Top 5 Ways to Giving Your Art

With the season of giving right around the corner, how can you gift those special people on your list with your art work?

Make Christmas Cards

1.They do not have to have a Christmas or even a winter theme. You can send them or bundle them up as a gift.

2. You can have an image gicleed (Elite Lithographers) about $100-$250 depending on size etc. You can then make inexpensive, very professional cards with any written message on the inside, front or back. Basically you can design your own card. Envelopes will be extra. This becomes very economical when you have planned to giclee the image anyway.

3.You can go to Staples and have them color photocopy your artwork image on Card stock. Some will even cut and fold the cards for you. Envelopes will be extra
Note: Do not make your cards to large...there can be a big jump in postage!!!
If you include a message inside the card, it will cost more.

4. You can take your image as a jpeg to London Drugs, Walmart, Superstore etc and have it printed on cards,T-shirts, mouse pads, coffee cups, calendars, books etc

5. I have received cards that have an actual 4x6 photo of the art work attached to the front. There are special cards for this and they can be picked up at any art supply store. Remember that the photo must show only the art work - NO background or frame. Use a Paint program to crop out the extra stuff.

I have found that people cherish and even frame some of my Christmas cards and they truly appreciate receiving them, so don't be shy!!!

Do you have any other ideas? Let me know and I will post them!
lwatmough@shaw.ca

What You Should Know about Framing!!

Framing- it is the final and most beneficial element you can add to your painting. Why do people cheap out and head to Walmart for the $5 special? After all that hard work you need to elevate your art, not 'make do' with an inappropriate wrap around.
Things you should know about frames and presentation...

1. Framing should enhance your picture, not necessarily match your decor. Why? Your decor can change but the painting doesn't. The framing can be updated but that happens usually every 8-10 yrs. so the cost is very little per year.

2. Do not have the liner ( the light colored fabric) and the frame the same size. This creates two solid lines around your work and can be very distracting. Either the liner or the frame is the larger element.

3. Do not put too small a frame on your painting....it will look like it is squeezed into a tight spot and needs to breathe.

4. If you use a liner make sure it is at least 1 1/2 inches wide. The usual in galleries is a 3" mat with a thinner frame, or a 3-6" wooden frame( moulding only) without a liner. This gives 'presence' to your work and helps it stand out on a wall.

5. Floating frames can be metal or wood and provide a clean modern look that does not distract . Not all works look their best in a minimalist frame. Choose a style that is reflected in your work. A classic frame for a classic painting, a modern frame for a modern painting.

6. Dark painting - dark frame...light painting - light frame. This is very general, but it is a good guideline.

7. Plein air frames are wide, at least 3-6" and are gold leaf, silver or solid black. They do not have a liner. They are considered neutral and show off the brushwork and color of outdoor paintings. Since most plein air paintings are small, these wide mouldings help make the art more prominent on a wall. The gold/silver/black colors go with any decor or style.

8. Most standard sized paintings have more inexpensive frames that are ready made. These are the ones I carry or can order. Standard sizes are:
8x10, 11x14, 9x12, 12x16, 14x18, 16x20, 18x24, 20x24. If you paint on odd sized canvas you will have to order a custom frame.

9. Custom frames allow you to pick from a variety of liners ( including black and other colors) and many colored wood and composite frames.

10. Look at gallery framing. Some artists that show in galleries frame all their art in the same or similar way. The framing is usually very neutral to appeal to most buyers. Sometimes the gallery will chose the frame ( because they know the trends and their customers). This is a great place to get ideas and to see what specific frames look like up on a wall.

Framing allows for personal taste, and what some one loves, another doesn't. Remember that presentation is very important and should reflect the quality of the art work! A great frame can make a good piece of art better... a poor frame can make a good piece of art look REAL BAD!!

For Best Results

Many famous and successful artists rely on photographs for their paintings. Some take the picture keeping in mind that they are composing as they are shooting the photo.The photo then needs very little alteration before being transferred to the canvas. Many wildlife artists, Banovich, Seerey-Lester and Brenders rely on good quality references to be able to depict animals in a realistic manner. A safari without a camera? Never! Professional portrait artists also take photos as well as sketches.


How to take a great photo:

1. Common direction for light source.Place a mark or toothpick on your camera to see where the shadow fall from the light source. You can mix and match many photos to easily compose a painting as long as the light comes from the same direction. If the light direction is different in every photo,there is alot of guess work and fudging to do and that takes more time than necessary.



2. Have a strong pattern of light and dark. This adds drama to your composition. The strong patterns are usually in mid morning or late afternoon.



3. Take multi shots. Try a panoramic view. I like to take a photo in front of the subject and behind the subject. Many times these photos have nice details to add, and they are in the same light, under the same conditions so it is easy to incorporate them.



4. No flash! Use a flash only to clarify information in shadows. natural light is best. It shows off the colors more clearly.

Remember, with digital cameras there is no wasted shots. The hardest part is deleting those images that really aren't suitable.....be ruthless! There are a thousand more paintings just outside your back door.....

Photo Tips for Artists

Painting from life is a wonderful experience, but not always a convenient one. The colors of fall are waiting to be captured!
Artist need to know how to take GREAT reference photos!
Why Use Photos?
1. An in focus, sharp photo is a great reminder of the scene/experience that you wanted to paint. When you are in the studio, a photo can take you back so you can re-experience the moment.
2. Artists can take more time and examine the value patterns ( the lights and darks) and the correct shapes of the subject.
3. They are a reminder of the color patterns and tones in the subject.
4. People and animals run away and fruit tends to spoil!

Disadvantages of a photograph!
1.Highlights tend to be colorless. Make mental notes of the highlight colors or the lightest two values.
2. Shadow areas are shown as black or dark blobs with no value change and little information. Again, focus on the shadow areas to be able to portray what is in them.
3. Distortion of lines. Watch out for horse legs, buildings or anything with long relatively straight lines. Because a camera has a curved lens, the long horizontal lines tend to curve. They are easily straightened out if you are aware of them. Take a photo with a telephoto lens- less distortion.
4.Color may change with printing. The truest colors are from slides which are now hard to find. Try your computer monitor. I know of artists who use the computer screen photo as a reference and have it beside them when they paint.


Take photos with different atmospheric conditions-misty, cloudy, raining, snowing, hailing. The story for your painting is tied into the weather...it is an important part of your composition and concept.

Take digital shots with the idea that you can enhance the light or density of your shot if there is not enough information. Get familiar with photoshop or other more user friendly software.

Ever notice that the photo looks better on the computer screen that on a print? To help capture that look away from the laptop, place a clip on a metal student desk lamp and view you photo with the light coming from behind. Inexpensive light tables are also available at art supply or craft stores. The Cheapest One is an old picture frame with only the glass firmly attached to the inside. Place the frame on your knee and have a bright light on the floor shine through the glass and your picture on it. Cost-one garage sale frame, glass and cheap lamp.

Art Answers for you!

There are so many questions related to painting and drawing that a blog dealing with them is long overdue. I operate on the premise that what I don't know someone will gladly tell me, if I am somewhat wrong, many more people will gladly tell me.
As a community artists are notorious for not sharing their secrets...well, let's change that. If you have info or sites to share please email me lwatmough@shaw.ca and I will incorporate it in this blog!