More than one way to paint?

There is more than one technique to use when it comes to painting. Before I continue, don't confuse technique with style. Style falls under abstract, realism, surrealism, impressionism, etc. This is an entirely different issue and one that I will cover for another time. Today's blog is about the technique which is the way you apply the paint for whatever style you have already chosen to convey. The exact same image could be painted using different techniques and the result could be drastically different. This is both the beaty of painting but also the frustration for the new painter.

When I first wanted to step out into the world from drawing to painting, I read lots of different techniques and was overwhelmed with all the choices there was. Which one would I like? Plein air, wet on wet, impasto, scumbling, drybrush, underpainting, paintbrushes versus knife painting? The list here goes on and on. I had no idea what HALF these techniques were let alone how to use them!
I decided to start out trying several different techniques until I tried them all! (This was my original plan) After just a few different techniques I already had my favorites and than I stuck to those. (I fell in love with wet on wet and impasto). Impasto though is very time consuming. Therefore, I haven't used it in awhile. Although it is worth it, I love the results in the end.

In the future, I plan on experimenting more with techniques again, right now though I'm experimenting more with the subject that is stuck in my mind and the symbols that represent them! All of my paintings have a balance of good versus evil at some level. However, I have yet to explain that to my viewers because I want people to make their own decisions and be objective with my work. I love it when people have explained, "Oh I see this in your work." Than, I look and see what they are referring to and something new pops out at me and I love that! That I can see my work from their perspective. I try to use lots of dark colors versus lighter colors to represent good versus evil. No matter how dark the painting is, there is always a little ray of sunshine coming through somewhere!

Close up

Finally it is finished!

With this painting: titled dream world, is a world above her (planets, moon, stars). Is she dreaming or is this reality? I think all of us have woken from a dream that we swore was more than just a dream...(such as the movie: Inception)

Update on paintings.

So I said I would post pics when the ocean scene was finished! I am so glad that I am happy with it!
I also started a new series of smaller pieces this one is still a work in progress.

Beginning of new piece

Cleaning your brushes.

Thanks Dhee for your great question! I think all artist have had a few brushes ruined from paint especially oil. I have had to replace several for the same reasons and have done research on what is best to keep your brushes great for a long time.

First thing is don't let your brushes stand in the liquid for long periods of time as the hair bristles won't bend back. (I learned the hard way). Next, before you rinse your brushes in ANY liquid, get out excess paint from brush first. I like to either wipe off all the paint I can on newspaper or paper towels. This helps cut down on your cleaning products. After you have wiped off all the excess paint, finally is it time to dip your brushes in cleaner. Oil can not be rinsed out with water, so some sort of solvent like turpentine, mineral spirits etc. Recently, I been using a product from Winsor & Newton called Brush Cleaner & Restorer. I like that product because it has low smell and nontoxic.
Lastly, after you are done painting for the day and have cleaned your brushes than clean them with some liquid soap and water. Do not use hot water as this well make all the hair bristles fall out. (Again I learned the hard way with a brand new brush!)

Of course though you can save yourself all this hassle by buying oil paint that can be used with water! Water based paint. Yes, I was excited to learn that. They have been developing oil paint that you can clean with water. However, the texture, quality, and other factors about paint may be slightly different than oil based paints. It is up to the artist to decide. I have several tubes of oil paint that can be cleaned with water and I haven't noticed any problems but I still use the first method to clean my brushes since I fully haven't switched out the oil based paints yet.

Hope this helps and good luck to all you painters out there :)