A trick to train your eye for design

A trick to train your eye for design

It’s Day 1 at the Art2Life destination Workshop in Morocco, and it’s hot! But we’re excited and just getting going using only black and white paint. It’s the best way to train your eye to see design very clearly. It’s easy to notice differences: what’s light, what’s...

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What I learned about acrylic paint.

I usually work with oil paint on large works, but I’ve run into some issues with the paint peeling after the canvas has been rolled and shipped. I’ve resisted working with acrylic because it dries so fast, but I’m using only acrylic on this large painting, and I’ve...

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I got stuck on this painting.

I got stuck on this painting.

I’ve been working on this piece, which has a lot of underpainting, and I got a little stuck. When going in with another layer, it’s easy to fall back into applying the same color in the same area as if you’re coloring. The trick is to come in with new paint without...

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How does self-love relate to your art?

How does self-love relate to your art?

Welcome back to the Art2Life Vlog! I’ve been hiking with my daughters in Colorado! This has given me a lot of time to think. There’s something that’s been on my mind recently, and that is self-love and how it relates to our art. Giving this art-making experience to...

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I’m finding my way as I go.

I’m finding my way as I go.

Welcome everyone, especially those of you who are new to this vlog! I'm just loving the conversations we share. Thank you for being here! This morning, I thought about how scary it was for me to start the Art2Life Podcast. I knew I wanted to do it, but I didn't know...

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Try This New Painting Surface!

Try This New Painting Surface!

I was looking at old artwork and remembering I used to paint on a joint compound. It's a material generally used with sheetrock found at any hardware store. I think of it as white mud. You can apply it to wood, and what's so cool is that it has a nice toothy texture...

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How to reframe rejection

How to reframe rejection

We announced the winners of the 5th Art2Life International Juried Art Exhibition! You can watch the recording of our Opening Reception featuring the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners, joined by our wonderful juror, Anita Rogers, as she discussed the thoughtful reasoning...

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Paint Anywhere with Vibrant Color

Paint Anywhere with Vibrant Color

I’m so excited to share a cool resource for intense color called, Viviva Colorsheets. The color in these watercolor sheets is amazingly vibrant! They come in two sets, Springtime and Metallic, and are the right size for on-the-go painting. Just tuck into your...

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Create Cool Effects with Glazing!

Create Cool Effects with Glazing!

If you're new to this vlog, welcome! This is a place to learn and share. If you have something you'd like to learn, leave a comment. Let's crowd-source all we know! Last week I showed how I glaze my paintings to harmonize all the colors. Today I want to show you the...

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Watch how I glaze my oil & acrylic paintings!

Watch how I glaze my oil & acrylic paintings!

The colors in this painting are pretty wild, but watch what happens when I start to glaze it. I'll first demonstrate how I glaze in oil using transparent paint, a product called Liquin, and odorless mineral spirits. Next I'll show you the same technique using acrylic...

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