I developed recently a fascination with painting pictures of glass items.  The reflections created by objects surrounding it and the beautiful patterns formed are fascinating. This is a still life I started painting this weekend with some of my antique pieces, it will be called “Romance with Glass”. Left to paint are the stripes on the tablecloth. It will be a Seminars Only piece.

Romance with Glass

Oils over Gessobord

Oils Tips

I like using a dome round to smooth the applications of tints and shines that are placed in the glass. This is a stiff brush with a point that allows me to only touch the edges of the color applications and gently blend it.

Ampersand Gessobord is an excellent surface for oils because it already has a finish very similar to the egg shell finish we prepare for oil paintings.

Colored Pencils Tip

Prismacolor has a colorless marker that has solvent in it and can be used to blend your piece.

Acrylics Tip

To find the value of your acrylic paints place a red acetate film under a value finder and use this tool. Use the bottom of your paint bottle and place the tool over and use it to match it with the value that corresponds.

New Pattern Packet

Midnight Snack in colored pencils

New products added to my website: www.Tolebrush.com. The Rose Fragrance DVD is in production and will be released this fall. It is available for pre order with a 20% discount from list price. Orders received this week will be processed on July 22nd when I return from Artist Expo.

Varnishing Tip

I asked Peggy Harris if she could demonstrate how she varnishes with the J.W Right Step varnish and we came to the conclusion that I was overworking it.

This is what she does:

She uses a special brush for varnishing  (large soft oval brush) and a damp paper towel. First she dips the brush into the varnish and rapidly brushes over the surface in all directions. Then she pats the brush over the damp paper towel and proceeds rapidly to remove the excess varnish by going over the surface in one direction, one time only. At this point you need to STOP. Let it dry at least 30 minutes before proceeding to the next coat.

I want to share with you my very own first interview. 😀

Please visit:

http://ampersandartsupply.blogspot.com/2013/06/featured-artist-nilda-rosa-rodriguez.html

If you use Facebook, please visit Ampersand Facebook page and like the post.

https://www.facebook.com/ampersandfans?ref=ts&fref=ts

Colored Pencils Tip:

These are two of my new designs were I painted soft washes of acrylic over the leaves in the background after these were painted with colored pencils. That technique will bring the value closer to the acrylic background and make them recede.

Sky Flower                                After the Rain

Rose Fragrance Seminar in Oils  Nashville, TN June 21, 22 and 23

Contact Peggy Harris at  peggy@peggyharris.com

Artist Expo Convention
Houston, Texas
July 16 – 20
Acrylics and Colored Pencils
I will be demoing and selling pattern packets at Janelle Johnson’s booth all day Thursday. Let me know at NildaRodri@aol.com if you want me to bring any specific one.

Japanese Iris

Multimedia – Acrylics, Watersoluble Pencils and Dry Pencils

Introduction

I like to experiment with new products and to share the results of my analysis with  subscribers and students.  On this piece I was trying water soluble pencils underneath Prismacolor Premier pencils.

I used Pastelbord, my surface of choice, because:

1. its sanded support finish holds many applications of layers

2. it is a hard surface that will not break when water or acrylics are applied to

3. colors look vibrant on this surface

4. I can varnish my final product and frame it without glass.

I always tell my students some tips to avoid building up the wax too fast. Having too much wax will prevent from further applications of color. If the students follow these tips they can have better results:

1. Use light pressure when applying the layers of pencil.
To release some of the pressure off your surface, try holding your
pencil further away from the tip. Holding the pencil very close to the
tip gives you more control, but places more pressure on the surface.

2. Use a well sharpened point.

Some ways to remove some of the wax buildup can be:

1. Use Gamblin Gamsol to partially burnish your piece. This mineral spirits product will break the wax and dissolve your pencil,  helping in the blending process. After this application you can apply more layers of color.

2. Use a stiff brush. I have told my students in the past not to use this method on the Pastelbord because it could scratch it. However, I found out recently that if you use it over heavy layers of pencils, it will help in the blending. Student have to be careful not to use it over bare areas of the Pastelbord.

Methods

I used Neocolor  II, watersoluble pencils,  to apply my first layer of pencils, then applied water over and let it dry. Afterwards, I proceeded to apply a layer of Prismacolor Premier colored pencils.

Results

I noticed that there was a lot of wax buildup on the surface after the application of the Neocolor II pencils and when I applied my layer of Prismacolor Premier it was not blending well. Since there was so much wax buildup I decided had to break the wax off that surface and applied a layer of Gamblin Gamsol to help in the blending process. I did some research and found out that you can also use a stiff brush to break the wax from the surface as we do when using paper.

Discussion

When using water soluble pencils you cut the painting time in half as less layers of pencils are needed. But, you have to keep in mind you will have to work against the wax buildup and your details will not be as crisp as can be achieved by using dry pencils alone.

Another advantage  would be to use this method when you are painting large background areas. The water dissolves the pencils and fills in the crevices of the surface.

I noticed that the effect that this method has was the same as when I apply Gamsol to dry pencils. And, the advantage to use Gamsol is that you will not have the wax buildup.

Seminars Update

I opened a date in my 2013 calendar for seminars (August 9 -11) and have one date left for 2014 (August 1-3). Visit my schedule here: http://tolebrush.com/seminars.php

Let me share my knowledge and experience with your group. Email me at Nildarodri@aol.com for more information.

New Pattern Packets in Colored Pencils

Spring is here and so is my first online video class!

Purchase Here

This course will be held online on this website and will include in the price the following:

1. Class Fee of $65 – 6 hours of High Definition filming

2. Written Pattern with a 4″ X 6″ photo $10

3. 5″ X 7″ Grey Pastelbord $4

4. Shipping for pattern and Pastelbord $6 for USA customers (International buyers please email for a Paypal invoice with appropriate shipping charges.)

This class will introduce you to colored pencils and will also show you how to apply pencils using a circular and linear motion. It will explain my colored pencils’ blending technique. And, as an added bonus it will include my blended acrylics background technique.

You must prepay and pre-register for online classes. Payment is non refundable nor transferable. Videos are copyrighted and for home use only. They should not be copied or shared with other people. Supplies will not be provided unless it is specified. Online courses will be held online on my website. All videos are recoded with a high definition camcorder.

We will start mailing the Patterns and Pastelbords on March 17. The online class will start  on March 24 and run through May 24.