Friday's art article - How to paint abstracts

Ever wanted to try painting? Ever wanted to try painting in an abstract style? This brief article on about.com explains How to Paint Abstract Paintings from a Photo. The tutorial starts with a picture of flowers and shows readers several techniques on how to create an abstract painting from the photographic image.

Friday's art website - Free Art Lessons Online

Are you a budding artist looking to learn some art skills? Creative Spotlite offers free art lessons online in painting, pastels, photography, and colored pencil techniques. While the online tutorials aren't very detailed, they certainly are a great way for someone to get an initial exposure and some basic skills. The website also includes some books and paid art lesson links for those wanting to expand their art abilities.

Friday's art themed article of interest: LEARN HOW TO PAINT YOUR FIRST EVER PAINTING

So all this looking at art has you inspired to try your own hand at painting? So what's stopping you! Today's art themed article of interest in Learn to Paint Your First Ever Painting. This article covers everything from selecting the paints, canvas and subject to covering technique and how to fix your mistakes.

Enjoy mixed media art while resting on your sofa

Inspired by this month's featured artist Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson to try your hand at collage? You have two ways to introduce yourself to her art.

She now has her collage process available on DVD. The DVD is a creative overview from start to finish of her paper painting process. Elizabeth covers painting your own collage papers, sketching, underpainting and tips and tricks for collage application. This comprehensive video is 30 minutes, comes in a full sized jewel case and will play in your PC/MAC or TV DVD player.

Elizabeth also has Collage: An Overview to the Creative Process available on Lulu. This book also contains an overview to her figurative collage process, including tips and techniques, supplies list, descriptions and step by step process.

A cow painting in progress

Enjoy this link to see Gary Sauder's pastel drawings progress from a simple pencil sketch on paper to a completed piece of cow art!

A conversation with Robin Maria Pedrero: Part 4

Where do you get your inspiration?

Influences and inspiration are daily occurrences, experienced through all of the senses. My visual journey encompasses my life; family, friends, travel, nature, meals, introspection, books, art, music and worship. The work begins internally and then is brought to the surface, literally.

A conversation with Julia Swartz: Part 10

What advice to you have for aspiring painters?

Don't worry about your style. I hear young artist say I've got to find my style. I would recommend that you just keep painting and painting and try different things and eventually your style will emerge. Never throw a painting away. As an artist you tend to be very critical of your own work. You may not like something very much when your done, but just put it in a drawer or put it away somewhere. Months or years later you may get it out and say "Oh, that's not so bad." I really treasure some of my first paintings and am glad I never threw them out.

Picture credit: "Moo Cow", oil on canvas

Click here to learn more about this cow art oil painting

Friday's website of interest to art enthusiasts: LEARN HOW TO DRAW AND PAINT

I get requests through Cow Art and More asking how someone can learn how to paint from their own home. I came across the website, "Learn How to Draw and Paint", and found it quite useful for a beginning artist. The website goes into detail about painting and drawing supplies, techniques, storage, and framing the finished work. There is also an art terms dictionary and a list of books related to the topic.