Why Blog?

Why add our blog to the multitude already in existence? Julie and Marie are dedicated to growing as artists and creating excellent art. Like others who are self-employed, artists often work alone. It’s easy to get sidetracked by household duties, other responsibilities and activities, and whatever moods come across us. A blog in which we set up creative challenges keeps us accountable to each other and those who participate in our blog, creates an opportunity for an online artist community to form in which we can encourage and help each other, and gives our art visibility beyond our geographical community. We hope we inspire you, you inspire us, and we all grow and prosper as artists.

Friday, December 3, 2010

Back to Basics with Line


Five Siamese 4x10 transparent watercolor


Marie  In art, line is frequently the first mark on the page; the tool an artist uses to begin a piece of work.  The use of line is a topic infinitely important, complex, and beyond my ability to explain in one paragraph. To sum it up crudely, line creates motion, action, emphasis (think of eye liner) and emotion (think of a row of soldiers vs. a landscape with rolling hills) and leads the viewer’s eyes through the painting.  Lines don’t actually have to be lines to say line:  In my painting, Five Siamese, I used value contrast—where dark and light areas meet—to create whimsical “lines” that direct the viewer’s eyes through and around the painting (see my clumsily drawn blue lines). The cats are still, yet full of movement.  The value difference between the bottom edge of the cats and the bedding below creates a line (red) that unifies the cats as one object.  The cats are separate, yet one.


Worlds Apart 15x11 soft pastel

Julie  The main focus of the painting Worlds Apart is old versus new, and line is what helps distinguish the two. The hard architectural lines of urban life are juxtaposed against the organic soft lines of the figures that stepped in from a simplified time period.  At the same time, the lines of the sidewalk, railing and skyscrapers connect the figures to their settings. 
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2 comments:

  1. DawnDecember 14, 2010 at 5:51 AM

    I love the Siamese kitties! They are so beautiful. And Julie, you know I love your painting of the Amish people. Such a great image.

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  2. mark joyalDecember 21, 2010 at 2:04 PM

    I'm glad you guys have posted some work and made this blog, it inspires me to do the same. Lets get a session going at the WS art studio, maybe having a set time to work will get me going.
    I met a guy in West Chicago that is letting me weld in his shop. He's a car guy but has lots of tools and wants me to come out and use them. So far, all I have made is this funky fish from farm tools and springs - at least it's a start. - Ladies, time for some Holiday cheer!

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