Summer Storm by Kathy E. Walker
Paint horses are so interesting to paint. You have the shape of the horse but also the shapes of the color patterns. I enjoy working on the color patterns to cause your eye to move through the painting. ”Summer Storm” is one of my latest paintings.
"Major" painting by Kathy E. Walker
Horses are some of the most difficult animals to draw or paint. You can’t fake the bones, hair patterns, muscles and major veins in a horse’s face. That seems to be one the differences between an accomplished artist rendering horses and those that still have a ways to go. The shadows and highlights of the planes on a horse give it dimension and life. The other areas that are key are the nostrils and the eyes. Those are the two areas that really make a horse painting come alive.
A Maiden's Heart acrylic painting by Kathy E. Walker
Because acrylic paints dry so quickly, I am constantly using glazing techniques instead of relying on blending – like with oils. It’s tricky and you have to work with your canvas on a flat surface. Otherwise the paints will run. I love the soft effects I can get with the glazes. And, as always with acrylics, if you don’t like it, it dries fast. Just put on another layer. Multiple layers do give great depth to the painting. With the painting, “A Maiden’s Heart” I used 20 different layers to get the color and depth of the skin tones on this beautiful Native American girl.
"Spotlight Bravo" by Kathy E. Walker
I find myself studying movies that have great cinematography. I play DVDs of movies sometimes over and over watching how the lighting was done. How the shadows fall across their faces. The warm lighting, cool lighting, and back lighting are fascinating. I would encourage you to watch a movie sometime just focusing on how the lighting was done. It can be a great inspiration.
"Delilah" Acrylic Painting by Kathy E. Walker
The good news and the bad news about acrylics is that they dry fast. You’re in the middle of a painting. Your palette is covered in fresh paint and the phone rings. I have a spray bottle handy with water in it at all times. If I need to be away for an extended period of time, I’ll spritz my palette with water. Sometimes I can even go overnight without the paint drying up if I spritz and then cover the palette with plastic wrap.
If you live in the Denver area, I do offer one-on-one acrylic painting classes. Check out my website.
"Windy Point" Painting my Kathy E. Walker
Acrylic painting uses water to thin the paint or clean the brushes. Oils use stinky, volatile chemicals to thin the paint and for cleaning brushes. I work a lot out of my home. I don’t like breathing the fumes or having harsh chemicals on my skin.
I got the comment once from a lady who had not seen my work, “Oh those acrylics. The colors are so harsh looking.” Mama Mia get a clue. The color you put on the canvas is the color you mix! It is easier to get bright intense colors at times with the acrylics because they don’t muddy up with wet underneath colors like oils can.
I can understand if someone comes from using oils, acrylics could be frustrating. There are retarding mediums for acrylics that will slow down the drying time. I personally have my own way of painting with layers and glazes that gives me the look I want. >See Website
"Brio" A Painting by Kathy E. Walker
I love acrylic paints! I have worked with them now for over 30 years. At times I don’t have a lot of patience–especially watching paint dry. I am able to get some of the same looks as oils through glazing and layering of colors but with drying times of minutes versus days. There have been a number of times that folks have thought my paintings are oils. >See Website
