What is it like being an Abstract Artist Question and Answer.

Question:Well this isn’t a question I just felt like telling you that your work is really inspiring. I would literally buy some of your artwork but I am still a teenager in high school with no money. Anyways I actually do have a question now that I think about it. Did you go to an Art School did you major in Art I really plan in going to the arts institute. Although a lot of people tell me that artist don’t really get paid a lot. But it truly is my dream to major in art. I just don’t know exactly what its like to be an artist out there. I would really appreciate it if you give me some advice. Thank you 

Answer: Thank you very much for your feedback! As far as your question what is it like being an abstract artist I would say it is truly up to the individual person on how far they want to go. If this is your dream than I would definitely encourage you to pursuit it the rest will come along. As in my personal situation being an artist I would say it is truly rewarding experience and a way of life.

Painting Acrylic Fire Effect on Canvas for Modern Abstract Art Painting Composition.

One of the special techniques that you can utilize is creating acrylic fire effect as in you will see in the painting "Abstract Chemistry" down below. As you have noticed all four canvases consist of light and dark sides the fire can go either direction from light to dark and vice verse. For this acrylic effect you may use special acrylic medium that will help you to get the better flow of paint which is called "Flow Aid". The first thing that you would need to do before you start is to make sure you distribute color on the canvas from light on one side and dark on the other. I would also recommend blending those colors with a sponge or a brush. After you complete this first step the second step is simple all you would need to do is to apply heavier paint mixed with special medium to one side and tilt the canvas to let the paint flow downward. Now you got the acrylic fire on canvas!

Hi everyone, my name is Peter Dranitsin. I am a self representing artist from Cleveland Ohio. I grew up in a family where my mother is a professional artist and my father is a professional photographer. I have been painting professionally since 2006 and this is all I do. In my abstract art video lesson tutorials I will demonstrate different modern techniques that I personally use myself when creating abstract paintings, as well as variety of different tools you will need to create an amazing, eye catching acrylic abstract paintings. I truly hope that you will enjoy watching!

Original modern and contemporary abstract art video lessons by Peter Dranitsin. All videos are copyright protected.

Creating Abstract Art by Painting on Multiple Canvases.

A very modern and creative way to create abstract art paintings is to paint the abstract idea on multiple canvases. The way to do this is simply lay down 2,3,4,5... canvases in the row on the floor close to each other. I would recommend to use some type of weight to hold them in place that you will need to locate on each side of the outside canvases.   This way the painting will not get disturbed or moved out of its place. 

Simple Way to Create Modern Landscape Abstract Painting.

Painting Angels and Hearts for a Modern Abstract Art Painting Theme.

One of my favorite abstract art ideas is painting angels and hearts for modern abstract art painting theme. The magical and spiritual elements transform the painting into something more than just art! It brings love and peace to the minds of those who appreciate this type of art and it also makes a great gift for someone special in your life. I actually have a video where I have painted this painting down below called "Angels and Hearts". You can find it on my video page on my online art gallery at: http://petesoriginalart.com/angel-and-heart-v-66.html

Color Versus Black and White Background Abstract Painting Technique.

In this abstract art technique I will talk about using color vs black and white background. As you see in this painting called "Innerself" the middle portion of it stands out from the black and white background due to the contrast of color vs black and white background. It is simple but effective technique. You can also go the other way and have a black and white element(s) on a colorful background. 

Using Bubble Rap to Create Interesting Acrylic Painting Effect.

In this video I have demonstrated the one way you can use bubble rap to create an interesting acrylic painting effect. I have used small bubble rap and white liquitex acrylic paint to paint stones.

Idea behind Rough and Beautiful Abstract Art Paintings Techniques.

One way to approach abstract art paintings is to paint rough using thick layers of paint and at the same time maintain clear and distinct appearance. This is completely opposite of fine arts which I personally prefer. I enjoy going absolutely freely at the canvas expressing my ideas with each individual touch. In the painting down below called "As it Shines" which resembles a cityscape under the sun. As you can see it has a rough appearance but you can easily define the subject of this painting. As I mentioned many times in the past do not be afraid of making mistakes. That is how you learn and you will make mistakes. There were number of paintings I personally painted over many many times until I got the result that I was looking for. As a matter of fact many of those painted over paintings are one of my personal favorites. Simply because when you paint over them many times you are actually adding structure to it which makes it even more better appreciated. 

The Key Ingredient In Creating Eye Catching Abstract Painting on Canvas.

The key ingredient in creating eye catching abstract painting on canvas is to try to connect different levels of depth together that will blow viewers minds away. As in the painting down below you will notice that I have painted two distinct surfaces or levels with small and large circle. You will also notice that both of those surfaces connected to each-other. This is the key to eye catching appearance. Now try to create multiple surfaces and connect them as I did in this painting and see how that will look. The more you make it tricky for the eye to notice those things the more abstract your created painting will appear. When you are done with this painting email me if you like with the image and I will give you my input on it. Good luck and have fun with it!

The Way to Approach a Fantasy Abstract Art Theme Paintings.

When you think about painting a fantasy theme painting I would personally suggest to go with darker background and having bright spots in the painting some place. As in the paintings you see down below it will create this magical appearance as if you are looking into someones imagination. Try to create a balance between dark and bright tones. It is better to make the painting a little brighter than having it to dark. 

Working With Acrylic Structure on Canvas and Painting Structured Background.

Usually it is two to three step process of creating a structured Abstract Art Painting. I personally prefer using Light Molding Paste by Golden Acrylics which is a special effect acrylic medium that works excellent to create structures. It is light weight and dries fast. It tends to also absorb the color so it is advisable to use golden acrylic paint or similar high pigmented acrylic paint so it will maintain its contrast and brightness.

The first step in creating structured painting is to apply the special medium paste (such as light molding paste). Allow the medium to dry for one to two hours. After it is dry apply paint first coat. It really depends on your taste you can paint first coat with light colors and the second coat you can do in darker color tones. When you do apply the second coat it would be only lightly touched to the surface touching the rough structured edges of the medium paste. This will create the contrast making the painting to stand out even more.

How to Make your Original Abstract Paintings to Stand Out.

It is always a good idea to try to include some type of focal point in your original abstract painting. You may do this by creating some type of contrast that breaks the monotone appearance of the general background. For example in the painting "Orange House" I have made sure that the orange square is centralized and stands out with its overall brightness and depth perception from the background. There lots of ways you can achieve this goal one of which creating black and white background and having multicolored focal point that will capture the viewers eye and make them say "Wow!" to themselves. 

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"Orange House" original abstract art painting by Peter Dranitsin

Abstract Art Painting Technique Discussion Post Five.

Q: I like your drawing and painting techniques, my question is: i know many kind of color like oil , water color , pastel, what kind of color you use in your painting? what is abstract painting?

A: If I understand your question correctly, I use only high quality acrylic paint. As far as how to define an abstract painting, it is simply a visual language of form, color and line to create a composition which may exist with a degree of independence from visual references in the world.

Q: Hi, what do you brush on the canvas before you start applying the black paint? Nice work btw!

A: Usually I apply water and sometimes I lay a coat of white acrylic paint

Q: Have you used up side down brush making those interesting circles___I like them a lot and painting is so pretty!!!

A: Yes I do use up side down brush on fresh paint. As you've mentioned it makes an interesting effect :)

Q: You are amazing. You are teaching me so much. I cannot wait to try this, especially with the sponge. I love the sponge effect. Thank you for your videos.

A: Thank you and have fun with it!

Abstract Art Painting Technique Discussion Post Four.

Q: What you are adding to the paint that is so easy to work with?

A: For the most part I add only water and use high quality acrylic paint.

Q: Wow. Seriously, wow. Your talent is amazing and I am in awe of how easy you make it appear. You've also inspired me to try my own hand at abstract painting--though I doubt I will ever be anywhere near as good as you are.

A: Thank you so much for your nice comments!

Q: Thanks for sharing your work, do you let the paint dry before you put the next color on?

A: Usually I like to work on fresh paint, but sometimes I would let it dry before applying second or third coat.

Q: Nice video lesson and great work. I'm just wondering, what's the clear coat that you brush on the canvas before applying paint?

A: Sometimes I cover the canvas with white acrylic paint before I start painting with color. Thank you for asking!

Q: How do you make the acrylics look so thin? When I paint with a brush every stroke is thick and wide. What is your technique?

A: I simply add plenty of water. Thank you for asking.

Q: Your really good at what you do. I really like your use of bold plain colors and the way you work ur magic on the canvas.

A: thank you so much for your comments!

Q: Wow, Peter that was probably the best 8 minutes I spent all day! I just had a question about your process, do you plan your paintings ahead of time by sketching them or just thinking about them or do you just go with the flow?

A: Thank you for asking, usually I just go with the flow. Sometimes it does not turn out the way I want it, however it is still a learning process :)

Q: Is the sponge dry or a little bit moist? are you using different sponges for different color areas, or use the same and let the previous colors (already on the sponge) blend in?

A: I alternate when to use wet, dry or painted sponge. Thank you for asking!

Q: Hello Peter, I haven't painted in so long that , not that I started again I am lost. I don't know where to start, so if you would be able to answer some questions for me I would really appreciate it a lot. What kind of canvas do you use? When you start painting , do you actually have an idea in mind ? Or is whatever you feel at the moment? Also is there a specific brand of acrylics that you use? Thank you in advance, Andrada

A: Thank you for your question Andrada! I use 1.5 inch gallery style stretched and primed cotton canvas. When I start creating abstract painting I have a blurry subject in mind which I transform into a abstract art. And I prefer to use Liquitex paints due to their unique qualities.

Q: Hi, I'd like to purchase your video tutorials. What payment methods do you accept and am I able to download the videos to my computer once I sign up? Thanks very much.

A: For payment method I take PayPal and Major Credit Cards. When you subscribe for 1,2, or 6 month you will be able to watch unlimited videos with one code that will be sent to your email you specified. You can also subscribe to watch individual abstract art videos. As far as downloading - you can only download videos to your desktop individually for a price specified under each video. You will get the download link instantly as soon as you complete your payment. If you need further assistance do not hesitate to contact me at any time.

Hi everyone, my name is Peter Dranitsin. I am a self representing artist from Cleveland Ohio. I grew up in a family where my mother is a professional artist and my father is a professional photographer. I have been painting professionally since 2006 and this is all I do. In my abstract art video lesson tutorials I will demonstrate different modern techniques that I personally use myself when creating abstract paintings, as well as variety of different tools you will need to create an amazing, eye catching acrylic abstract paintings. I truly hope that you will enjoy watching!

Original modern and contemporary abstract art video lessons by Peter Dranitsin. All videos are copyright protected.

Abstract Art Painting Techniques Discussion Third Post.

Q: Hi Peter, please allow me a small question. What do you use for the transition? foam? floss? cloth? If it's no secret I would be grateful for the advice. thank you thank you very much your big fan.

A: I like to use a variety of different tools and techniques for transitions. For the most part I prefer to use sponge since it leaves a nice soft color blending and transition. I also like to utilize other tools to contrast the soft transition like a spatula. Having variety in the abstract paintings does make a big difference at the end!

Q: Your paintings are always interesting and always beautiful! They are so fluid too!! where do you get your inspiration? I have a hard time with what do I want to create. What images, etc.

A: Thank you so much for your comments! When I observe the world around me I always try to ask myself how I would transform an object, colors etc... into an abstract painting :)

Q: Your work is amazing! I would like to know what are you using to get that water color look. you know when spill water on a piece of paper and everything starts to bleed. :/

A: I use high quality acrylic paint and water. Because of high pigmentation in the acrylic paint that I am using I am able to add enough water without loosing the intensity in color.

Q: Hello Peter, your creativity is very inspirational. I'm getting set to do my first painting and I am drawn to your abstract style and dramatic applications of color. I watched your Futuristic demonstration, and wanted to know if that was bubble wrap I saw you using at one point? Thank you and keep up the fantastic work! Jason, Toronto, Canada

A: Thank you Jason, yes I did use bubble rap at one point on that painting. That's what I love the most about creating abstract art is the creative approach to it! Good luck to you!

Q: I absolutely love the colors and the different techniques you use! I love how some of your work are rough and edgy while others are well blended and have a smooth flow. Where do you get your inspiration from? I recently just picked up a paint brush again after several years, and I seem to have a creative block, I feel stuck when I look at my blank canvas..

A: Thank you for your comments. When I create paintings I have moments where I do not get the desired result. I continue to work on the painting brainstorming ideas as I go along. As a result I get inspired by getting to the paint where the painting turns out more than what I could have wished for.

Q: whats the material u use with brush??

A: some other tools I use are spatula, wired brush, wet rag, sponge

Q: hey pete...how do you blend so well w/ acrylics?? b/c they dry super fast.?

A: keep the paint moist by adding plenty of water (but not too much)

Q: Hi, Pete, I like your work very much. actually you're an inspiration for me. I'm watching all of your vids and i hope you'll provide some more.can you please tell me how long did it take you to make this painting?

A: I am glad that my art video lessons have inspired you. As far as how long it takes me to create an abstract painting, it depends on the painting size and subject matter. Usually not longer than one day.

Q: Thank you for showing some of your painting technique.

A: you most welcome!

Q: What you are adding to the paint that is so easy to work with?

A: For the most part I add only water and use high quality acrylic paint.

Abstract Art Painting Techniques Discussion Second Post.

Q: Hi Peter :) I love your work so so so much. I'm going to uni in September to study Fine art and I've been told that for the first year of my course I will be creating abstract paintings. I have never really done any abstract paintings, I've been doing to some research and I came across yourself, I'm amazed by your talent. I just wanted to know is there any specific technique or style to use for first time abstract painting? Or should I just put paint to paper and see where my mind takes it? If that makes sense. Thanks Emma.

A: Thank you Emma, I would suggest to just give it a try and see where you mind takes you. It would be easier to do this on stretched canvas since acrylic paint is fast drying you can paint over it as many times as you like. When you start just thing of blurry subject and see how you can use your creativity to compose it in an abstract way to make it eye catching.

Q: What is the price for the lessons on dvds?

A: I apologize at this time I only can offer digital download of my abstract art video presentations.

Q: Hi Peter, my name is George, from Crete, Greece. I have always had a warm spot in my heart for painting and having stumbled on your instruction videos i thought I should start painting. I think I should continue with oils because acrylics dry fast. What would your recommend to a beginner?

A: I would personally recommend watercolors and acrylics. The oils are very hard to work with if you don't know what you doing. They also very hard to mix together it is much much different than water-based paint that you have more control over.

Q: Hi Pete, You inspire me to go back to painting and drawing after blocking myself for so long..., my question is, do you give courses? You do an amazing job. Thanks.

A: I am truly delighted that my abstract painting videos motivate others to start painting! I have dedicated a special page on my website where I provide more art videos on how to paint at http://petesoriginalart.com/videos.php

Q: Your work is amazing and I was just wondering what are all the different tools you use to create you pieces?

A: When I paint I like to use spatula, sponge, wired brush, rag, plastic as some of the tools to create special effects. Thank you for asking.

Q: this sizes are in centimeters or feet? i dont k now im from europe,i want to buy here but i dont know the sizes

A: All paintings on this website are measured in inches. Thank you for asking.

Q: Hello, I was wondering how close you get in recreating a painting... I really love the purple river. But am afraid it won't be anything like it. How does the recreation work?

A: I do my best to get as close as possible to the original painting. The way the recreation process work is after the payment is received for the painting that has to be recreated I would gather all the required materials to include stretched canvases, paint, I would than paint the painting trying to match the colors and theme of the original. After I am finished I would email you to let you know that the painting is finished and I would also post the image of the created painting on my website under custom art page. If you would need any adjustments done to the painting I would be glad to get those worked in. If for some reason you are unsatisfied with the final result I would just refund the money no question asked. However in case if you decide that you don't want the painting in the middle of the process because you changed your mind I would still refund your money but keep 10% restocking fee. My ultimate goal is to make sure that all my customers completely satisfied and I will do everything that I can to meet that goal.

Q: Delightful to watch over your shoulder while you paint. Thank you for sharing with us.

A: Thank you for watching my art videos and your nice comments!

Q: Goodmoring Peter, I'm a Dutch woman who was surfing on they internet, and stopped with surfing until I find what I was looking for. I'm just an amateur. I have been painting many years and also I lost my inspiration for many years because I was straggling and there was no space for any kind of inspiration. So now Í was ready for some painting lessons and there was you ...on the internet! Wow that's what I was looking for! I have looked almost all you videos on YouTube and I loved them!! I've been running to the shop to buy paint and anything that I need to make something wonderful and have made it. I did copied your paintings and I hope you don't mind. I will like to make a many more paintings with your style and sell them when I have a lot of them. I will sell them for charity, people who are in need. That's my goal. I like to thank you for your videos, because of your videos have returned my inspiration! I like to ask you few questions: what kind of underground do you use? Gesso? and what kind of paint which mark do you use? And what kind of brushes do you use to make interesting lines? With the best regards from me and Holland.

A: Thank you for your comments. I have no problem with people using my painting techniques on their paintings. That is why I share my art videos. Usually I do not use anything on the canvas before I start painting. Sometimes I wet the canvas surface and sometimes I add white paint before I begin applying colors. I use liquitex acrylic paint and the brushes are just regular brushes that have thin sharp edges on the other end. Thank you again for your nice comments and your questions!

Q: Hi peter, thanks for the tutorial video. How long the learning process that you need to become an expert like that? Have you do some trial and error at the beginning your abstract work? or is it just flowing from your amazing talent?

A: I was lucky to be influenced to art and painting from very childhood. My mother is a professional artist and art teacher in St. Petersburg Russia. This has definitely made a big difference in the way I looked at art. Thank you for asking!

Abstract Art Painting Technique Discussion

Q: Just wondering if the paintings you have come with frames?

A: I do not provide the frame, however this type of modern art paintings are not intended to be hanged with the frame.

Q: Hello Pete. I am interested in downloading some of your lessons but not sure how it works. Does the subscription only last a week and do I get to keep the lesson How long does the lesson last Hope you can help with my inquiry .Love your work. Thanks

A: Thank you for your interest in my art video lessons. The way it works is simple when you buy to download the video you will get the link to download it instantly after your payment is complete. You will download it to your computer and will be able to watch it any time as many times as you like because it will be yours to keep. If you choose to subscribe you will get a code that you will enter under that video to stream it from my website for duration that is specified in this case 7 days after which the code will be deactivated.I hope I answered your questions and if you should have any other questions please do not hesitate to contact me at any time.

Q: hi pete : i am amazed with your art work you deff have a gift soooo talented my question is... i love the piece other side how do you manage to paint the circles and the effect of it is it possible to have your permission to recreat it .... thank you your work inspires me

A: Thank you for your comments. I have no problem with you painting something similar. Good luck and have fun with it

Q: Hi Pete Im an artist from the UK and struggling to find out what I need to get on the web like you. Who do you use for your package and what level of service do you use. i.e. how much web space bandwidth etc do you require. Love your art so creative. Jase.

A: The amount of space you would need depends on what you are planning to display on your website. I personally use business account with unlimited space and unlimited bandwidth. I hope this helps.

Q: Where do I find your downloads on abstract painting lessons And what is the cost. Im a beginner and love your work. Thanks Gary

A: Gary you can find them on this page http://petesoriginalart.com./videos.php under each video there is a download button. Let me know if you have any further questions.

Q: Hi Pete. I dont have a question just wanted to say WOW I need to be re-inspired and you have just done that. You have a wonderful gift and a great website. Thank you so much for sharing

A: You welcome

Q: Hello Pete I somehow stumbled across your youtube video and website. I really love your work and would like to know if its possible to purchase some of your paintings without the frame I live in Asia and would like to acquire some paintings for my home. Let me know if this is possible to ship items over here through Fed Ex or UPS Keep up the great work Tim

A: I do ship World Wide. Please let me know which paintings you were interested in.

Q: Hi Pete Fantastic art work Can I ask you how do you get the acrylic paint to flow so well do you use a flow medium also what brand of acrylics do you use

A: I would suggest Liquitex Flow Aid

Q: Hi Pete I would like to recreate your art titled White Castle. I really want to make it and need your permission for that. Hope you agree. Thank you so much. I am a boy from Nepal residing in Sydney as an International Student. Thank you so much

A: I have no problem with this. Thank you for asking and have fun with it!

Q: Hi Pete. I just came across your website and I think your work is beautiful! I'm very inspired just looking at it... I was wondering which paint and consistency you use in your squeeze bottles?? Thanks very much.

Painting Elliptical or Circular Shapes Using Spatula and Acrylic Paint.

It is very simple to create an attractive elliptical or circular shape using spatula. All you need to do is create a nice background and on still fresh acrylic paint apply light pressure with spatula and in a circular motion create an elliptical or circular shape.

Using Wired Brush for Acrylic Abstract Painting Effects Creating Parallel Lines.

You may also try to use a wired brush to create parallel lines on fresh acrylic paint. I personally found it useful and creative way to make random interesting lines. To achieve acrylic painting effect do not limit yourself to one tool try to explore different other methods and tools that are out there.

Creating Acrylic Special Effect using Window Washer Tool to Smudge Acrylic Paint.

A simple technique I personally use in many of my abstract art paintings is smudging paint using window washer. I love this technique because it creates a nice background and the effect of blurry smudged acrylic paint is perfect for the backgrounds. 

Explore New Creative Modern Abstract Painting Ideas.

Look around yourself and find an object that catches your eye. Try to analyze why does it catch your eye, what elements make this object to stand out. These types of questions you should ask yourself when brainstorming for an abstract art painting ideas. There are many things that you can use for an abstract idea, such as man made objects such as all types of different mechanisms, tools, structures as well as what nature has to offer such things like tree trunks, ground textures, water and much much more!

Creating Modern Acrylic Abstract Art Paintings on Canvas Using Variety of Different Tools and Materials.

This is a short video introduction for one of my original modern abstract art paintings called "Tales of Seasons". You can view this entire abstract art video presentation on my website. I hope you enjoy!

Acrylic Painting of a Horse on Stretched Canvas.

This is one of my short abstract art video presentation where I paint a horse painting called "Horse Reflection". I am using liquitex acrylic paint and stretched 8x8" inch canvas. The acrylic art painting technique is simple where I also utilize spatula for manipulation of a paint.

Adding Abstract Art Elements to Your Old Painting Making It Look More Appealing.

In this video I will update my old painting with new abstract art elements. It does help sometimes to take your old paintings and make them look better than they already are.

Quick Pencil Sketch of a Horse on 8x8" Stretched Canvas.

In this free video lesson I will show you a simple way to sketch a horse using pencil. When you dedicate time to create simple and quick sketches you will eventually build a good hand movement and you will have better understanding of how to compose an idea for your next original acrylic modern painting.

Hi everyone, my name is Peter Dranitsin. I am a self representing artist from Cleveland Ohio. I grew up in a family where my mother is a professional artist and my father is a professional photographer. I have been painting professionally since 2006 and this is all I do. In my abstract art video lesson tutorials I will demonstrate different modern techniques that I personally use myself when creating abstract paintings, as well as variety of different tools you will need to create an amazing, eye catching acrylic abstract paintings. I truly hope that you will enjoy watching!

Original modern and contemporary abstract art video lessons by Peter Dranitsin. All videos are copyright protected.

Surrounded By Spirits of Nature Abstract Art Paintings.

For those who wish to link themselves and their choices of art to literally all mankind, nature paintings are the answer.  Who among us is not from nature and has not had nature in their life, even if they live in the concrete jungle of the big city?  Even in such a sophisticated milieu, the touch of nature is sought by city planners who design streets with quick-growing trees and flower boxes upon storefronts.  Planners are people-wise and they know that a completely barren cityscape is anathema to the mind of the average person who yearns for a touch of green foliage in his daily life, though he may not realize the longing.  Such planners realize that to be optimally productive, the person must see nature in any form in their work environment as well as their home environment.  Many is the office cubicle with a hanging plant that is tenderly nurtured by a staff busy with the trappings of making a business successful.  A nature painting is much less trouble than a plant and reaches more people because of its scope.

Nature paintings can range from an O’Keeffe depiction of a glorious flower in full bloom to the detailed landscape of a member of the Hudson River school of America, yet abstract paintings of nature can likewise fill the yearning of our souls for the touch of nature that makes our days bearable.  How many of us would gather around an abstract painting of a desert, picking out the mysterious winding canyons with their red sandstone colors and maize striations in the walls of the ravine undercut by a long-ago flood?  Simply engaging in that behavior is an activity that melds like minds and makes for a congenial working camaraderie.  The use of nature art as a binding force upon a group of colleagues is not to be underestimated.

And don’t allow the earth to be your boundary when choosing a nature painting!  Nature includes other planets, as well.  Journeying through nebulae and asteroid fields, swooping down upon the numerous planets that have been discovered in recent years as they spin around distant stars, the scope of the term ‘nature painting’ has grown to encompass outer space.  At the other end of the spectrum, inner space, or microscopic art, can be said to be a form of nature painting and certainly has many intriguing shapes and colors.  What of the delicate strands of algae that enable our earth to manufacture oxygen and keep us in the loop of life?  Those life-giving bits of gossamer green have a beauty all their own.  If you can hang a picture of interwoven green and blue algae and find a sofa and wall color to match, you will have created a unique office or home environment for yourself, your loved ones, or colleagues in which to bask and refresh the mind.  It sounds soothing to even think about, doesn’t it?  So get busy and choose an artistic piece to foster that sense of peace and intellectual repose that such a retreat would engender.  You can’t go wrong with a nature painting.

Intertwined Beauty of Music and Abstract Art Original Paintings.

Like the rest of us, you enjoy music and you’ve often thought of owning a piece of music art, to meld the two passions of your life.  It can be done.  Music art consists of depictions of musicians and music itself. That last one sound impossible?  Very well, let us begin with the first, a portrayal of musicians.  Perhaps you love the symphony and even have season tickets.  Every performance, matinee or evening, you come away with a glow of pure happiness.  Why not commission a painting of your favorite orchestra, playing their hearts out to glorious music.  If you have a favorite member, say First Seat Violin, your artist may spend a little extra time on her, even making her features stand out from the rest of the orchestra as she is portrayed in the dress that you like her most in.  It will be a challenge that a professional artist will gladly take up.

If your taste extends to jazz, a fewer number of people will be the subject, but then the artist has room to make them idiosyncratic in form, just as they are in real life.  Look at that lead trombonist.  Doesn’t he have a very particular way of arching back as he uses the slide to coax out those brassy notes?  Tell your artist about that favorite pose, and you will wind up with a highly distinctive piece of music art.

Opera music is your special love, you say?  Then the emphasis will be placed on an individual artist, unless you desire a set piece from a favorite opera such as the sextet from ‘Lucia di Lammermoor.’  Most likely, a diva has captured your heart and you would truly enjoy seeing her portrait on your wall.  She may be in full Viking regalia as she triumphantly sings the Ride of the Valkyries from Wagner, or perhaps trills the delicate aria from the tragic end of ‘Madame Butterfly.’  A piece of music art depicting some of the fantastic costumes from opera would be a delight any artist as he gets down on canvas just the perfect sheen of satin and ruffle of delicate lace from around the throat of a famous singer.  All in all, if you desire a piece of music art, you cannot go wrong with opera.

Should pop music be your forte, then most likely your color palette will be bright and loud, bringing a lot of energy into the painting.  You could ask for an abstract rendering from Michael Jackson’s video Thriller, for instance, which joins the film world with the music world with the dancing world.  That’s a lot of artistic appeal in one painting!  Whatever you decide upon commissioning, when you get the piece home and hang it upon your wall, you will have a sensory experience to be proud of and which to share happily.

As to depicting music itself, many think of music in the form of colors, in a way that transcends the musical scale or even writing down music in note form itself.  This rarefied technique must be discussed in detail with your favorite artist, as the colors in your mind that translate into music will naturally be extremely subjective.  For example, if you think of a chord as the yellow-orange part of the color wheel, then you will need to describe that to your artist and allow him to work that into his painting; perhaps, to him, the same chord says, ‘blue-green’!  Communication is the way to go to receive the desired end of the project, one that will satisfy client and artist both.

Acrylic Painting Techniques Painting Apples in the Basket by Dranitsin

In this modern acrylic art painting video I paint apples in the basket. As you have noticed I used the brush and black acrylic paint to paint the outlines first and than I moved adding color to the painting. I used the sponge to make smooth transition as I usually do. At the end I got dark background and bright apples that create good contrast to each other and provide good focal point.

Discover New Modern Abstract Art Painting Style and Start Creating Original Paintings.

You began with store-bought canvases, but now you’re ready for the big time: making your own canvas abstract art original paintings. As you head to the craft store, you ponder the basics of canvas material and stretcher boards. Pine is the usual wood used for stretchers, but you have an idea. Why not balsa? Both of your projected goals are to be on lightweight canvas, after all, and you needn’t a heavy-duty saw to prepare balsa wood for use as a stretcher, as your craft saw will do just as well. The clerk agrees when she sees your sketch of the highly anticipated projects, and shows you to the canvases. You choose a lighter sort of canvas to make your double goals of canvas panels and stretched canvases, in the handy width of 50 inches, because you decide on the spur of the moment to make the two projects at the same time. A 50-inch width will result in two 20x24-inch pieces of canvas. “Don’t make your canvases any larger than this for the first time,” warns the clerk, “because they may warp.” So you journey home happily from the craft store, though you keep the clerk’s business card with phone number, just in case of problems.
You lay out your material on the flat surface that you have cleared, and begin making canvas paintings. For your project of constructing canvas panels, you place mounting board down on your table and cut to the desired 20x24-inch measurement, and then place the mounting board on top of your canvas material and trim the canvas to one inch larger than the mounting board, all around the board. After applying glue to the back of the canvas, you place the board and the canvas together, trim the corners and fold down the edges. You weight the glued canvas evenly with a drawing board, and let it dry overnight.
In the meantime, you cannot wait and you start your work with the balsa wood stretchers. You’re well-skilled with a miter box and saw in 45-degree miter edges to the end of your balsa wood stretchers. You assemble them into a 20x24-inch rectangle, gluing the edges just to be sure to get them square and professional-looking by using a T-square to firm them up. You staple or nail them together and begin the hard part: waiting until morning until the glue dries.
It’s morning already! You hurry to your projects and see that the glue has dried as you’d planned. You begin your day by returning to the canvas panels project. From the roll of heavy brown backing paper, you cut a rectangle slightly smaller than your 20x24-inch panel, glue it to the back of the panel, weight it and begin the drying process once more. This step acts as a counter-mount and prevents warping. Once dried tomorrow, it will be ready to be painted, but onward to the stretching of the canvas on your dried balsa wood stretchers! After cutting a piece of canvas 22x26-inches, place the stretcher as evenly as possible on the canvas, so that an equally-wide margin of 1-inch appears around the frame. Tack gently in the center of each side, then grip the 1-inch edge with pliers and hammer more firmly a tack on each side of the center about 2 inches apart. Repeat until each side has three tacks, and finally progress from the center towards the corners, alternately on each side, until the entire canvas is tacked. A trained clerk will have given you wedges to hammer in the corners to take up any slack; finish this last step and voila! You are ready to paint your art project, and you have constructed your very own canvas panels and stretched your very own canvas.

Implementing New Acrylic Abstract Art Modern Painting Techniques.

If you are an artist, you have a passion.  Your passion is Modern Abstract Art .  Why bother with expensive oils which can take a long time to dry, when there is the less expensive and just as colorful media of acrylic paintings?  If you call yourself an artist, your mind flowers with ideas, so many that your day doesn’t have enough hours in it to put them all down on canvas.  First you sketch an outline of what you want to paint, then you add the color.  If your medium is oil, you may use acrylics as a base underpainting, but why stop there when you can use acrylics for the final embellishments as well?  Many artists use acrylics with a grayish or grayish-blue hue as an undercoat because this adds depth to the finished work.  If an artist uses this technique, then he can have a number of paintings in various stages of completion, thus fueling the synergy of his work: Work A, for instance, may be nearing completion and lacks only the addition of shadows to the subject, while Work B has the requisite background but needs the foreground fleshed out more, while Work C is in the first stages of underpainting as the artist searches for just the right colors to bring out the richness of the projection final appearance of the work.  It is a system that prolific artists use and it works well for the artistic temperament, as inspiration strikes at various times and rarely does a painting become the entire focus of an artist’s day, start to finish.

Acrylics do offer the advantage of a fast drying time, so that an artist paints and waits perhaps thirty minutes for a layer of average thickness to dry.  If the paint on the palette dries out quicker than the artist likes, he may construct a simple wet palette, consisting of a flat-bottomed basin, a layer of wet paper towels, and a piece of parchment on top, as the parchment is slow to absorb water and thus is used as the keeper of the workspace palette, that is, the particular paints unique to that individual painting.  The paints may stay wet as long as a few days.  As the layers grow in complexity, the paint seems to reveal little by little the artistic vision until at last, the finished work stands.  Now comes the final drying time, and then the work is ready for shipping or placing in the gallery to be admired and purchased by a lucky someone.  The timing of the marketing of a piece is key and if the general timeframe of drying is known, then the artist and client alike will have a general idea of when the acrylic painting will be completed.  This makes for a pleasant client and artist relationship on both sides.

At the mundane end of the scale, acrylics do not have the overwhelming fumes that oil paints exude; in a closed environment such as a studio, this will be important to the artist and client as well, as they do not breathe in the pungent aroma.  A further plus is that acrylics clean up with water, rather than solvent, likewise less smelly for the studio environment.  All of these advantages point to acrylics paint being the best, most effect way to bring a piece of art to life.

White signature, Original Acrylic Painting Video Lesson by Peter Dranitsin

Painting with black and white acrylic paint is the most rewarding experience that I enjoy the most. Black and white abstract art paintings create a sense of elegance in its colors and tones. The simple reason for that is because our human eye is not getting districted with other than. These colors are neutral and opposite of each other like day and night. In this abstract art video lesson I have created this painting called "White Signature" Where I use black and white acrylic liquitex paint and using sponge to create depth in the painting.

Capturing Beauty of Nature On Canvas with Acrylic Paint

We are natural creatures, reacting to nature paintings in a deeply visceral way.  In our real lives, when we see a rich sunset, we admire it in the midst of our busy day.  When we see a wave break upon a beach, we pause to await the next one.  We know absolutely that Nature will renew itself.  The mountains may be worn down with the erosion of a glacier, but they will rise in another location, thrust upwards by upheavals too strong for granite to withstand.  More and more, our 21^st century lifestyles make us treasure Nature and desire to reconnect with our basic human origins and qualities.

Nature paintings do for us what they have done for others in centuries past: they exalt us as we see on canvas what the artist has captured from nature’s creations.  A mountain’s peak, a sunrise, a blanket of stars, or the roiling stormy sea, it makes no difference; nature’s splendor holds us captive.  It doesn’t matter if we have seen a similar scene with our own eyes or not; the artist whose style is true and real taps into his audience’s cultural memories and thus his work resonates profoundly within us.  Whether working from a photograph or in the actual plain air of the scene, an artist captures nature and brings it indoors so we can enjoy it in any weather or any circumstances.  Think how heavenly it will be to gaze upon a sunny beach painting in the midst of January’s dreary days!                                                                                           

The scope of a nature painting is vast.  A client who specializes in mycology may commission a painting of a colorful Amanita mushroom, bright red and round with specks of gold.  Someone interested in zoology may find an amorphous Paramecium with its waving cilia an amusing bit of decoration for his wall.  More traditionally, animal portraits of creatures we have seen in zoos and wish to bring into our homes offer a touch of nature: the elephant and the dolphin represent the intelligence of nature’s creatures.  Moving on to still lifes, those studies of fruit baskets and gleaming apples whose techniques of portrayal are among the very first which artists learn, nature here is shaped by the hand of man, who plucked the apple in its harvest and shaped the basket from natural materials.  Stepping backward to an even grander vista of nature, the broad landscape of a mountain range or the windswept expanse of a seascape offers views that only the privileged few can look out their window and see everyday.  Adjusting the focus even more broadly, the planets and outer space may be said to be nature paintings.  It is up to us to decide which subject we desire to purchase and hang upon our walls.

From a group as distinguished as Audubon, O’Keeffe, and the Hudson River school, we ought to be able to find a subject from among their works and apply this choice to a fine contemporary artist.  An abstract artist may even distill the natural experience further, to the very essence of nature in its glory.

Painting a Blue Tree on Canvas in a Modern Style.

Original Contemporary Abstract Painting of a Tree called "Standing Tall". This painting was created on 16x20" inch canvas with acrylic paint 2011. All of my original paintings are signed by me (Peter Dranitsin) and dated. I strive for one hundred percent quality. All paintings get double coat of acrylic varnish for extra protection and come on a gallery style canvas.

Painting Still Life Acrylic Modern Painting Video Lesson by Peter Dranitsin

In this art video lesson presentation I share with you techniques I used in creating this still life modern looking painting. As you already probably have noticed I do like to use sponge to blend the colors and tones. I find it very effective tool to utilize in creating my original paintings.

Quick Acrylic Painting Video Lesson and Presentation by Peter Dranitsin

In this quick acrylic painting video lesson I will share with you how I painted this 8x8" inch painting called "Sphinx"

Observing Night Sky to Get an Insight for the Outerspace Abstract Art Paintings

We have wondered about outer space since we discovered planets, but the question of what does outer space look like had to wait until the 19^th century works of Jules Verne described them in prose and a little later until Melies dreamed up his fantastic backdrops for some of the very first motion pictures around 1900.  The moon is the first and best subject for outer space paintings, at least the ones that we have as a cultural input.  The moon has a face and whether or not the markings were subjective or not doesn’t matter, as artists portraying the moon were more interesting in capturing its gentle glow than in scientific accuracy.  The sun’s brightness is taken for granted as the sun is the illumination for our days and it almost seems an intelligent presence, full and steady in its light, day after day.  But the moon is filled with mystery, shrinking or growing in proscribed manner each night until it disappears completely.  The moon has a secret life, as do the planets as they wander through our night skies.

Chesley Bonestell is the artist who sparked a nation’s interest in outer space with his meticulously detailed paintings of planets, so rendered that you could swear you were actually standing on a moon of Saturn, gazing in awe at the rings of its beautiful mother planet.  For an inspiration of the untrod field of outer space paintings, Bonestell used his own astronomical sightings from telescopes, rushing home to do his art while his impressions were still fresh.  But for the scenes on planets that no one could possibly see in the mid-20^th century, he had only his imagination, laced with scientific theories of the time.  More and more, his techniques of painting which sprang from the disciplines of architecture, commercial drawing, and the magic of Hollywood special effects led him to be defined as the foremost astronomical painter.

An outer space artist needs a background in Earth’s topography and weather as well as the very latest input from astronomer’s research in order to develop a vision for a painting.  In this way, the outer space artist restores a bit of glory to the profession of artist, for when photography became prevalent in the mid-19^th century, the artist as illustrator lost some luster.  The artist’s engravings and photogravure efforts gave ground to the photographer’s science and ability to capture the intimate details of a scene.  But for the imaginative portrayals of planets other than our own, the outer space artist has no peer.  Working from spectrographic records and theoretical papers, this sort of artist arranges his canvas to grasp from his imagination the planetscapes of worlds not our own.

If your interests lie in the recent past via our ventures into space, you will enjoy a piece of outer space art hanging in your home, invoking thoughts of heroism and the realization that astronauts and cosmonauts have truly gone where no one has gone before.  An abstract painting of an aurora borealis as seen from reentry of a space vehicle, for instance, could not help but inspire you to get through your day with your own sort of heroics.  If your interests lie in speculative fiction and our future in space, then an outer space painting in the style of those pioneering outer space artists will spark your imagination each and every time you look at it.

Hi everyone, my name is Peter Dranitsin. I am a self representing artist from Cleveland Ohio. I grew up in a family where my mother is a professional artist and my father is a professional photographer. I have been painting professionally since 2006 and this is all I do. In my abstract art video lesson tutorials I will demonstrate different modern techniques that I personally use myself when creating abstract paintings, as well as variety of different tools you will need to create an amazing, eye catching acrylic abstract paintings. I truly hope that you will enjoy watching!

Original modern and contemporary abstract art video lessons by Peter Dranitsin. All videos are copyright protected.

Enter the World of Seascape Original Abstract Art Paintings

The sea calms us, it stirs us to thoughts of adventures, it pervades our imagination with its limitless horizons.  Who would refuse the gift of a cruise on a beautiful, sun-flecked ocean? Even if you live inland from the sea or are perhaps a desert dweller, when you stand before a seascape, you are entranced.  The endless waves, the spackle of the sun on far-flung foam, you are caught up in the painting.  Already you have thought of a home for it, that certain wall where the painting will provide a break from the humdrum routine of life.  Seascape paintings can do that for our souls.

From the perfectly-captured fisherman in Winslow Homer’s “The Gulf Stream” to Marek Wlodarski’s abstract seascapes of mid-20^th century, the sea captures light in ways that other subjects do not.  Light as seen through water, light hitting water and reflecting upon a mysterious seaside cave, what could be more challenging to an artist to portray?  When fashioning seascape paintings, the abstract artist pulls from his palette the muted hues of a dawn sea, the full-out tones of the noontime and the shading into nighttime at purple dusk.  Whoever purchases an abstract seascape can tell at a glance which of these moods of the sea graces the painting.  You will have been glad to have selected such a wide-ranging source of enjoyment.

Why choose a seascape over other genres of paintings?  Much may depend on the personality of the collector and their resources.  A vacation home near the seashore, for example, cries out for a local painter’s rendition of the same shore at calm neap or full-bore tide.  Different seasons, different times of day, all could render a room into an echo of the natural setting just outside the door of the room.  From the viewpoint of a collector in the midsection of the continent, a seascape will be a memory of a treasured childhood trip, a honeymoon, or a desired retirement spot.  A seascape in a physician’s waiting room, for example, soothes a restless spirit as he gazes into the blues and greens and forgets the reason why he is here.  On the practical side, a seascape may entertain a child as he or she waits upon an appointment. 

These descriptions of seascapes would not be complete without its defining feature, the land.  Water runs down waterfalls from cliffs to the sea, a quite rare phenomenon that begs to be the subject of a painting.  Then there is the more common depiction of wave action upon oceanside rocks, little rills running down the rockface as each wave recedes.  Light is caught at different moments each time.  And what of the drifting spray we see on the point of meeting between water and shore?  Abstract art can even suggest this ephemeral part of the seascape world.  We can see why seascapes are favorite subject for any artist.  When you obtain a seascape for yourself, your art collection gains a prized, time-honored genre as exemplified by Homer and Wlodarski.

As It Shines, Original Cityscape Abstract Art Painting by Dranitsin

Here is another one of my cityscape abstract paintings called "As It Shines". It is created on 30x24 inch stretched canvas and acrylic paint. I do double coat all my paintings with acrylic varnish to give the protection to the painting surface and it also provides shiny appearance.