Author Archives: debiriley

Creative Imagination is an Unchained Imagination

Upcoming  Atwell Gallery Perth workshops Workshop dates January 13 & 20,  2015  –    Landscapes using your Imagination    and Drawing using your Imagination. Both workshops are designed to show playful fun methods that help develop and rediscover your imagination. It is the unchained imagination that releases an infinity of possibilities, inventions and creations.  Every invention beganContinue reading “Creative Imagination is an Unchained Imagination”

Imagination is the beginning of creation

George Bernard Shaw’s brilliant quote, “Imagination is the Beginning of Creation”  is one I love. Calvin Coolidge said, “Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence.” Both persistence and imagination have been my ‘co helpers’ as I paint and create for over two decades.     Imagination and Creation   Imagination, creation, inspirationContinue reading “Imagination is the beginning of creation”

mountains

Loose bold free impressionistic watercolour mountains and hills!  Bold bright cobalt sky emphasizes the top of the hill providing a sense of heat, summer and sun to the landscape. Mountain in Blue is an inspired mix of cerulean blue, prussian blue with a bit of umber; then allowing some of the paint to drip downContinue reading “mountains”

Photos as Reference Material

Zoom into a flower with just the stamens, or zoom into a glass vase with just its reflections, maybe take a photo of just clouds only, or the ripples in a pool, perhaps in black and white, or sepia. In other words, take photos in a way you have not tried before nor have seenContinue reading “Photos as Reference Material”

Light and Shade: Tonal Values for Successful Paintings

Whether you’re painting in pastels, watercolours, oils, acrylics, mixed media the single most crucial aspect for more successful artwork is Tonal Values. Making sure that you first observe and see those variations in tone is key in order to then be able to obtain those tones on your painting. The tricks I use to seeContinue reading “Light and Shade: Tonal Values for Successful Paintings”

What to Paint first?! Backgrounds

Many new painters wonder which part of the painting to start first. Often beginning with the focal point, or the foreground. However, this presents a dilemma for beginners, as then it becomes much more difficult to get the tonal values correct. As well as then its also much harder to obtain a smooth, seamless transitionContinue reading “What to Paint first?! Backgrounds”

Painting Foregrounds: Perspective Tips

Depth and perspective in paintings can be tricky at first for beginners. But it gets a lot easier when you know and follow a couple of logical and simple tips and guidelines.         Simplify The Subject   Break it up into simplified segments. Divide the scene into divisions of Background, Middleground andContinue reading “Painting Foregrounds: Perspective Tips”