Acrylic Underpainting by landscape artist Tracy Haines,Figurative, the zone, right brain activity

For so long I've wanted to tackle this image of my daughter, which was taken several years ago.  I liked the casualty of the pose, the attitude. It's Jordyn!

I finally started!  This is the acrylic underpainting.  I don't often start an oil this way, but lately have been playing around with loose acrylic underpaintings to get the canvas covered.  I will continue the painting in oil, and I will attempt to keep the end result loose, too.  I love a painterly quality in works; just not a big fan of especially tight paintings-although I admire the realists.

What is particularly fun about this approach, is that once the tough work is done- the work requiring left brain activity (which is always a strain for me , and why I beat a hasty retreat out of medicine)-one can put in "time out" the chatty, over- analytic left brain by, say, listening to an interesting podcast.  This frees up the right brain to take over and allow a more fluid, intuitive completion of the painting.  For me , this is where the painting really comes to life.  This is that zone where I lose all sense of time and place and self.

Thank you for checking this post out, and I will post the painting again once it's completed.

Decluttering art studios artists tips and recycling paintings by Colorado landscapes artist Tracy haines

In my never-ending attempt to de-clutter, I read yet another book on the subject called the life changing magic of tidying up by marie condo ( no caps in her book title)

I am starting to put some of her tips to use.  As you see in the photo, I have been hoarding art magazines.  I keep them, because I realize that a style I don’t care for today, I might be inspired by tomorrow. But my studio is starting to feel too cluttered again.  So, I’m slowly going through the magazines, tearing out paintings I like and filing them in a binder. The rest were heading for the trash- until I stumbled upon a neat idea.   I use brightly colored images from the art magazine to provide a backdrop for artist quotes that I  add to my paintings that sell online. 

I feel good about this, because I am recycling, and it’s fun to make things when I don’t feel like creating a work of art.  ( It's a great procrastination tool, if you're looking for one! )

THEN, the remains of the magazine go to the recycle bin.

Encaustic painting by landscape artist Tracy Haines

Pin painting

This is a 6x6 encaustic painting.  From time to time I like to try out new media.  It keeps my work fresh and helps me avoid artists block.

More of this kind of work is available from my Etsy store.

My Etsy store

Encaustics are paintings done using melted beeswax with or without a medium called damar resin. Damar resin helps harden the wax, making it more durable and transparent. The finished painting has a wonderful mild honey scent.  One can paint with colored wax alone, as in this example, or use a mixed media approach , incorporating collage and other media. It's a versatile medium, lots of fun, and is gaining in popularit

Garden of the Gods oil landscape painting by Colorado artist Tracy Haines

Garden of the Gods l
16x20 oil

I had posted the "start" underpainting of this on the 20th.  I'm adding much more color these days- pushing the limits with oil.  I am trying to move in a more abstract direction, but, wow, it's not as easy a transition as I thought.

Great Tip!!  I just happened upon a podcast for artists called,
" Artists Helping Artists".  It's terrific; and good to listen to while painting in the studio. I highly recommend checking it out.

Why is original art so expensive by Tracy Haines

Spring Towards Rampart 8x10 oil/birch  Available for purchase

I am occasionally asked why original art is so expensive. Before becoming an artist, I wondered the same thing.

I would like to share a little bit of what I have learned.

In today's post, I will cover the cost of some essential materials used in a painting. In subsequent posts, we will look at the costs associated with learning to paint, setting up a studio, producing a single painting for sale, start to finish, then what is involved in trying to sell a painting.

The average oil painter uses a palette of a minimum of 6 colors plus white. This bare minimum usually consists of a warm and cool version of each of the primaries. 

A small 37ml tube of professional quality paint averages a price between $8.00 ( alizarin, a cool red) and $19.00 (Cobalt blue)

So, on average, most painters have spent $ 100.00 on paint alone. ( my current working palette has 15 colors plus white)

Decent quality canvases vary in price, but , to do 12 small, 9x12 paintings on an average quality cotton canvas, you can add another $ 80.00. Oil paints and canvases need to be purchased continually. 

To purchase 5 quality oil bristle brushes in different sizes ( again, a bare bones set up) , an investment of perhaps around $50 can be expected. This cost can be stretched out over a longer time, but brushes need to be replaced not infrequently. 

The painter also needs mineral spirits, paint medium and varnish. 

Then there is the initial cost of setting up a dedicated studio area including an easel. This will be covered in another post.

Avoiding Artist Block

This is a recent underpainting using bold strokes of bright color.

One thing I have discovered that is tremendously useful for me as an artist is to leave the studio at the end of the day with something that is in progress.

All of us suffer from the occasional artist block. Or, maybe we are not exactly blocked, but we just can't seem to get to work.  We get busy, but the business is a cover up: we are procrastinating and we know it..... and it's an uncomfortable feeling.

Having a work in progress seems to lessen those times for me.

Floral in Oil
  Sold

Every Wednesday I meet with a group of wonderful gals over coffee.  We have been going through a book called Champagne for the Soul by Mike Mason.  It's about rediscovering joy in the daily grind. Each week I am loathe to leave the studio- so much work to be done! But I always do go, and every time, without fail, I leave rejuvenated, happy, and excited about life.  Friends are a great blessing.

I think artists tend to be natural introverts.  It is so easy to hole up in the studio and forget to get out and interact with the world.  I have made a concerted effort to strike a better balance this year, and it's been good.

Here are some other recent good reads that I'd like to share with you:

Show your Work by Austin Kleon
Creating a Beautiful Home by Alexandra Stoddard
Do what you Love, the Money will Follow - Marsha Sinetar

artists taboret tracy haines daily paintings art oils pastels studio landscapes colors

I'm currently reading a book by Carol Marine called Daily Painting.  It's been a fun read with some great tips.  As a result of one of her suggestions, I have a new taboret ( AKA a tool box- but taboret sounds much more studio-savvy.)  I can't believe I never thought of this. Overnight I became much more organized.

Tracy Haines art sale boutique Christmas crafts oil encaustic acrylic and pastel paintings original fine art Colorado landscapes

Please stop by and bring a friend or two! Or ten! :)

Cow painting original art Tracy Haines oil paintings animals farm

Tagged and Mad is a 5x7 oil on canvas panel.
This painting is on eBay now.  Click link below if you would like to bid on this
cow.
Click here to bid on eBay