Painting Plumerias in Watercolor

Painting Plumerias in Watercolor

an online painting class with Marionette

This online class has unlimited access. Once you purchase it, you can create and access at any time and work at your own pace.

Have you ever wanted to paint gorgeous, sunlit, tropical flowers? Well, this class is for you! Whether you are a beginner or an advanced artist, I will demonstrate my techniques to create two vibrant plumeria paintings in this online class. No drawing skills are necessary!

In this class you will receive my two reference photos to print out of the Pink Plumeria and Rainbow Plumeria. Plus, you will receive my exact art supply list with links to the Blick Art Materials website. This makes ordering your supplies easy, or you can use the links to see photos of what the supplies look like if you want to purchase them at your local arts and crafts store.

During the ten videos where I demonstrate the Pink Plumeria and eleven videos of the Rainbow Plumeria, you will gain an understanding of how to properly use quality watercolor supplies, how to correct mistakes, how to blend and shade the delicate plumeria petal, layering, and much, much more. Plus, I will be available either by email or phone to answer any questions and to provide additional assistance.

All videos will be available on demand so that you may work at your own speed. The videos will be embedded in the email so that you just have to click the photo of the video to be taken to the actual video. All videos in this class are "private" which means they are only available to those in the class.

If you wish to have a private critique of your painting, just send me a .jpg of your painting attached in an email, and I will be happy to do so.

Student Testimonials:
"Your technique has given me more confidence with watercolors. I usually tend to go too fast, to try to loosen up, but I end up over working the painting and making a mess. This fits better with my more realistic style, AND I'm having fun. Can't ask for more!" - Sandrine

"I have learned so much from this one and am so excited to keep going!" - Maureen

The class will come to you in an email where I embed all of the class videos, the supply list, and the reference photos. 

**After purchasing the class, please send me an email to Marionette@ kauai-artist.net with your name and email address so I can send you your class email. Please give me 24 hours to send your email once I have received your information.** 

BUY NOW

(The "BUY NOW" link will take you to my Etsy Online Shop where you can pay for your class by credit card or Paypal.  My shop is now set up for direct check out which means that you can use your credit card directly through Etsy and not have to have a Paypal account.)

Or, you can call me directly at (808) 631-9173 to pay by credit card over the phone or set up an alternate payment method.

Mahalo for signing up and Happy Painting!!!

Marionette
808.631.9173 (Please remember that I'm in the Hawaiian Time Zone)
 Marionette@kauai-artist.net

Painting Bamboo with Encaustics

In this video I demonstrate how to use melted wax (encaustics) to paint bamboo.  The fun part is using the tip of the iron to create the bamboo shapes.  The thing I love most about encaustics is that it is never really wet or dry.  You can always heat up the wax to melt it and move it around!

Aloha,
Marionette
www.kauai-artist.net
www.kauaiartclasses.blogspot.com

Acrylic Painting - Step by Step

One day I received a commision painting job from Sherri. She and her husband were visiting the island of Kauai on their honeymoon (Congratulations!), and she wanted to have a painting created of the bungalow where they stayed.

She came across my website and loved the style of my Kauai Coffee Visitor Center painting and wanted something similar. After a few emails (we've never met in person), I took my camera and headed out to the famous "Baby Beach" of Kauai's south shore. I snapped several pics of the house and also a few of the beach itself .

Well, I always wanted to capture the "steps" that I take to create an acrylic painting. So I remined myself to take a picture every so often while working on this piece. In my acrylics classes, I always stress the importance of blocking in the major colors and shapes before painting the details. This is what you see in step #1. I love the bright blue color of the sky here in Kauai! 

Next, I started to slowly develop the painting. Added a few details, but mostly working on the underpainting. Acrylic paint can be very opaque especially when mixed with titanium white. Therefore, if you make a mistake at this point, you can cover it up and keep on paintin'!

  

In Step #3 I started to develop more of the house, porch and garden. I didn't like the blue color I put on the left-hand side of the house because it looked too much like sky, so I greyed it out a bit. This was challenging to get the right shade.

Finally, I started to work more on the palm trees on the sides. I wanted to get a lot of detail in the underpainting part of the trees. Lots of details in the background without worrying about the foreground until last.

 

In Step #5, I worked on more detail of the house and palm trees. I also painted the adorable coconut that was so appropriately placed near the entrance to the house!

 

 Here's the final version of the painting!  I spent lots of time on the palm tree details. Whew!

 

Baby Beach Bungalow

11"x14" on Canvas (painted on the edges in a 

 Gallery Wrap Style)

I hope you enjoyed seeing this painting in progress! 

Painting Plumerias in Watercolor

Painting Plumerias in Watercolor

an online painting class with Marionette

This online class has unlimited access. Once you purchase it, you can create and access at any time and work at your own pace.

Have you ever wanted to paint gorgeous, sunlit, tropical flowers? Well, this class is for you! Whether you are a beginner or an advanced artist, I will demonstrate my techniques to create two vibrant plumeria paintings in this online class. No drawing skills are necessary!

In this class you will receive my two reference photos to print out of the Pink Plumeria and Rainbow Plumeria. Plus, you will receive my exact art supply list with links to the Blick Art Materials website. This makes ordering your supplies easy, or you can use the links to see photos of what the supplies look like if you want to purchase them at your local arts and crafts store.

During the ten videos where I demonstrate the Pink Plumeria and eleven videos of the Rainbow Plumeria, you will gain an understanding of how to properly use quality watercolor supplies, how to correct mistakes, how to blend and shade the delicate plumeria petal, layering, and much, much more. Plus, I will be available either by email or phone to answer any questions and to provide additional assistance.

All videos will be available on demand so that you may work at your own speed. The videos will be embedded in the email so that you just have to click the photo of the video to be taken to the actual video. All videos in this class are "private" which means they are only available to those in the class.

If you wish to have a private critique of your painting, just send me a .jpg of your painting attached in an email, and I will be happy to do so.

Student Testimonials:
"Your technique has given me more confidence with watercolors. I usually tend to go too fast, to try to loosen up, but I end up over working the painting and making a mess. This fits better with my more realistic style, AND I'm having fun. Can't ask for more!" - Sandrine

"I have learned so much from this one and am so excited to keep going!" - Maureen

The class will come to you in an email where I embed all of the class videos, the supply list, and the reference photos. 

**After purchasing the class, please send me an email to Marionette@ kauai-artist.net with your name and email address so I can send you your class email. Please give me 24 hours to send your email once I have received your information.** 

BUY NOW

(The "BUY NOW" link will take you to my Etsy Online Shop where you can pay for your class by credit card or Paypal.  My shop is now set up for direct check out which means that you can use your credit card directly through Etsy and not have to have a Paypal account.)

Or, you can call me directly at (808) 631-9173 to pay by credit card over the phone or set up an alternate payment method.

Mahalo for signing up and Happy Painting!!!

Marionette
808.631.9173 (Please remember that I'm in the Hawaiian Time Zone)
 Marionette@kauai-artist.net

Leaf Printing with Watercolors

This is a fun and simple "old school" technique to get some great effects in your floral backgrounds.  Take a few minutes before painting to browse your yard for some interesting leaves.  Pick out a few small, medium, and large ones.  I really like using hibiscus leaves, because they have a lot of veins and a nice leafy shape.  Next, put some watercolor paint on the back of the leaf and press the leaf into your background, making sure to rub the veins into the paper so that they "print".  Next, take some more paint and paint around the edge of your leaf.  This will make the leaf shape "pop".  Then you can add more colors to the inside of the leaf as desired.  

I love this technique because it is so easy to do and it really helps you loosen up when you are stuck not knowing what to do next in your background.  Hope this gives you some good ideas and Happy Painting!!

Aloha,
Marionette
www.kauai-artist.net
www.kauaiartclasses.blogspot.com

Favorite Colors for Watercolor Painting

Every once-in-awhile I get a request from one of my students for a listing of my "color palette" that I use for watercolors.  While every artist will eventually develop their own palette of favorite colors, I am happy to share mine to give you some ideas.  To me Winsor and Newton is the best brand of watercolor paints that I have found so far.  I use them exclusively along with Cotman (also made by Winsor and Newton).  Winsor Blue makes a beautiful Kauai sky and mixed with a little Winsor Green, it is perfect for the ocean.  I love to use Quinacridone Gold for the beach since it is such a powerful yellow.  For a more subdued beach, I use Raw Sienna. Opera Rose was introduced to me by my students, Ed and Joanie.  It is a wonderful pink that is hard to get from mixing.  Lovely to use in orchid paintings along with Purple Lake and Dioxazine Violet. Sap Green is a very leafy or grassy green.  No landscape palette should be without it.  That goes for Burnt Sienna as well since it is the color of  the "red dirt" found here in Kauai. Here are my favorites ("W&N" denotes Winsor and Newton Brand and "C" denotes the Cotman Brand): Winsor Red - W&N Winsor Blue - W&N Winsor Green - W&N Quinacridone Gold - W&N Opera Rose - W&N Ultramarine Blue - C Alizarin Crimson - W&N or C Sap Green - C Purple Lake - C Dioxazine Violet - C Cadmium Red Pale Hue (orange) - C Cadmium Yellow Hue - C Burnt Sienna - C Lemon Yellow - C New Gamboge - C Raw Sienna - C Indian Red -C I also recommend using Arches 140 lb. Cold Press watercolor paper to paint on.  Buy good quality paper and you will be very pleased with the results. I hope this information has been helpful.  Happy Painting!!! Aloha, Marionette www.kauai-artist.net www.kauaiartclasses.blogspot.com

Painting a Kauai Beach Scene in Watercolors

This video demonstrates several painting techniques.  First I show you how to paint a simple, but striking sky, and lift out puffy clouds with a tissue.  Then I demonstrate how to create trees using a natural sponge.  Next, we lay in the sand and shadows from the trees, and then I show you some tricks for making ocean waves.  Plus, I share some of my favorite color combinations.

 If you can't get to the beach...then paint one!  Happy Creating!!!!

Aloha,
Marionette
www.kauai-artist.net
www.kauaiartclasses.blogspot.com

What is an ACEO?

Ever since I started to sell my art online, I keep seeing other artists selling ACEOs and wondered what they were all about.  After a little internet research, I found that this is a new art craze with roots that go back a few hundred years.

 

ACEO stands for art cards, editions and originals.  They are like sports trading cards for artists,  and are similar to ATCs, artist trading cards, that are traded and not sold. In the 1700s ATCs were often used for advertising and for portrait miniatures.

 

Today, ACEOs are a very popular item being sold over the internet.  The only requirement for creating one is that it should measure 2.5" x 3.5" (the standard size of a sports trading card).  The medium used to create one is limitless - watercolor, acrylic, pencil, photography, oils, just to name a few.  The support can also be on almost anything as long as its not too flimsy.  Some examples are thick paper, wood, metal, plastic, etc...

 

ACEOs can be sold as originals, prints, limited editions, or even photography.  If it is a limited edition, it should be numbered and signed on the back.  They are usually priced very reasonably ($5-$50), which makes collecting art very affordable.

I've decided to make my ACEOs using watercolor with pen and ink.  Each one is a miniature original painting, and I sign them on the front and then title, sign, and date them on the back.  During my art classes that I teach, I often demonstrate different techniques to my students, and these small demos usually end up as my ACEOs.  

 

A handy tool that I have made is a small view finder that has an opening of 2.5"x3.5".   I then place the view finder in different areas of the painting to see what makes a good composition for an ACEO.  Next, I use my paper trimmer to cut out the miniature painting.  I generally save just about every scrap piece of watercolor paper so that I may make some ACEOs out of them in the future.  This is a great way to recycle and use pieces from those "not so good" paintings.  

Aloha,
Marionette
www.kauai-artist.net
www.kauaiartclasses.blogspot.com

Painting a Plumeria with Encaustics

In this video, I demonstrate how to paint a tropical plumeria flower using encaustics which are waxes loaded with pigment.  The materials include glossy paper, a craft iron, and the waxes.  I buy all of my encaustics supplies from www.encausticreations.com .

Encaustic painting has been around since the time of the ancient Greeks and Romans, but has been making a comeback as an art form since the 1990's.  It is unlike any medium I have worked with before and is never really wet or dry as the painting can be reworked by heating the surface.  Most encaustics are good up to 150 degrees Fahrenheit.  So don't store them in direct sunlight or over a stove, fireplace, or heater.  Plus, they can be made shiny by buffing them with a piece of tissue.

Aloha,
Marionette
www.kauai-artist.net
www.kauaiartclasses.blogspot.com

Creating Your Own Reference Material

There is no time like the present to increase your library of reference material for your paintings.  Inspiration is all around us.  We just need to look.  Today it's even easier as most of us have a camera handy right in our own cell phones.  However, I do recommend a good quality digital camera to get the best shots.  

I encourage my art students as much as possible to take their own photos for their reference material.  It's tempting to do a painting from a photo you found on the internet, but this is plagiarism.  After all, the artist behind the composition of that photo is the photographer, not you, and she/he deserves the credit.  Instead, find what interests you as an artist and go exploring with your camera.  Plan a photography day and go out to a garden, the zoo, the beach, or even in your own backyard.  You will find lots of inspiration all around you. 

  

I have found through experience that it is important to make sure you have plenty of natural sunlight on your subject.  Sun and shadows add depth and interest to your reference photos.  They will make your paintings come alive.   Too many times I've seen other artists working from photos that are flat and have a small range of values.  This will almost always lead to a boring painting.  Another thing to keep in mind is that you are actually composing your painting with the camera.  Take different shots of the same subject by experimenting with cropping.  Get in some closeups, some with the subject centered, and definitely some with the subject off center.  

You can also play with composition once you've downloaded your photos to your computer by using some cool photo editing software.  I use a nice program called The GNU Image Manipulation Program which is totally free to download.  You can get it at www.gimp.org.  It is a really easy to use program and I've been using it for years.

So get our of your studio and plan a fun photography day.  You will come back with loads of new inspiration to paint from!

Aloha,

Marionette

www.kauai-artist.net

www.kauaiartclasses.blogspot.com

Painting a Kauai Rooster in Watercolors

Here I demonstrate how to simply paint a rooster using a loose sumi-e technique.  I basically lay down each brush stroke next to each other and let the colors blend and create some exciting effects.  If you've ever been to Kauai, then you know why I chose this subject ;-)

Aloha,
Marionette
www.kauai-artist.net
www.kauaiartclasses.blogspot.com

Making Time for your Art

One of the most difficult aspects about creating art is finding the time to do so.  Everything seems to get in the way.  The house needs cleaning.  The laundry is piling up.  The car needs a good washing.  Well, you get the idea.  Finding time to make art is a lot like finding time to exercise.  Excuses are made.  Another day goes by.  Another month goes by.  However, there is a way to take charge and carve out some time from your precious schedule for art. 

First, find a place where you can set up a mini art studio.  All you need is a table (six feet long and foldable if possible), a chair, a radio or CD player, good lighting, some art supplies, and a great imagination.  If you can find your own room to do so, great!  If you can find a corner of a room to use, then this is good too (provided that children and pets can't get into your supplies.)   You also need a place where you can spend any length of time, from a few minutes to a few hours, to create art without having to set up and take down all of your supplies every time.  This will greatly increase your chances and motivation to paint, draw, or whatever!

Next, make an appointment with yourself!  Yes, actually schedule some time for your art whether it is one hour every day or a three hour block on Wednesdays.  Put it on the family calendar, program it into your cell phone or PDA, or put a note on the fridge.  Whatever it takes, let your friends and family know that you will be unavailable during this time period.  Total peace and quiet is essential to get the creative juices flowing.  Also, once you are in your space, try to get rid of as many distractions as possible (like annoying cell phones.)  Once you start creating, you will find it easier to find the time to sneak back into your art sanctuary.

Finally, if the suggestions so far aren't working, or you need more motivation, then I suggest taking an art class or workshop.  Once you have committed to taking the class, you will feel obligated to attend.  Then, once you start attending, you will get into the art "mode".  It is a great place to meet other artists, learn new techniques, and find time for your art!

Aloha,

Marionette

www.kauai-artist.net

www.kauaiartclasses.blogspot.com

Painting Raindrops in Watercolor

This video demonstrates an easy way to add some realistic raindrops to your flower watercolor.  Here I start with a painting of a red hibiscus and then show you how to add the raindrops through careful placement of shadows and highlights.  Enjoy!

Aloha,
Marionette
www.kauai-artist.net
www.kauaartclasses.blogspot.com

Welcome to the Kauai Online Art Instruction Blog

Aloha! My name is Marionette and I am an artist and art instructor on the beautiful, tropical island of Kauai in Hawaii. I currently teach art classes at my studio, Painting Paradise, in Waimea on the west side of the island.

This blog has been created to provide easy access to my videos, articles, and online classes in watercolor, pastels, encaustics, acrylics, sumi-e, silk painting, as well as my theories and advice regarding art in general.

I hope you will check back often to find some new inspiration for your own creativity!

Happy Creating,
Marionette
www.kauai-artist.net
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