PAINTING Rag - DecorativePaintingStore.com

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THE
PAINTING Rag
DECORATIVE PAINTING IN NEW ENGLAND AND BEYOND
september/october 2009
FALL ISSUE
www.thepaintingrag.com
Welcome Autumn
©
by Beth Wagner
Pattern & Directions Inside!
for SEARCHING
DECORATIVE
PAINTING?
Decorative Painting Teacher
Retail/Wholesale/Shipping Available
TOLE SAMPLER
THE CREATIVE TOUCH
HOME STUDIO
CAROL KERNOZEK
Weekly Classes • Seminars
Workshops • Travel Teach
(860) 848-0276
HOME STUDIO
MARY SVENSON CDA
Weekly Classes • Workshops
Travel Teach • JS Paints & Supplies
Packets & Books by Mary
HOME STUDIO
ANNE HUNTER
Weekly Classes • Travel Teach
Paint & Supplies • Packets &
Books by Anne Hunter
www.newenglandtraditions.org
email: Ckernozek@sbcglobal.net
(978) 692-3261
www.tolesampler.com
(508) 485-9306
www.thecreativetouch.com
103 Moxley Rd., Uncasville, CT 06382
24 Buckboard Drive, Westford MA 01886
48 Paquin Drive, Marlborough MA 01752
WOOD ITEMS & MORE
A PAINTERS DREAM
HAPPY PAINTING
Painting Classes • Craft Supplies
RETAIL SHOP
DEBI HENDRICKSON
All Class Levels • Children
Special Events • Painting Supplies
COUNTRY
SCHOOLHOUSE
STUDIO
COUNTRY CREATIONS
SUPPLIES
Retail/Wholesale/Manufacturer
CREATIVITY
Weekly Classes, Workshops, Seminars
INSPIRATION
Pattern Packets, Books, Samples
Experience the best of New England’s
creative businesses today!
QUARRY HOUSE
DISTRIBUTORS
Manufacturer/Wholesale/Retail
WHOLESALE SUPPLIES
Decorative painting and stenciling
for retail shops and
qualified home studios
(401) 949-3550
Ask for Maureen
www.wooditemsandmore.com
(800) 752-5440
www.quarryhouse.org
sales@wooditemsandmore.com
29 River Road, Unit 2, Bow NH 03304
576 Putnam Pike, Greenville RI 02828
Retail
Retail/Wholesale
Retail
HOME STUDIO
JANICE CORMIER
Classes • Workshops • Seminars
(781) 871-7706
www.apainters-dream.com
(860) 875-2899
email: paintersdream05@aol.com www.countryschoolhousearts.com
Member SDP, DABA, Girl Scout USA
2
82 Railroad Street, Abington MA 02351
265 Windsorville Rd., Ellington CT 06029
Letter From
The Publisher
In This Issue
News/Announcements/Events .................... 4
Highlighted Business .................................. 5
Front Cover Design Project ......................... 6
A Touch Of Alice ......................................... 8
Guess The Artist ........................................ 9
Beginners Corner.......................................10
Trends ........................................................12
Artist Outline ..............................................13
A Loving Master .........................................17
Try Painting Day II..................................... 23
THE
PAINTING Rag
DECORATIVE PAINTING IN NEW ENGLAND
info@thepaintingrag.com PO Box 355 Plaistow, NH 03865-0355
Publisher – Tracy Meola
Writing Contributions – Marlena DeFusco, Susan Boerman & Alice Sulish
Graphic Design – Visual Communications
Cover Photography – Victor Meola
CONTACT US TO…..
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• Advertise
• Be a featured shop or artist
• Make writing contributions
DEADLINE TO SUBMIT ADS OR ARTICLES FOR OUR
NEXT ISSUE, THE NOV/DEC ISSUE, IS OCTOBER 2, 2009.
A HUGE thank you to our Sponsors! Please take note of who has supported
this project by advertising with us. Without them, this newspaper wouldn’t be a
reality, please visit them and tell them “I saw you in THE PAINTING RAG!”
“Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of
the wise brings healing,...” Proverbs 12:18
Copyright: The design with directions & pattern in this newspaper is for individuals to use in decorative painting for personal fun. Permission is given to teach
the published project and photocopy the pattern for teaching and personal use
only. Any other mechanical reproduction in whole or in part must be granted
specific permission in writing by the publisher. All other content in this publication is copyrighted and cannot be used without permission.
This has always been my favorite time of
year; my birthday is in September, my anniversary is in October and I love the change
in the air as well as the color of the trees.
Traditionally, we experience a lot of transition at this time of year as the kids head back
to school and the sun repositions itself in the
sky, and the time will soon change or fall
back. Change is something that is inevitable
in the Fall Season and throughout life. Our
Trends article always informs us of changes
that have either taken place, are currently
transitioning, or are on the horizon for the future. In this issue Trends informs us about
the changes taking place in fashion. It gives
us a peek into what is happening in the fashion world and how it can benefit us as artists; color, prints, texture, style, etc. A Touch
of Alice continues in the fashion vein and
shows us how we can surprisingly include
fashion pieces in everyday decorating. And
speaking of decorating, Beth Wagner, our
cover artist, designed a bright and colorful
Autumn sign to get you started with your Fall
decorating. There is also an interesting piece
of information in her article (Artist Outline)
that has to do with fashion.
The Highlighted Business in this issue
is Plaid Enterprises, Inc. and this company
has made many changes over the years to
become the craft giant that they are. You will
read of the different ways that this company
responded to the changing trends and found
innovative ways to grow.
There are good changes and difficult
changes throughout life, some exhilarate us
and move us forward with zeal and others
knock the wind out of our sails and cause us
to regroup.
In this issue you will also read of a personal change that my family recently went
through. If you are an animal lover you will
understand my need to include this article
and if you are not, please indulge me for this
one. As a writer and publisher I can’t help but
include some personal, transparent stories
now and then and this one is close to my
heart.
Round and round we go; Fall - Fashion
- Change, these are the threads that run
throughout this issue.
To Get Your Copy Of
THE PAINTING RAG
Subscribe Today!
You can receive each issue of THE PAINTING RAG at your home. For a one
year (6 issues) subscription, mail this form with an $20.00 check or money
order to: THE PAINTING RAG PO Box 355, Plaistow, NH 03865-0355
©
Disclaimer: This newspaper is published in good faith and assumes no financial
responsibility for typographical errors. We will reprint any portion of an ad in
which an error occurs. Responsibility for products advertised in this newspaper
lies with the advertisers themselves. However, THE PAINTING RAG will not
knowingly publish fraudulent materials. We are not liable for damages arising
from the purchase or use of products advertised. Instructions for free design are
published in good faith but results not guaranteed.
Name
Address
City
Phone
State
Zip
Email
3
News/Announcements/Events
When inquiring about
these events don’t forget
to let them know that you
read about them in THE
PAINTING RAG.
NEWS AND
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Fun Things To Paint
For End Of
Summer/Early Fall
1. A Tote bag for “back
to class” supplies
2. A pencil box
3. A jacket for cooler
nights
4. A pumpkin or apples
5. A basket for carrying
apple & pumpkin pies
6. A centerpiece bowl
7. A scarecrow
8. An autumn scene
9. Bangle bracelets
10. Your house...just
kidding!
Membership Renewal
Society of Decorative
Painters (SDP) membership
renewal for 2010 officially
begins September 1st.
www.decorativepainters.org
Intensive Study
with Cheri Rol
at Laurie’s Art Learning
Center & Studio
An Intensive study on how
to develop a color scheme
with use of a real teacup
and saucer as an inspiration
piece.
Two days:
October 3 & 4
$225.00 includes: teaching
fees, wood piece, teacup
and saucer, notebook and
lunch both days.
Contact Laurie’s Art Learning Center & Studio to register:
17c Railroad Avenue
Westerly, RI
www.lauriesartstudio.com
401-596-5969
4
Helan Barrick in
Massachusetts
Paint with Helan in the
quaint town of West Dennis.
Two weekends to choose
from:
October 23rd & 24th or
October 25th & 26th
Hosted by HATTIE D’S
285 Route 28
W Dennis, MA
Call 508-398-0074 for details!
September is Strategic
Thinking Month.
Give thinking a try some
time in September, but
please don’t hurt yourself!
October is Decorative
Painting month!
It is also bake & decorate
month. A very good month
to be creative.
Passport to Fun & Prizes
Want to have even more
fun at the New England Traditions Trade Show than
usual? Do the Hot Stops
booth hop! It’s easy, just
pick up a passport at any of
the ten participating booths,
then make a minimum purchase at each of the participating booths. Every
time you make a purchase
your passport receives a
stamp. Once all ten spaces
are stamped turn in your
punched passport and receive a free gift of “Hot Stuff”
(while supplies last). AND
your passport is collected to
be entered into drawings for
even more Hot Stuff prizes!
Contact Anne Hunter at
creativetouch@earthlink.
net for more details.
Are you a TV watcher?
TOLE TV that is!
Tole TV is the innovative
brainstorm of Patricia Rawlinson. Instead of sitting
back and becoming frustrated with what is no longer available, she decided
to go forward with what IS
available…Video
camera
and computer. She turned
these modern electronic devices into a practical way of
reaching out to painters all
over the world.
Each week Painters can
tune in and watch a new “episode.” One segment titled
“Table Talk” is filmed around
Patricia’s kitchen table; old
and new products are reviewed, updates on conventions are discussed and
ideas are pitched. In other
episodes you can actually
paint a project with Patricia
Rawlinson, such as a Toile
Rooster Clock or a Butterfly
Brush Holder. Projects are
completed in about 5 to 6
episodes.
Whenever you tune in you
are sure to find tips, shortcuts, and tools that make
your work easier (and more
professional.) In just a few
episodes you can learn
how to wax a painted bowl,
how to wet sand a finished
painted piece, how to tie an
apron and more.
Visit her website at www.
patriciarawlinson.com and
sign up today for her free
e-updates.
Patricia Rawlinson is definitely one to watch!
REMEMBER
September 11th
Highlighted Business
Plaid Enterprises, Inc.
Photos: Plaid Enterprises, Inc.
manufactures a large array of
products for crafters and painters.
By Tracy Meola
Success Through
Diversifying
The “Plaid” of Plaid Enterprises means a series
of lines that cross to form
a pattern. The name of the
company came from founder, David A. Cunningham’s
family tartan and has meant
great success for this company. The company started
out with a series of howto books which instructed
crafters on how to complete
projects in beading, decoupage, needlecrafts, floral arranging and macramé, but
over the thirty plus years in
business the company has
diversified and grown immensely. It didn’t take long
for the company to discover
that in addition to how-to
books, there was a demand
for products that would help
crafters to create and produce a variety of projects,
so Plaid responded. Since
then, they have produced a
diverse array of craft products, some timeless such
as paint and Mod Podge
and others have emerged
by current trends such as
scrapbooking, sculpting and
jewelry.
Plaid’s executive offices
are located in Norcross,
Georgia where we visited
with them and were told
that the company feels that
one of the keys to success
is making sure that they
produce and offer quality
products. Being bold and
trying new things has been
another way of keeping
Plaid successful and strong
throughout the years.
This company has tried a
variety of new things over
the years, including adding other companies in the
crafting industry to the Plaid
family such as Bucilla Needle Crafts in 1996, and All
Night Media Rubber Stamps
in 1999. They have also
ventured out and found innovative ways to reach new
markets and consumers.
They were the first company
to sell their products on television through infomercials
and with QVC home shopping channel. As well as, the
first company to develop a
Pay for Publication program
with artists and crafters;
paying them to use Plaid
products in published magazine articles, packets and
books. Plaid also discerned
and responded to the growing obsession in the Home
Improvement community by
producing a line of stencils,
faux finishes and decorator
blocks that made decorator
touches practical for every
home.
This company also believes in supporting the
organizations that are creating awareness of crafts
and providing education;
The Society of Decorative
Painters, The Stencil Artisans League, Inc. and the
Society of Craft Designers.
They are also one of the
sponsors of THE PAINTING
RAG’s event - Try Painting
Day II. An event designed
to allow non-painters an opportunity to try painting and
to see how easy it is without
the usual upfront expense.
The company also believes in giving back to the
community; they have employee teams that raise
money for the American
Cancer Society’s Relay for
Life through bake sales,
crazy hat days and putting
contests. They also sponsor
the Children’s Healthcare of
Atlanta’s Festival of Trees,
and they continually raise
money for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation through advertising and
sponsorships, and promote
the use of breast cancer research stamps.
Although the company
started out as a book publisher and paint company,
they now are the largest and
most diverse craft manufacturer in the country. Their
lines include paints, rubber
stamps, stencil and foam
stamps, Bucilla needlework,
Mod Podge, faux stained
glass, mosaics, jewelry,
fashion crafting and more.
And when you have an artist
lineup that includes Priscilla
Hauser, Donna Dewberry,
Ginger Edwards and Trudy
Beard for decorative painting, Mary Englebreit for
needle crafts and the D.I.Y.
gurus Cathy Filian & Steve
Piacenza of HGTV you
know you are doing something right.
Decorative Painting
Plaid’s acrylic paint called
FolkArt ® was developed for
continued on page 11
Highlighted Studio Plaid Enterprises, Inc.
5
Front Cover Design Project
Welcome Autumn©
ADDITIONAL
SUPPLIES
Krylon 18K Gold Leafing
Pen
Sandpaper
Transfer Paper
All Purpose Sealer
Satin Varnish
SURFACE
15 1/2” X 11 1/2” Wood
Oval with Frame
(approx. size 15” x 24”)
available through
Green Mountain Fine
Furniture
(631) 828-1399
An intermediate skill
level project
By Beth Wagner Designs
PAINTS
DecoArt Americana
Acrylic Paints
DA147 Antique Green
DA042 Baby Blue
DA019 Berry Red
DA257 Bleached Sand
DA063 Burnt Sienna
DA064 Burnt Umber
DA010 Cadmium Yellow
DA128 Deep Burgundy
DA017 Georgia Clay
DA67 Lamp Black
DA113 Plantation Pine
DA200 Primary Blue
DA013 Pumpkin
DA097 Rookwood Red
BRUSHES
Loew Cornell LaCorneille
Golden Taklon
7300 3/4” Shader
7300 #12 Shader
7300 #4 Shader
JS-1 Liner
China Bristol Brush
6
INSTRUCTIONS
Frame
Sand and seal. Lightly sand again. Base in
Bleached Sand. When dry
fully load China bristol brush
with Bleached Sand and alternately pick up Georgia
Clay and Antique Green on
a portion of the brush. Apply by REALLY pouncing
the brush. Let the colors
lead into one another, but
not to the point of producing a fourth “muddy color”.
Transfer lettering. Paint
with #4 shader in Plantation
Pine. Use slow deliberate
strokes coming up on the
chiseled edge to form the
thin sections. The line work
is done in Plantation Pine.
Freehand with a liner. Add
descending dots. Plantation Pine is used for the side
beveled edge using your finger or the flat side of your
brush. Transfer on leaf pattern. This is done in Plantation Pine with a #4 shader.
Autumn Sign
Note: This sign is the first
of four seasonal designs.
The wooden ovals hang
from the frame and are removable so they can be
changed with the season.
1 Lightly sand. Seal and
sand again, especially the
curves.
2. Base paint the entire
front oval in Bleached Sand.
Base the edge and back in
Rookwood Red. Let dry.
3. Lightly transfer on the
main lines of the design.
Base Paint
1. The pumpkins are
Georgia Clay and the stems
are Burnt Umber.
2. The apples are Berry
Red.
3. The sky is Baby Blue.
Be sure to look at the photo
for placement behind the
upper leaves.
4. The leaves are numbered on the pattern. Follow
this to identify which leaf is
which. Leaves #2, 7 and 12
are Antique Green. Leaves
#1 and 13 are Georgia Clay.
Leaves #4 and 11 are Deep
Burgundy. Leaves #6 and10
are Burnt Sienna. Leaves
#3, 5, 8 & 9 are Cadmium
Yellow.
5. The background behind
the leaves at the bottom is
Lamp Black.
Pumpkins
Load the 3/4” shader with
Georgia Clay. Pick up a corner of Berry Red and place
near the middle of each section of the pumpkins. You
could use glazing medium
here if you like. I don’t. You
want it to be very soft. Tint
with Antique Green coming
up from the bottom. Shade
along the creases where
the sections meet, along the
bottom and around the stem
with Burnt Umber. Highlight
with Cadmium Yellow at the
top of each section working
down the middle using the
same technique as the Berry
Red. You will have to do this
several times to achieve the
optimum effect. The stems
are tinted with Antique
Green and Rookwood Red.
Shade the stems with Lamp
Black down the left side and
along the bottom. Highlight
down the right side with fine
strokes of CadmiumYellow
and Bleached Sand. Add
strokes of Cadmium Yellow
and Bleached Sand along
the upper edge.
Apples
Load the #12 shader with
Berry Red. Corner load it
with Deep Burgundy and
shade where they overlap and behind the leaves.
With the liner, put light
short strokes of Burnt Umber near the bottom edge
of the apples. Place a side
load of Burnt Umber where
the stems are set in. Highlight with Cadmium Yellow
around the middle and along the edge where
the stem sets in. Add strokes of Cadmium
Yellow and Bleached Sand to the highlighted
areas. The stems are the same colors as the
pumpkin stems.
Leaves
Be sure to follow your pattern to identify each
leaf. Each leaf is a mix of several colors. Don’t
feel compelled to use my colors. Play with the
colors as you wish and/or refer to the color
photo. The three colors of leaves #1 and #13
are Cadmium Yellow, Berry Red and Deep Burgundy. Leaves #2, 7, and 12 are Cadmium Yel-
low, Pumpkin, Berry Red and a touch of Plantation Pine. Leaves #3, 5, 8 and 9 are Pumpkin
and Berry Red. Leaves #4 and 11 are Berry
Red. Leaves #6 and 10 are Pumpkin and Berry Red. The veins are done with a liner. Use
watered down Burnt Umber and very sparingly
pick up a little Lamp Black and place here and
there.
Finishing Touches
To push the design forward, float the sky
with Primary Blue. To intensify the deepest
shadings, add Primary Blue.
Lettering
Transfer on lettering. With a #4 shader stroke
on letters in Plantation Pine. Use the flat side
for the wider parts coming up on the chiseled
edge for the narrow parts. Work slowly and
deliberately.
Gold Trim
With the Gold Leaf Pen and following the
manufacturer’s instructions, outline the oval.
Download photos of Welcome Autumn© from
our website for your personal painting. Photos
will be available through October 31, 2009.
BETH WAGNER DESIGNS
(631) 696-3435
www.bethwagnerdesigns.com
bethwagnerdesigns@yahoo.com
Welcome Autumn© Pattern
7
A Touch Of Alice
Fashionable Decorating
By Alice Sulish
Dress Your Home
Everyday we wake up,
choose our outfit and get
dressed. So, why do so
many of us have difficulty
making interior decorating
decisions? In this article, we
will discover that the same
guidelines for fashion apply to decorating our home.
Let’s see how fashion meets
décor.
When shopping, choose
and invest in classic pieces.
Just like your wardrobe,
spend the biggest portion
of your decorating budget
on pieces that will have a
long life. That basic black
dress and pearl necklace
is like that beautiful dining
table, well constructed sofa,
classic rug, or showcase armoire.
Steer
your
decision
on color away from neutrals…spice it up with color.
Beige and kaki are excellent
choices for your clothes, but when that is all you wear...then
it becomes boring. That same philosophy applies to interior
design. Color is inexpensive. Instead of painting the walls
beige or off white again, choose fresh apple green, lemon
yellow, or even ruby red.
Remember that too tight a fit is uncomfortable and too
loose a fit is unattractive. Just as you choose a flattering
style to complement your figure, scale your furnishings to
your room. A huge couch or dining table in a small space will
look out of place. Similarly, a tiny chair in front of a massive
fireplace will look silly.
In both fashion decisions and interior design decisions,
highlight features you like and play down what features you
don’t like. A pear shaped body wears an A line dress attractively just like your room wears appropriate sized window
treatments. Look at your room’s best features and use color,
lighting and furniture placement accordingly. Downplay vents
and pipes by using clever cover-ups or matching wall paint.
If your fireplace is the outstanding feature of your room, arrange the furniture so that your fireplace is the center of attention.
A color scheme well thought out produces an attractive
outfit as well as an attractive room. Those color coordinated
earrings, necklace and scarf prove this standard to be true
in fashion. It works the same for designing your home. Work
with one main color in your room and one less used second
color. Add a third color as an accent in smaller amounts.
This third color can be the brightest color and used in artwork, trims, and accessories.
Fabulous shoes can make an outfit. They can also make
quite an impact as a decorating feature...but, I will come
back to this idea later. The shoes in home decorating can
be the pretty carpeting, the beautiful hardwood floors, or the
lovely area rug. They all can be a great foundation for any
room. Pull the colors and pattern in the rug up into the room
with similar accessories and wall art.
A few great wardrobe basics can take you from day to
evening by merely changing accessories. Upholstery in a
plain textured fabric is like wardrobe basics. It will allow you
to decorate around the piece as you change your mind, seasonally decorate, or move to a different home. Simply swap
out pillows and accessories. As we have learned in previous
articles, that long term basic colored sofa can be outfitted
with orange pillows for fall, red for winter, and light blue or
green for spring and summer.
And finally, think versatility. Choosing a basic patterned
jacket like tweed or small check allows you to wear a variety
of other pieces with it like jeans or a matching skirt. In home
design, versatility pieces like a summer slipcover over an
upholstered chair, an ottoman that acts as extra seating or
as a coffee table, and a bench that holds people or books
A Touch Of Alice - Fashionable Decorating
Left: Antique hats are hung together to create a charming
vintage window valence.
Above: Fashionable buttons are sewed on to curtain tabs
for an added touch.
8
Guess The Artist
Attention Pattern Collectors
Can you guess the artist?
Did you guess the artist
correctly?
THE PAINTING RAG’s
Readers Rewards!
Because we think you are the greatest, now you can look forward
to discounts and freebies in TPR. Start by cashing in with the
coupon below!
$10.00 AT
JB WOOD PRODUCTS
Receive $10.00 off of your next online wood
order of $50.00 or more at www.jbwood.com
When placing your order remember to mention
coupon code TPR001
Don’t lose out, spend it now!
Your $10.00 expires on October 31, 2009.
Here is a section of a decorative painting pattern that has been published. Can you guess
who the designer is?
Check our next issue for the revealing of the
mystery artist. © All designs used in "Guess
The Artist" are used with permission from the
designer.
Our July/August mystery artist was Cindy Mann Vitale. The design “Santa and
his Christmas Cardinals©” was taken from
a 1994 pattern packet. Visit her blog-sites
at http://thepaintinchick.blogspot.com and
www.cindymannvitale.blogspot.com.
9
Beginners Corner
Art 101 - Drawing 1
of pressure on the pencil. As you can
see the H pencils are lighter than the
B pencils. (I will cover this in more
depth in my next article.)
PENCIL LEADS
SCRIBBLE
By Susan Boerman
As any painter knows, the worst
thing in the world is a blank surface. The same is true for drawing,
especially if you are a beginner. As
you stare at a blank sheet of paper
you ask yourself these questions:
What do I draw? How do I draw
it? What materials do I need? Can
I really do this? The answer to the
last question is, yes, you can! Just
as my philosophy is that anyone
can paint, so it is that anyone can
draw. I know, I know, I have heard
the excuses such as, “I can’t draw
a straight line”. Well, there are no
straight lines in nature, and rulers
work quite well to make them! How
well you do, depends somewhat on
natural ability but more on practice
and desire. Everyone has different
strengths and weaknesses just as
in painting. The only way you will
know is if you try.
Supplies
Paper
First, you will need paper to draw
on. There are all types, sizes and
brands of drawing paper. The difference in the papers is due to weight
and surface texture. Just like choosing the right watercolor paper, the
10
DOODLE
paper you choose depends more on what you want to achieve with your
drawing. The cover of the drawing pad will usually state the ideal usage for
that type paper. If you want to draw something dramatic with a lot of texture
and darks, you would choose a rougher surface than if you wanted to draw
something high key and delicate. In that case, you would want a very smooth
paper. The key is to experiment, but if you are just beginning I would suggest
a pad of newsprint paper, computer paper or an inexpensive drawing pad. A
nice middle of the road paper is Strathmore Drawing 400 Series, a medium
weight paper which is not too smooth and not too rough. It is also acid free,
which is important for a finished drawing.
Pencils
Once you have chosen your drawing paper, you will need pencils. You can
draw with just about anything including charcoal, colored pencil and pastel,
but for this article I am just going to concentrate on lead pencils. There are
many brands of pencils to choose from, however, the most important thing
about pencils is the type of lead. There are hard leads and soft leads. Your
standard #2 pencil is sort of a middle-of-the-road pencil, not too soft and not
too hard.
I do most of my sketching with a Papermate Sharpwriter twist pencil, but if
I were doing a finished drawing I would use various drawing pencils. Drawing
pencils come with 2 lead types: hard lead and soft lead. Hard lead pencils
will produce light lines and soft lead pencils will produce dark lines. Sketching is best done with #2 pencils, or harder lead pencils, because the lines are
easier to erase to make way for your final lines on your finished drawing. The
softer lead pencils will produce bold lines, outlines and mid to dark shaded
areas. For example, if you were to draw a white egg sitting on a table, some
of the egg would remain white, but there would be shadows on the egg due
to its shape and the light source. You would want a hard lead pencil to shade
in those faint shadows on the egg. For the darker cast shadows from the egg,
you may want to use a softer lead pencil. How do you know which pencil is
which? Well, there will be an H or B on the pencil (H for hard, B for soft/black)
which may be preceded by a number. The higher the number, the harder or
softer the lead is. The best of both worlds is the HB, which will produce decent lights and mid-tone darks and is a good choice for sketching.
Notice the sample of different leads; each was done with the same amount
Erasers
Drawing pencils usually don’t come
with an eraser. So now what type of
eraser will you need? Well, there
are a lot of those, too, and mostly it
is personal preference, but the best
eraser (in my humble opinion) is the
kneaded eraser. This eraser is a
small gray square with the consistency of something like silly putty.
And, since I have been teaching kids
lately, I can attest to the fact that it
can also be molded into various animal shapes. But I digress! If you are
erasing and the pencil is turning the
eraser black, you just literally have
to knead it. Just pull it or twist it until you find a clean spot. The pulling
also cleans the eraser. Another plus
is that you can mold it into a small
point to get into small areas and it
doesn’t “eat up” the paper. Some
cheaper erasers can actually rough
up the paper too much (especially
really inexpensive paper), which will
affect how the pencil takes to the paper after that area is erased; pencil
marks on a heavily erased area that
has pulled up some of the paper will
come out darker. That’s not good if it
is a part the drawing that should be
kept light.
One more thing, before we get to
some beginner exercises, is a sharpener. If you use a mechanical pencil you don’t need to sharpen, but
keep in mind that you will still have a
sharp side and a flat side. If you use
a #2 pencil or a drawing pencil you
will need to sharpen. Any sharpener
you have will do the trick. For the following exercises, you just need a #2
pencil and any paper you have available.
Exercises
Now that you have your paper and
pencil and are ready to go, what I
Art 101 - Drawing 1
continued from page 5
Highlighted Business - Plaid Enterprise, Inc.
decorative artists and the first bottle of FolkArt® paint was manufactured in
1983. Since then over twenty million gallons have been distributed which
would be the equivalent to a half billion of the 2 oz. bottles. The FolkArt ®
brand is paint for more serious painters and artists, it has a longer open time
(dries slightly slower than other acrylics), a thicker formula, it lends itself well
to blending and shading and works well with mediums.
In addition to FolkArt ®, they also manufacture a line of acrylic paint called
Apple Barrel that is produced with the crafter in mind, which basically means
that the color palette is primary, basic and bright. They are the colors you
would use for kids projects, easier projects or beginners. It is a good quality and good value paint and is easier for beginners to work with making it a
good starter paint. Each year the company evaluates its paint color lines and
makes decisions about what colors will stay, what colors will be phased out
and what new colors should be added. These decisions are based on many
factors, such as which colors are good sellers, where they may have holes in
a color category and what fashion and home décor trends are on the horizon
for new groupings.
Plaid released over 770 new products this year, which is the most new
products they have ever come out with in a year. The company has been
excited about one of their newest products called “Extreme Glitter.” It is a
glitter filled paint that gives the popular look of sugar glitter. No more shaking
the glitter bottle and losing half of it, now it can be painted on. It is available in
eleven colors and they are colors that coordinate with Plaid’s FolkArt ® brand
acrylic paint, so the glitter can be applied over the same base color for a
deep bold look or applied on its own for a softer but sparkly appearance. Another new and very popular product is their Chalkboard paint. Chalkboards
have made a comeback in home decorating and are showing up in unique
places such as on a kitchen cabinet door or a framed off area of a wall in a
children’s room. Writing messages or making lists can be done almost anywhere and in eleven different colors; the old tried and true chalkboard colors
and some new decorator savvy ones.
Also for painters, they have a line of texture paint, color stains, fabric
paints, outdoor and enamel paints, neons and shiny paints, HD High Definition paints, as well as brushes, books and plenty of tools and accessories.
New Ideas
A company representative told us that traditionally, crafting has become
more popular during a difficult economy. First, it is less expensive to make
items than it is to buy them already completed, including jewelry, artwork
and home décor. Second, it provides something to do when staying at home
more. Younger people especially turn to crafting more during financially tight
times, providing opportunity to introduce a new generation. The company
continues to work on new products and ways to entice the new generation
into trying something with their hands. Staying in line with their desire to be
innovative, the company is currently accepting submissions for new ideas
and techniques. They know that often some of the best ideas come from
those that are using the products every day. Therefore, they are looking to
expand their network of freelance designers and you have the opportunity to
be “the next big thing.” If you think you have an idea or invention that could
be used in the craft industry and aren’t sure how to get it launched, Plaid may
think it is a good idea too. Information on submitting ideas and designs can
be found on their website.
If you haven’t looked at this company and their products lately, maybe it is
time to revisit all that they have to offer!
PLAID ENTERPRISES, INC.
678-291-8100 www.plaidonline.com
PO Box 7600, Norcross, GA 30071 USA
Top: When entering the Plaid office building, a glass case spotlights crafts
and designs made with Plaid products.
Above: Clear glass ornaments are transformed into a sparkling, colorful
display with Extreme Glitter by Plaid.
11
TRENDS
Fashion Is Art And Art Is Fashion(able)
Art And Fashion
Fashion has always been a form
of art. Designing clothing that slinks
down and around the curves of a
body with just the right texture and
structure is an art form. Countless
designs have been laid out on the
drawing tables of famous designers,
followed by gathered fabric, pins,
cutting shears and stitches until the
artful masterpiece has been completed. Once the designer performs
their magic and pulls it all together
just so, the dress makes an entrance
instead of the woman wearing it. Oh
yes, Fashion is an art form that has
been taking place for centuries and,
if you follow any of the current fashion magazines or blogs, you find that
to some people, today’s designers
have reached the status of gods. We
couldn’t possibly deny that fashion is
art.
But, art is also fashion. It may
have started out simple with printed headbands and embroidered
flowers in the sixties and tie-dyed
shirts. Then quietly, polo shirts that
sported logos appeared, and that
soon grew into t-shirts with small silk
screened pictures, and then altered
art took front stage with subtle watercolor backgrounds that included
swirls and stamped images. Now
it is common to see clothing with a
printed city scene with beads sewn
in for city lights, etc. There was a
day when sports companies gave
out clothing and hats with their logos and utilized others to advertise
their products for them. Today, the
artful logos are still being advertised
by happy fans, only now those fans
pay a hefty price to proudly do the
advertising. Art has become a common factor on clothing, so common
that we may not even recognize it as
such anymore.
on us as decorative artists. The colors and patterns
they choose find their way into our homes and sometimes set a standard of what will become trendy all
around. There are still some remnants of the brown
and pink stage that made its way into our wardrobes
just months ago. Those browns and pinks went from
sweaters, to dorm room decorating, and to stationary. What happens in the fashion world undoubtedly
has its affect on other markets. With this in mind,
let’s take a look at what is currently hot in the fashion
marketplace.
The latest trend that is hitting the fashion runways
is prints, but not the old white background with tiny
little flowers, now the prints have bold backgrounds
with stark complimentary colors that pop out all over.
Before the garment is made, the fabric itself is art.
Prints being introduced this fall by the top designers are showing up in blouses and dresses and are
all about color. Combinations like bright blue shimmer fabric with a subtle background pattern and
shocking pink flowers; black bases with large yellow
blooms and patches; red with royal blue and purple;
pink red and gray; and turquoise with transparent
lime green and pink. Sounds like colors we could
sink our brushes into.
PHOTO A
PHOTO B
Bold Prints And Color
Now that we have established that
fashion is an art form and art is a
part of fashion, we must come full
circle and acknowledge that clothing designers can have an influence
12
PHOTO C
Photo A - Abstract Bleeds: Hard surface - we painted the
background in black. When dry we generously brushed Jo
Sonja’s Retarder medium over the entire surface, allowing
some areas to pool slightly. Then we spattered Yellow Green
paint on to the surface and watched it bleed in the pooled
areas. Then we spattered Calypso Blue on to the surface
and then Peony Pink and let dry completely.
Photo B - Metals: this sample has three strips base coated
with FolkArt Metallic: Copper, Metallic Pure Gold and Metallic Silver Sterling. For antiquing, we applied FolkArt Ebony
stain half way up the painted strips and wiped off excess.
Photo C - Abstract Bleeds: Fabric surface - First we added fabric medium to Americana Ultramarine Blue paint (you
could start with fabric paint to make things easier). Then we
added water to the paint and touched brushfuls down on
the fabric allowing the fabric to grab the color in one place
and bleed it further. While still wet we repeated the process
using Americana Tuscan Red and then added touches of
Americana Lemon Yellow. The key to this look was not over
working the area. Let the watery paint do the work of making
a pattern. This technique can be left as is or done as a background and once dry, have a design painted on top. And as
always when fabric painting, be sure to heat set the paint.
Here’s an interesting catch though, these prints are making their way to outerwear. Just think, we can lessen the risk
of getting run over by wearing a boldly printed coat! Animal
prints are still in play in clothing and accessories and being
used in fun, less traditional ways. Black and white continues
to be a classic combination but, instead of looking like a food
server, they serve as a backdrop for colorful accessories like
belts, shoes, scarves, jewelry and handbags. Perky colors
are showcased by the neutral black and white, also known
as “hits of color.” And, abstract, bleeding watercolor sheath
dresses are for the truly daring. Beautiful colors appear to
be unsystematically applied to the dress and make a bold
artistic statement. Are you getting any painting ideas yet?
Artist Outline
Beth Wagner
Photos: Although Beth paints a variety of subjects, she has become well known for her
beautiful roses.
By Tracy Meola
Never Work A Day In
Your Life
Beth Wagner is a woman
on top of the world, enjoying the successes that her
creativity has brought her.
She paraphrases a famous
quote and says it is how
she describes her work as
a decorative painter. “If you
earn money doing something you love, you will never work a day in your life.”
(Actual quote “Choose a job
you love, and you will never
have to work a day in your
life.” Confucius)
As a young woman,
Beth attended the Fashion Institute of Technology
in Manhattan, New York,
graduated and became a
Fashion Illustrator. She illustrated women’s and children’s clothing and accessories in newspapers and
for manufacturers and was
involved in the fashion illustration business for twenty-
five years. Beth eventually left the world of fashion illustration when her
daughter, Lauren, was born so that she could devote her time to raising
her. (Lauren, by the way, inherited her mother’s creative gene and is
now an interior designer.)
Fourteen years ago, after moving to Florida, Beth walked into a craft
store and signed up for some decorative painting classes. The woman
teaching the class had a background in engineering and took a technical approach to decorative painting which, Beth says, is not her style at
all. Beth’s approach to painting was, and still is, loose and casual. That
teacher told Beth that although she painted very well, she really didn’t
know what she was doing as far as decorative painting went. During
that time, her daughter attended a private school where Beth became
a volunteer until asked to take a part-time position as an art teacher. While still taking decorative painting classes, Beth would bring her
finished projects into work to show her fellow employees. When they
saw what she had painted in her classes, they immediately wanted to
buy them, resulting in Beth selling her newly painted wooden cut-outs.
Soon, the school teachers began asking her to teach them how to paint
the cut-outs, and this is how her decorative painting business was born.
Beth laughs and says, “I really kind of backed into the whole thing.”
Soon after her entrepreneurship began, in 1996, the family decided to
move back to New York and that is where Beth still resides today. She
loves living in the Northeast and says that winter doesn’t bother her because she loves the frequent change of seasons. And, when speaking
with Beth, it is fairly recognizable to determine where she is from due
to her New Yourk accent. After moving back to New York, Beth began
selling her painted pieces in a local shop which led to her being com-
missioned to paint murals in homes. Through the
years, this has turned out to be the biggest part
of her business. She also began teaching once
again. When one of her designs was accepted
by a magazine, she was so thrilled that she says,
“One would have thought that I had won a million
dollars! I was so excited.” In 2001, she stepped
outside of her own local area and submitted some
pieces to the M.A.D. Convention in Pennsylvania.
Since then, Beth has taught at the New England
Traditions (NET) Convention, the Heart of Ohio
Tole (HOOT) Convention, in Seattle, Washington
and at the Society of Decorative Painters (SDP)
National Convention. And, to think it all began with
wooden cut-outs.
Roses
Her now famous roses were not what she set
out to become known for originally. Accustomed to
painting huge murals, Beth decided to take a rose
class and says she complained to her friend all the
way home from that class. She was determined
enough to practice and eventually developed the
roses that she teaches so frequently now. Beth
hopes to inspire TPR readers by saying, “I should
have saved my first roses; they were so atrocious.”
She goes on to say, “If you stay with it, through
practice anyone can learn to paint a good rose.”
She doesn’t judge other’s painting ability by their
rose, as she has known people that paint exquisitely but struggle with getting a rose down. However, she has seen how her technique has helped
many painters learn to successfully paint roses.
As Beth and I spoke, she had just finished creatcontinued on page 15 Beth Wagner
13
14
Fashionable Decorating
Above: Fashion shoes are placed up high on shelving that
circles the room.
or design approach for your
home, just look at the latest
fashion runway and take
notes.
Fashion As Home
Accessories
and plants are excellent
choices. Their versatility is
also budget conscious.
Fashion Runways To
Interior Design
When we think of what
colors our homes wear,
we can look at the fashion
runway. I discovered that
there are many examples
of trends in interior design
that come from fashion. Our
sofas, wall coverings and
curtains come directly from
the catwalks. For example,
animal skins are popular in
both today’s interior design
and fashion design. Exotic
textiles have crossed over
from beds to bodies. You
can see white and black fur
trimmed jacquard, contrasting black and white graphics, flowers and swirls are
all current interior design
styles. So, if you are stuck
on what is the current interi-
As I took a visual survey
of my home, it was evident
that some basic fashion
items were used to decorate it. Buttons, for example,
have been used to accent
my window tab curtains. In
a previous article, I shared
how these buttons came
from friends and family as
they visited my home for picnics and gatherings. Antique
hats have also been hung
as window valences. Their
unique color and design not
only remind us of vintage
fashion but now act as a
beautiful addition to a window treatment. Remember
my earlier comment about
shoes and how they can
be used to decorate? In my
daughter’s bedroom, shoes
have been lifted off the floor
and placed on attractive
shelving as a circumference
border. This fashionable approach to interior decorating provides more closet
and floor space in the room
and performs double duty
as a unique and attractive
wall border design. Another
fashion item used is my personal Christening dress, hat
and wedding handkerchief.
It has been hung inside a
wooden picture frame to
once again use fashion in
decorating. Although it was
worn many years ago, today it acts as a distinctive
piece of art. My mother in
law’s antique gloves and
purse, dressed inside of an
old suitcase, has been used
as still another decorating
feature. Scarves and sweaters wrapped around dining
room chairs, and jewelry
bracelets as napkin rings
are just a few more possible
fashion meets décor possibilities. So, next time you
are undecided about home
decorating, check this list
of guidelines and use your
fashion sense for successful home decorating.
Alice’s consulting services are available for Room
Design, Color Coordination
and Interior Touches.
Beth Wagner
ing her first DVD, and can
you guess what was being
taught in the DVD? Exactly,
roses! She is very excited
about the DVD concept because she feels that DVD’s
are a great tool for painters,
as you can replay it over
and over and practice along
with it. It is like having your
own personal teacher right
there with you. In addition to
her new DVD, she has over
one hundred designs available in pattern packets.
Florals, in general, are her
favorite painting subjects, especially sunflowers (and roses)
she says. She was at the shop of Wood Items and More one
day when shop owner Maureen Van Herpe showed her a
six pocket tote bag. Beth took one home with her and designed sunflowers which she painted on the bag and ended
up teaching at a few conventions and many shops. Since
then, she has designed eight more patterns that are painted
on the bags and says they have become the hottest thing!
You can see them in her exhibit booth at the New England
Traditions Painting Convention in Rhode Island.
continued on page 19 Beth Wagner
Alice Sulish
Design Consultant
603-321-6680
nhsaltbox@yahoo.com
Above: Fashion illustration is where Beth Wagner began
her career as an artist. The above illustrations are some of
her original works.
15
Art 101 - Drawing 1
BUNNY SKETCH
would suggest you do, especially if you have
never drawn before, is to get a feel for the pencil
and hold it in a comfortable way. The pencil is
usually not held in the same manner to draw as
it is to write. There are different ways to hold a
pencil for different effects, which I will not go into
now. Instead, let’s move on to the exercises!
Scribbling
Scribbling is a great way to get used to the
pencil and how your hand and arm works. Scribble just by moving the pencil with your fingers,
then scribble by moving your hand from the
wrist, then scribble again by moving your forearm from the elbow, then your whole arm from
the shoulder. Make different shapes and move in
different directions. If you notice, scribbling from
the elbow and shoulder is a lot freer and fluid.
You need the control of the fingers and hands
for the details of a drawing just as you need the
fluidity and looseness of the forearm and shoulders to capture the essence and overall shape
and feel of your drawing. You can see the difference in the sample. The scribbling done with
the fingers and hand are much tighter than the
elbow and shoulder. When you are ready, start
scribbling!
Doodling
After you have tried the different variations of
scribbling, you probably want to draw something
more recognizable; which brings us to doodling.
I am sure you have all doodled at some time or
16
BUNNY
another and it is a good way to let loose and
draw things that come to mind. Just imagine an
object and draw it. It doesn’t have to be accurate or true to life. Draw as many things as you
want and draw different sizes. When you are
done, keep that paper and date it, so that in the
future when you are more accomplished with
your drawing you can see the difference.
Sketching
Now that you have scribbled and doodled,
you can try sketching. Sketching is just a way
to get the overall feel of your drawing. I would
suggest that you just sit in your favorite spot,
whether it is inside or outside, and pick something to sketch. I would start with simple objects
first; a lamp, a tree, your pet (if they sit still for a
bit), a figurine or anything that grabs your interest. Do not be concerned with all of the details
or how it looks. And, please, don’t tackle what
you are not comfortable with. I do not want anyone to feel discouraged. You won’t be doing a
finished drawing. Sketch loose and light; if you
were to make it into a finished drawing your
sketch lines should be easily erasable after
placing your final lines and details. Be relaxed
when sketching and keep your arm loose. If you
sketch something moving, such as a bird, get
the overall feel of the bird with quick lines. You
can see in my sketch of the bunny that there
is not much detail and, if you saw it in person,
continued on page 21 Art 101 - Drawing 1
A Loving
Master
Cole Is So Very
Sadly Missed
The best
things in life
aren’t things!
The Society of Decorative Painters
defines decorative painting as 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.
By Tracy Meola
On August 8 we said good bye to a loyal friend and family member, our
dog Cole. Cole was a unique black dog with a lot of quirks. He entered our
family as a small puppy from the local rescue center and life changed for
us immediately. As a young pup he didn’t like being alone and soon developed a major fear of thunder and lightning which turned into a fear of loud
noises and any flash of light. When the loss of electricity caused lights to
flick or the electronics to beep, he became restless. Later in life we had a
very hard time getting photos of him because of the flash on the camera,
he started to associate the camera with lightning, and whether it flashed or
not, he ran away from it. I remember him hopping in the shower with our
son Alex one time after hearing a loud noise, like running for cover. Then
there was the time that we came home one Fourth of July to find an entire
couch had been shredded. Little foam pieces from the cushions were all
over the room, it looked like it had snowed inside. Speaking of couches, he
had his own old couch that he could lay on and loved propping his head up
on pillows. We always accused him of being nosey and not wanting to miss
anything that was going on. He had different cookies for different times of
the day and he loved to be brushed. He would go to the Groomers once a
month and it was a real treat for him. Most dogs cower and try to run, but
we just had to say “Bath” to Cole and he couldn’t get in the car fast enough.
In fact, during one visit, Nancy, the Groomer said that when they were
bringing him out back, he went and jumped in someone else’s tub, ready
for his bath. As I think back over the span of twelve and a half years, the
continued on page 20 Cole Is So Very Sadly Missed
17
Accessorize!
Just when you didn’t think it was possible, heels are getting higher but the
new trick is a plat-formed front. When the front (ball of the foot) has added
platform to it, the stiletto can become even longer and leaner. Thin tall heels
are being made in metals or are studded with gems and, as with everything
else, shoes are sporting a hint of bold color as well. That works well for us,
how about painted toes or heels? Glossy patent shoes are raging in red and
deep brown. With so much depth in the color, they look as if they have coat
after coat of shiny polyurethane on them.
Bangle bracelets are making a huge comeback. Models are wearing lots of
them at once and they are a mix of color, neutrals, metals and bauble trimmings. Now that’s an accessory a decorative painter can put their talents to
work on! In fact, one delicious accessory that has debuted is winter gloves
with big chunky bangles attached, allowing you to be fabulously accessorized
even when dressed to go outside. Why spend over $2,000 for the designer
label? (Yes, you read it correctly, over $2,000), when you can put your talents
to work and create your own pair.
Feminine ruffles are softening everything and in unusual ways. Soft ruffles
may appear diagonally on blouses, lining scarves, on skirt seams, and to
beautify jackets, and we are talking super soft and elegant; chiffon, silk, rayon
and crepe are replacing stiff cotton and twill. Totally feminine! Modest necklines are returning and replacing the plunging fronts that shock onlookers with
overdone, pushed-up cleavage. As chests get covered up, shoulders and
arms are being bared. The new necklines are leaving more area for painting designs. The jewel necklines also make way for the hottest new trend
in necklaces; full bibs that imitate Cleopatra and her Egyptian adornments.
Only today’s bibs go way beyond metal coins; they are high in design and
color incorporating beads, pearls, jewels, chains, and sculpted metals. What
a statement!
It looks like sparkle is still with us for awhile only now in the form of jewel
embellishments, replacing loose glitter. The jewels are clustered around the
neckline, added randomly over a blouse or dress, in pins, on hats, shoes
and handbags. Remember the costume brooches that Great-Grandma wore?
They are being reinvented into modern accessories and include the fabulous
colors of today. Jewels, jewels everywhere; love that sophisticated sparkle!
You may not be a fan of heavy metal music, but heavy metals are taking
over the fashion scene fast and furiously. This summer revealed how deep
rooted and persistent the trend is with sandals and purses showing up in
stores in an array of mixed metallic tones and often antiqued…yes, antiqued!
Stock up on metallic paints and be sure to include them in your next fabric
project.
Now, having said all of that, the most important thing to take into consideration is that the modern trend is still classic contemporary, which simply
put, means not overdone. In other words, something trendy gives an updated
look, but everything trendy put all together is just overdone. Choose a great
fun piece and showcase it, don’t overload. Be a show stopper, not a show
shocker!
So, that’s the fashion lowdown. Let’s see… bold color, daring prints, abstract, bleeding watercolor fabrics, deep red and brown glossy patent, color
and metal embellished shoes, bangle bracelets, metallics, what are you waiting for??!! These trends can give us motivation to step out and try something new and different in our designs. Decorative painting isn’t just country or
cutesy anymore, it is young, it is bold and it is sizzling hot! Whether you are a
country girl or a city girl you can easily add some color, sparkle, or art to your
wardrobe or home decorating just by using your own two hands…and a brush
of course!
18
Recreate Some Of The Hottest Fashion Trends For
Yourself:
Patent Leather
Start with a deep rich red or brown paint base. Then, coat with Triple Thick®
brilliant brush on gloss glaze by DecoArt. One to two coats is all that is needed to make a nice deep gloss.
Metals
Use metallic silver, gold, bronze and copper paints. And, don’t be afraid to
try a little antiquing for the burnished look.
Animal and Other Prints
Using stencils for animal prints makes the job easy; just repeat the stencil
until you have the desired area covered. For other prints, either create repeat
patterns or random patterns. Repeat patterns can be placed by measuring
off equal distances on your surface and placing the design at each measured
increment. Or, be bold and brave and use a design more randomly so that it
is a print that is repeated, not in measured symmetry, but placed instead in
different areas or sizes on your surface.
Abstract Bleeds
Begin with a lighter color surface, such as white, cream, or light grey. For
fabric, add fabric medium to the fabric paints. Spatter the colors on or apply
Beth Wagner
Business vs. Artist
Beth feels that she is a
much better artist than a
business person but is really working on that. In the
beginning, she lacked a
“game plan” but also feels
that is a classic artist trait.
She is learning as she goes
and has included two other
women in her business, who
she says are extremely organized (and computer literate) and even keep a schedule for her. She credits them
with giving her order and
control. One mistake she
made, in the beginning of
this business as a decorative painter, was that she
didn’t promote herself. She
now feels that it is okay to
acknowledge that you are
good at something, not be
pushy about it, but acknowledge it and promote yourself. She also learned very
early on to separate herself
from her work, and her years
of working as a fashion illustrator in the garment district
taught her this. She knows
her style isn’t going to be for
everyone, just as she had
illustrations that manufacturers would reject because
her renderings were not
what they wanted. She said
at the age of twenty-one,
the first time she had renderings rejected she left in
tears, taking it very personally. She soon learned that
it wasn’t a personal attack,
it was her work and not her,
and was just a matter of the
manufacturer’s taste and
style. The same thing happens today with conventions; she submits designs
to be taught at conventions
and if they are not chosen
she knows it is because it
is not right for that convention, not that it isn’t a good
design. During her fashion illustration years, she
was always working toward
deadlines which can burn a
person out and, so, she has
learned to adapt and distinguish between work and
personal time.
Beth is also the owner of
a business called Suede
Sensations. This new product is paintable, soft suede
surfaces in a variety of
fashionable colors. Some of
the surfaces available are,
bookmarks, book covers,
small bag purses, clutch
purses, and mini Christmas
stockings. Also available
are painting patterns that
Beth designed for the suede
surfaces. Between the new
suede business and the tote
bags she has been doing
quite a bit of fabric painting which brings her back to
her background in fashion.
Things do seem to come full
circle with artists.
Grow As An Artist
Beth continues to keep
herself involved in the various aspects of painting;
designing, teaching, paintfor-hire and retail. She has
ongoing students that paint
with her every other week.
She feels that every other
week keeps the students
looking forward to returning and seeing each other,
whereas getting together
every week could become a
chore. She teaches only her
own designs in her classes
and many of her designs
have come from her students
requests in class. Whether
in her own studio, at convention or on the road, she
loves teaching and bringing
out the “inner artist and designer” in each person. She
is energetic and enthusiastic and her teaching style
is fun and easy going. Her
students would say that she
promotes creativity by getting them to think outside of
her design. She feels that
her design should be the
place for others to begin,
not just copy.
Personally, she
seeks to always
grow as an artist. She wants
to continue to try
new techniques
and become better and better at
her craft. A dream for
her is to paint in France
or Italy in a fine art painting class and to be able to
focus on just that, nothing
else, just the joy of painting
there. And, although she is
an acrylic painter her interest in watercolors has been
piquing and she would like
to spend some time working with them.
Painting has changed
Beth’s life and she says that
she is so impressed with
the bonds of friendship that
she has seen come about.
Women enter into friend-
ships that you would never
expect because of the commonality of painting.
Paint our cover design
titled, “Welcome Autumn©”
by Beth Wagner. Photos
can be downloaded from
our website for your personal painting and are available
through October 31, 2009.
Beth Wagner Designs
631-696-3435
www.bethwagnerdesigns.com
19
Fashion Is Art And
Art Is Fashion(able)
with a brush to the fabric. Be sure to continue with other colors
and finish the entire piece before the colors dry so that they
will bleed into each other.
For wood, or other hard surfaces, mix paint with extender so
the colors are very watered down, and apply to your surface.
Blend where the colors meet each other or use a faux finish
tool to create a pattern. Allow the colors to overlap each other
and even bleed or pool in areas. Or brush extender over the
surface first and then spatter the colors into the wet extender
and watch them bleed into each other.
Jewel Embellishments
Currently available are colorful gems called “Faux Show”
by Plaid Enterprises that look like the stones that appeared
in Great Grandma’s brooch. They come in various sizes and
color combinations, or scour the local craft store for unusual
shapes and styles, as beading and jewelry making supplies
are plentiful right now. When attaching the gems, use glue that
is appropriate for the surface. Aleene’s makes glues for various surfaces and uses. Once attached, you can paint around
the gems or paint first and then attach the gems for luminous
accents.
Results may vary and are not guaranteed.
Cole Is So Very Sadly Missed
crazy Cole stories are countless.
Cole and I walked every day for years, when it
became harder for him, we still walked every day,
our route just became shorter and shorter. This
was Cole’s absolute delight in life, his daily walks.
Even in his last days when it was hard for him to get
up, once he did, he would head for the pathway.
Now Cole is gone and I recognize that there were
so many habits that we formed without even realizing, that had become a part of our daily routine.
I made sure there was cream cheese in the house
for him to take his pill every day and walking by his
water bowl I would look down to see if it needed
clean water. When coming in the house, I would
open the door and look for him to greet me, even if
it was only with his eyes. I sat in my studio the other
day and swore that I heard his little paws clicking
down the hallway to come and get me for a break. I
dropped something on the kitchen floor that made
a big noise and waited for him to come in to see
what was happening. Every time I hear the jingle
of keys or a zipper pull, I think it is the jingle of the
license on his collar.
There is a real void in our house. I miss our little
dog more than I would have ever thought. Dogs
continued on page 21 Cole Is Sadly Missed
20
Cole Is So Very Sadly Missed
are somewhat like children, requiring attention and care, only they never
grow up and become independent like children do. They remain perpetual
children, always needing us and requiring our time and love. And what’s
funny is I learned a lot from Cole, he taught me a lot about myself and various things in life. Quite a few years back I made an entry in my journal that
I would like to share with you.
Cole and I walk the same route every day and have become familiar
with all the bumps, holes and uneven places. But once in a while we come
across a broken bottle or something sharp lying in our path and I take hold
of his leash and pull him in real close to me so I can guide him around the
dangerous object. It is for his protection that I do this, so he wouldn’t end up
with an injury. He isn’t aware of the danger that is lying there, he can’t understand that glass will cut his paws, so when I do this, his response is to look
up at me with questioning eyes as if to say “What did I do? Why am I being
corrected?” He seems to think of it as a punishment. But I wasn’t punishing
him, quite the opposite, I was protecting him.
It made me think of how many times God pulls on my leash and guides
me out of dangers way, and in turn I feel like I have done something wrong
or that I am being punished for something. How often I have wondered why
something didn’t turn out the way I wanted or felt that a prayer had gone
unanswered. Just as Cole felt that he was walking along, having his usual
walk and enjoying life, I do the same. He could have fallen into harm had
the arm of a loving Master not pulled him from it and guided him around it.
He will never know or understand that he was being protected, but he was.
I began to see that a loving Master protects me the same way, many times
when I don’t see the danger that lies ahead, being caught up in the joy of my
daily walk, I am pulled away and may never know the danger I was spared.
I love Cole and want only the best for him and that is why I make the
course corrections in his walk. I can now see that the things that happen in
my life may be the course corrections of one who loves me even more.
Art 101 - Drawing 1
you would notice more “sketchy” lines that I did at first with my mechanical
pencil. For photographic purposes, I had to go over some of the lines so
that they would show up in the photography. I usually think of sketching as
a starting point and I may or may not finish it as a final drawing. It is good to
sketch an object, or whatever you are drawing, multiple times and from different angles. This allows you to get familiar with the subject, so that when
you are ready for your final drawing there are no surprises.
By now you have heard me mention “finished drawing” several times. It is
just like a finished painting. You wouldn’t say a painting was finished after
just painting in the background and base-coating all the elements. You need
detail, lights and darks and all of the finishing touches that make it complete.
The same is true for a finished drawing. A sketch gives you a starting point
to put in all of the overall elements of your drawing, but it is not complete
until all of the details and shading and highlighting are added in.
Susan has drawn most of her life and painted seriously for the past 16 or
17 years. She graduated from Bridgewater State College with a Bachelor
of Arts degree. She stumbled upon decorative painting and started painting
with acrylics in the early 1990’s. When she began designing for books she
was forced to get back to her drawing roots and has continued ever since.
SUSAN BOERMAN
www.susanville.etsy.com srboerman@verizon.net
Bridgewater Massachusetts
Fall Apple Recipe
Rose’s Apple Walnut Cake
Submitted by Marlena DeFusco
In honor of my Mother, Rose, who will be celebrating her 90th birthday this
October.
Growing up we were surrounded by wonderful apple trees of many different varieties, so there was always plenty of apples for cooking. My Mom’s
recipe for apple cake filled the house with the wonderful smells of apples
and cinnamon and was a favorite of hers to bring to parties or as a housewarming gift. It was always a bit of a hit or miss, however, because there
would always be that one small section of the cake that just would not stay
together and would ruin the cake. Of course, we loved it because it meant
we got to eat it. Whenever my future husband heard that Mom was making her famous apple cake, he would stop in with his own fork in hand and
anxiously await the outcome when Mom would remove the cake from the
pan, hoping that this cake too would not make it to the party or to a friends
house and would end up on the table in front of him. It was not until after
many, many tries that she finally discovered that the secret to not having the
cake fall apart was to alternate the dry ingredients and the chopped apple
mixture. My husband still finds ways to tease my Mom, but not about her
delicious apple cake!
INGREDIENTS:
4 C Apple, peeled and coarsely chopped
1 3/4 C Sugar
1/2 C Oil
2 - Eggs
2 Tsp Vanilla
2 C Flour
2 Tsp Baking Soda
1 Tsp Salt
2 Tsp Cinnamon
1/2 C Walnuts, chopped
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine apples and sugar and set aside. In large
mixing bowl, mix eggs, oil and vanilla. Beat one minute at medium speed.
Sift together combined ingredients and add ALTERNATELY with apple mixture and egg mixture. Stir in walnuts. (Mixture will be thick.) Spread in a well
greased 13” x 9” x 2” baking pan (or a fluted bundt pan), at 350°F for 45-50
minutes, or until cake tests done with a toothpick. Do not under bake!
21
Welcome Autumn© Pattern
USE PATTERNS AT 150%
22
Try Painting Day II
Presented By
THE PAINTING RAG
Have you always wanted to try painting but were afraid you
wouldn’t be able to? NOW is your chance to give it a try
and find out how easy and fun it really is!
We invite you to TRY PAINTING on Saturday, September 12, 2009. Our
“Shimmery Pumpkin©” project takes about 45 minutes to complete.
No supplies to buy - just come and try! This offer is for ONE DAY ONLY
and can be completed at any of the locations listed below. Register today with the location of your choice! Try painting and bring home your
own “Shimmery Pumpkin©” just in time for Autumn.
PARTICIPATING SHOPS & STUDIOS
A Painters Dream
Debi Hendrickson
82 Railroad St.
Abington, MA 02351
781-871-7706
Abby Rose Painting
Studio
Janice Tomlin
6 Autumn Way
Seabrook, NH 03874
603-828-7744
Art Plus
Karen Hicks
249 Loudon Rd.
Concord, NH
603-225-8080
Brush Strokes & Painted
Treasures
Maryse Roy
476 Main St.
Madison, ME 04950
207-696-4700
Central Oklahoma Society
of Tole & Decorative
Painters, Inc.
Brenda S. Rickman, COSTDP
Publicity Chair
Putnam City Christian Church
Fellowship Hall
5711 NW 42nd
Oklahoma City, OK 73122
405-317-8410 voice mail
Cupboard Distributing
Chris Haughey
1463 S US Hwy. 68
Urbana, OH 43078
937-652-3338
Hattie D’s
Cindy Farenkopf
285 Route 28
W. Dennis, MA 02670
508-398-0074
Lauré Paillex Studio
714 Head of the Bay Rd.
Buzzards Bay, MA 02532
508-759-4623
Margie’s Decorative
Painting Studio
Margie Sheehan
112A East Broadway
North Salem, NH 03073
603-898-2092
Michelle’s Creative
Expressions
Michelle Curran
151 Main St.
Plaistow, NH 03865
603-378-0048
The Creative Touch
Anne Hunter
48 Paquin Dr.
Marlborough, MA 01752
508-485-9306
The Tole Patch, LLC
Gavin Standish
110 N. Main St.
Camden, DE 19934
302-698-4488
Quilted Acorn Shoppe
72 Newburyport Turnpike
Newbury, MA 01951
978-462-0974
Check each individual studio for times and requirements, and remember to pick up THE PAINTING RAG during your visit.
SPONSORED IN PART BY
Quarry House
Distributors
23

PAINTING Rag - DecorativePaintingStore.com

Transcription

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