Author: Paintings Studio's Admin

If you find yourself seeking a cultural experience in the Denver, Colorado area, you will want to visit the Brianna Martray Gallery. Brianna Martray is a magnificent young artist in downtown Denver whose style is a welcome change from the norm. She is a member of Denver’s Art District on Santa Fe and has been showing around the city since 2004. Her contemporary abstract style is bright and unique, and is sure to liven up any home or office.

Brianna graduated with honors from Columbine High School in 1997, one year before the shootings that made the school a household name. She comes from a long line of travelers and has traveled extensively, first in the United States, then around the globe. Her stops included Mexico, Europe, Chile, Jamaica, Asia, and a summer in Prague. She held several jobs, including two stints as a pizza delivery girl, and a counselor at a women’s shelter. During these years, she was composing and painting; literally, at times, a starving artist.

The Brianna Martray Gallery in downtown Denver is a treasure-trove of unique abstract oil paintings. Through past life experiences, Brianna has learned to put her energies and emotions on canvas, and the results are beautiful journeys that parallel those of the viewer’s soul; each piece seems to speak in a haunting whisper, but at the same time, is exuding optimism. Brianna’s work is to visual art what comfort food is the the soul. Her deeply spiritual nature is revealed in her paintings as she allows the viewer to “see the unseen”, to touch what she feels. She uses no brush or other artists’ tools like the ordinary artist, but intimately creates each canvas with her hands. Words that seem to float from the paintings are written by her fingers and nails, and therefore, lend a touch of the painter’s personality to her work.

Brianna’s works are a process, and with each one, she not only learns and grows as a painter, but also spiritually. Only the colors and the canvas size are chosen in the beginning. Her experiences and travels come together with the oils as she wraps herself in her passion. Each piece is born, not from an image across the room, but in the mind of this amazing young woman.

You owe it to yourself, and to your space, to visit the studio. One could most certainly add zest to a barren, color-hungry room in your home or office with an original work of art by this fascinating artist. The paintings range in size from 16″ x 20″ to 52″ x 52″ x 4″, and are priced between $290 to $5,000. The Brianna Martray Gallery is located at 900 Santa Fe Drive, Studio G in Denver, Colorado.

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Martin Benka is noted for introducing the aesthetics of folk culture into the formal language of Slovak Modernism at the beginning of the 20th century. Through his impressionist beginnings he progressed to inventing his own pictorial style of monumental expressiveness. His inclination to nature was in a strong contrast to the contemporary purist movements such as the German Bauhaus and Soviet constructivism whose stylistic priorities lay in functionalism.

Martin Benka was born into poverty in a village of Kiripolec (present day Kostoliste) in Western Slovakia. He began to draw at a very young age. As a young man he trained In Vienna as a painter-decorator. His spare time was spent visiting galleries and practicing his own art. Despite his meagre earnings he was still able to buy pigments, brushes, canvases and paper.

Prague Student

As there was only so much he could learn by himself, he started applying for an apprenticeship with accomplished painters who had their own studio and held classes. Accepted by the renowned Czech landscape painter Kalvoda, he moved to Prague in 1910. His first paintings were inspired by impressionism. His work concentrates on studies of natural motifs in various lighting conditions. Kalvoda praised his excellence in depicting forest scenery.

Homeland

A significant stage of Benka’s career as an artist began in 1913 when he journeyed to his native Slovakia. Travelling across the countryside, he visited remote mountain regions and the local rural communities, making spontaneous sketches outdoors.

Martin Benka lived in Prague for thirty years but regularly travelled to his homeland. Around 1915 this fusion of influences resulted in landscapes in the decorative art nouveau style which later evolved into abstracted landscape motifs with decorative compositional arrangement and ornamental line.

Man and Landscape

In the early 1920s Benka journeyed to several European countries where he familiarized himself with the works of great masters. Seeing this variety of different styles encouraged him to dramatize his own mode of expression. At this period his typical monumental style begins to take shape. Benka’s goal was to amplify the substance through the reduction of expressive means and simplification of forms. He now includes a human element in his mountain landscape and focuses on the dramatic interaction between nature and man. The landscape is the background to the struggle between the two.

Unlikely Heroes

From 1925 Benka exhibited internationally and this period is also a landmark in his artistic development as his interest gradually shifted from landscapes with figures to figurative painting. His monumentalized paintings concentrating on the human are characterized by their epic symbolism. The figures as well as the landscapes they inhabit are generalized and stylized. Man and nature form an organic entity. Through the flatness of surface, bold delineation of forms and warm earthy colours Benka translates his own emotions experienced in nature into his works.

Folk Art

Benka’s work was inspired by Slovakian traditions and folk culture, including ballads and songs. The main protagonists of his paintings are people living in communion with nature. Colours and shapes derived from colour schemes and figurative motifs of folk art.

Benka’s brush transforms the trivial into monumental: a common man becomes a hero, an ordinary woman turns into a heroine, a mundane task is a noble deed. But Benka’s hero is void of political associations. The heroism he presents has a timeless quality: the ability to remain true to oneself and to one’s roots.

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Repainting kitchen cabinets can be an easy, fairly inexpensive and quick way to update your kitchen. This is a project that will transform the look of your kitchen in one weekend.

The first thing you will need to do in repainting kitchen cabinets is to choose the paint color. There is virtually an endless spectrum of colors to choose from. White is a classic choice for kitchen cabinets and will give your kitchen a clean, fresh look. Or you may want to choose one of your favorite colors, be it a spicy red, cool blue or serene green. You can choose from many colors to reflect your personal style and the style of your home. Keep in mind the size of your kitchen and the amount of natural light that the room gets. Too dark a color in a small space can be overwhelming. A good option for a small kitchen in to paint the cabinets a light or neutral color and paint the walls a bolder color.

After you have decided on color, the next step is preparing the cabinets for painting. Remove the doors, drawers and the hardware. It’s a good idea to label the cabinets and drawers with a number that corresponds to a map you make so that you can match doors and drawers to their location when you are finished. You will then need to clean the cabinets with warm, soapy water, making sure to remove all greasy residue and dirt. Then sand them lightly using 150 grit sandpaper. After sanding, make sure to wipe the cabinets with a damp rag to remove any dust.

Next you need to apply two coats of primer, letting the first coat dry completely before applying the second coat. Choose an acrylic primer if you are painting over a surface such as previously painted or varnished cabinets. Look for a primer that says it is intended to cover high gloss surfaces.

Now you are ready to add the color! Two coats of semi gloss or satin paint should be applied with ample drying time between coats. Semi gloss or satin finish paint will hide imperfections in the wood.

The next step is applying one or two coats of clear acrylic sealer. This will protect the paint finish as well as ensuring easy clean up. You may also want to replace the cabinet door knobs and drawer pulls to give them a more modern look. There are hundreds of styles and finishes to choose from at your local home improvement store.

Enjoy your freshly transformed kitchen! You may be inspired to paint the walls or add a new backsplash, sink or faucet. Any of these easy projects will give your kitchen an updated look for not a lot of money.

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In this guide I will show you how to use the different paint brushes in Real Draw Pro. This program has many different brushes that you can use to apply things to your photos, to create wallpapers, to create buttons, and more. Open your Real Draw Pro program and we will get started.

We will start off by using an image. Open an image or import an image to Real Draw Pro. Then click on your paint brush tool in your toolbar on the left. If your paint brush is not clickable then click on your image. Your image must be selected before your paint brush will be clickable.

When you click on your paint brush tool a brushes box will pop up on your screen. Click the top icon in the box which is the black paint brush. You will see the Set drop down box in this box. Drop that box down and select Nozzle 1. That will show two rows of graphics. Click on one of the graphics to select it. Then click on your photo to apply that graphic. You can add flames to a photo, smoke to a photo, and more.

You can drop the set box down again and select Nozzle 2 to see more graphics to add to your photo. If you click the second brush which is the Stamp it will leave an imprint of the graphic in the photo. The third and fourth brush will make a cut out of the graphic.

Next, we will create a wallpaper using the paint brush. Create a new document. Then select your square tool from your toolbar. Draw a square to cover the entire document. Then click on your paint brush again. Drop the Set box down and select what you want to use for the wallpaper. You can create a flower wallpaper, a card wallpaper, or whatever. Once you have selected what you want to use keep clicking your mouse on the document to create your wallpaper.

You can also create wallpapers using textures with the paint brushes. Create a new document. Draw a square over the entire document. Then click on the paint brush tool. Drop the Set box down and select Live Painters 1. Then select the first graphic in the window. Now you will need to select your texture that you want to use. Go to the right side of your window and you will see your Color box. Drop the Texture box down and select the texture that you want to use. Then paint on your entire square to create your wallpaper.

You can do many different things with your paint brushes. You can add many different effects to your photos with the brushes too. If you have any problems with this guide please feel free to leave me a comment at the bottom of this page.

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Do you have any ugly piece of laminate furniture around your home that just doesn’t match? Learning to paint laminate furniture can freshen up any piece of laminate furniture with a simple color change! Most people think painting over laminate is impossible, but it’s really quite simple. Here are ten tips to make painting laminate furniture a breeze:

1. Make sure you sand your furniture before you prime it. Sand just until the laminate loses its shine. Sanding you laminate will keep the primer form sliding off.

2. If you don’t have a palm sander grab a chunk of wood and your staple gun. Wrap sandpaper around the wood and staple it in place. This will make it easier to grip and will help keep your hand from cramping up.

3. It helps to take your furniture apart before you paint it. This allows you to get into every nook and cranny. It’s also a lot easier to move your furniture when it’s in pieces and it’s a lot easier to handle while you’re painting it.

4. Choosing a latex paint with a slight sheen is best. Latex paints are easier to clean and go on well. You can even choose antimicrobial paints, which are great for kid’s bedrooms.

5. Read the instructions on your primer before you paint. Some primers need to cure for upwards of a week. Your primer may feel dry to the touch after a day, or even a few hours, but it hasn’t completely hardened. Allowing your primer to cure for the specified amount of time helps prevent damage to your furniture.

6. If you scratch the paint when you’re reassembling your furniture you can just give it a quick touch up, but make sure you go through the same steps. You want every part of your furniture to look nice, even the parts you have to retouch.

7. Make sure you do more than one coat when you paint, using slow, even brush strokes. Don’t load your roller or brush down with paint. That causes drips and runs. You want to take your time and do it right the first time rather than trying to rush through the paint job.

8. If you do end up with drips or runs, use a razor blade to shave them off. Sand the area and repaint it. You don’t need to scrap the whole piece or repaint everything. Just do the area you messed up.

9. Make sure you let each coat of paint dry over night before you move on to the next coat. Always apply at least two coats of paint. Don’t apply more than three coats of paint because it will look thick and sloppy. If you’ve applied a good primer, you won’t need any more than two coats of paint.

10. Apply a coat of polyurethane once your paint is completely dry. Some brands can be applied with a sponge and are extremely easy to work with. Check with your local home improvement store. Applying polyurethane prevents damage to the furniture and is a necessity if you have children!

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Looking for Painting Contractors in Ohio? Read on…

There are a few different painting contractors that are near Amelia, Ohio and are very good at what they do. If you are looking for painting contractors near Amelia, Ohio I would suggest you look at a few of these places.

TBN Painting is located in Amelia, Ohio and is a very good choice for painting contracting or even lawn work, and have been in business for over six years. TBN Painting is a professional painting contracting service that hires only the best and most skilled professional people. TBN Painting in Amelia, Ohio can paint the interior or exterior of your house, apartment complex, or business. TBN Painting in Amelia, Ohio offers free estimates and consultations and does everything they can to make sure they understand what you are wanting done before it gets done. If you are looking for a dependable and hardworking painting contractor near Amelia, Ohio TBN Painting is the right choice because they have a satisfaction guarantee. They use only the best paint and products to make sure that you are paying the least for the best quality work and also are on time and very professional as well as trustworthy. TBN Painting does not sub-contract out any of their work or employee’s and also are fully-insured and are always looking to better serve the community and their clients. If you are in or near Amelia, Ohio you can contact TBN painting at (513) 734-0210 for your free estimate and consultation.

Bronson’s Painting in New Richmond, Ohio is another great painting contractor option if you live near Amelia, Ohio. Bronson’s Painting does exterior and interior painting work and they use only the best in paint and paint supplies to make sure your job is done the best it can be. Bronson’s Painting is located at 820 Birney Lane in New Richmond, Ohio where they serve the Greater-Cincinnati Ohio area. Bronson’s Painting is known for their great work ethic and getting things done in a timely manner and also is one of the more affordable painting contractors near Amelia, Ohio. Bronson’s Painting is reliable, trustworthy, and is always looking out for their customer to make sure they are satisfied. Bronson’s Painting is one of the best painting contractors near Amelia, Ohio because they are very affordable, and are always on-time with their crew and always have ample supplies that are needed for the job, and they are very hard-working people. If you are near Amelia, Ohio and need painting work done either on the interior or exterior of your house you should call Bronson’s Painting at (513) 685-2582 to set-up an appointment for an estimate.

Robert W. Combes Painting out of Williamsburg, Ohio is another painting contractor option for those who live near Amelia, Ohio. Robert W. Combes Painting does interior and exterior painting work, as well as pressure-washing and other services. Robert W. Combes Painting offers free estimates and they are fully-insured to make sure that they are able to provide the best services possible. Robert W. Combes Painting does small jobs and larger jobs, such as houses, businesses, apartments, garages, and also other painting areas. Robert W. Combes Painting in Williamsburg, Ohio uses only the best quality paint and paint supplies as well as only hire the best and most knowledgeable people. They are very customer service oriented and look to customer satisfaction as their priority by never leaving a job after it is finished until the customer has been satisfied with the work. Robert W. Combes Painting does a lot of different labor-intensive projects and deals a lot with painting and remodeling of homes, and they are considered one of the best painting contractors to call if you live near Amelia, Ohio. If you want to contact them for a free estimate on your painting job and you live near Amelia, Ohio you can contact them at (513) 382-4764 or you can contact them by e-mail at combespainting@fuse.net.

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Figure Painting for Role Playing Figures First Steps

Once a figure is prepared, the colour scheme planned out and the priming is completed, it’s time to paint.

Every figure is unique and each artist brings a different approach to creating the look they want. Some basics apply to most figures, and practicing these techniques on figures such as giants and monsters that are larger than the 25mm human sized figures is a good place to begin.

The First Coat Is The Deepest

The best way to start a figure painting job is to begin by painting the lightest colours first, particularly if the lightest colours are situated in areas that are difficult to access. The reason for this is simple. If light colour accidentally strays onto an area that will eventually be painted with a darker colour, it won’t be hard to cover, but if the first colour applied was the darkest and that colour strayed onto an area to be painted white or yellow later, it would take many more coats to cover the mistake.

As pointed out in the Part 2 of this series, it is important to try to place contrasting colours next to each other to allow the various features of the miniature to seen properly in the finished product. By starting with light colours and working towards darker tones, the artist will have the chance to give each section the detailed attention that will make it a piece to be proud of.

Details, Details

Unless they are in particularly inaccessible areas, the smallest details are usually best left until last. A “helping hands” articulated hobby clamp is handy for this kind of work, keeping the figure held steadier than the human hand is able to. A magnifier may also be a good idea, although working under one takes a good deal of practice.

One good reason to leave smaller features until the end is that they are the easiest to accidentally obscure while trying to perfect the larger portions of the figure. Generally, belts, jewelry and other fine details are easiest to approach with a fine brush once the bulk of the figure is complete. These smaller items usually require less drybrushed (See Part 4 of this series) detail than larger areas, meaning that there is also less chance of accidentally applying the detail colour where it isn’t wanted.

The Eyes Have It

Most human or humanoid figures have been molded with eyes that should be painted. This is often the most daunting detail on the figure, since it is the one place that a mistake will almost always be glaringly obvious.

There two basic ways to approach painting the eyes on a 25mm figure, but like most things in the miniature painting process, they take a great deal of practice:

1. Paint the white of the eye first and then apply a dot of colour for the eyeball. This is the simplest technique but it is a challenge to get both eyeballs the same size and pointed precisely in the correct direction.
2. Paint the center of the eye the colour of the eyeball and then use a fine brush to add the whites of the eye on either side. This method has the advantage of making it a great deal easier to “focus” the eyes properly.

Whichever way the artist decides to approach painting the eyes, it is best to use black or dark blue for the eyeball colour. Any other shade, such as green, rarely looks realistic. Of course, on a non-human figure there is no reason to limit the choice of eye colour.

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This article will break down the process of home painting made easy so you can revamp your home all on your own!

Turn on the lights, open the blinds and take a good look at those walls. It’s time to paint.

After choosing a color, or colors, the best place to start on a paint job is with supplies. Get everything you need for the whole job and lay them out – pencil, screwdriver, wall cleaner, spackle, spackle knife, latex caulk, wall patch, joint compound, interior paint primer, drop cloth, paint rollers, painter’s tape, paint brushes, paint and gloves.

Like an artist, you’ll need to start with a clean canvas – or wall. Painting over dirty walls causes the paint to chip away so it’s best to use a degreaser or prepaint cleaner to remove dirt and grease. Using a clean cloth, make circular motions and start at the bottom of the wall and work up. Be sure to wear gloves.

As you make your way across the wall, take note of the flaws – circle them. Each pock hole, indent or crack can, and should, be fixed before painting. For small holes or nicks use wall spackle and a spackle knife bigger than the area you are patching. Put the spackle on the knife, rather than squirting it directly on the wall. Press the spackle and knife hard against the wall and make one smooth stroke. Give it two coats.

Next, move on to the repair of the hairline cracks that sometimes happen in the wall joints. Any kind of latex caulk will work. The trick is getting the caulk directly on the crack and making sure that it is not too thick. Use your finger to spread and smooth the caulk evenly.

Fixing a bigger gash or hole in the wall will require a wall patch and setting compound. Fill the hole with the compound and smooth it over with the spackle knife. Apply the wall patch and use compound to smooth an area just beyond the patch. Make even strokes and blend the compound so the patch is smooth with the wall.

The patches you just made will absorb the paint and make the paint job look uneven or blotchy. To avoid that, apply one coat of primer before painting. Apply the primer with a roller for a smooth finish.

Now you are ready to paint. If your room has trim, paint that first using a small brush, this way if you get paint on the walls, no worries, you’ll be painting over it. Let the trim dry for at least 24 hours. Now, use painter’s tape and mask the trim.

Drop your cotton cloth (plastic is slippery) on the floor and prepare to paint. Use a roller to get a nice even finish. Roll the full length of the wall, and keep the open side of the roller frame toward the part of the wall already painted. If you overlap each stroke just slightly over the previous stroke, you will avoid streaks. Paint the entire wall at once, never letting the last stroke or the roller dry.

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Are you trying to learn how to paint laminate furniture? If you have laminate furniture and you are painting it for the first time then you may be completely confused as to where to start. The good news is that you’re taking the time to figure out how to paint laminate furniture the proper way instead of learning from trial and error. Many people make the mistake of thinking that if you paint laminate furniture it will not look good. The fact of the matter is that you can easily paint laminate furniture if you know what you’re doing and it WILL look good.

If your laminate furniture can easily be taken part then you should go ahead and do that. By taking your furniture apart you will be able to paint your laminate furniture much more accurately and efficiently. If you can’t take your piece of laminate furniture apart then you should at least attempt to remove the doors, shelves, and drawers.

If you haven’t already done so then you are going to need to purchase some 220 grit sandpaper. This sandpaper is relatively inexpensive and can be purchased at any local hardware store. After you’ve purchased some 220 grit sandpaper you’re going to need to sand every inch that you plan on painting. Sanding your laminate furniture will be significantly easier if you use a palm sander. If you’re on laminate painting budget then you should know that these palm sanders will run you about $30 at stores like Home Depot. You should sand your laminate furniture until you can begin to see white flecks on the furniture and the shine of the laminate furniture is completely removed. Make sure that you do not sand the plywood.

After that you are going to need to prime your pieces. There are a variety of primer brands that will work, but one of the best primers is the Zinnsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 primer. It will cost you about $9 at Lowes. After you’ve primed your once laminate furniture pieces you are going to need to put your pieces back together. Once you have put your pieces back together you can apply laminate paint onto the surface of your furniture once again. After the paint has fully dried all you need to do is sit back and relax with your newly painted furniture! Hopefully this has taught you how to get started with painting laminate furniture!

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Interior Painting Ideas Can be Blessed with Warm Colors

Warm colors are vibrant, bold and direct the attention of the eye. Not surprisingly, a home with too many warm colors can be confusing and overwhelming to the senses. Even so, there are plenty of interior painting ideas that make warm colors pop.

Understanding Warm Colors

Even though there may be some room for interpretation and even discussion whether the warm colors vs. cool colors model is really scientifically sound, Handprint’s Bruce MacEvoy outlines that — traditionally — warm colors include orange and red tones. Within this color family there are various shades of yellow and closely related hues.

Interior Painting Ideas

Use warm colors for interior painting projects in such a manner that they do not overwhelm the senses, especially in smaller rooms.

Bright Yellow

Painting in yellow immediately lightens up a room. That being said, there is such a thing as too much brightness; reserve bright yellow as an accent color for walls that are kept in a more muted tone of the color. Remember also that yellow will turn a few shades brighter if applied to a wall that regularly gets direct sunlight.

Brick Red

Using a brick red color is a bit like relying on a middle child as a peace maker. Even though red is most certainly one of the warm colors, painting with brick red is a compromise due to the latent brown hues that the color hides. Thus, this type of red can actually be soothing and feel welcoming rather than letting features pop. Even so, interior painting ideas that seek for a suitable counterpart to creamy greens and even gold tones can greatly benefit from some brick red.

Orange

Orange paint can be a train wreck in liquid form. Remember that on the paint samples the orange always looks great; if an entire full-sized living room is painted in this color, it can feel like living inside a fast food restaurant. Generally speaking, one accent wall in orange — preferably the one that also features the majority of windows — is enough. Balance the orange of the wall with cool-color window treatments. Moreover, it is a good idea to keep the ceiling in a neutral white tone.

Easing Your Way into Painting with Warm Colors

Interior painting ideas with warm colors may look great in the brochure but they sometimes turn out differently than anticipated. It is a good idea to inch your way to embracing warm colors by adding a few accents to a room just to gauge your tolerance for orange, red or yellow things. If you find that your eye keeps getting drawn to the items in a less than complimentary fashion, you may wish to stick with the cool color palette for just a bit longer.

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