The Glisten and the Glow

How to Paint Eyes

I usually demonstrate painting "The Glisten and the Glow" in my portrait classes, however I made a "how-to" sheet to help my students remember.  "The Glisten and the Glow" is a phrase I created, and I predict that in the future it will be bantered around quite frequently in portrait classes (she said humbly...).  So here it is ~




This process can also be viewed in Youtube where I demonstrate painting eyes in pencil, charcoal, pastel, watercolor, oil and acrylic.  Just Google Judy Burgarella.  There are only 2 Judy Burgarellas in the world, one has passed on (my husband's cousin), and then there's me, alive and kickin'.

A "How To" and Tip for Y'all

"The Mandolin Player"
From John Everett Malaise, whose work is featured in the Vero Beach Museum of Art's current "Victorian Radicals" exhibition.  However, I have found some questionable authenticity about Malaise having been the sole artist of this piece.  This was a very popular model at the time, and other "Radicals" were using her.  Truly a beautiful woman.  This painting of mine is only a partial of the complete painting, but this is the image I found online that was the most beautiful, and so I wanted it for myself.  However it sold off the wall of the Museum at the Faculty show, so now I must paint it again--but next time in oils I think.

"The Mandolin Player" from John Everett Malaise, by Judy Burgarella,
12"x16". acrylic, with gilded wood frame

I used this painting as a teaching tool for my Portraits in Acrylic class at the Museum, and following is instructions in case you would like to try it yourself.  This painting had many interesting and enjoyable elements in it to paint, but the hands on the original painting were not of good quality, and so I spent a lot of time on them to get it right.  Even to taking a photo of my own hand in the desired position, and copying it from my smart phone.

Here's a nice trick to help you in your painting life ~

PHOTO HOLDER

This little ditty I found at a garage sale.
It is a homemade whachamacalit,  that I felt
somehow I could put to good use.  It actually is a car antennae stuck in a wood plaque, with it's top curled into a "U".  On its end is a clip, and the antennae scopes from 10" to 34".  I soon found a use for it, as pictured here.  I can't tell you how
handy it is to a painter.  It enables me to place
the photo so close to my canvas, at any level I
need, and any angle I need.  Simple, cheap, low-tech lightweight ... Perfect!  Here's what you need:
1. Old car antennae (Ebay? Junkyard?)
2. Clip (fishing, hardware or craft store)
3. Wood base (craft store, Walmart?)
4. Glue
NOTE:  Some of my students have made their
own holders, copying this idea, with much
success, and they love it too!

Hope these tips and tricks help you, and stay tuned for more ideas--and please pass it on!

Judy Burgarella
Blogger

"Misty Morning" in Acrylics ... and more!

As promised, brief directions for painting 

"Misty Morning" in acrylics.

(I used an 11"x14" canvas)

To get interesting colors blending and residing side-by-side--and also to add some excitement to a usually boring part of starting a painting--just squeeze the paint on.  I used titanium white, phthalo green, dioxizine purple and ultramarine blue.  Using a big brush blend colors together, but not so much that the canvas ends up all one color.

Notice how you can see the variations in color, and that it is lighter on the top.  In order to get this effect, you must work fast and blend just enough so that you can see individual colors here and there.

Paint soft waves using a large brush towards the bottom, gradually making the ripples smaller as you get towards the middle.  Dark shadows on the underside of the waves, lighter highlights on the tops.
When dry, trace a sailboat with graphite paper (see next photo), wherever on the canvas you choose.  I plan on painting in a couple more far-away boats, more misty,  on the left side.

 The following is as far as I got during the 1-1/2 hour demonstration, and I was painting fast.  For the sails I used yellow ochre with lots of white, then added for shadows sap green, phthalo green, and purple.  Very sparingly but it was beautiful close up and pulled in the background somewhat. 

This piece probably needs another 4-5 hours to be worthy of framing, especially if I add 2 more boats in the distance.  But it was a fun piece to paint and demo, and everybody liked it and learned from it.

"Misty Morning" 11"x14" acrylic by Judy Burgarella (unfinished)

Spent a good part of my day yesterday (Saturday) demonstrating oil portraiture at the Vero Beach Museum of art, where I am on the faculty.  Other faculty members were demonstrating too, and it was a very successful event, one that fills our classes up.  I demonstrated a portrait of my brother, Timmy, who worked for NASA in Cape Canaveral most of his life - and so I put a rocket going up in the background.  When I am finished I will post it, but it's pretty rough right now.  He was a great guy, good brother, whom I miss very much.  Unfortunately he passed on 2 months before me and my husband moved to Florida 15 years ago. 

Anyway, the whole Museum was open and admittance was free, including their fabulous "Victorian Radicals" show, subjects which I will be using in my next set of classes there.  If you are in the Treasure Coast area and love to see really fine art, please stop in and see the show.  Worth a trip.

Hope you enjoyed this posting.

Judy Burgarella
Art Blogger

Learn How to Mix Skin Colors

Below is my Skin Color Palette which I have given out at some of my classes.  My students have found it very helpful. 

For Asian and Caucasian baby skin, add a tiny bit of yellow to the lightest value of the top row.
For black skin, use any of the darker and medium colors, with some interesting shadows created using sap green with a little white.  Light hilights use cool colors as in the lightest values in the 5th and 6th rows. American Indians call for a little more reddish in the skin, with dark shadows.

A Note About Painting Portraits ~

Unlike painting a landscape, you must have a good photograph of your subject.  Preferably in good lighting, large format photo, clear and crisp, printed on gloss photo paper.  The more information you have about your subject (by information I mean detailed, clearly seen photo) the easier it is to get a likeness.  I do not recommend changing any part of the position from what your photograph is.  The best way to paint a portrait is using a model, where you will find limitless opportunities to see all aspects of the face.

It is not always possible to get a clear photograph, especially if the subject is someone who has passed on.  In that case, get all the photographs you can of the subject, color and black and white, and pick the best pose and paint it using all the extraneous information on the photographs you have collected.

An Invitation for You!

You are invited to the reception posted below at the Emerson Center in Vero Beach.  I will be there to greet you, along with the other artists.  Three of my paintings are on display, and many other wonderful works by renowned local artists.  Wine and hors d'euovres will be served.  Hope to see you there!  I will have several paintings there on display, including my new oil painting of Waldo Sexton.

Judy Burgarella
Blogger

Saying Goodbye is Hard To Do

Goodbye to "The Artist" and Goodbye to "The Mandolin Player ... must let my babies go.  Although I did not put an entry into the Vero Beach Art Club's "Art By The Sea" show this year, for the first time, I did have a couple of paintings on display in the Vero  Beach Museum of Art's Faculty Show (I teach portraiture there). and sold both during the Club's ABTS show there in the Museum.  Two people had to use the rest room after seeing the ABTS show and fell in love with both my pieces in the Faculty show.  Below is "The Artist," Oil on canvas, in a really nice gilded frame.  Going to a good home!

"The Artist"

The other one that sold is "The Mandolin Player," inspired by one of the same name by Victorian Radical member artist John Everett Malaise, which I painted as part of my class project for the Museum to coordinate with their upcoming "Victorian Radicals" exhibition, to be opened February 9th. The frame was a bit pricey, but I (and the framer, "Ridley's Frames of Palm Bay, FL) thought it was worthy of a grand frame, especially since it would be hanging in the Museum for a month or so.  Paid off in spades, as it sold within days.  Tom Ridley, et al., sells fine frames at reasonable prices, and has done it for me while I wait.

"MISTY MORNING" ~ My Next 2 Classes

Thursday February 7th's class at the American Legion  I will do an hour or so demonstration on how to start this painting, including painting rigging and ripples, quick background and sails.  This was a very quick painting, but I plan on painting one for myself in a finer technique, and with more phthalo green in the background to go with the lovely frame I have.    It's a small one, 11" x 7", however I will paint a larger on (12"x16") for the demo so that all can see.  

Perfect beautiful gilded wood frame for "Misty Morning"

It is now February 7th, a few hours after my demo/class at the American Legion, and this subject was easier the second time around, as many of the composition and painting decisions had already by made, and many mysteries solved. So now I am anxious to share even more about painting this picture tomorrow with my next class in Vero tomorrow, February 8th (my birthday!).

Here's a good tip: if you have a collection of frames, create a painting to fit whatever frame you have.  Just makes sense.  I will post step-by-step photos on how to do this one soon as my classes are over.    

Will post more tomorrow (I think!).

Judy Burgarella

Blogger

Welcome to Burgarella Art Tips and Tricks ... Stay tuned for helpful information each week!

Dear Artists and Artist-Wanna-Be's ~

This blog has been created for all those aspiring to learn more about creating art.  During my years of teaching others how to paint and draw, I have developed some helpful teaching tools and techniques that I am happy to share with all who can appreciate them, my students in particular will benefit from this blog since they are fans of my teaching style and techniques.

So much to share, where do I start.  First of all let me start with a short bio and visual of a time-lapse video of creating a portrait in oils, which is also available on Youtube,  Please watch and enjoy, and hopefully you will gain from following my weekly (or maybe daily) blog.  Click on the link below and see me paint Bob Barbour in about 2 minutes (actual painting time is 4-1/2 hours)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcLf7ACVaJk

Live Portrait Demonstration - Painting Bob Barbour

Brief Bio:

Currently teaching portraiture in Acrylics at the Vero Beach (Florida) Museum of Art, and on March 29th-30th two full days workshop in Portraits in Oils.  Also classes held at the Sebastian American Legion, and Indian River Estates, in addition to private and group classes and demonstrations.  Teaching art for 20 years, crafts for years before that.  Belonged to lots of clubs, shown in lots of galleries and shows, won awards, love to volunteer in anything artsy, and love learning new artsy things and sharing freely whatever I learn.

Stay tuned for helpful information on portraits, landscapes, animals, seascapes, etc, in all mediums and styles.  Learn along with me new tips and tricks as I discover new and better techniques myself with each new painting.   My mission is to spread the joy of art, so I hope you enjoy my blog.  Visit again soon as I expand and grow this blog.

Yours in Art,
Judy Burgarella
Blogger

Same day - later
Just want to upload at least one of my charts to get this thing started.  Following is a simple color mixing chart, would work for oil or acrylic, and each color may be different in your collection of paints, depending on brand, quality, etc., so I suggest you make your own chart with the colors you normally use. Bold black outlined squares indicate cross-section of same color.  Feel free to print this out, or for that matter anything on this blog, for your own use.  Hope it helps you.

Judy Burgarella