How Thick is Too Thick

Acrylic Impasto Palette Knife Painting

Today I decided to paint over a painting of red tulips that I did when I first started painting with thick acrylic paint.  First, I painted over them with a dark pink (this one not shown).  I wasn't too happy with that so I added in some white.  Then I decided the leaves & stems needed to be thicker (2nd photo).  Next, oh my, the jar looks wimpy.  So on & on the thick paint was piled on with the palette knife, really, really, thick (3rd photo)!

Oops, too thick, too messy & playing around in it didn't help.  Knowing when to stop is not always easy. 

~Sarah

Fun Flowers

Acrylic Impasto Painting

These simple flowers were fun to teach.  The kids enjoy picking out the colors & most any color will work.  Quick, easy, & fun = happy painting.

~ Sarah

Sunny Beach

Acrylic Impasto Painting

Today I had fun helping the kids create beach paintings.  They wanted to see just how thick the paint could be piled on. 

So much fun.  Such great memories.

~ Sarah

Seaside & Sun

Acrylic on Canvas Panel

Today, Jenna wanted to create a special painting for her mom.  It rained almost everyday on their vacation to Seaside, Florida & ruined most of the delightful activities her mom had planned.

Even though it rained, Jenna said she still had lots of fun being with her family.

We came up with little painting as a memento of her vacation.  I think her mom will be very proud of her.

In this painting I loaded the knife for her but she completed the most of the strokes on her own.  She's learning more & more each time we paint.  I'm also learning a few things too.

Before the summer is over, teach a child to paint.  I promise you will learn something.

~ Sarah

Gold Star Sunflowers

6"x6" Acrylic on canvas

This is another project that I helped 7 year old Jenna with.  She quickly caught on to the sunflower stroke & completed this sweet little sunflower painting in no time.

I most definitely think it deserves a gold star.

~Sarah

Jenna's First Tulips

6"x6" Acrylic on Canvas

I have always enjoyed working with my grandchildren on a variety of art projects.  However, when my seven year old granddaughter, Jenna, announced that she wanted to learn how to use the palette knife, I really had to think about a number of issues.  Safety, type of paint, & fun projects that could be completely quickly all had to be considered.

I decided that acrylics might be the best choice.  And since I paint in oils, I had to do some experimenting.  The main thing I had to think about was safety.  I didn't want her wiping the blade of the knife with her fingers between 2 layers of paper towel as I normally do.  I tried a different system of cleaning the blade that seemed to work pretty good with the acrylic paint.  First we tore off a generous supply of paper towels, folded them in half, & stacked them in a neat pile (Nancy Medina taught me to do this & I do this every time I oil paint -Thanks Nancy!)  Then, after each stroke, we wiped the blade on the pile of paper towels to remove the excess paint (without picking up the paper towels).  We then dipped the knife in water & then again wiped off the front & back of the blade on a clean towel (still not picking up the paper towel).  If absolutely necessary, we folded over several layers of paper towel & carefully cleaned the blade.  Yes, we used a lot of paper towels but that's a small price to pay for safety.

And now for the fun project.  Jenna chose to paint pink tulips that would match her room.  She also wanted to include turquoise which is her favorite color.  I happened to have a tube of "Teal" by Golden Acrylics & that seemed to please her.  After practicing palette knife strokes on the back of a foam plate, she painted these perky, little pink tulips that she will proudly display in her room.

If you need a fuzzy, feel-good feeling, just get out there & teach a child some art today!

~Sarah

Playful White Tulips

6"x6" Acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

Although I almost always paint with oils, lately I have been playing around with thick acrylic paint in preparation to assist my 7 year old granddaughter, Jenna with a series of palette knife paintings.  She is learning to use the palette knife & is anxious to create her own art collection to decorate her newly revamped room.  Can't wait to see what she comes up with

~ Sarah

Casita Sunshine

16x20 Oil on Canvas

"Casita Sunshine" is my latest painting drying on the easel.

Recently I stayed at a charming little casita nestled on a ridge outside of Taos.  It overlooked a large valley scattered with lovely adobe houses.  Each morning I got up early to see the sun rise over Taos Mountain & the spectacular shadows on the colorful gates & doors of the adobe structures.

I couldn't wait to get home & paint one of these colorful doors.

~ Sarah

St. Remy Olive Trees

12x19 Oil   SOLD

If there was ever a place on earth that I felt completely at peace, it was the monastery & grounds at Saint-Paul's Mental Home (or hospital) near St. Remy where Van Gogh painted a large number of his works (150 from May 8, 1889 - May 16, 1890).

"St. Remy Olive Trees" was painted from a photo I took on the right side of the lane leading up to the hospital.  Even after experiencing all the beauty of Provence, this was one of my favorite places, a place where I could meditate & feel at peace, a place where I would have loved to have had the luxury of lingering longer.  I truly believe that Vincent felt at peace here also.  Many times, I have asked myself if my feelings had anything to do with me being a psychiatric nurse.  I'm not quite sure of that answer but I do know how I felt.

This painting was done rather quickly entirely with the palette knife.  Some of the colors are a little harsh but the convey the emotions I felt while painting.

- Sarah

Memories of Tuscany

16x20 Oil

I have many wonderful memories of Tuscany & LaVitaleta Chapel is definitely one of them.  We had just visited Pienza & all their wonderful cheese shops & were driving back to the villa on that crisp, fall day when ~ bam ~ there it was on the right side of the roadway in a freshly plowed field.  It was more beautiful than any of the pictures I had seen on postcards & calendars.  I knew then that one day I would paint it but wasn't sure just how.

This painting is representational of my memories as well as my dreams of Tuscany ~ large open doors & windows, sunflowers, poppies, peace and beauty, and the spirit surrounding this special little chapel.

- Sarah