| 24 July, 2013 16:46
"Maine Coast: Sculpted by the Sea", Nancy Wernersbach©2013, Watercolor, 20" x 24"
Started this painting on my favorite Fabriano Artistico Extra White 300lb watercolor paper, then had the idea that the rough paper would give me better texture in the rock than the cold press surface. So I started over again on a sheet of the rough paper and it was a good thing I did--the Fabriano is certainly rough and the surface helped the granulating colors like cerulean blue to settle out and make interesting textures on the rock surfaces--though you might not be able to see it so well in a photograph. The rough surface also helps with drybrush. Skip the brush over the surface to get the little sparkles in the water. Also was able to use rough sandpaper to get more texture and dragged an xacto knife across the surface to pick out more white sparkles where needed. The rough surface made too many little pockets of darker color in the sky as the paint settled out, so I went over the sky lightly with a sponge to take out the excess paint and give it a smoother appearance.
Happy Painting!
Nancy
| 13 June, 2013 15:12
"Sunset off the Jetty", Oil, 8" x 10" Nancy Wernersbach©2012
I have two paintings for sale at the Fire Island Lighthouse Annual Art Show including the painting pictured above. The Lighthouse is a beautiful national treasure and part of the sales goes towards its preservation. The reception is June 27th from 6 to 9pm at the Lighthouse. A Shuttle Bus runs from Field #5 Robert Moses parking lot to the Lighthouse throughout the reception. The beach is beautiful at sunset so this is a great spot to have an art reception. Fire Island and the Lighthouse need our support after the ravages of superstorm Sandy. Hope you can attend and take home a new piece of art too!
Show runs from June 28th to July 19th
| 24 May, 2013 09:35
People ask me about the water-soluble oils that I use. I can't take the fumes from turp or even the odorless solvents (they still evaporate into the air and give me a migraine & sore throat)
Here's some notes on the water-soluble oils:
I don't like the cheaper Winsor Newton Artisan or Grumbacher Max they are too sticky in my opinion and frustrating to get to flow nicely.
I use Holbein Duo Aqua Oils & Daniel Smith water-soluble oils. Daniel Smith are the most like regular oil paint, so I'm gradually switching over to them from the Holbein. I use Daniel Smith watercolor too--I just think their paint is the best.
The linseed oil medium made for the paints is very helpful in getting them to flow better.
Don't use water like a watercolor painting. I just dip the brush to moisten it, then blot off excess. I keep a container of water with Dawn dishwashing liquid in it to clean the brush while painting & a container of clear water for cleaning & moistening brush.
Use synthetic brushes only--stiffer than watercolor brushes. I use Princeton #6300FB (brown handle) or Liquitex (light green handle) The "Artist's Loft" green handled brushes at Michael's are surprisingly good also.
Here's my basic palette/ colors are available in either brand unless noted:
Ultramarine Blue
Cad. yellow light or Hansa Yellow (Daniel Smith)
Cad. red medium
Yellow Ochre
Burnt Sienna
Sap Green
Viridian
Alizarin Crimson
Horizon Blue (A beautiful turquoise color--Holbein)
Titanium White
Also have:
Cerulean Blue
Dioxazine Violet (Holbein)
Quinacridone purple (Daniel Smith)
Quinacridone gold
Quinacridone red (Daniel Smith)
Jaune Brillant (Holbein peach color)
Rose Violet (Holbein)
Yellow Green (Holbein)
Clean up brushes after painting with soap and water.
A Mastersons palette with the snap on lid will keep extra paint moist & workable for an extra day or two. I put a small wet sponge inside.
They take a few days to dry depending on the weather--a bit faster than regular oils. White takes longer to dry.
For good paintings I use panels from Ray-Mar (look online) I love their smoother surface panels--you have to order 10 at a time.
Good luck & Happy Painting!
Nancy
I always welcome comments or questions :)
| 17 May, 2013 15:02
"Broken Shell, Inner spiral"
This is what I call one of my "recycled watercolors". Rather than throwing out a failed painting, I cut out the good parts (in this case the sea shell) and paint a new background for it. With "Yes Paste" I glue in the shell, rocks or other parts that I have, then use collage papers to create the sand, seaweed and other effects that tie the cut out parts into the new painting, so it doesn't look cut and pasted. It does have a slight 3-D effect which fascinates people viewing the painting--often I have seen people trying to view the painting in different directions to figure out why it has dimension that a flat painting does not. Never throw out bad paintings--you never know what new life it may have!
Happy Painting!
Nancy
| 13 May, 2013 13:45
Join me & members of the Art League of Nassau County for our 2nd Annual "Paint-Out" at Old Westbury Gardens, May 25th (raindate May 26th). We will be painting in the gardens all day, then we will have a reception & silent auction 4 to 7pm of the paintings completed that day at the beautiful Old Westbury Gardens Mansion. 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury, NY. www.oldwestburygardens.org. Above painting is "Thatched Cottage & Morning Glories", Oil,7" x 5" ©Nancy Wernersbach
| 11 May, 2013 17:29
Rummaging through a drawer of messy paint tubes trying to find the right one just doesn't work for me. I can't easily see what I have or what I'm missing, so I got one of those organizers with clear pockets that hangs on the back of a door. All my tubes of watercolor, oil and acrylic are easy to see right away.
Happy Painting!
Nancy
| 11 May, 2013 17:17
Enjoyed doing a watercolor demo of orchids at the Long Island Orchid Society First Annual Orchid Festival last Sat. & Sun. at Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay L. I. NY. Raffled the paintings and the winners were very happy.
It's nice to get out and meet people while painting. People who don't know the process of making art are interested to see the steps involved and I had a peppy toddler stop by wanting to paint. I gave her a brush ( an old one!) and a piece of paper and she painted up a storm--little kids are so creative--I hope she stays that way and does not give up her artistic spirit!
| 21 February, 2013 09:32
"Beauty from the Sea" Watercolor on Aquabord, Nancy Wernersbach©2013
Love using the Ampersand Aquabord for a glowing look. It takes the paint in such unusual ways that it worked better than paper to give me a floating, watery background for the subject. It's lifting quality made it easy to pick out the highlights needed.
Happy Painting!
Nancy
| 31 January, 2013 14:30
Here is the finished painting, "Gifts from the Sea", Oil, 22" x 28"©2013. From what looked like a crazy start as you can see in the previous posts it all finally came together. After staring at a painting for a week while working on it, you have to put it aside for a bit and look at it again with fresh eyes to see if anything needs to be adjusted. Always good to have an artist friend look at it too!
This is one is a series I'm preparing for my upcoming show at the Huntington Library.
To be continued . . .
Happy Painting!
Nancy
| 31 January, 2013 14:28
Here's the next step in the painting I described in the previous post. Just blocking in all the shapes, determining the shadows and values and starting to get the details in.
| 31 January, 2013 14:27
Here's the beginning of my latest painting "Gifts from the Sea". The actual painting of a subject is just one part of the process. I don't just sit down and paint "happy trees" like the artists on TV! It's hard to realize how much goes into a piece. This drawing on the canvas came about after much work photographing my shells, then photoshoping them into a background photo of sea foam to get the composition right.
| 02 October, 2012 11:17
"View of the Walled Garden, Old Westbury Gardens", oil, 8" x 10", Nancy Wernersbach©2012
Everyone's Invited! Reception for my Art Exhibit with watercolorist Mary-Beth Eggers at the Shelter Rock Library, Sunday, Oct. 7th from 2 to 4pm. 165 Searingtown Rd., Albertson, NY 11507. I have 20 paintings, many new, small oil paintings that would make great gifts! Hope to see you! This one is "View of the Walled Garden" Old Westbury Gardens ©2012, oil, 8" x 10"
| 28 September, 2012 10:02
Nancy Wernersbach©2012
My painting "Egret & Osprey Nest, Orient Point" was accepted into the American Artists Professional League 84th Grand National Exhibition 2012. This year due to renovation at the Salmagundi Club it is an online exhibit and will run from Sat., Oct 6th through Sun., Dec. 30th on the AAPL website: www.americanartistsprofessionalleague.org.
You never know what exhibit will accept you, so it's best not to get discouraged but keep painting and keep improving!
Happy Painting!
Nancy
| 20 September, 2012 12:47
"Beachcomber's Treasures" watercolor & collage, Nancy Wernersbach©2011, 11" x 14"
Save the Date! I'll have 5 paintings for sale at St. Raymond's Art Club Show & Sale. A portion of all sales benefits St. Raymond's School: Sat. & Sun., Sept 29th & 30th from 11am to 7pm Sat. & 10am to 7pm Sunday in the school cafeteria, 263 Atlantic Ave., E. Rockaway, NY 11518.
We need real art for our walls instead of that junk from the bed & bath store and you can help out worthy programs for the school children at the same time!
| 27 August, 2012 11:39
Love my Guerilla Painter 6 x 8 Thumbox from Judsons--It traveled perfectly on my recent painting trip to Paris. Packed it in my checked luggage and it was just the right size, leaving plenty of room for my tripod, brushes etc. and oh yes, clothes (an artist's priorities!) It's lightweight, sturdy and there's enough room for paint mixing when working on small panels. I added on the tripod plate attachment and the panel insert so I could use a larger size than 6" x 8". 8 x 10 or 9 x 12 works fine with it. Great little pochade box!
Happy Painting!
Nancy
Nancy Wernersbach
Joyful nature-inspired paintings in oil and watercolor.
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Nancy Wernersbach's Artspan Blog
Choosing the right Watercolor Paper
| 24 July, 2013 16:46
"Maine Coast: Sculpted by the Sea", Nancy Wernersbach©2013, Watercolor, 20" x 24"
Started this painting on my favorite Fabriano Artistico Extra White 300lb watercolor paper, then had the idea that the rough paper would give me better texture in the rock than the cold press surface. So I started over again on a sheet of the rough paper and it was a good thing I did--the Fabriano is certainly rough and the surface helped the granulating colors like cerulean blue to settle out and make interesting textures on the rock surfaces--though you might not be able to see it so well in a photograph. The rough surface also helps with drybrush. Skip the brush over the surface to get the little sparkles in the water. Also was able to use rough sandpaper to get more texture and dragged an xacto knife across the surface to pick out more white sparkles where needed. The rough surface made too many little pockets of darker color in the sky as the paint settled out, so I went over the sky lightly with a sponge to take out the excess paint and give it a smoother appearance.
Happy Painting!
Nancy
Fire Island Lighthouse 12th Annual Art Show and Sale
| 13 June, 2013 15:12
"Sunset off the Jetty", Oil, 8" x 10" Nancy Wernersbach©2012
I have two paintings for sale at the Fire Island Lighthouse Annual Art Show including the painting pictured above. The Lighthouse is a beautiful national treasure and part of the sales goes towards its preservation. The reception is June 27th from 6 to 9pm at the Lighthouse. A Shuttle Bus runs from Field #5 Robert Moses parking lot to the Lighthouse throughout the reception. The beach is beautiful at sunset so this is a great spot to have an art reception. Fire Island and the Lighthouse need our support after the ravages of superstorm Sandy. Hope you can attend and take home a new piece of art too!
Show runs from June 28th to July 19th
Working with Water-Soluble Oils
| 24 May, 2013 09:35
Recycled Watercolors!
| 17 May, 2013 15:02
"Broken Shell, Inner spiral"
This is what I call one of my "recycled watercolors". Rather than throwing out a failed painting, I cut out the good parts (in this case the sea shell) and paint a new background for it. With "Yes Paste" I glue in the shell, rocks or other parts that I have, then use collage papers to create the sand, seaweed and other effects that tie the cut out parts into the new painting, so it doesn't look cut and pasted. It does have a slight 3-D effect which fascinates people viewing the painting--often I have seen people trying to view the painting in different directions to figure out why it has dimension that a flat painting does not. Never throw out bad paintings--you never know what new life it may have!
Happy Painting!
Nancy
Art League of Nassau County "Paint-Out" at Old Westbury Gardens
| 13 May, 2013 13:45
Join me & members of the Art League of Nassau County for our 2nd Annual "Paint-Out" at Old Westbury Gardens, May 25th (raindate May 26th). We will be painting in the gardens all day, then we will have a reception & silent auction 4 to 7pm of the paintings completed that day at the beautiful Old Westbury Gardens Mansion. 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury, NY. www.oldwestburygardens.org. Above painting is "Thatched Cottage & Morning Glories", Oil,7" x 5" ©Nancy Wernersbach
Storing tubes of paint
| 11 May, 2013 17:29
Rummaging through a drawer of messy paint tubes trying to find the right one just doesn't work for me. I can't easily see what I have or what I'm missing, so I got one of those organizers with clear pockets that hangs on the back of a door. All my tubes of watercolor, oil and acrylic are easy to see right away.
Happy Painting!
Nancy
Demo at First Annual Long Island Orchid Festival
| 11 May, 2013 17:17
Enjoyed doing a watercolor demo of orchids at the Long Island Orchid Society First Annual Orchid Festival last Sat. & Sun. at Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay L. I. NY. Raffled the paintings and the winners were very happy.
It's nice to get out and meet people while painting. People who don't know the process of making art are interested to see the steps involved and I had a peppy toddler stop by wanting to paint. I gave her a brush ( an old one!) and a piece of paper and she painted up a storm--little kids are so creative--I hope she stays that way and does not give up her artistic spirit!
Seashell on Aquabord
| 21 February, 2013 09:32
"Beauty from the Sea" Watercolor on Aquabord, Nancy Wernersbach©2013
Love using the Ampersand Aquabord for a glowing look. It takes the paint in such unusual ways that it worked better than paper to give me a floating, watery background for the subject. It's lifting quality made it easy to pick out the highlights needed.
Happy Painting!
Nancy
Painting Finally Finished
| 31 January, 2013 14:30
Here is the finished painting, "Gifts from the Sea", Oil, 22" x 28"©2013. From what looked like a crazy start as you can see in the previous posts it all finally came together. After staring at a painting for a week while working on it, you have to put it aside for a bit and look at it again with fresh eyes to see if anything needs to be adjusted. Always good to have an artist friend look at it too!
This is one is a series I'm preparing for my upcoming show at the Huntington Library.
To be continued . . .
Happy Painting!
Nancy
Next step in the painting process
| 31 January, 2013 14:28
Here's the next step in the painting I described in the previous post. Just blocking in all the shapes, determining the shadows and values and starting to get the details in.
New Seashell Painting
| 31 January, 2013 14:27
Here's the beginning of my latest painting "Gifts from the Sea". The actual painting of a subject is just one part of the process. I don't just sit down and paint "happy trees" like the artists on TV! It's hard to realize how much goes into a piece. This drawing on the canvas came about after much work photographing my shells, then photoshoping them into a background photo of sea foam to get the composition right.
Art Exhibit at Shelter Rock Library
| 02 October, 2012 11:17
"View of the Walled Garden, Old Westbury Gardens", oil, 8" x 10", Nancy Wernersbach©2012
Everyone's Invited! Reception for my Art Exhibit with watercolorist Mary-Beth Eggers at the Shelter Rock Library, Sunday, Oct. 7th from 2 to 4pm. 165 Searingtown Rd., Albertson, NY 11507. I have 20 paintings, many new, small oil paintings that would make great gifts! Hope to see you! This one is "View of the Walled Garden" Old Westbury Gardens ©2012, oil, 8" x 10"
AAPL 84th Grand National Exhibition 2012
| 28 September, 2012 10:02
Nancy Wernersbach©2012
My painting "Egret & Osprey Nest, Orient Point" was accepted into the American Artists Professional League 84th Grand National Exhibition 2012. This year due to renovation at the Salmagundi Club it is an online exhibit and will run from Sat., Oct 6th through Sun., Dec. 30th on the AAPL website: www.americanartistsprofessionalleague.org.
You never know what exhibit will accept you, so it's best not to get discouraged but keep painting and keep improving!
Happy Painting!
Nancy
St. Raymond's Art Club Sale to Benefit St. Raymond's School
| 20 September, 2012 12:47
"Beachcomber's Treasures" watercolor & collage, Nancy Wernersbach©2011, 11" x 14"
Save the Date! I'll have 5 paintings for sale at St. Raymond's Art Club Show & Sale. A portion of all sales benefits St. Raymond's School: Sat. & Sun., Sept 29th & 30th from 11am to 7pm Sat. & 10am to 7pm Sunday in the school cafeteria, 263 Atlantic Ave., E. Rockaway, NY 11518.
We need real art for our walls instead of that junk from the bed & bath store and you can help out worthy programs for the school children at the same time!
6 x 8 Thumbox
| 27 August, 2012 11:39
Love my Guerilla Painter 6 x 8 Thumbox from Judsons--It traveled perfectly on my recent painting trip to Paris. Packed it in my checked luggage and it was just the right size, leaving plenty of room for my tripod, brushes etc. and oh yes, clothes (an artist's priorities!) It's lightweight, sturdy and there's enough room for paint mixing when working on small panels. I added on the tripod plate attachment and the panel insert so I could use a larger size than 6" x 8". 8 x 10 or 9 x 12 works fine with it. Great little pochade box!
Happy Painting!
Nancy
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