Subscribe

Get my free Artists Photo Reference list pdf.

Michelle Therrien Art

blog

Oil Painting has got me hooked

by Leave a Comment

oil on canvas 6×8

Artistic desires

I have wanted to oil paint for probably the last two decades and yet never managed to include it in my art life. I am not sure what kept me from that besides investing in a new medium and fear that it was a hard medium to master.

Somewhere along the way, I had implanted the belief that oil painting was beyond me. Not sure if it was my original fear or planted there by some well-meaning person I met somewhere along the way. Either way, I avoided trying it for many years.

I have never been a fearful artist, I am usually the one who explores new things and likes to see how far I can push things in my creative adventures. Yet oil painting always left me wanting and yet not allowing myself to give it a try.

…

Read More

What is missing in your art?

by Leave a Comment

What my art journey needed this year.

Every year I pick a word or two that encompasses something I want to bring more of to my life in the new year. I think it works better than a new years resolutions and gives you much more room to grow.

It may be about life in general or pertaining to my art life. Often times what we choose overlaps and brings new things to every aspect of our life.

That being said I wasn’t sure at first what my word or words were going to be. I knew I would know when the came to me and they did.

My words for this year are Letting go and Play!

…

Read More

7 Reasons why you should Play with your art

by Leave a Comment

Art conjures up many different feelings for all of us

Art time can involve many different feelings and for some of us, we get so wrapped up having and wanting to do something good, something we feel has value that we limit our own possibilities.

With the internet now being a part of our daily lives and in the palm of our hands for many of us, we are constantly bombarded by the amazing accomplishments of other artists around the globe. Some of us take that as inspiration that we can reach for and others see that as they will never be good enough.

Whether art has a place in your life as a job, a hobby, an interest or just merely something you do for fun maybe the question we should be asking is do we play with and in our art enough?

…

Read More

Loosening up your art style

by 2 Comments

I have always admired artists who bring a loose style to their art. There is so much expression and feeling that is woven in that piece of art and I have always wished I could just see and create my art in that way.

Changing my style and embracing it has been challenging. The key is in finding a way to ease your brain into accepting a new style, one a bit messier than the perfectionist fiddler inside. That perfectionist can be quite judgemental and want to hold on.

That being said I have to admit I am that fiddler. My brain up to this point has been interested in fiddling with the details, perfecting them and somehow manicuring my art to death and fighting me as I move to let go.

Many other artists I know also have this same challenge so I know I am not alone in this pursuit.

So what is an artist to do when you want to do something other than where your brains seems to demand you go?

sumatran orangutan painting
watercolor underpainting and colored pencils
…

Read More

Gouache Cactus Painting

by Leave a Comment

I have never painted in gouache before but I love the matt finish and thought it was time to try it.

Arteza Gouache comes in 60 colors and I had to have the complete set cause who doesn’t want all the colors. It is also available in smaller sets as well but the 60 color set was about 34.00 on Amazon.

You can’t go wrong for that price.

This is not professional artist grade gouache but it will do for now.

…

Read More

Creativity and the INFP

by 3 Comments

What is an INFP

INFP is just one of the personality types from the Myers-Briggs assessment test.

I am an INFP personality type. This means Introverted iNtuitive Feeling Perceiving. (Introverted Feeling with Extraverted Intuition) . If you would like more information about this personality type or any of the others click here.

The test is a questionnaire that anyone can take to find out how their personality preferences help them make decisions and how they perceive the world around them.

Each of us is different and there are 16 personality type combinations. If you are the curious sort like me and you want to know about these personality types then click here to check them out.

You can also take the test here at Humanmetrics to find out about yourself.

INFP and Creativity

This can mean quite a few things but mostly we are creative, inquisitive, we like to explore new things and possibilities, we are experimental, curious and surprise many of us creative types fit this personality type.

…

Read More

Finished Not Perfect

by Leave a Comment

I came across this short video today by Artist Jake Parker.

He is known for illustrating picture books, comics and much more. He is also part of SVSLearn.com. That is the School of Visual Storytelling where he partners with Will Terry and Lee White. They offer a lot of classes on basic drawing and perspective to digital painting and all about the children’s book illustrating industry. I highly recommend their classes.

This video that captured my attention. It is only a few minutes long but in it, he stresses the importance of finishing the art projects you start.

He expresses how important it is to complete your art rather than judging it for whether it’s good or not.

This is such a simple concept and a valuable one too!

…

Read More

Pastel Artist Sandra Burshell

by Leave a Comment

Gail Sibley’s Website

sandra brushell

I stumbled across Sandra Burshell from an interview on Gail Sibley’s website. You can find her at How to Pastel.

Gail Sibley is a wonderful pastel artist she has a very informative website. You can find classes, interviews and lots of information on pastel painting.

You can also visit her youtube channel here.

Her youtube is also full of pastel videos, how to’s, and interviews with other wonderful pastel artists.

The Interview with Sandra Burshell

You can read the interview with Sandra Burshell here on Gail’s blog.

…

Read More

Absolute Pastels by Les Darlow

by Leave a Comment

About Les Darlow

Les Darlow is a pastel painter who lives in the UK. He paints what I would call semi-abstract landscapes. His paintings are vibrant, fresh and full of energy, movement, and light.

I came across him via facebook and was immediately taken at first by his skies.

I love the sky and clouds it all just draws me in. There is something peaceful and meditative about enjoying a beautiful sky and there is even something better about being able to paint one is such a way as to draw the viewer in.

…

Read More

Exploring new artistic styles

by Leave a Comment

Have you ever wanted to explore a certain style in your art that is different than the one you currently create? Is there an artist whose style you admire and would love to be able to think in that way?

I have always admired a looser style of art no matter what medium the artist is working in. The kind of art where you can feel the movement and energy. Creating a piece where you are not putting in every detail but working to bring out just enough to tell your story and leaving the rest up to the viewer. That has been a desire of mine for a very long time.

…

Read More