need some art tips...

[Ummu Sufyaan]

if any of you are into art, can you recommended me some tips as to how to go about interpreting my thoughts of an image onto paper, using the proper media. so what techniques, tools, what kind of paints to use, eg what is the difference if i use water colors, oil paints, etc...how to create an image using those water colored pencils (i think they're called Derwents)...

i know what i want to create, but i have next to no idea as to how to go about it...i tried the other day, but it turned out :hmm: :hiding:

just some really simple tips for a beginner, like me...

 

[Muslim Woman]

I don't know anything about art but google knows something


Art for beginners by a beginner

http://www.jwjonline.net/about.php

Art Made Easy For Kids and Their Parents

http://www.art-made-easy.com/

 

[Woodrow]

The medium is of little importance. Try them all and see what you like. Try pencil, Charcoal, acrylic, water, tempera, even finger paints. Now learn to grasp a "feel" for the art.

A good exercise to repeat many times. Sit at a table, place an object such as a vase opposite you. Place your drawing surface on your lap under the table where you can not see it. Now try to draw the object with out looking at your drawing. Try to visualize your hands moving over and behind the object you are drawing.

Your early attempts will most likly be just pieces of smudged paper but continue with this exercise several times a day using different mediums. When you reach the point your drawing is recognizable you will have found the medium best for you and are now grasping a feel for art.

 

[Nájlá]

Imagine: First of all before you start your art piece you need to imagine how your piece will look like. How is it going to look like with materials you’ve used? For example if you’re going to draw a tree now we all know what a tree looks like but you need to imagine how it will look with the materials you’re going to use and what style is it going to be in.etc

Materials- You need to use materials your good at. Not everyone is good at all the materials. Using materials you know how they work and your good at using it is going to be easy.

Sketch- Before you start its good to do a sketch before you start that it will help you know what size the shapes will be etc. And that way you won’t get the shapes wrong.

Practise- Its okay if you get it wrong just keep practising and you’ll finally get there.
..
Woodrow has explained it well.

 

[Eliphaz]

I use a Wacom graphics tablet. It's basically like a mouse in the shape of a pen which allows you to draw or paint directly onto your computer. It is fantastic with a program like Adobe Photoshop and allows you to create digital art which looks just like paintings (except you don't have to wash your brushes afterwards )

They are a very expensive to buy (£200+) but then again, you won't have to spend any money on art supplies and your artwork can be put online or sent to people really quickly.

Here is what is looks like:

 

[Re.TiReD]

AssalamuAlaykum

Interesting

I dont know but I'm guessing it'd be best to start off with a pencil? (obvious maybe? :embarrass)

And then after that you can experiment, I use both oil paints and acrylics and like both for different reasons, if I'm creating a gradient effect or basically want two colours to blend in well together then I use oil paints because you can do so much more with them, it takes aaages, absolutely aages to dry (I have 4 drying at home atm :exhausted) so you can do them over a period of several hours and keep going back if you're not happy.

Other than that I'm totally in :wub: with acrylic paints, they dont pong like oils and dry in a matter of 10-15 mins, but once you're done...you're done....you cant do anything with it once its onto paper or canvas...I cant find the word I'm looking for, gah!

In conclusion, its all trial and error. Dont be afraid to play around with your materials and make a mess

Wassalam

 

[Woodrow]

Acrylics can be a lot of fun if you don't think of them just as acrylics. It is fun to experiment with them. You can mix a lot of Acrylic Gesso and a little water in them and get an oil paint texture and longer drying time. You can also mix them with a lot of water and use them like water paints. I also found it fun to get various textures by mixing in things like sand

By mixing them at a ratio of 3 parts gesso and one part paint you get a texture and translucent quality similar to egg tempera.

With art do not get intimidated by the medium, experiment and play with it and learn to make it behave as you want.

Also try mixing in the clear acryic glace with the paint. You can get some nice effects.

 

[Re.TiReD]

By mixing them at a ratio of 3 parts gesso and one part paint you get a texture and translucent quality similar to egg tempera.

JazakAllah khayr for that, I recently got hold of some Acrylic Gesso, only used it once though but might try it like you said insha'Allah

My acrylic creation:

Its meant to say Al-Khabir but I didnt add the harakaat and stuff yet, I'm hoping to do something with the gesso to make it more interesting.

 

[Woodrow]

JazakAllah khayr for that, I recently got hold of some Acrylic Gesso, only used it once though but might try it like you said insha'Allah

My acrylic creation:

Its meant to say Al-Khabir but I didnt add the harakaat and stuff yet, I'm hoping to do something with the gesso to make it more interesting.

Very nice. It has the translucenese and glow I would expect from egg tempera. You did an excellent job getting it with acrylic.

 

[Re.TiReD]

Very nice. It has the translucenese and glow I would expect from egg tempera. You did an excellent job getting it with acrylic.

Maybe thats the light in my room? :embarrass

I'm trying to think out the box a little and do something different, not too sure what to try next though.

As-Samad.

By the way, is there anything you can use to protect your painting once its finished? So that nothing happens to the paintwork after a while?

 

[Woodrow]

Maybe thats the light in my room? :embarrass

I'm trying to think out the box a little and do something different, not too sure what to try next though.

http://i33.tinypic.com/30az9tu.jpg

As-Samad.

By the way, is there anything you can use to protect your painting once its finished? So that nothing happens to the paintwork after a while?

You have sevaral choices.

1. Spray it with expensive commercial fixative

2. Paint it with clear polyurethane paint (But that gives it a high gloss shine, which may or may not be wanted)

3. Lightly spray it with the cheapest hair spray you can find, (I found that to e the best way)

 

[Ummu Sufyaan]

does it matter if i use paint brushes that are meant to be for oil paints, for water colored paints, or is that a no no...?

also, what does it mean when the paint brushes are colored at the end of the stick?

 

[Woodrow]

does it matter if i use paint brushes that are meant to be for oil paints, for water colored paints, or is that a no no...?

also, what does it mean when the paint brushes are colored at the end of the stick?

The brushes are labelled as oil brushes, water brushes, etc as most artists find those type best for that medium. For example camel hair brushes are recognized the best for water colors and inks as they they have the soft gentle flow to hold water and flair nicely to give some nice gentle spreading brush strokes. The only rule I would stick to is not use oils on any brush not made for oil as the turpentine can damage other type bristles. But for any other medium try any brush type you want.

As for as the color brush ends I don't know. My brushes always ended up colored cause I used the ends to mix paints and for painting narrow lines.

 

[Re.TiReD]

also, what does it mean when the paint brushes are colored at the end of the stick?

The colours at the end tell you what medium you should use them for. I had a pack and there was a key at the back, for e.g. the red tipped ones are good for acrylics and oils whilst the blue ones are good for watercolours etc, I cant from the top of my head remember which is which though, I dont think I have the packaging anymore either.

I have a question though, when I buy my canvases, they come with tiny wooden chips, I dont know what they're for though, somebody once said they might be a substitute for palette knives but I'm not so sure...?

 

[Woodrow]

The colours at the end tell you what medium you should use them for. I had a pack and there was a key at the back, for e.g. the red tipped ones are good for acrylics and oils whilst the blue ones are good for watercolours etc, I cant from the top of my head remember which is which though, I dont think I have the packaging anymore either.

I have a question though, when I buy my canvases, they come with tiny wooden chips, I dont know what they're for though, somebody once said they might be a substitute for palette knives but I'm not so sure...?

I always used them chips as shims to help center the canvas in the frames when I framed them. Outside of that I have no idea, but they do make good palette knives.

 

[Re.TiReD]

I always used them chips as shims to help center the canvas in the frames when I framed them. Outside of that I have no idea, but they do make good palette knives.

Ohh, JazakAllah khayr. I throw them away and I find it to be such a waste :><: always wondered what they were used for, I use plastic palette knives though, maybe I'll try the wooden ones some day. Hmm maybe I'll post pics of my latest paintings later today insha'Allah!

 

[Woodrow]

Ohh, JazakAllah khayr. I throw them away and I find it to be such a waste :><: always wondered what they were used for, I use plastic palette knives though, maybe I'll try the wooden ones some day. Hmm maybe I'll post pics of my latest paintings leter today insha'Allah!

Please do post them. While I can no longer paint, I do enjoy looking at the work of others. I do cheat a little these days and found that to some extent I can use various computer programs to satisfy my artistic side.

 

[Re.TiReD]

Please do post them. While I can no longer paint, I do enjoy looking at the work of others. I do cheat a little these days and found that to some extent I can use various computer programs to satisfy my artistic side.

In reply to your rep (Since I cant rep again), it would have been amazing to see some of your work, khayr your posts in the computer art thread are amazing masha'Allah! I was thinking of making a youtube video with some art tips, about painting with different mediums and taking pics from the intital stages of my painting and then showing the finshed version at the end

Is it ok if I use some of the advice you've given in this thread also?

 

[Woodrow]

In reply to your rep (Since I cant rep again), it would have been amazing to see some of your work, khayr your posts in the computer art thread are amazing masha'Allah! I was thinking of making a youtube video with some art tips, about painting with different mediums and taking pics from the intital stages of my painting and then showing the finshed version at the end

Is it ok if I use some of the advice you've given in this thread also?

anything and everything I post is public domain. If I have anything I am not willing to share it is not posted. If I post something it is free for the taking if anybody wants it.

For some reason Allaah(swt) has seen fit that my old paintings did not survive. Although a few I sold may still be in existence, but I do not know who may have them. A few were on display in the Meadows Art Museum but they have long been sold and are now in private hands.

Ironically my sister found the last painting I did and she mailed it to us, just before we moved from Minnesota. We had it for one day and in the process of moving it was accedently thrown into the land fill with the trash.

 

[Ummu Sufyaan]

if you are sketching a sky (i.e no colors), how do you make it look 3D instead of flat?