonstrate by using one of my own paintings, showing how I improved it by getting very clear on what are the HEROES. Once I could identify these I could eliminate the distractions and make them stronger. Watch the video and then take a look at your own work with fresh eyes and a new perspective.
Combining My Favourite Shapes with my Favourite Techniques in Mixed Media Painting
In this video, I demonstrate in my sketchbook how I combine my favorite shapes with my favorite mixed-media painting techniques. I like to contrast different shapes with lines and also contrast a range of surface effects by using mixed media with a variety of techniques. This creates a painting that offers so much more on close inspection but also demands attention with emphasis on strong design and shape.
How to Progress when Painting is STUCK
What to do when you love parts of your painting, but not all of it. In this video I talk about how I solved this problem with a painting of mine. I didn’t want to lose what I loved, but I had to make some changes. This can be daunting and involves taking a big risk - but if you’re game, the rewards are worth it. Let me show you how…
Using Stencils to Create Original and Unique Abstract Art
What to focus on when finishing your Abstract Painting
How do you know when your abstract painting is finished? In this video, I take you through the process with one of my paintings, showing you what I didn’t like about it and how I fixed it and finished the work. I talk about what I focus on and what questions I ask the painting in order to gain clarity around what steps to take next.
1. Make a big move to disrupt the work and make a big change
2. Rotate the work so you see it differently
3. Ask: What have I got?
4. Look for repetition and ask: Do I need this? Have I already got this somewhere else?
5. Is my eye led around the composition?
When you have worked through these questions, and you’re happy with the work, stand back and walk away. Look at it again after a few days to see if you still feel the same.
Drawing with Freedom for More Expressive Results
Using Mixed Media to Create Complexity and then Simplifying with Shape
The contrast of two opposites - Simplicity and Complexity always fascinates me. In this video I demonstrate how I create a complex surface and then create a composition by using simple shapes.
Using Collage, Paint, Acrylic Ink, and Paint pens, I build the surface in layers and then go about finding a composition made of simple shapes. Once the complex surface is created in this demonstration, the focus switches to simplifying to create an interesting and integrated composition.
Creating a small mixedmedia painting in less than 1 hour
What to Consider in Choosing a Frame for your Artwork
In this video I share the most important considerations when choosing a frame. After completing your gorgeous painting you don’t want to choose the wrong frame, so it’s important to take some time and figure out what type of frame will suit the painting best. Your frame should enhance the artwork, not be a distraction to it.
Who to listen to about YOUR Art
Seeking advice from the wrong people can derail our art and steer us in the wrong direction. It’s so important we don’t fall into the trap of asking the wrong people just because it’s convenient. We need to find company that supports our work and helps us to make our best work. When we ask the wrong people we get bad advice and it’s often biased towards making work to please others - often our nearest and dearest. In this video I talk about seeking the opinion of others, why it’s important and where to find the best advice.
What to Do When Your Painting Is A Disaster!
Sometimes your painting session just goes WRONG! We all have days like that. In this video you will see me create a really Ugly painting - I never intended to - it just WENT WRONG! But then I fixed it. So watch the process of finding a new direction and resolving a mess. There are some fundamental studio practices that we can learn from this
🎨 when conditions in the studio are not right - don’t just persevere - correct the problem
🎨 Take a break, always walk away from a painting when you’re getting frustrated - otherwise you’ll continue to make bad decisions
🎨 Come back to it when you’re ready, with clean brushes, clean water and a fresh paint palette
🎨 Trust yourself and your process. If you don’t have a process you can trust - GET ONE! Check out my stARTs Course: https://www.judywoodsart.com/starts1
What I do after the Gesso
In this video, I demonstrate what I do after I’ve applied a couple of coats of Gesso. I use black and white Gesso so that my painting already has a variety of marks, effects and tonal values. My process is intuitive - I don’t have a plan, but rather decide and respond to the colours and paint effects that arrive through experimentation. There is a method that I use to avoid creating a mess which has no direction which could happen when painting in this explorative way.
Watch the video to see how I start my paintings with colour and line and make sure you watch to the end to see a surprise tip for getting the BEST results.
How to Create a Mixedmedia Abstract Landscape Painting
Using acrylic paint, ink and drawing media in this video I demonstrate how to create an abstract landscape painting. This technique can be used to create a painting of a place from your memory or to create a landscape you’ve only imagined. Watch as the painting emerges from building layers of colour and then by adding suggestive details at the end the landscape is found. This is an exciting way to paint!
A Demonstration on How to Integrate Drawing into Abstract Painting
This is ideal if you want to move towards abstract art but don’t want to let go of a representational element altogether. In this video, I demonstrate how I build a painting in layers using acrylic paint and line. The drawn line refers to botanicals in this case, but you can combine any subject matter into your abstract work using this method. You could draw from life, photos, or even include collage - which I also demonstrate in many of my other videos.
Drawing with Freedom & Expression for BEST RESULTS
The key to good drawing is OBSERVATION!! Having the ability to observe the subject and represent it on paper doesn’t have to be a laborious exercise. Instead, by keenly observing the subject and allowing your pencil the freedom to record what you see AS YOU SEE IT you can create a drawing that has personality and is much more expressive. This type of drawing will convey a feeling rather than recording a photographic likeness. This is my favourite type of drawing.
In this video I show some examples of figure drawing done during a Drama Festival while I was watching young actors on stage. Then in my sketchbook, back in my studio I draw my daughter in the same style and this time create a composition with abstract shapes, line and markmaking. Watch to see how I integrate the drawing with the painting and use different media within the work.
Combining Paint, Acrylic Ink and Drawing
In this video I show what media and tools I use to start my paintings. I want to quickly create a surface full of interest with shape, line and colour as well as creating texture and variety in paint effects. Watch me demonstrate in my sketchbook exactly how I start my large canvases by combining shape, line and texture with a range of media.
The stencil shapes used in the video can be purchased from https://www.stencilgirlproducts.com/stencils-by-Judy-Woods-s/2196.htm.
Avoid the Blank Canvas - Use Gesso to Paint
Starting a painting and making that first mark on a blank canvas can be daunting. In this video, I show you how to avoid this nervous starting point by using Gesso to create a beautiful surface instead of a flat blank canvas.
By painting with Gesso, applying it with a variety of tools, and allowing water to flow through the thick paint, you can build depth and subtlety into those first layers. Before you know it, you’ve started a beautiful and exciting painting and avoided the nervousness altogether.
Watch this video and alternate between Black and White Gesso to create depth and interest to your canvas. Using a variety of tools, from squeegee to comb, you can experiment and discover the effects you love as the foundation to your next painting.
A Quick Exercise to Create Good Design
Recognizing good design in your painting is imperative to being able to create successful artwork. So exercising your ‘design muscle’ so that you can recognize and create good design and correct bad design is part of an artists creative fitness routine! In this video I show you a quick exercise you can do in your sketchbook using pages from an old Calendar. Ripping these up to create new and interesting shape and linear combinations, and then improve the design by layering more collage over the top. All you need is some bold graphic collage material and some glue. Within a fun half hour you will have created a bold design that could be the inspiration for new work. Have fun!