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Acrylics Anonymous, Issue #012 -- Your Resolution Revolution
January 01, 2013

1st January 2013, issue 012



Passionate about painting with acrylics? Need a monthly fix chock full of inspiration? Need some help to take the pain out of your painting process? It's all here for you. Acrylics Anonymous. Zero elitism. Dive in.



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Subscribers only…..shhhhhh…sealed section just for you!

Tip of the month

News

Links we like

Works in progress…..show us your paintings!



Happy New Year To You!


We have scaled back a little bit this month to take into account the holidays and my inherent laziness.

We thought you might enjoy this Over The Shoulder clip from Mark's studio which briefly explains his palette set up, and how he keeps his paint mobile.

Hope you like it!

Click here to view!



Every month, we will produce a Subscribers Only "sealed section". It could be a painting technique, a short video tip, or anything we can think of that we reckon you might enjoy.

Please let us know what you think, we love your feedback! To leave comments, click here.




Your Resolutions Need Inspiration & Motivation to be Achievable

Did you resolve to paint more in 2013?

A great way to hold your motivation, drive and inspiration to create, is to set yourself goals that are SMART. Specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely. Set yourself a specific task, for example, I will create 1 painting every month.

Write your goals somewhere where other people can see them, or share your resolutions on social media. This will motivate you to achieve your goals, and keeps you accountable. "A goal is a dream with a deadline" -- Napolean Hill



Stuck For Painting Ideas?

Explore your options for firing up those creative juices.

Click here to read more…




Fiji Workshop Date Change!

Mark's workshop in Fiji has now been altered to 24th - 31st August 2013.

Click here to read more...




Special News From The Explore Store

Don't forget we are now offering Gift Coupons!

The perfect gift for you. Tell your friends and family to stock up for your upcoming birthdays/Christmases/just because occasions!

Click here to read more...




This AA is all about finding inspiration. And this site is GREAT for that! Feast your eyeballs and find yourself some new ideas to explore!

Artists inspiring artists!



Charlie is a lady after my own heart. A crafter, mother, engineer and now a metal clay artist. What?? I know! (Actually I still don't have a clue what a metal clay artist is!)

Anyhoo it was her manifesto which caught my attention, and I'm wondering - which words stand out for you? I like "I can do it. I will do it."

A manifesto to inspire your creative spirit.




If you have a link you like, please share it with us! You can contact us to let us know. Thank you!

This is the section where you can "get your name in lights!" (well at least out there in the internet world!).

If you have works in progress you would love to show off, or finished pieces you are particularly proud of, we would love to see them!

We especially like to hear about the story behind the creation.

Our WIP this month comes from Gold Coast artist and big fan of the site Jim Parsons. Here is his story: "I chose the scene for a couple of reasons. Firstly because I wished to put into practice some of Marks'  guidelines and advice, together with my own influence, and secondly because I am a big fan of pandanus trees. I find beauty in their twisted and tortured look, and no two look the same.

The canvas was prepared with several coats of gesso and then a base of pthalo blue and white. I roughly blocked in the tree trunk, branches and shrubbery with watered down burnt umber. Sky from horizon :- white, ultramarine blue deep and a touch of yellow deep. White was added to that mix, then from about half way up, pthalo blue was gradually added.

For the wet sand I added yellow oxide and a touch of burnt umber to white, then added more white for the dry sand, and white for waves. Shubbery was pthalo green and touches of cadmium green oxide, antique green and touch of white. Tree trunk and branches - base of raw umber and then raw umber and white.

Leaves - underpainting of pthalo green oxide, yellow oxide and cadmium yellow light. At that stage I wasn't happy with the trunk of the tree so I added a broken branch out to the right. Further highligths were added to the foam of the waves.

The leaves were then touched up with chromium green oxide, pine green and touches of white and shadows darkened with raw umber mixed with the greens. Shadows on the sand were put in using a mix of dioxazine purple and raw umber.

As an exercise, I have gained a lot of knowledge and there are some things I wouldn't do again, such as the amount of leaves on the tree. In future paintings, I will have the leaves appear closer so that I can have less of them but with more detail. I struggled to find the right greens for the leaves and I am not very happy with them or my technique of producing them. Back to the DVDs."

Thanks heaps for sharing Jim, good job!




Hope you enjoyed this issue of Acrylics Anonymous! If you have any suggestions, comments or feedback for the ezine or our site, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Until then, make sure you chuck some paint around!

Cheers from Mark, Nic & Frankie :)


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