Weekly BobBlast Issue 510
Improvisation… And a Chicken!
Welcome Back to Another BobBlast!
We have chickens. They make us laugh… and supply us with breakfast. They each have their own quirky personality, act silly and come in all the different colors of the rainbow. We find ourselves laughing when the do their daily march through the studio. It's an expected, daily parade of silly.
So every once in awhile I enjoy painting "The Girls”. There are many ways to begin warming up to paint chickens. One way is to start by making a colorful mess all over your painting surface. Let dry–then paint the negative space around your chicken shape. In other words, you are painting the parts that don't look like a chicken! I practice painting the negative space with loose, juicy, flowing paint.
Another way to start painting a chicken is to paint only their U-shaped body, with very wet, colorful paint flowing off your brush. I like to paint many versions of my chickens on a full sheet of watercolor paper, using a mop-style brush, such as Isabey's Petit Gris or Cheap Joe's Pseudo Sable.
Here's another way I start my warm up paintings… As you know, to simplify drawings–break the subject down to the basic shapes. To quickly draw a chicken, draw triangles as shown in the video, then join the triangles to discover the chicken.
Watch the video to see the samples of these warm ups and more!
Once I am comfortable with these exercises, I start adding even more color using loose improvisational brush strokes with colors flowing inside the chicken shapes. Soon I have an entire sheet filled with colorful, loose chickens. Do these exercises and add your "Chicken Chart" to your studio wall.
You don't have to know how to paint. You just have to LOVE to paint. You just have to WANT to paint. Go Paint!
Click here to see some fun new Chicken paintings in my Small Original Paintings and click here to see a couple of Circus Birds in my Available Work section!
Reminder–Scroll all the way down to the end to view the video! Look for the photo of Bob with a red PLAY button! Enjoy the video!
April Monthly Demo
“What Do I Do Next? Go with the Flow”
April 10, 2024
Tuesday, 9am-10:30am PT
https://robertburridge.com/monthly-demonstrations/
One Day Intensive Workshops Coming Up!
•April 13, 2024
Quick & Easy Drip Tree Tricks
https://robertburridge.com/zoomin-with-bob-april-13-2024/
•May 29, 2024
Figures in an Abstract Landscape
https://robertburridge.com/zoomin-with-bob-may-29-2024/
Free Webinar!
Painting with Luminous Acrylics
April 17, 2024 • noon-1:30pm PT
Sponsored by Robert Burridge Studio & Holbein
https://robertburridge.com/free-webinar-paint-with-luminous-acrylics/
You can win a set of Holbein Luminous Acrylics!
In-Person Workshops - Traveling Bob!
•May 12-18, 2024
Non-Objective Mixed Media Painting
Hudson Valley Art Workshops, Greenville, NY
Contact Kim LaPolla (518) 966-5219 or (888) 665-0044
https://www.artworkshops.com/workshop/abstract-acrylic-painting-collage-with-robert-burridge/
•May 20-24, 2024
Abstract Acrylic Painting & Collage
Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff, Boone, North Carolina
Contact Meghann Williams (828) 263-5451
meghann@cheapjoes.com
https://www.cheapjoes.com/art-workshops/bob-burridge-in-person-art-workshop-abstract-acrylic-painting-collage-may-20-24-2024.html
•June 16-21, 2024
Non-Objective Mixed Media
Dillman’s Art Workshop Retreat, Lac du Flambeau, WI
Contact (715) 588-3143 or art@dillmans.com
https://www.dillmans.com/workshops/bob-burridge-non-objective-mix-media/
AND
•June 22-23, 2024
Loose Florals & Landscapes
Dillman’s Art Workshop Retreat, Lac du Flambeau, WI
Contact (715) 588-3143 or art@dillmans.com
https://www.dillmans.com/workshops/bob-burridge-abstract-flowers-and-landscapes/
Paint with Bob in his Studio in Arroyo Grande, California
•June 10-14 - Abstract Painting & Collage - SOLD OUT
•July 11-14 - Painting the Figure
•July 26-28 - Larger & Looser Abstract Painting
•August 8-11 - Mentor Workshop
•September 9-13 - Loosen Up with Aquamedia Painting
https://robertburridge.com/burridge-studio-workshops/
Burridge Critiques Your Art
Online honest critiques • Private one-on-one
Critiques • Coaching • Comments • Suggestions
https://robertburridge.com/burridge-critiques-your-art/