Painting on People

Yesterday, Friday August 17, I spent the afternoon as a volunteer at the Kraft Foods, TSN and Therapeutic Riding Society Celebration. I didn't do any hard work or running around - I just sat and painted on people's arms, legs or sometimes faces.

In the morning I painted something like this on my arm thinking I would need something to draw attention to what I was doing. Was I ever wrong! My first subjects where two kids that I invited in to be painted on - after them I didn't stop.

 Although I had my camera with me, I never found time to take any photos, so today I did a few of the most popular subjects on my own arm.

 The flying unicorn and the Spiderman where a hit with the little girls and boys while the youngest preferred the rainbow and the turtle.

 For the teens I mostly did the Monster. Kids had been asking if I could do a monster and I replied that I didn't have a reference (thinking of some kind of ghoul) - then one of them showed me his cap and the logo stitched on it. Who knew? The logo is actually lime but many of the kids preferred to pick their own colors.

 Another popular painting popular with the teens was the snake, either wrapped around the arm or crawling up it. One boy requested the Dodge Ram logo from his cap - now that was a challenge.

As I said, I was busy from the time I got to the Rec. Center till it was time to pack up. I didn't have time to eat and barely had time to drink. But I had fun, the kids for the most part were great and they all seemed to like their paintings.

Best of all I got to play with my newest art toys. The Neocolor II Watersoluble colour wax pastels are just great for painting on skin (much better than my first body art paints). They are quick and easy with little mess; they don't take up much room and are easy to cart around.  I will be doing this again but I hope next time that I will get paid.

Painting with Friends

Yesterday two friends came out and we spent most of the day painting with oils. It was a challenge! Carrie and I hadn't painted with oils since last summer and it was Lori's first time to use them. I paint using the Bob Ross method and the large brushes are almost alien to Lori.

Fire

Carrie got started first and before too long she was turning her canvas and asking "What do you think?" Both Lori and I thought "WOW"







While Carrie was moving right along, Lori and I moved at a slower pace. I had had Lori watch a Bob Ross DVD to familiarize herself with the process but he makes it seem so much easier than it is. I did a similar picture so I would be able to demonstrate on my canvas.

Lori's painting

For a first attempt, Lori's painting turned out very well. She is already wondering how oil will work on rock which is her normal painting surface. You can see Lori's work on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shelf-Life-Studio-Unique-Stone-Art/302195519841293?ref=pb

Ice Cold

I am pleased that my painting turned out as well as it did as I had a number of interruptions while I was working. The Bob Ross method of oil painting may be less detailed than traditional oil painting but it is definitely quicker and it is fun.

Ice

While Lori and I were working away on our larger paintings, Carrie finished her first and did another one. Fast and furious (very much Carrie's style) this one is the opposite of her first and is only loosely based on a photo.




Although some paintings require solitude and concentration, it is lots of fun to paint with friends. You can bounce ideas around, help each other with techniques or loan materials. But, the biggest benefit is the encouragement we give each other. And it is important to remember the Bob Ross saying 'There are no mistakes in painting - just happy accidents"