Acrylics -- how to keep the paint wet and a great class for beginners.

Acrylic Painting -- you learn to move with it

Muse 1 and Muse 2, acrylic and pen, 3x3", Diana Campbell Rice

Talk about a whole new art experience.  I am taking an acrylics painting class and it has taken me out of my comfort zone in a big way.  My forte has been painting in watercolor with a little foray into oils.  Acrylic-based painting is an animal of a different color.  Here is a set of four small painting I recently completed.

Acrylic-based paints are a hugely versatile medium and can be applied to any oil and wax free surface. For an artist, it means acrylics can be used for almost any purpose -- painting on pottery, clothing, wood, glass, in addition to canvas or paper.

To put it simply, acrylic paint is fabulous. . . but unlike oil paints, acrylics dry very quickly. As I learned, ff you’re not careful you can end up destroying brushes and wasting paint.

Muse-touched 1 and Muse-Touched 2,
acrylic, 3x3", Diana Campbell Rice

The secret is to keep the brushes in water until you can thoroughly clean them -- do not let the paint dry on them or any reason.  And, I recommend cleaning your brushes after each painting session.

Oh, and what about wasted paint -- it will dry right on your palette.  Here is a link to a great article on paint-saving tips -- or how to keep your acrylic paints wet on the palette.  I have used these tips and can tell you -- they work.  http://emptyeasel.com/2009/08/11/how-to-keep-your-acrylic-paints-wet-on-the-palette/

Also, I am providing a link to the class I am taking at The Foundry.  The class is taught by artist, Linda Osburn.  She is an amazing teacher -- supportive with beginners; answers all your questions and nurtures individual expression.  You can contact The Foundry directly for information on this and future classes.  
http://www.facebook.com/dianacampbellrice#!/event.php?eid=166571410050917

I can say I am on my way to becoming an acrylic artist.  Man!

Cheers,
DCR 

Abstracts and Self-Value...a learning experience



Sunset Geo, Organic Zen Note Cards, Diana Campbell Rice, 
Note Card or Small Print

 Watercolor abstracts have been holding my attention for awhile.  There are times when I just love the freedom abstract impression gives me.  I am free to let my mind wander and my hands along with it.  This one, Sunset Geo, is one of the images in my latest line of fine art notecards, Organic Zen. 


A friend, CJ Jones, recently shared a post from social media guru, Jim Kukral, with the advice to stop devaluing what you know -   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSIJipEhUhY  I think many artists do just that -- they depend upon others to tell them their work is "good".   So many times we view our pieces as successful only if someone buys them.  I know, I have been there.     

This past year I have had the opportunity and time to explore, express and value -- value my own artistic ability and let it be expressed.  Yeah, I appreciate sales as much as anyone and depend upon them.  But what I have learned in this past year isn't about trending my art toward sales...it has been about loving the expression in the form it takes.  For me, art is sometime loose, casual drawings finished with watercolor and ink.  Sometimes my art is totally whimsical, with a simple, structured, and focused charm.  

Lately, the wildness and freedom of abstract design is all about trusting myself as an artist.  I love this new sense of value...so Jim Kukral's post resonated with me.  I hope you view it -- only a few minutes -- and take it to heart.  Thanks, CJ, for sharing -- I will pass on the message -- it is a good one.

Cheers...and...thinking of sales...the website to purchase my work is found at http://www.dcrdesign.us/

Best,
DCR

Linked In...artists...connect!


  As a professional artist, if you haven't joined LinkedIn -- you may want to do so...soon.

You will need to create a free account to get used to using it, then can upgrade from there as it fits your needs.  Go to this link http://learn.linkedin.com/what-is-linkedin/



Photo courtesy of Rice Agency



LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network with over 80 million members and growing rapidly. LinkedIn connects you to your trusted contacts and helps you exchange knowledge, ideas, and opportunities with a broader network of professionals. 

In the groups section, you can join groups that pertain to the arts community -- it puts you in contact with people in your specific area of interest.

Take a look...I am so glad I did.

Best wishes,

DCR  

The art of scratching...love it!

As a watercolorist -- love that term -- I like to move away from traditional techniques from time to time.  I have discovered scratching tools that are designed to work on clayboard.  Guess what?  Those same tools provide interesting and unusual results when applied to a dry watercolor painting.  As I became a bit more brave, I applied deeper layers of paint before using the scratch tools and I have to say I like the textured results.  I had one or two mishaps where I used the tools a little too vigorously, but I actually like that finish, too. 

One of the tools is like multi-fingered wire stubs...oh my gosh, what it does for trees.  I am working in abstract right now -- if fits my mood -- and the tools were the muse.  I will post some photos for you soon.  I think you might be surprised and pleased with all the glorious texture. 

My greatest comfort zone is specfic color and detail, detail, detail.  Working in the abstract mode with these tools has given me permission to just apply color, more color, and then take some away.  Next, I added the detail -- splatter, dots, lines and connections.  I tend to work up to a design point after the majority of painting is completed. 

As a greeting card designer, I remember that my art can be digitized and sized.  I have a vision with each piece -- not only as a print, but a finished card as well.  I enjoy the freedom this discovery has given me.  I don't feel the need to worry over each little thing and, when I begin using the scratching tools, a new idea for the intention of the piece usually comes through.

I have included one of my pieces, which has actually become the logo for this site and a greeting card...Infiniti Crow. I am really pleased with it and will use it in a variety of sizes.

Try the scratching tools -- they can be found at jerrysartarama for $14.  Not bad... http://search.jerrysartarama.com/search?keywords=clayboard+scratching+tools

Photograph is infiniti crow art.  Makes me happy.  DCR

My love - Native American Artwork

Why Native American Art?

A friend on Face Book visited my website.  Happily, he loved it... and was surprised that I did Native American (NA) artwork.  His comments got me thinking about why I love creating NA art.  I began drawing and painting my own interpretations of NA art on my first visit to Sedona, AZ over twelve years ago.  We were fortunate to stay for two weeks -- long enough to absorb the beauty and history.  We explored, took photos (my husband is an excellent photographer) ate, talked to people, took in the historic sites and those off the beaten path.  We came to love the place. 

Eagles Return/DCR

While I was there, I filled up with a need to paint and communicate my own version of love for the spirit of NA culture.  I have wondered if my deep feelings for all things NA came from a family connection.  My great grandfather on my mother's side was full Cherokee.  As was common at that time, he was adopted by a white family, his name was changed and he became immersed in a completely different society than the one in which he was born.  I never met him.  My mom passed on when I was very young, so I really didn't get to know her side of the family and he had passed on at that time as well.

As well as watercolor and oils, my NA art has extended to the creation of fetish dolls and hand-carved, hand-sanded (38 times) and hand-decorated walking staffs -- many of them are in some nice galleries and private collections around the country.  I haven't created the fetish dolls or staffs in a long time and I am not sure I will return to them. They are very, very labor intensive and my heart has moved on for now. 

I used silver, elk hide, horse hair, fur, feathers, turquoise/other beads and copper on the staffs. The same materials went into the fetishes along with 100-year old muslin, wood, slate and pen work.

Last year, we took a trip to Santa Fe, NM.  Let me tell you, after a week in that art mecca, fabulous desert, Georgia O'Keeffe's Ghost Ranch and the historic Turquoise Inn where we stayed, my being again swelled with inspiration to create Native American art.

We visited the Institute of American Indian Arts Museum in Santa Fe -- I highly recommend it.  Here is the link http://www.iaia.edu/museum/ if you are interested in American Indian art.  It is very contemporary and the artists are serious about their work.  

My NA artwork definitely has my own flair and vision.  You can see my Native American Collection of greeting cards on my website at  http://www.dcrdesign.us/index.htm

I would love in your feedback and comments.  Here's to inspiration!


Diana        

New website launched!



http://www.dcrdesign.us/

 The day arrived -- we launched the new DCRdesign art website featuring my greeting cards and art.  The site is simple, beautiful and very user friendly.  Please take a look -- I would love to know what you think -- either at this site or by email.  We have had positive feedback and a few orders already -- a great beginning.  A sincere thank you to Rice Agency for their beautiful web design, patience and great care to get it right.

I will begin updating this site (infiniti crow) more often, introducing new art and explaining the process behind different pieces.  Please visit my new site at
http://www.dcrdesign.us/index.htm 

Exciting...

Good news!  We are coming closer to unveiling the new website, complete with merchandising capability.  As you know, building a custom website takes time and commitment.  We are almost there and look forward to sharing it with you!

Regards,
DCR 

Coming soon...

DCRdesign is proud to introduce artwork by Diana Campbell Rice.  Diana's work has been featured in galleries on the Central West Coast, San Diego, Colorado and Alaska.  She has a national and international client base.  Her website, featuring a catalog of Diana's greeting cards and small studio prints, will be coming online in the next few months.  This blog, Infiniti Crow, will support the website in introducing new art and offerings.

Diana Campbell Rice

Artist Statement

Diana Campbell Rice
My first choice is a small format and main emphasis has been watercolor, pen and ink, with great attention to detail.  I am now exploring oil with happy results.

Along with than strategic college art courses, I am primarily self-taught.  Needless to say, the process has been an adventure and interesting journey.

"What art offers is space -- a certain breathing room for the spirit."
-- John Updike

Greeting cards fit my love of a small, minimalistic format with controlled design.  Working in oil has given way to larger pieces in experiemental abstracts and representational work with a focus on color and movement.

Art is limitless and the more we engage it, the more we understand our own gifts.  For me, it has been an organic process of learning, growing and finding new expression.

To describe my philosophy, vision and passion for art... I would say each of those areas continually develop as I learn to trust and communicate with freedom.