Sunday, November 29, 2015

LIQUITEX AND ACRYLICS

Hi Everyone!

I was fortunate enough to receive a 122 page book on Liquitex® acrylics and mediums. Some of this information is new to me and even though you may know all about acrylics and mediums it is good to review. So I will be sharing parts of this book every Sunday.  First a bit of history. I have taken this information directly from the Liquitex® Acrylic Book since they have prepared it perfectly. Hope you enjoy. 

A Brief History

In the long history of art materials, acrylics are fairly new. Oil colors date back to the fifteenth century. Tempera and encaustic have pedigrees that are counted the the thousands of year. Watercolor was the result of prehistoric visionaries developed the basic model for paint that still serves today: a combination of pigment ( earth colorant) vehicle (for the earliest artists, saliva), and binder (prehistoric animal fat). 
Acrylics were first developed as a solvent-based artists' color in the early part of the twentieth century. The first water-borne acrylic company in Cincinnati, Ohio call Permanent Pigments that had been milling oil colors since 1933 (and run by a man named Henry Levison, who lived, drank, slept and breathed artist's colors) launched the new product. This new artists' color was formulated with and acrylic polymer resin that was emulsified with water. The new color could go from thick to thin and everywhere in between; it would adhere to just about anything--from canvas to paper to metal to wood to plastic-- and it dried quickly for easy re-working, layering and masking. Most important, it could be thinned and cleaned up with water. Levison tried to come up with a name that would capture the essence of the medium and that fact that it could go from fluid liquidity to heavy texture. He called his new product "liquid texture," or Liquitex®. Levison was able to encourage a  number of artists to try the product, but acceptance was slow. Acrylics didn't gain full acceptance in the artist community until Levison figured out a principle that is still in place today: great information is as important as great materials. Based upon that principle, Levison launched a lecture demonstration program in which artists offered workshops and lectures on the use of acrylics to college students and professors. Within a few year, acrylics were being used consistently in colleges and universities across the country. It wasn't long before Liquitex® was being used by some of the most important artists of the late 20th century: David Hockney, Helen Frankenthaler, Andy Warhol and others. 
Because of the durability and versatility, Liquitex® also became the medium of choice for large-scale public murals by artists such as Garo Antreasian and Thomas Hart Benton. In fact, it is fair to say that without Liqutex® and the working properties of water-based acrylics, 20th century art would have been completely different. By the 1980's acrylics had become the most popular and widely used of all painting mediums, surpassing both watercolors and oils by a large margin. 
The reason?
 The infinite variety of applications of acrylics coupled with the spirit of innovation first shown by Liquitex® Without question there is no more versatile color system in the world. While both oils and watercolor require careful selection of surfaces and techniques to ensure success and stability, acrylics can be used with some simple guidelines on virtually anything, to achieve virtually any visual sculptural result. They can be used on canvas, on paper, on fabric, on leather, on metal, and on wood. Acrylics can be brushed, troweled, sprayed, poured, splattered, scraped or carved. In short, with a little care and the right additive or medium, acrylics can do just about anything you can imagine.
Acrylics offer such a great versatility because they do three great things. 
1 THEY STICK, to almost anything.
2 THEY FLEX.  As they dry acrylics tend to remain far more flexible on a wider array of surfaces.
3 THEY ADJUST.  Through the wonders of modern chemistry, the working properties of acrylics can be adjusted, altered, and managed in an infinite variety of ways. 

I hope this brief history has you curious and will come back next week. 
Please let me know what you think by leaving a comment.








 





Nicole/Beadwright
 Honor and integrity in art, in life.

Thursday, November 26, 2015

HAPPY THANKSGIVING AND PPF

Hi Everyone!!! 

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you. We got our first freeze of the year last night. Woke up to frosty white, it was so pretty. 
Two things this week. 1, I was lucky enough to receive a wonderful book on Liqutex products. There is some history about acrylic paints that I didn't know so I thought I would share the information with you. 
I will be posting every Sunday about acrylics and mediums. 
2, Last week the owner of Nature Foot Step commented that my sculpted pieces looked heavy. I guess I should tell you that along with cement I use some other secrete ingredients in my sculpt so they are actually quite light. The largest piece only weighs 5lbs.  I am not ready to divulge my process or complete ingredients yet (sorry) but the main ingredient is cement.

A big thanks to Eva and Kristen who host Paint Party Friday. I wait all week to see who has created what. I am so inspired by all of the artists who show their art. 

This week I have a piece of "Car Art" 
Yes I draw in the car and NO our roads in Oregon suck!!!! So lots of mistakes and erasing. LOL

I don't do hair. I think this winter I will study how to draw and paint hair.  
 This is a used canvas that I painted sometime ago and decided it was time to paint over it. 
The shinny parts are marbled red gold leaf. 
20x16" acrylics


This is my latest sculpt. Now I will tell you that the base of this are stacked gourd tops. I think it has an oriental appeal.
It is 17" tall and 6" at the widest part. Weighs in at 2 lb. and is very stable.







Just so you know how much they weigh.
19x20x6x with out the curls. 5lbs

 12x10x6 with out the curls. Weighs 2 lbs

17x9x4 with out the curls and weighs about 2 lbs
Hope you enjoyed the show and a wonderful weekend.

Nicole/Beadwright 
Honor and integrity in art, in life.

Thursday, November 19, 2015

PAINT PARTY FRIDAY 11/20/15

Hi Everyone!

It has been a stormy week here on the Oregon coast. Don't freak out..... but I am liking these wet, windy, stormy days. (OK if you have been with me awhile you know that this is a break through for me. I have hated the weather here since we moved here about 9 years ago. LOL) So with that I have been loving these days in the art studio working on my cement sculptures for next year. It takes about 2 weeks to make each one. 
There is a lot of prep work and the with each phase there is drying time.
I am sharing with Paint Party Friday hosted by Eva and Kristen.
Please stop by PPF to see all of the artists who share their art.

This one measures 17" long and 8x7x6" wide and 4" tall. With the curls it is 9" 
I wasn't too sure about the colors on this one until I had it completely finished and then fell in love with them. 

This piece can also be hung on the wall





Nicole/Beadwright Honor 
and integrity in art, in life.

I JUST LOVE LILLIAN ARENA

Hi Everyone!

Last year I introduced Lillian Arena through her daughter Priscilla.  You can see that post here. This is a very elegant and talented woman. Please read and comment so Lillian knows what an inspiration she truly is. 

Email to me from Priscilla

I thought you might want to see what my mother has come up with this year.  
She found an old doll that she had sculpted out of polymer clay.
We purchased putty to make a mold of the head and made these little heads.  
She painted the faces and used little gauze gift bags stuffed with
cotton that had been scented with her perfume.  
She glued the little bag to the head, gave each doll hair and these darling little dolls are ready
to go.  At 96 years old she is still interested in hobbies and especially dolls, bears and Santa’s.
 What a delight Lillian is.
  

Nicole/Beadwright 
Honor and integrity in art, in life.

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

DO YOU KNOW THIS MARK?

Hi Everyone!

Can anyone tell me what this mark is? It is from a piece of pottery I own.


Nicole/Beadwright 
Honor and integrity in art, in life.

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

ULTRASUEDE!!!

Hi Everyone!

I just finished listing lots of sets of Ultrasuede with and without Nicole's BeadBacking. All at great prices. A reminder too that 12x9" Nicole's BeadBacking is on sale at the lowest price ever. Both in out Beadwright Etsy store and Beadwright.com
This sale goes through Nov. 23, 2015






Nicole/Beadwright 
Honor and integrity in art, in life.

Friday, November 13, 2015

FRIDAY THE 13 YIPPPEEEE

Hi Everyone!

Happy Friday the 13. Even with all the superstition the revolves around this day, it has always been a very lucky day for me. So with that in mind I am looking forward to see what this day will bring. How about you, does this day effect you at all?

 Also I was able to take a few photos of the  Florence Library art exhibit. Now it was dark and the photos are not that great but you get the idea of how many people really do show their art here. If you live in Florence, OR are near by come and see some great art and if you are so inclined please vote for me. I am Number 7.

I love that my piece is up front and center. 
The ladies of the Library Art Committee do a fabulous job of  placing and hanging all of the art.





 
 Have a fantastic 13!

Nicole/Beadwright 
Honor and integrity in art, in life.

Thursday, November 12, 2015

PAINT PARTY FRIDAY 11/13

Hi Everyone!

I am so busy today so I am posting really early for PPF. Thanks to Eva and Kristin for hosting our weekly event. Be sure to visit all of the talented artists who join in.
This is another one of my sculptures. I am loving this technique and the shapes I am able to come up with. I will be having a show next year so you will be seeing lots of these as I make them up.

This measures 12x12x5 and then the curl is another 6" high. Made with cement, paint, and Nicole's BeadBacking




 
Nicole/Beadwright 
Honor and integrity in art, in life.

GOOD COMPANY TO DEAL WITH

Hi Everyone,

In this day where companies can forget about their customers it is always nice to report on one that does care. Now this may seem trivial, but to me it showed that this company does care and now they have a customer for life. What is it? A puzzle company. Hubby and I set up puzzles all winter and work on them at will. So a month or so ago we bought a new puzzle made by Ravensburger. A German based company that truly does make the best puzzles. We worked this up together seeing who could fine the most parts and laughing like kids as we got sections finished up. (OK so it doesn't take much to make us happy. LOL)  As we get to the end we have an extra piece that does fit anywhere and a space with no fitting piece.   I emailed the companies US department and in just a very few days got a response. All I have to do is send in the bar code off the box and they are replacing the puzzle. I love this!!!!  How nice to know that something as small as this is taken with consideration and care of the customer and pride in their company.  If you make up puzzles check Ravensburger.com 




Nicole/Beadwright 
Honor and integrity in art, in life.

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

BLESS ALL WHO SERVE

Hi Everyone!

On this day we honor all of those who have served our country. 
That includes my SIL, Granddaughter, and Grandson. 
Bless all our men and women who serve.


Nicole/Beadwright 
Honor and integrity in art, in life.

Monday, November 9, 2015

LAST SALE OF THE YEAR FOR NBB

Hi Everyone!

Can you believe summer is over fall is in full swing and the holidays are fast upon us? It is time to get those gifts and holiday decorations made up. What better way than to use Nicole's BeadBacking. Sooooo for the last sale of this year 12x9 " NBB is just $1.70 each any color!!!! 
This is the lowest price sale EVER!!!!
This sale starts now! and will go through November 23, 2015

Remember NBB is great for making Thanks Giving projects, such as cut outs for center pieces, and decorated place mats. Make Christmas stockings, and decorations with NBB. You can quilt, make handbags, dolls, painting on, scrap booking, and so much more.
NBB is the best for beading and applique!!!

Want to get some layers and 3-D effects to your beading try these techniques.
Glue cabs to a foundation of NBB, once beaded trim the NBB and glue it to another piece of NBB. Bead around this. Trim and add to another piece of NBB and bead around this. Experiment with how many rows to achieve different effects. This makes the best layers and give height to your beading.





 Add a nice edging and put together.

OR
Try this technique. This one was sent to me by Heather Bennett. 
Check out her beading in her Etsy store


 Stack NBB in any shape and size then bead over it. This gives the luscious effect.

OR
Use NBB for a sculptural piece. This Cherry Pie was cleverly created by Donna Z here in Florence, 

She used Mocha Cream NBB for the pie crust. Just genius.

Now get your thinking caps. After the holidays I have a big contest for you.
I will send details later but start thinking of the most fun and unique ways to use NBB. Send me step by step photos and instructions. We will have three judges and a huge prize for the winners. Yes I said winners. 1st. 2nd and 3rd places.
This can be in any category from beading to painting, to sewing, to well what ever your creativity can come up with.
I will give all the details soon.
 
Nicole/Beadwright 
Honor and integrity in art, in life.

Thursday, November 5, 2015

PAINT PARTY FRIDAY 11/6

Hi Everyone!

It is PPF already. Last week I was suffering from a MEGA migraine so I wasn't able to participate. 
So I am showing a  piece I did for this migraine. I will add it to  my collection of what I call "migraine art"  In addition I have two more "Car Art" sketches. 
A big thanks to Eva and Kristin who host Paint Party Friday and to all of the artists who show their art.
Looking forward to seeing what everyone has created.





Nicole/Beadwright 
Honor and integrity in art, in life.

CHANGING WEATHER

Hi Everyone!

The weather is starting to change here. The nights are cold and the roar of the ocean is louder. I don't know if there is a true correlation with that but it seems to be and by the time we are full into winter the sea is more angry and roaring. You would think that living at the beach I would have more photos. To tell the truth we never go to the beach. Most of the locals don't. It is too cold and windy, even in the summer. I WAS looking for some beach photos and can't find them. But I did come across this one of me and my daughter at the beach, nice bathing suits huh? LOL
It was freezing that day.
Wishing all of you a very nice day


Nicole/Beadwright 
Honor and integrity in art, in life.

Monday, November 2, 2015

HANG IT ALL FLORENCE LIBRARY

Hi Everyone!

I am so excited to be a part of the 23rd annual "Hang It All" with the Florence Library.  Our library staff and volunteers are the best. There is always something artistic going on there. I entered this piece and it was accepted. I also got it in the case so no curious fingers will be touching it. 

 People tend to touch this to figure out what the materials are. So I am glad it is behind glass.

If you live in Florence, Oregon or near by or you are coming for a visit you have the entire month of November to view art from our local artists. 
Hope to see you there!
1460 Ninth Street
Florence, OR. 97439
Open 7 days a week.
Sunday 1-5
Monday 10-6
Tuesday 10-8
Wednesday 10-8
Thursday 10-6
Friday 10-6
Saturday 10-6

Nicole/Beadwright 
 Honor and integrity in art, in life.

Sunday, November 1, 2015

NO TRICK OR TREATERS AT MY HOUSE

Hi Everyone!

I hope everyone had a fun night last night. We knew there would be no kids coming to our house or any house. The storm gods decided they would party and kicked up the storm The wind was blowing sheets of rain down the street. There were a lot of disappointed kids last night. 

Big thanks to all of you who have sent well wishes for me and the stupid migraine. I have had them since I was a little kid. I was told the older you get the less head pain. Well "they" lied. LOL  

So today I have three art projects I am working on. I am waiting for some parts that I ordered but I can sand and paint at least one today. What are you doing today? 

Ohhh and I changed my blog. I got rid of the G-1 thing so now I do have a reply email. Let me know if there are problems with leaving a comment. 

Here are a few shots of what we see on our way to Eugene. 









Nicole/Beadwright 
Honor and integrity in art, in life.