Nilda's Blog

Online Class Video Clip

Nilda — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 03:04:32 +0000

A New Beginning Online Class

Nilda — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 17:21:44 +0000

Spring is here and so is my first online video class!

Purchase Here

This course will be held online on this website and will include in the price the following:

1. Class Fee of $65 – 6 hours of High Definition filming

2. Written Pattern with a 4″ X 6″ photo $10

3. 5″ X 7″ Grey Pastelbord $4

4. Shipping for pattern and Pastelbord $6 for USA customers (International buyers please email for a Paypal invoice with appropriate shipping charges.)

This class will introduce you to colored pencils and will also show you how to apply pencils using a circular and linear motion. It will explain my colored pencils’ blending technique. And, as an added bonus it will include my blended acrylics background technique.

You must prepay and pre-register for online classes. Payment is non refundable nor transferable. Videos are copyrighted and for home use only. They should not be copied or shared with other people. Supplies will not be provided unless it is specified. Online courses will be held online on my website. All videos are recoded with a high definition camcorder.

We will start mailing the Patterns and Pastelbords on March 17. The online class will start on March 24 and run through May 24.

The Planning Process

Nilda — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 15:06:26 +0000

Catalog is now available online.

I received several emails asking
if my classes included the colored pencils. It is something new this year that some classes do not include the colored pencils. Please note that all of my classes at the SDP, Artist Expo, and HOOT conventions include whole colored pencils.

I charge $1.25 per pencil which includes shipping to the convention. Jade Teapot has 24 colored pencils ($30 value), Hibiscus has 40 colored pencils ($50 value), Passiflora has 19 colored pencils ($24 value), Garden Inspiration has 14 colored pencils ($18 value), Jingle Bells has 16 colored pencils ($20 value), and Mature Elegance has 21 colored pencils ($27 value). I hope this answers some of your questions and helps you evaluate the value of the included supplies.

Artist Expo Classes

Painting Tip

Before I start mixing my paint values, I decide on the background color for my piece. I then proceed to paint the background on my surface and at the same time paint a piece of board to be used to test the values when mixing. This tip and much more will be discussed at the demo in the certification booth, “The Planning Process”. Please join me Thursday, May 16 from 10:30 to 11:30 at the SDP Conference in Chicago, IL.

News - We are in the planning process of adding online classes. Please stay tuned.

Sneak Peek of the pink rose I am painting over the top of a jewelry box.

Prismacolor Premier

Nilda — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 16:13:55 +0000

Why do I prefer Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils?

Students often ask which brand of pencils I prefer, and I always answer Prismacolor Premier wax based colored pencils. Prismacolor pencils are rich in pigment, great for layering and blending, and they are translucent and opaque at the same time. They are also cheaper than most brands, and are available in almost every art store, and come in a wide range of colors.

How to use Prismacolor Colored Pencils?

You have to understand the properties of the pencils that you are using in order to properly use them. Prismacolor are translucent and are wax based.

Translucent

Artists using acrylics, watercolor or oils, usually mix their colors on a palette.

Because colored pencils are translucent, colored pencil artists mix and blend colors directly on their surface. Various colors can be created by mixing translucent colored pencils. You have to understand that every single application of color will mix with whichver color you apply underneath. I like to tell my students that they have to treat pencils as if they work wet on wet.

Wax Based

I believe that the biggest problem students have with wax based pencils is building up the wax too soon. In order to avoid this and to take full advantage of these pencils, I recommend using the following tips and techniques.

Three Ps to remember

First Key word is Patience. Colored pencil is not a medium you can do in a hurry. In order to build form and richness you need to apply several layers of color. Layering takes time.
Second Key word Pressure. To build your form you must use a soft touch. I use an exercise with my students in which we use the sharpest pencil to paint over our hand. If the right amount of pressure is being used, they should only feel the pencil tickling their hand. If you use heavy pressure in the early stages of your painting you will build up the wax and it will resist further applications of pencil. Students also tend to use too much pressure when they try to go fast.
Third Key word is Point. You need to use a sharp point at all times. Using a dull point puts pressure on your surface and builds up the wax.

Which pencils have more wax?

Lighter colors have more wax than darker colored pencils. White has the most wax. Because of this, I try not to use White until the end, unless it needs to be completely White. In that case, you have to put White at the beginning and not apply any other color. Once you apply another color, it will never be completely White again. Remember, colors are translucent and you are working wet on wet. If I need a lighter value I usually use cream or a light gray to lighten my color. I use Cream if my color needs to be warmer, and gray if it needs to be cooler.

How to fix it if you build up the wax too soon?

How to remove excess wax will depend on the surface that you are using. If you are using paper you can use a scrubber brush to remove wax from the surface. If you are using Pastelbord, I recommend using Gamsol. Checkout my previous blog on how to use Gamsol.

Burnishing

Once you have established form and covered your surface with a good amount of layers, you can begin the burnishing process. To learn about this topic go to the SDP blog and read my post about burnishing and varnishing.

Burnishing and Varnishing – SDP Blog

A Little Surprise!

New seminar piece in colored pencils

Visit my website for information about current seminars.

Society of Decorative Painters

Nilda — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 23:31:33 +0000

Colored Pencils Tip - Have you tried the Romantic Rose project featured in The Decorative Painter issue #4 2012? The piece was painted using the product Gamsol. Here are some tips for using this product. First, make sure you use a soft acrylic brush to apply it. Second, lightly wet the brush with the Gamsol product. Third, blot the brush on a piece of lint free paper towel. Fourth, softly brush the product over the area. Then, proceed to the next stage in the painting process. If you proceed to paint right after applying the Gamsol, you will see how your pencils melt with your piece. If you do not like it you can wait until the Gamsol is completely dry before continuing. I have taught this method several times and the students love when the pencils melt with the piece.

(I need to advise everyone that somehow two of the names of the colored pencils used with this project were printed incorrectly in The Decorative Painter. Specifically Parma Violet was changed to Parma Blue and Powder Blue was changed to Powder Violet. Please make a note so you can buy the correct supplies.)

SDP 2013 Conference in Chicago, IL

Registration starts Monday, December 3! Register Here

1. Monday 5:30 to 7:30 pm

Five Kinds of Painting

Pastelbord Demo

There will be samples and door prizes

2. Wednesday 1 :00 to 4:00 pm

Class 0620 Passiflora - Colored Pencils

3. Friday 11:00 am to 1:00 pm

Class 0670 Jingle Bells - colored pencils

4. Saturday 8:00 am to 12:00 pm

class 0415 Garden Inspiration - colored pencils

Sweet Nectar

Nilda — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 14:15:15 +0000

New Oils Piece – 2 days

Oils Seminar – Music City Oils Guild, Nashville, TN – June 21-23, 2013


Contact – Al Bray at ajsj098@comcast.net

I am in the process of desining a new colored pencil piece and would like to have your input. Do you want to see more flowers in pencils or more birds? Please send us an email with your feedback.

There will be a new colored pencil tip on our next blog as well as pictures of other upcoming seminars. Stay tuned.

Tips for colored pencils, oils and acrylics

Nilda — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 22:23:58 +0000

Colored Pencils Tips and Techniques

I like holding my pencil at a 45 degree angle, except if I need to get inside a crevice of the paper. In that case, I hold the pencil at a 90 degree angle.

To release some of the pressure on your surface, try holding your pencil further away from the tip. Holding the pencil very close to the tip gives you more control, but places more pressure on the surface.

You can test how much pressure you are putting on the surface by sharpening the pencil to a needle point, and then using it to paint on top of your hand. If you are using the right amount of pressure, then you should feel only a soft tickle on your hand.

I prefer to use a circular motion for everything, except for painting bird feathers in which I prefer a linear motion. When you are using your pencil, the point flattens and “moves” to a different place. Thus, while doing circles, I will rotate the pencil when necessary to maximize the use of my point. Rotating the pencil will allow you to use that “new” point and you will need to sharpen your pencil less.

What is on my easel? Colored Pencils

Sweet Bluebird Surface – Pastelbord

Oils Tips and Techniques

Choosing the background color for your painting is very important and I like doing it before starting the painting process. I paint my surface with an acrylic color that matches the color I have selected. Sometimes I need to mix several acrylic colors to achieve the color I need. I also paint a piece of mat board with this color. When I am mixing my oil values I paint a swatch on the painted mat board and decide if that color goes well with the background selected.

Cool Background	Warm Background

Note that the roses look brighter and more radiant on the left as compared to the right. I prepare my mixes using the background on the left. I wanted to create more depth in the painting so I glazed it with darker colors but the mix I used was too warm and took away the vibrancy from my painting. I repainted the background using the original colors but at the same time using more values and creating that depth I wanted. However, I had to cover all the greenery that was in the background. I will post a picture when it is completely done.

Acrylic tips and techniques

DecoArt Canvas Gel Medium is an excellent product that helps extending the drying time of acrylic paints and helps you with the blending process.

Varnishing

Nilda — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 18:27:04 +0000

Varnishing

Acrylics and Oil Paintings

I varnish acrylics and oil paintings with JW Etc.’s Right Step Clear Varnish using a 3/4 inch Loew Cornell 7600 La Corneille Filbert Mop. I let it dry 30 minutes between each coat of varnish.

Colored Pencils Paintings

Done on Paper

Colored pencils pieces done on paper are varnished with DecoArt Traditions Multi Surface Sealer using a soft white fabric brush. The first coat I apply it by color. For Example, I go over the greens, check if it bleeds and blot on a paper towel before going to the next color such as the reds. You will be able to tell if the color is bleeding in the white brush and you must clean it before moving to the next color area. After the first application there is no need to do it by color. I normally apply two to three coats.

Done on Pastelbord

1. Burnish penciled areas with a colorless blender

2. Varnish your piece outdoor with four coats of Grumbacher Final Varnish Gloss Spray for Oil and Acrylic. Allow to dry 30 minutes between coats.

3. Varnish with two coats of JW Right Step Gloss Varnish. Allow to dry 30 minutes between coats

Click on Picture


Acrylics	Colored Pencils	Oils

Seminar in Chattahoochee, Florida. July 20, 21 and 22, 2012.
Friday, July 20, River Dance in Acrylics. Saturday, July 21, Bird Tourist in Colored Pencils. Sunday, July 22, Garden Shears in Oils. Chattahoochee is a very small town, please help them spread the word. Cost $60 per day. Acrylics were donated by Deco Art Americana. You will need to bring your colored pencils and Winsor and Newton Oils. Supply list will be provided to registered students.

Birds, Flowers, Still Lifes, and Portraits

Nilda — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 15:35:40 +0000

Painting birds is one of my passions, whether it’s in oils, acrylics or
colored pencils. Below are samples of the last bird I painted in each medium.
Because I had several requests to open new dates for seminars in 2013, I added
two openings. Check the schedule
in my website.

Acrylics

Colored Pencils

Oils – In Process

I also love painting flowers especially roses. Below is my latest rose in colored pencils. This rose was painted from a sketch instead of a photograph. The idea was to create an easier colored pencils piece.

I love painting Still lifes

Another passion is painting portraits. I would love to share the technique I use for painting portraits in colored pencils. There are 2 choices for seminars.

1. Students paint from the photo they choose. First, I will need to approve each photo. One day is limited to 7 students. Two days is limited to 14 students. Three days is limited to 20 students. Individual help will be given.

2. All of the students will paint the same photo from a limited selection that I shall provide. One day is limited to 20 students. No individual help. Students will follow me.

Consider inviting me to your group for a seminar in Oils, Colored Pencils, or Acrylics. The seminar could be solely on one medium or several mediums. The subject could range from Birds, Flowers, Still lifes or Portraits.

I am preparing an informational article on varnishing for my next post.

Join Us!

Nilda — Fri, 11 May 2012 01:15:42 +0000