custom painting Archives – Celebrating Color

Watch the Custom Horse Painting Demo of ‘River’ | Stage 5

February 19, 2015 By Carol McIntyre

In stage 4 (see below)of this custom horse painting of ‘River,’ he was coming to life but still looking a little naked – definitely bald – without his tail an mane.

I had been wondering how the entire painting would alter in feel once they were added. However, before I added his flowing tail and mane (and it was difficult resisting from doing so. I wanted to see the cherry on top too! LOL!), I had to make several adjustments in the background and on his body. I like to call it fine tuning. By the way, fine tuning does take several hours. Much of the time is standing back away from the painting and assessing what needs to be tweaked. I also walk back and forth fairly often.

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Watch the Custom Horse Painting Demo of ‘River’ | Stage 4

February 11, 2015 By Carol McIntyre

As I continue this custom horse painting demo of ‘River,’ I have increased my horse language and learned all kinds of things about the unique characteristics of horses. I am glad that I have models across and up the street from me. The real model surpasses studying photographs.

When you have been around a horse, have you ever taken a few minutes and watched its ears swivel? Have you noticed how the ears can face the same direction simultaneously and the next second one ear turns to a completely different direction? They are similar to two separate radar satellites. It is entertaining to watch and make sure the next time you are around a horse, notice how his/her ears move. They could be telling you something.

As in every commission painting I create, I am always learning something – one the many benefits of commissioned paintings that I enjoy. ‘River’ has been teaching me a lot about his family of horses. They are complex and spiritual beings that, I believe, will always offer mystery to we humans. In fact, this intrigues us. They project strong contrasts – huge, powerful and intimidating, yet soft and gentle; quiet for most part, yet full of stories to tell and not afraid to let you know how they feel; lumbering when they walk, yet graceful and light on their feet when on the run.

At this stage of the painting, I have have begun altering the background slightly by adding some texture with my palette knife. I do this by lightly scraping thin layers of color across the canvas.

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Watch the Custom Horse Painting Demo of ‘River’ | Stage 3

February 7, 2015 By Carol McIntyre

Up to this point, River has been looking a little awkward – much like an adolescent. He needs beefing up and this is what normally happens as a painting develops. When you last saw him, see below looked a little anemic and not quite together — kind of like an overgrown colt…?? Please visit Stage 2 blog post of River to see earlier stages of the painting.

As I add more paint, I am developing the lights and darks on his body, which are starting to show off his muscles and his power. I also widened his head and moved his ears. Is he starting to look more like River?
I am also softening the background colors and below you see that these colors are starting to gradate or blend more into each other. Meanwhile, I have been playing Karen Carpenter songs as I paint. Apparently River loved her songs and listening to Beth sing them to him. How cool is that!

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Watch the Horse Painting Demo of River | Stage 1

February 5, 2015 By Carol McIntyre

Beth contacted me requesting that I transform the vision she saw of her horse, River, into a painting. Initially I was hesitant because horses are not my expertise and I know there are many equine artists. She insisted that I be the one to paint her beloved River, because she loves my use of color and my other paintings. Not to be deterred by a challenge, I said, “Yes.” Living in the countryside of Colorado also helps, because I literally have horses across and up the street from me.

River left this earth in 2014, and Beth has commissioned me to paint the image she saw in her vision shortly after he died. In my process of creating custom paintings, I always conduct on in depth interview. This is essential for me and the client because it helps me to begin to envision the ultimate painting. Photo resources were collected and internet research to conducted to gather up images for me to use. Here is River looking out from his barn. Isn’t he a handsome dude? I understand he was quite the character as well.

As a result of the interview and photo references, my image of River started to develop in my minds eye. Once we agreed on the ultimate size of the painting, I then asked Beth to approve a sketch. It took a couple a sketches and then she agreed upon this one. The goal at this stage is to get the positioning, action and proportions correct. Other details will be worked out later as I paint.

horse painting demo The next phase in the development of this horse painting, involves transferring a 5×7 sketch onto a 18×24 canvas. I use the grid drawing system which has been around for centuries. First, the sketch has to be drawn in proportion to the canvas size. Then I draw in the grid lines. I should mention that Beth had approved the color palette I am to use and you can see it here. This color scheme was one I created based on our interview, River’s coloring and the spirit of the painting.

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Preparing Papers for Collage Paintings

April 22, 2010 By Carol McIntyre

Varnishing paper/cloth for collage (click to enlarge)

Have you ever wanted to use very fragile papers in a collage but did not know how to prepare them? Often, some tissue papers can be so thin and flimsy that when it comes to applying them to the surface of collage artwork, it falls a part or disintegrates; hence making a mess and nearly impossible to apply the paper easily.

I learned from a fellow artist that “Gloss Medium & Varnish Medium” made by Liquitex is a good medium to start with, (I have a 16oz bottle visible in the photo). First, I must have a white plastic garbage bag – no other colored bag works – to place down on my table. Then I lay out the papers I want varnished (one of my favorites is old sewing patterns). With an inexpensive 2″ brush I gently apply this varnish on one side of the paper. Acrylic paint can be added to the varnish for color if desired. Once the varnished papers are dry — it is transparent when it dries — I then v-e-r-y carefully peel off the paper from the plastic bag, turn it over and varnish the other side.

The varnish is archival, but I do not know if this process makes my non-archival papers — old sheet music, fabric, sewing patterns, mags, etc. — archival or not. If you know, please share!

I am off to a collage workshop with internationally known collage artist Jonathan Talbot, and I hope to learn the answers to several questions. He seems to be a great teacher, so I am truly looking forward to it. I will also be meeting people I have not met before. Fun!