Translucent and Opaque - Terms for Art....What do they really mean?

Hello All:  I watch a ton of Art videos and I hear more and more artists talk about color theory using the terms Translucent and Opaque....okay, I get mixed from one person to another so being the mixed media artist researcher that I am....I had to look it up.

According to the Grammarist (2016):  Transparent, translucent and opaque are adjectives that describe the amount of light that is able to pass through an object. 

   

The skin tone has light highlights - Translucent

                              and hair is Opaque

Translucent is an adjective that describes material through which one may see an object, but may not be able to discern the details. Translucent may also be described as semitransparent. Sautéed onions are translucent. Related words are translucence, translucency and translucently.

Opaque is an adjective that describes material that one may not see through, it is not transparent. A brick is opaque. Related words are opaquely and opaqueness.

In the Art world, Translucent and Opaque colors means:

• Opaque - Light does not pass through- (the color hides what is under the color
• Translucent - Some light passes, but is diffused in different directions - (can see under the color

So Translucent and Opaque color have do with how much light transmits through the color or not.

                                                 Lights strikes!

Example of Color that are Translucent and Opaque:

Now, doesn't Translucent and Opaque make sense?

References:

http://grammarist.com/usage/transparent-translucent-and-opaque/

http://www.learn4yourlife.com/transparent-versus-translucent.html

http://www.clear-path.com/colorhueswedgewood.html

Friday's New Word: "Painterly" - Mixed Media Research

Hello All:

Still reading my Art History books this summer.  Found a new word.  I had to research.  Funny, when your self taught in mixed media; one has to absorb more information to decipher, code, and retain information.

Okay, my new word is "Painterly".  Seems made up, but it is a word and has a meaning that relates to all mixed media artist.

According to About.com (June, 2016),

The above patinging has brush strokes that literally stand out and give depth and reality to the painting.  This painting is Vince Van Gogh's Landscape with carriage and Train

Definition of Painterly

The term painterly is used to describe a painting done in a style that embraces, shows, and celebrates the paint medium that it is created in (be it oil paint, acrylics, pastels, gouache, watercolor, etc.), rather than a style that tries to hide the act of creation. It is a loose and expressive approach to the process of painting in which the brushstrokes are visible, rather than one that is controlled and rational, and tries to hide the brushstrokes.

Paint can be thin and still be applied in a painterly way.  Painterly means that the style or approach does not try to hide the fact that a brush or knife was used to create the artwork, and that celebrates the paint or art material itself (the surface of a sculpture might even be said to be painterly if the carved or modeled marks resemble brushstrokes or are visible.) 

According to the Tate Gallery's Glossary (2016), the term painterly "carries the implication that the artist is reveling in the manipulation of the oil paint itself and making the fullest use of its sensuous properties.

As stated earlier, a painterly style clearly shows the brushstrokes and the energy of the gesture that went in to making those brush marks.  A mixed media Artist, can use a combination of Impasto and Painterly to express their styles.

An example  of a Painterly style is:

Here in this painting you see the brush strokes (painterly) and texture "impasto"

Look at the platoon of men on zoom you can see the brush strokes.

This Portrait called Rosina by John Singer Sargent shows his style of doing "Painterly" paintings.  The brush strokes are apparent.  His style also included drawing and underpainting, and layering.  He relied in the proper placement of tones of paint.

here is my attempt at "Painterly and Impasto"...can you see the brush strokes and texture?

References:

Tate Gallery -www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary

--John Singer Sargent (January 12, 1856 – April 14, 1925) Johnsingersargent.org

-http://painting.about.com/od/artglossaryp/g/defpainterly.htm--About.com

So All, we have two new words and mixed media techniques this summer, I am still reading will have another word for you real soon.  E.L.

Mountain Landscapes-- practice

I have been working on mountain Landscrapes since seeing a Bob Ross video early one Saturday morning.  I have worked in mixed media..paint markers, watercolor, acrylic ...starting to see progress...this was done in an altered journal.  Bob Ross worked in oils and used household natural brushes, but I think my effect is very similar.

Scrapping - using scraps for warm-up

Hi all:

 #15 - scrap art challenge I use scrap watercolor or canvas gesso paper to warm-up most days.   I chose a selection of store bought tools markers and paints and sketch a few of my own shapes.  Scraps are a versatile way to add quick backgrounds or elements to any surface and keep playing wit your art fed. 

The Lady needs work

I completed this lady a year ago and now I think she needs work.  This can happen to you too ...it is not always finish when you think it is finish.  I would change her nose, mouth and skin tone.

Mixed media landscape 20160505

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    I tried to use only water color in this seascape / landscape canvas, but over thinking took over and I added acrylic white to the sky.  I added paint marker to the boat.  I practice color mixing to make the color brown in the land portions

 

Friday Art focus 20160513

Hello all:  my art focus this Friday  is on mixed media canvas landscapes.  I am using acrylic paint, markers (various), paint pens, and water colors paints.  I made three canvases at the same time while one was drying I would work on the other. 

What did I Learn:  I seem to get better and mite confident  overall as progressed through each painting.  My theme was to use techniques like Bob Ross

Here is my mountain range

What is your focus this week in Art? (Onion)