Smashwords Summer/Winter sale - The Nations of Peace are on sale!

 The first seven Nations of Peace books are 50% off for the whole of July.

Series link to the sale books

Series link to the sale books

A-to-Z blog challenge: Step Z - it's finished!

Thank you for visiting my blog on the last day of the challenge. If you are an artist interested in taking part in a competition, there is still enough time to enroll. Check out the details on the AGAC website.

I will probably put the painting in an exhibition for sale, and before that happens I will sign it on the front, and then give it two coats of satin varnish.

Sharing the painting on social media can only happen once the competition is closed and the winners are announced.

But here is the first social media slash public image of the painting I entered in 2023. It was based on a painting by Wassily Kandinsky. Mine is titled Duality and it is for sale. It is a 120cm x 76cm mounted wood panel done in mixed media.

Mixed media on wood (2023)

Stay creative until we meet again.

🇿🇦💜 Linzé

 

A-to-Z blog challenge: Step Y - submission process (part 2: the paperwork)

 No one likes paperwork, that's for sure, but rules are rules. Part of the submission process is to fill out the submission document which you receive when paying the entry fee.

Once the organizers acknowledge receipt of all the files, then the painting is officially in the running for the competition.

Multiple entries are allowed, and that also means making sure the paperwork is submitted correctly for each art work.

Once I press the send button on my email, I relax and take a deep breath. Even as I write this post knowing that I still have to do the painting, it is still exciting to look forward to the process of creating a something new that will decorate a wall somewhere.

Until tomorrow!

🇿🇦💜 Linzé

A-to-Z blog challenge: Step X - submission process (part 1: the painting)

 

Depending on the paint medium, it is a good idea to take the required photos before varnishing the painting. Oil and acrylics tend to be shiny and will make for challenging photos especially if using a glossy varnish.

I prefer a satin varnish for both oil and acrylic paint, but it does depend on the painting. My husband is a professional photographer so I ask him to take my photos for me. Not because I can't take photos, I can, but it is about the colour correction afterwards. I am useless with Photoshop.

So I stand next to him with the painting in hand, while he adjusts the photos to accurately reflect the colour of the painting. Since I paint on a panel, not a screen, no other adjustments or corrections are allowed.

The file type and size restrictions need to be taken into account too. After my husband does the colour adjustments, I take the final files and resize them, or export them to the required file format.

The competition organisers want more than just the pretty pictures. More about that on Monday.

See you then!

🇿🇦💜 Linzé

A-to-Z blog challenge: Step W - action steps (part 7: the last decision)

 

The last decision is sometimes the most difficult to make for many artists. I am no different. And that is the decision to stop fiddling. The painting is done and it is time to stop.

Knowing when that happens, requires stepping back and leaving the painting alone for a day or three. I usually cover it up too. If the painting it still drying, I will add clips to the easel to keep the dust cloth away from the drying surface. It will still allow airflow for drying, but covering it up takes it off my mind in a manner of speaking.

Overworking a painting can destroy many hours or weeks of work, so that decision to stop is crucial. I have been known to spot a flaw and fix it. Stuff like a spot of dust on a dark area, or a hair in a light area. I have very long hair, and it will show so I will fix that. But no touching the painting otherwise. After three days I will remove the dust cloth.

At that point my gut would tell me that it is finished. This gut feel comes with experience, and is impossible to explain. I just know it's done.

Signatures are not allowed on the front of competition paintings, so I will sign it on the back. Once I sign my initials, to my creative brain the project is done and I can move on to the next.

Until tomorrow!

🇿🇦💜 Linzé

A-to-Z blog challenge: Step V - action steps (part 6: time management)

 Welcome back to my blog, and thank you for sticking around during the challenge. Since I am writing about my process of creating a painting for a competition, you have undoubtedly noticed the lack of photos. Today, I will share another of my paintings to show more of my artwork.

Back to the process! Creating art is different from my day job, where I can plan my time with better control since I know how long it takes to do the tests. I don’t do the same tests every day because not all tests apply to all the equipment we test, but we know how long each test will take.

Planning and managing time to create art is more of an art than engineering. LOL! However, I have been painting large and small pieces for many years, so I have a good idea of how long each step or task will take. Because every piece is unique, there are some unknowns, for sure, and for that, I make allowances during my planning.

Impressionistic lotus flower
 - acrylic on canvas panel

But life happens. I get sick. Work takes more of my time. My book’s editing is not on schedule. My commissions are not up to my clients’ expectations. All of these things can and do happen to all of us in some form or another.

It is important not to get overwhelmed because dealing with everything will be more difficult. I have written about my process of dealing with feeling overwhelmed, so I am aware of my “symptoms” when it is about to strike me down.

And it will happen. The important thing is to have a plan in place to help, which I do. This plan is also part of my schedule because deadlines are involved in both my work and my creative projects.

Missing the submission deadline for a competition is definitely something that can be avoided by being prepared for the unexpected as much as possible.

Until tomorrow!

🇿🇦💜 Linzé

A-to-Z blog challenge: Step U - action steps (part 5: the devil is in the details)

 

It is time to get into the details. At this point, I will remove the taped items to focus on painting the details. These items can be bulky or need to be adhered to the panel after painting so that there are no gaps or halos.

Halos are those white or light-coloured lines you can see surrounding subjects in photos or where a painted area does not cover the background colour properly. It is usually a good idea to avoid these unless, of course, you want them. I'm not fond of those halos, so I will avoid them as much as possible.

The notes made during the non-painting stage are now considered for any adjustments or changes. This stage of the painting will take the longest because it is very important to ensure that the outcome will reflect the painting I have envisioned.

Until tomorrow!

🇿🇦💜 Linzé