I have been working on a new mini series inspired by the “Masters” each artwork is painted on very good quality watercolour Paper and painted with Acrylics.
( all my artwork comes with a certificate of authenticity)
This artwork comes unframed.
1st master mini painting – Mona Lisa
Graphite drawing on Hot Press Paper, the eyes I have coloured using Water Coloured Pencils
Graphite - Portrait
Acrylic on Hot Press Paper
In the Park - Acrylic on hot press paper
Posted in Art - Fun Portraits
Tagged abstract butterflies birds, Acrylic, art classes christchurch, art for sale christchurch, buildings, composition. landscape, donna steel portraits, drawing, fun portraits, golden artist educator, MIXED MEDIA ARTIST, NZ Artist, NZ CONTEMPORARY ARTIST, painting, papanui high adult education teacher, portraits
Here I have posted portraits that I have based people or portraits that have been done before….
1) This portrait was inspired by my visit to the Louvre … I love anything to do with Egypt ! not sure why I am so fixated with Egypt but I love anything Egyptian ….
So this portrait I have created was inspired by a wax painting on wood ,Funerary portrait of a young woman known as “Portrait of the Faiyum”
I have painted this on Hot Press Paper using Golden Acrylic Paint.
Portrait of the Faiyum
I have always been fascinated with faces… and this year I have been having a blast doing an online course called Life Book with Willowing Arts.
I have so enjoyed learning about portraiture , this course has really given me the confidence to step out and really explore different ways to paint and draw faces, and now I am trying to use what I have learnt in how to create a face and start to create my own style incuding different textures with my mixed media!
If you have always wanted to do portraits then check out Tamara’s site ! here www.willowing.org
All these Portraits are Painted with acrylic paint, some backgrounds are painted some are I have created using different forms of stamping.
So here are a selection of the fun and fantastical faces I have created …
thinking…
I wonder…
half the story…
Pixie
Blueberry surprise
Looking Back…
Inspired by Tam www.willowing.org
fascinate me… so I have started to spend some time looking at creating different types of faces with different mediums… this is my first Sketch of a Basic Face with Graphite ( which is simply a Pencil!) ….
Pencil Sketch
Posted in Art - Fun Portraits
Tagged Abstract, art classes, art classes christchurch, art classes nz, artist Canterbury, birds and butterlies, christchurch Artist, Donna Steel, fun portraits, golden artist educator, graphite sketch, Landscape, loves teaching art, naz artist, NZ Artist, portits, portraits, simple face. donna steel contemporary artist, Still Life, workshops
I often get people asking me What is the difference between Gel Medium or Paste?
Simply put….
Gel Medium is usually White when wet and dries Clear ( with exception of Coarse Pumice gel and Extra Coarse Pumice Gel).
Paste is White when wet and stays the same colour when dry!
Gel mediums can be used an adhesive for collage , to add texture to your artwork, to thicken paint, and added with paint can make a lovely glaze!
Pastes can add a lovely texture to your artwork, and depending on the type of paste you use you can get lots of different effects. examples of pastes are Crackle Paste, Fibre Past and Molding pastes light, hard, and coarse.
For more information regarding gels and pastes check out my upcoming Workshop to be held in Christchurch on March the 25th 2012!
Zentangles are fun and relaxing, you can create them anywhere anytime! Creating these Zentangles helps to increase your focus, and creativity and helps to promote personal well-being!
To find out more about these wonderful Inspirational artworks click here 
check out www.zentangle.com
Zentangle No.1 Forever Love
Value = the Lightness or Darkness of a colour.
To Brighten a colour paint its complementary colour beside it.
Complementary Colour – Combining a shade, tint or tone of one colour and the colour opposite on the colour wheel.
When two tones far apart from each other on the value scale are selected for example dark brown and cream, and these tones are painted right beside each other, sharing a common edge, then that pair of tones are said to be in HIGH CONTRAST.
High- Contrast pairs of colours appear to come forward, while Low-Contrast pairs of colours appear to recede
In this photo below …
1) I have mixed a blue background, and painted the korus with Van Dyke Brown and Titan Buff.
2) When paint is dry I have made up the background colour and mixed this with a glazing liquid and painted over the Korus that I wanted to appear to recede into the background.
Contrast colours with values …
Posted in Donna's handy Art tips
Tagged art classes christchurch, art classes in christchurch, ART TUTOR, christchurch art classes, christchurch Artist, complementary colours, Contemporary Artist, contrast colours, Donna Steel, glazes, golden artist educator, mixed media art classes, NZ Artist, NZ CONTEMPORARY ARTIST, NZ MIXED MEDIA ARTIST, painting with contrast colours, papanui high classes
Blending Acrylic Made Easy with Golden Glazing Liquid !
How many times have you had trouble with trying to blend acrylic colours?
Acrylic dries fast so can be a real issue for people trying to blend with it!
Glazing is a wonderful way to add depth to your artwork !
There are, several great ways to Blend colours but today I am just going to talk about blending with Golden Glazing Liquid!
Using Golden Glazing Liquid is especially good for those that are new to painting?
You will need : Gel Medium Gloss, Glazing Liquid and 4 different colour Acrylic Fluid paints. (I like to use fluid paint as it doesn’t show brush strokes )
* Golden is the Brand Name, and the name of their product is Glazing Liquid.
1 – Seal your surface that you are about to paint on, with a layer of Gloss Gel Medium and allow that to dry.
2- Paint a straight layer of Golden Glazing Liquid over your surface, now it is very IMPORTANT : NOT TO LET THIS DRY B4 THE NEXT STEP!
3 - On your palate, side by side (do not mix them together!) put an equal amount of Golden Glazing Liquid and Paint.
4 - Dip your brush into the paint and then glazing liquid and apply straight onto your surface, starting from one side of your surface to about the middle or 3/4 off the way across at that point stop and wipe off any paint left on your brush. ( you should notice that the paint where you started should be way more intense in colour and starting to lighten toward the middle of your surface.) After you have wiped off with a cloth or paper towel excess paint on your brush, continue to spread the glaze and paint toward the middle and right across your surface until you reach the other side. ( you should notice by the time you get to the other side you probably will have hardly any paint left just glazing liquid, that is good ! ) * If by this stage the paint is starting to dry and get sticky then STOP and wait till it is dry b4 you paint any more!
Blending Glazing Liquid, Cad Red Med and Hansa Yellow Med Fluid acrylic paint
5- Now starting in another area or corner repeat above process with 2 different colours.
Have Fun !!
( and don’t be shy I would love to hear how you got on ! )
Posted in Donna's handy Art tips
Tagged acrylic paint tips, art class, art classes christchurch nz, art tips to help the artist or beginner, ART TUTOR, blending tips, donna steel contemporay artist, golden artist educator, golden fluid paint, Golden Glazing Liquid, how to blend acrylic paint, NZ ART, NZ Artist, tips on how to glaze
