Yes! They are called ArtBytes and you can find them in my ArtByte Store. These are bite-size lessons that you can read/watch as many times as you want, forever. Many include videos - all include text, images and links. One is about my materials.
Yes! I am currently teaching 2 workshops a year: spring and fall. They fill fast, so the best way to keep an ear out is by signing up for my newsletter.
Click here to see everything I have available right now, online.
These are larger paintings that are available at Cassens Fine Art Gallery.
Yes! You can sign up here to receive an email whenever I post new work.
I currently have one instructional book available through Amazon: Daily Painting: Paint Small and Often to Become a More Creative, Productive and Successful Artist.
Yes! You can find them on my prints page. If there is a painting you would like a print of that you don't see on that page, find the painting in my gallery, click on it, and then "request...".
No. Sorry.
I sell them unframed. That said, I can recommend a few online framers that are very good (from least to most expensive):
www.webpictureframes.com - Web Picture Frames (floating frames for panels)
www.frankenframes.com - Franken Frames
www.kingofframe.com - King of Frame
www.metroframe.com - Metro Frame
For my paintings, I like to use floating frames.
I mix my own: 2 parts linseed oil | 1 part stand oil | 1 part Gamsol (mineral spirits)
When I travel I use Gamblin Solvent-Free Gel
When I plein air I also use Gamblin Galkyd Gel
(Gamblin brand) titanium white, cadmium yellow medium, cadmium red medium, permanent alizarin crimson, ultramarine blue, 1980 phthalo blue, and burnt umber - I sometimes add to this: cadmium yellow lemon and permanent rose (Windsor Newton).
My favorite brushes are Silver Bristlon. They are synthetic & have a nice crisp edge. I mostly use brights i=in sizes 4, 6, 8, 10 & 12. I also use a size 2 filbert for drawing, and a small round for details (if any).
I currently use gessobord from Ampersand (purchased from Dick Blick), but I used Raymar's smooth cotton canvas panels for a long time and really liked them. I switched because I paint rather thin and I felt the texture of the canvas was competing with the texture of my brush strokes.
Yes, I use Gamvar picture varnish, glossy, which I apply when the paint is dry.
I use archival bags from Clear Bags to protect the paintings on panels. I ship USPS (either Ground Advantage or Priority Mail), using my own boxes and recycled padding whenever possible.
It took me ~30 years of experience to get to the point where I can paint one small painting in 1 to 4 hours. That is my official answer. : )
I go outside with my (automatic digital) camera & art. I find a spot in open shade (not too dark) and prop my painting up with something so it doesn’t fall/blow over, and nothing is in front of it. I make sure my painting is not facing any light source (the sky, or even a window that is reflecting the sky). I sit down and rest my elbows on my knees to steady my camera. Then I zoom in since my camera is defaulted to wide-angle (most are). I square the painting in my LCD panel, get extra still, and take the picture. I open it in Photoshop (or Picasa – free from google), crop it, change the image size (to about 1000 pixels per side) and use Image>Levels to make values “right”. I adjust colors if they need adjusting. Finally, I save (for web) as a .jpg (no less than 70%). For WAY more info see my ArtByte on photographing and editing small paintings.
I use an Art Box from Art Box & Panel Co. I prefer the smallest size (mini).
Yes. I have a few free ones, and several (so far) in ArtBytes with a voice over that you can buy for $10/ea.
I went to the University of Texas at Austin but learned nothing there other than what I taught myself. My professors were only interested in developing the concept behind the painting, rather than teaching us the basics of design, composition, etc. I wanted to make a living doing what I love most - painting! I learned by poring over art magazines and books, studying and copying work that struck me, and experimenting a lot. Painting (just about) every day is the best thing I do towards improving!
It is a really cool box invented/built by my husband. It is constructed of pvc pipe and plywood, is lightweight and mounted on a heavy duty tripod so I can raise and lower it to get just about any angle on my still life. You will find instructions and pictures in my free Shadowbox ArtByte.
Recently my husband actually built me something new (you can see a pic on my contact page), with moving "shelves." No, I am not sharing the plans for it because it is too complicated, sorry.
I wrote an instructional book for Random House. It's called Daily Painting: Paint Small and Often to Become a More Creative, Productive and Successful Artist, and you can order it on Amazon. : ) I don't have plans for DVD's at this time.
I buy the cups and bottles and plates and things mostly from thrift stores, but also sometimes from junk or antique shops, and occasionally new. I get colored paper and fabric for backgrounds from craft and fabric stores. I buy fruit and other produce from the grocery store.
More questions? Please email me: caroljeanmarine@gmail.com