Over the last few weeks, I have taken the images and ideas from my walks on a Saturday and tried to turn them into art forms. The ArtRage package is great and has many benefits. An artist can create paintings using oils and acrylics and even use a digital pallet knife to create art. My problem as a budding artist was the cost of materials and if I wanted a certain type of green - eg leaf green it would inevitably cost more than just a basic green and I learned to make my own paints out of ground up chalk mixed with P.V.A. glue - this was quite effective.Small match pots from D.I.Y.shops gave lovely ready mixed  colours and were cheaper and easier to use than the traditional oils.

 The big problem with oil painting was the preparation -making of the frame first of all then purchasing the canvas then boiling up the smelly bone glue and then applying  to the canvas. Usually one would add a primer which could be bought in a tin or one could buy gesso as the old masters used at a price-higher than a student could afford.
Then one would have to buy the thinners and find a pallet ,brushes and  colours required. Then one would paint an image and when finished clean all brushes and pallet then hands- using that lovely red carbolic soap and turps.
Lost in translation springs to mind! However using ArtRage one can manipulate an image without the mess and lengthy preparation.One can still use virtual oil paint without the clearing up  There is a facility which allows a primer colour to be put onto the canvas first of all and the canvas can have a change of textures. What I love is the wide range of colours which one can create using the palette.
This packaging fascinated me with its colours and the last picture here is the result of me taking inspiration from the colours used.

That is why ArtRage is my chosen medium and I am taking my images and just playing around with colour and line it is great fun.The second  last picture - is by my son who also enjoys using ArtRage.My images are based on the text and colours found in discarded wrappers which are found scattered around.

The above was inspired by the text and bright colours used in advertising. I also know that grey and yellow go well together.

I was just messing around with colour and form as usual - above and below.

Our six year year old loves using ArtRage and this is his work today.

This one here is my image based on the initial interest in the colours of marshmallows and their packaging. I used my knowledge of colour to put in a bright green background - because that makes the colours opposite on the colour wheel brighter. i.e red and green should never be seen . In the butchers shop a piece of parsley is placed beside the red meat to bring out the colour of red..

An inspector calls

On Wednesday - The Inspectors called - in the form of three smartly suited people. It was very interesting to be part of the school at that time as everyone changed and became extra productive and most had sleepless nights. But it went well as far as we know and then today the schools were closed due to the bad weather.

Yesterday they followed our class all day - I was  in after lunch and the other teacher got the brunt of it.For today I had busily prepared a music and art lesson which I was sure they would walk in on - but never mind it is prepared for another day..

What I have learned from all of this angst - is  to be prepared. One has to be able to devote a few hours a week to preparation. Pack a bag the night before to ensure you have every thing for the lesson you have planned.Ensure you know what the outcomes for the lessons are because a suited person my ask you!! Be happy and enthusiastic and one will do well. Think before you speak - Be prepared and you will not be worried -too much!

 Here is my work in progress :based on ordinary objects using the great colours available on ArtRage. Art should cheer you up !

This one here is based on my love of marshmallows and their colours and packaging.