University Art - Newsletter

The Community Artist

University Art Newsletter Vol. 3 Issue 8, August 2004

ART ORGANIZATIONS SPOTLIGHT

This month we are pleased to announce the beginning of a new local art organization, the Society of Local Artists or SOLA. This group is the brainchild of Kerry Lawnsby of Open Studios and promises to help local artists in the business of art. Artists will be able to learn industry best practices in finance and marketing as well gain visibility with curators, gallery owners, collectors and the community at large. Registration is Sept. 1st- Nov. 15th of this year. Register on-line at www.svlocalartists.org or by mail send SASE to SVVA, P.O. Box 111000, Campbell Ca. 95011. Good Luck Kerry!

COMING SOON

Ancient Egyptian Art Workshops
9/12/04, 9/26/04 & 10/10/04
Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum
Park at Naglee Avenue, San Jose
Space is limited to twenty participants so to you reserve your spot call 408-947-3665 or e-mail info@egyptianmuseum.org

Carol Turner Exhibit
8/20/04 - 10/24/04
Triton Museum of Art
1505 Warburton Avenue, Santa Clara

Conversation Pieces, Something to talk about
37th Annual Show of the Santa Clara Valley Watercolor Society
8/28/04 - 9/12/04 11am - 5pm
Rose Shenson Community Art Gallery
1505 Warburton Avenue, Santa Clara

Anatomy of the Figure
8/2/04 - 8/29/04
Mexican Heritage Plaza La Galeria
1700 Alum Rock Avene, San Jose
For info call Al Preciado at (408)393-3567 or e-mail at apreciado@bep.org

If you have exhibit info that you want to have posted please e-mail at snjbram@aol.com

TRIVIA AND STUFF JUST FOR FUN

Fun fact from Ancient Egypt: The waters of the Nile River were (and are) far too infested with various parasites to be safe to drink. How then did this ancient culture get its drinking water? The ancient and novel solution was to brew a barley beer, low in alcohol content, and perfectly safe to drink as the brewing process killed most of the parasites. Wine was also used as a water source, but only by the very affluent ancient Egyptians or royalty; the wine was also substantially higher in alcohol content! Cheers!

ASK BRAMSCHANDOZ

Q: I have an oil painting on canvas that I want to paint over. Can I paint over it with acrylics?

A: The short answer is no, not easily anyway. While the acrylics would certainly cover the oil painting, the paint would probably bubble up and peel right off the previously painted surface. The reason is that the acrylic polymer is incompatible with the linseed oil in the oil paint and they resist each other. As the paint cannot grab hold it dries on top and will eventually peel off or scratch off if handled improperly. Having said that, if the artist is willing to do a lot of extra prep work, then the acrylic paint can be made to stick to the oil painting's surface. This involves preparing the surface by removing any varnish. Once dry, the whole canvas can be sanded ( not too much as you can abrade the canvas). The canvas should then be dusted and cleaned with something like T.S.P. After the canvas dries it should be re-primed with gesso and the gesso allowed to dry. Then you can proceed to paint. I'm sure you would agree that with the time and expense of the prep work it would be much easier and cheaper to start with a fresh canvas!

JEFF'S TIPS

The month's tip is on a drawing method known as diagrammatic or point to point drawing. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in trying to make something look like it is supposed to (i.e. a bottle like a bottle), that we get frustrated when it doesn't work out. For diagrammatic drawing start with any point on your object and draw a dot on your paper. From that dot use your pencil to measure over to the edge of the object and make another dot. Repeat this all around the edges , then simply connect the dots! You now have a nice sketch to refine with a heavier line or shading. Try it!

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