It's important to have a practical set up for your painting experience.
Some people don't have much space and cannot have a permanent studio. These artists need to scale things down. Luckily watercolours can be set up their supplies and put them away quickly in a bag or box.
Typically, you would set up your palette and water on the same side as your painting hand to avoid unnecessary splatters on your painting. The paint brushes you plan to use are normally on the same side. Have your palette, water and brushes all together and as close to you as possible to avoid reaching while painting. Here is a typical layout.
The tissues or paper towels are best left on the opposite side since you'll likely be holding them in the opposite hand from your brush.
All of this may seem natural, however, I have seen a few pictures and videos recently with the opposite set up and the watercolorist seemed to move awkwardly, struggle and was not efficient. So maybe setting up your workspace is not obvious to all.
In addition when setting up, you might want to try not to sit too closely facing a window. Ideally, if the light comes from the direction opposite of your painting hand, you will have less shadows when painting.
Today's artist find is Liza Legina.
Have a great week,
Danielle
Do women artists get as much exposure as men artists?
A 2011 survey investigated New York museums and found just four percent of
the artists in the Metropolitan Museum's contemporary section were female. MOMA
and the Guggenheim fared somewhat better, with 26 and 23 percent
respectively. In addition, the National Museum of Women in the Arts
estimates that five percent of art currently on display in US museums was made
by women. I don't have statistics for Canada but suspect, the situation is not very different.
I've heard that some women don't even sign their full names on their
paintings in order not to give away their gender. Some only put their first initial while others only sign the back of their paintings.
I get the impression that women gravitate disproportionately toward paper media (watercolour, pastels, ink) as compared to men. If exposure is any indication, these paper media have less prestige and lower prices as than do oil paintings.
In looking at the board of directors and faculty members of our local art school, I'm pleased to say that women are very well represented.
Why is it that some people have greater
overall respect and admiration for men artist than for women artist? I have a lot of difficulties understand why gender discrimination exists in
the art domain or other domains.
What
can we do to change the gender balance?
Today's artist find is Alessandro Anastasio
Have a great week,
Danielle
