GETTING BACK INTO MY STUDIO

It has been awhile since last I wrote.   I have been trying to get back into the studio and work on my paintings as much as possible.  Last spring I was in a car accident and did serious damage to my right shoulder.  The recovery is a very long and slow process but thank God it was my right shoulder  because I am left handed.  With all the pain, meds and surgery, the summer was a bust for getting any paintings done.  Having said that I am now on a mission to get caught up on my paintings.  I have decided to concentrate on painting animals and nature. 

I just finished these two paintings of a tiger cub and lion that live at our local zoo.  Painting fur is always a challenge.  I was a hairdresser in another life so sometimes I feel I get a little carried away with their Do's, lol.  I used a "0" Script Liner for the longer hairs and a 10/0 Spotter brush for the short hairs.  With animals I find you have to not only pay attention to the direction of the hair growth but the texture of the hair as well.

When I originally switched over to Acrylic Painting from Porcelain Art I struggled with keeping the paints moist.  Porcelain paints are mixed with oil and stay wet until fired in the kiln.  At the beginning I used a Stay-Wet Pallet.  I no longer use this for two reasons:  1) Too big and cumbersome  2) Mold started growing after about a week.  I have tried various pallet systems including a sheet of glass but the one I like best is an inexpensive one from the craft store called "Peel-Off Pallet".  It is a flat rectangle with a dividing line across the top for paint and then a large flat area which is divided in half for mixing and blending colors.  When the paints eventually dry on it they can be peeled off.  I cover it with Glad Press and Seal when I have to step away from the studio for awhile.  I also keep a water bottle with a fine misting nozzle close by.  While I am working on a painting I mist my paints every 10 to 15 minutes.  This keeps them moist and prevents a skin from forming on top.

I have also decided to use Liquitex Paints exclusively.  I like their colors, tube shape (caps are easier to handle if you have arthritis as I do) and the body of their paints.  I have only used their glazing medium and flow agents so I am not an expert on their mediums.  I don't get much time to experiment so I usually just get right to painting when I get time in the studio.

In the last couple of months I have been getting set up to teach in my studio. I held my first acrylic class here last month and hope to have more after the first of the year.  Message me at: cltonning@gmail.com if you are interested in classes or if you just have questions about painting. You can see more of my work at my facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/C.L.Tonning.Artist?ref=hl