Instagram

Hey everybody,

so this is not an assignment, but me just talking to you guys as people. I created an Instagram that will be similar to this blog, and if any of you would be so kind as to follow it, I would really appreciate it.

ErikaGlass.Art is the username.

Hope everyone had a great break– see you all Wednesday!

Open Thread– Hello, Friends.

Hi guys. As I continue to make more art, I'd like to know what other people might find interesting instead of just working from my own imagination. I know we have to create an open thread for an assignment, but I am genuinely asking for suggestions from you all, as I would really appreciate some new perspectives and ideas. You could be talking about mediums to work with, topics of work, themes, anything goes. Any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated. 

Thank you very much. 

Stay warm in this approaching cold weather, and have a spectacular weekend. 

My Work

Got a plain white t-shirt? Draw something with sharpie and make it a little more interesting!

My Work

Watercolor and printed text. For any Dark Knight fans like myself. 

My Work

This piece combines both pencil and watercolor, two of my favorite mediums to work with. Mixing media can be helpful in creating pieces that mimic the style of illustration. 

What Do You Think?

As I've mentioned in previous posts, one of the mandatory factors in creating visibly pleasing works of art is successful placement of objects, colors and textures within the piece, or the composition of the work. A painting, drawing, photograph, or collage with good composition leads the viewer's eye smoothly through the piece. No one object or color appears to "stick out", and the image seems altogether balanced.

Below are two works of art– both considerably well known. Which one do you think has better composition?


David Shepherd– Christ On the Battlefield

Gustave Caillebotte– Paris Street; Rainy Day

If the answer seems obvious, think to yourself, why? How did you know immediately? Both pieces work, but in my opinion, one is better than the other in terms of composition.


Recognizing these features in other people's work allow you as an artist to better use them in your own art.

My Work

At first glance, this painting may seem pretty typical. You've got your flowers, you've got your skyline, your random inanimate object. All of this is true. But what makes this painting one of my favorites was the way I completed it. It's called night painting, and I bet you can guess how you do it. I sat on my porch and painted this in the dark, with only the distant lamplight to help me see. This forces the artist to create shades and colors based on exactly how they see what's in front of them, instead of using ideas of what colors different objects should be. I completed it in the dark, so I couldn't really see the actual colors I was using, but it came out resembling the glowing, weak light that nighttime creates. This type of painting gets the artist in the field and forces him or her to work by the image in reality rather than going by an image in his or her head. It's exciting to experiment with different times of day or atmospheres and see how they affect the outcome of a piece.