Last post... for the year

It's now just past 3.00pm...hardly 8hrs to go before 2008 wraps up to usher in 2009. Tried to paint as much as I could to finish off my UFOs.... unfortunately I only managed 1 UFO (was really under the weather the last 2 weeks.... )

This piece I completed the bottom half in Sept 2007. Left the top half undone waiting for inspiration to come... but inspiration never came....and as time passed on...I forgot of its existence...until last week when I was looking for something else and found it waiting patiently in my rack of UFOs collecting dust and dirt!!! Decided to complete it...and guess what???....took me about an hour to complete it!!! Just an hour to complete something left lying on the rack since Sept 2007!!!! Now it's done... but still unvarnished...so now it goes under the completed but unvarnished items *sigh*

However... I managed to complete 2 new items. Somehow this time I was really into tea settings with tea-cups and tea-pots. This interest started when I was doing intarsian and I created a tea-setting using this technique.... only this time I painted my settings with a soft water-colour effect using acrylics. I love them.... it was an experiment that I dare say turned out rather well... kudos to me.... muahahaha


I am now currently painting on a tray.... something very country but again with a washy water-colour effect. Having a wee bit trouble there... but once it's done I'll post it here.... that would then be my first post for 2009...errrr.... if ever it gets finished laaaa ...*sigh* so what else is new huh???? Hehehe.. till then... here's me signing off wishing you... a very Happy New Year... may this new year bring you wealth, health and happiness.... not necessarily in that order ;)

Decorative painting ...

Hopefully... this will help you to understand more about Decorative Painting ;)

"Decorative painting is a diverse art form utilizing a variety of techniques and media to decorate functional and non-functional surfaces.

Because of the systematic methods employed, contemporary decorative painting is a highly teachable art form. The patterns or freehand designs allow a high degree of success without academic training or inherent drawing ability. Approached with creativity, discipline and craftsmanship, contemporary decorative painting offers opportunities for artistic self-expression and creative satisfaction.

The scope of contemporary decorative painting is boundless. Styles and techniques of the past are incorporated into the trends and materials of the present, while developing the decorative art heritage of the future.

Tole painting is the general term historically used to describe decorative painting on tin surfaces, especially in New England and by the Pennsylvania Germans. Contemporary decorative painting encompasses not only the folk art styles of Sweden, Norway, Germany, Russia, England and Mexico, but many facets of Early American decorative painting such as stenciling, faux finishing, bronzing, gold leafing, country painting, theorem and graining."

Definition from the Society of Decorative Painters Site

What the experts say...

Hello all... I've been off-colour lately. Didn't do much painting except for the occasional base coating and running classes. I find that when I'm depressed or angry... I can still paint (oh boy!!! can I paint hahaha)...but when I'm under the weather with some kind of bug cruising in my blood stream.... that's it!!! It kills the mood for everything...the whole system became lethargic or totally shutdown indefinitely!!!! However... I did do some readings and I'm going to share here what the experts say.... about painting la of course!!!!

Ann Kingslan said that to be a good painter, you need to have 4 things :

• Desire - you can become a good painter if YOU want to be one!
• Dedication - to become good it's very necessary to make the time to PRACTISE
• Determination - it helps you stick with painting and overcome your painting problems with a difference
  
• Money - ah yes! money.... it enables you to buy quality painting products.... the best that you can afford... don't stinge or scrooge!!!!
  

So how to perfect your painting skills?

• Always take a few minutes to see and assess how much your work has improved over time
• Look for ways you can make it look even better - attend classes with different teachers, look out for workshops, seminars and conventions (local and/or overseas), buy AND read ... can't put more empahasis on that!!! Most of us just buy for the sake of looking at the pics....yup...yours truly falls in that category too muahahaha!!!!
• Simply continue to paint, you'll improve with time and practise (experience is the best teacher!). In the process you are bound to come up with something terrific... believe you me... I'm talking thru experience here!!! Practise! Practise! Practise!!!!
  
• Bear in mind.... Decorative Painting is a wonderful challenge! Keeps your mind active and away from senility... InsyaAllah (God Willing!).... have fun la...
  

Anyway...Ginger Edwards also said that by enjoying what you do...you will excel. Enjoying your paintings, studying them and exposing yourself to different view points, and then incorporating the best elements of these paintings into your own will help you advance.

However, you do need patience. You don't just become a fantastic cook overnight, nor do you immediately paint masterpieces. You need to experiment, and then sit back and evaluate what you've done. Evaluating is what makes you improve.

So there... hopefully, my dear friends.... if you are into decorative painting... bear in mind that patience, perseverance and practise makes you a great painter :)

Happy painting ya....