Opinions please!

Acrylics are water based, so you only need water to make the paint thinner and they dry very fast, in minutes if you use a hairdryer and blow on the painting. You could test to make the background in acrylics and then make the motive in oil. Or just make it all in acrylics of course.. I like to paint on masonite that is first painted with water soluble paint. Then i take a brush or sponge and wet all the surface. Then the playground is ready for whatever colors I like to use - the water makes them mix and I can help with the sponge or move the painting so that I get the desired pattern. Also the hairdryer is great - it is easy to blow on the colors and they will move. When the background is dry, and ready for the motives, it is best to paint the motive in white first. In this stage it is possible to plan some shadows and paint thinner where the shadows should be. It will dry fast with the hairdryer. After that I add colors - many thin layers is more efficient than one thick. The color is transparent and the layers shine through each other so it might be good to test first on another masonite and see what it looks like. When the motive is ready, I highlight it with shadows and light color. They can also be made with thin paint in layers. You can make a painting ready in a few hours with acrylics or choose to make a part in oil. But the oil should always be used after the acrylics - never the other way. If you test and see, you will find your own ways to create, but acrylics are very fast and easy to make changes with. You can of course use it as water color on paper... Wish you great pleasure with the painting.

Hi buenvida! I have often wondered about acrylics. I do like the fact that oils can be changed and worked with for a while but they take so long to dry. How are acrylics easier to work with if you don't mind me asking. Thanks for the tips!

Thank you so much for the info. You must have been painting for a long time. Maybe sometime you will post some of your work for us to see. It would be a pleasure if you would.

Hmmmm wow u r becoming Commercial painting and are selling the PAINTING, isnt it great how u feel when u have money in the hand well if u work on determination and polish ur skills, i am sure you will be able to cope more challenging task WELL DONE and Keep it up

It's kind of nice when I had the money for my finished work before. It made me feel like I had accomplished something. It's also nice to know that someone has a little piece of me in their home. Thanks cupid.

Thank you cupid..it's only the second painting that I've sold. The first was a cartoon character for a friend of mines nursery. I have done about five before this as practice. They are no where near as challenging as this one was however my last was a cabin upon a hill in the fall. It was pretty good. Thanks for the response and take care.

Yes she did offer compensation. She also requested a chocolate colored horse. I couldn't go much darker because of the need to shadow and detail. She also requested the field and an old tree. I got the job because I work with her and another friend of mine pais me to do an oilpaint of a precious moments picture for her daughter's nursery. I did pretty good with it but it is more of a cartoon character and not so complicated. I have been fooling around with sceneries but I have to say this is the first one that has been centered around an animal. Thanks for the response.

it was attached no need to orry, but i always open my email first to see the notification and reading your discussion on email is not showing any photos so i need to go to go around to see the attached photo. so nothing to worry. just like i said it was worth going around.

Thanks

Thank you so much. Did I post it wrong that it's trouble to see the picture? I thought it was automatically attached to my discussion.

Thank you jo. I hope she likes it. I've been painting now going on my second year. I've done a few scenaries but this is my first with an animal in it...no..I did an ocean once with a whale..lol.

i loved it. the barn, a dog & a pretty field made me wish i was there,

Thank you modstar! I really enjoy doing it. Yes..the lady that requested it is offering to pay. I have only been painting for two years now and this is only my second for sell. The first sell was a cartoon character so it's not in the same catagory as this. The lady give me a black and white of the horses head so everything else was me. I'm not sure what fee I should ask but her offer was $100 if she liked it. I'm hoping she will.

Wow! Let's hope she'll like it! Maybe we'll see you host your own exhibit in the near future. You're not just beautiful, you're ultra talented too!

Thanks

Hi ronald. Thank you. That is the problem you run into within some of the forums. Sometimes the more accomplished forget what it's like starting out. I may try it again but don't be surprised if you see me asking you guys again.

Yes...she did know about the landscape idea. She requested I have the horse laying in a field with a tree.I even had to confirm the color of the horse because the head was in black and white. The barn was my idea but I asked her about that first too. I really want her to like it. Thanks for the response!

so long as she knows what she's getting, kind of an interesting color horse

Chocolate colored she told me..mane too..You think it's chocolate?

Thank you tjades..I definately wanted it to be "inviting" as it is going to be in the lady's livingroom. Thanks again.

jelous? of what?..how about i get jelous with your great talent

LOL..sure bombshell but it may cost you if I have to get jealous..LOL

LOL..thanks bombshell..sure I'll paint you

You are very kind paula. I'm glad you like it and I do hope the lady it is for will too. Thanks for responding and take care.

Thank you pweety_princess! I do appreciate the vote of confidence. The funny thing is I can paint on something forever and feel like it's never done.lol..Thanks again and take care.

Thank you nikky. If it makes you smile and feel relaxed,it has done what I wanted it too.Thanks again.

Thank you. That is very kind. Thanks for the input too.

Jen we are a long way from the fires thank goodness but due to the exceedingly high temperatures, we were so busy on the farm. We had to pick all the fruit and vegetables which ripened so quickly because of the heat (about 107-112 for several consecutive days). If we hadn't picked it, we would have lost it as in some areas it was actually "cooking in the heat". So all hands on deck, including some of our children coming home for a weekend to help us out. We would pick first thing in the morning, then take a break and do it again very late in the afternoon. My favourite brother and one of our sons rigged up some lighting so we could pick in what was effectively the dark or dusk. Also we rigged up some shade cloth over the more vulnerable fruit and vegetables and moved it from section to section as we completed each one. We did manage to save about 70% of the crop but it cost us dearly to do that of course as we also had to get in a couple of cool rooms in addition too our own. Still we saved enough to meet our contracts and that is the main thing really as our customers will know we are reliable. We also froze so much extra which was starting to turn and the ladies started on the jams and preserves and sauces. So now, the pantry is totally full, air conditioner running all the time to keep everything okay till it cools down. I did some work driving of an evening but only taking other farmers' loads from their paddocks to our depot and another driver had to take it to market or wherever it had to go. I really did need to be on our own farm and my employers were happy with the arrangement as it at least meant the loads were being delivered and all the farmers were trying to save as much of their crops as they could which is why there were also working at night. I did one trip to Sydney, then down to Melbourne and back to Sydney and then home last week. For some days no traffic could do down the Hume Highway in the area of the fires, so those deliveries were way behind which is why I did those trips. I drove through one area where the fires had been - well the very outskirts of it actually. It was quite horrific to see all the destruction and that wasn't even the worst of it. However I have to say that the way people have rallied around donating money, clothes, futniture, toys, food etc is wonderful and makes me very proud to be an Aussie. Thanks for your concern but we are safe, even if a bit tired and hot.

Thank you so much oldboy! So good to hear from you. I've beenconcerned because I heard about some fires there. I knew you were on a job maybe but still..whewww..nice to get your response.

Thank you very much! She was very pleased with it. I did modify the barn and I thought it looked alot better.

Well you should be very proud! I love drawing myself but when it comes to adding colour, especially paint I turn them from decent art work into something horrible. (believe me) I'll have to keep an eye out for more, especially those of people and it is nice to draw different things. I found it always kept me going when I was younger :) Very pleasant to see art posted on mylot! ~Joey

Thanks joey_matthews..I've not really done a whole lot of others..just a few for practice purposes. Not having ant classes or anything I've pretty much had to fly by night on how to do this. I have researched a few things on the internet though.My passion is for painting people but as for now..I'm just doing sceneries.Thanks for the interest and take care.

It is my pleasure!

Thank you so much dpk! You are very kind.

Hi ahgong! Thanks for the honesty. Thanks for the tips too. Take care.

he he... you too.

you deserve more for that piece of work...

Thanks again!

Thank you so much sunil! That's a great vote of confidence because is really the first serious one I've sold. I painted a cartoon character for a friends nursery once but as far as anything like this..I never have. Thanks again.