tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3449136435638889836.post6631954110108250434..comments2020-10-30T07:47:18.845-04:00Comments on The Waterfront: April's Artist of the Month... Nita LelandBayview Watercolour Societyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10400238759868668968noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3449136435638889836.post-56081250929519041622012-05-13T17:59:38.334-04:002012-05-13T17:59:38.334-04:00Thank you NitaThank you NitaOna Kingdonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05680501377206893420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3449136435638889836.post-18345964156648193282012-05-04T09:48:12.320-04:002012-05-04T09:48:12.320-04:00I appreciate the honor of being your Artist of the...I appreciate the honor of being your Artist of the Month for April. I hope my contributions have been helpful. If anyone else would like to contact me, please email me nita@nitaleland.com, as I won't be checking this link on a continuing basis. Have a great time painting this Spring!<br />NitaNitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04750868814181958240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3449136435638889836.post-78353216731486174912012-04-25T17:17:48.151-04:002012-04-25T17:17:48.151-04:00Dear Nita
Thank you very much for your reply. I am...Dear Nita<br />Thank you very much for your reply. I am very enlightened by what you said about determination and work hard. This will be my motto for sure. Thanks again.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3449136435638889836.post-81535383372834052022012-04-18T14:57:44.651-04:002012-04-18T14:57:44.651-04:00I responded to this two days ago, but apparently m...I responded to this two days ago, but apparently my reply got lost in cyberspace. I want you to know that you don't need "credentials" to be a fine artist. You don't even need "talent." But you do need determination and a willingness to work very hard (read: practice practice practice). Hobby painters paint when they want to, serious painters because they have to. Don't confuse "hobby" with "craft" because some craft artists are serious artists. I tell my students that it takes patience, practice, and perseverance to become an artist. A degree is nice because the course of study is focused and you might achieve more quickly with discipline. I have great respect for artists who have earned their degrees. But if you work that hard on your own, you can achieve whatever level you aspire to. Good luck!Nitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04750868814181958240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3449136435638889836.post-90822695436040175452012-04-16T11:11:33.726-04:002012-04-16T11:11:33.726-04:00Hi Nita
I have enjoyed your response to artists&#...Hi Nita<br /><br />I have enjoyed your response to artists' questions and benefitted. I am a self taught artist and always feel a bit lacking without the proper fine art credentials. What is your opinion of that? I hope to be able to move from a hobby level to a more serious one and would like to hear your advice on this. Many thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3449136435638889836.post-57958868546774087472012-04-14T21:09:26.987-04:002012-04-14T21:09:26.987-04:00Thank you so much NitaThank you so much NitaOna Kingdonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05680501377206893420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3449136435638889836.post-17714501458471148442012-04-11T10:39:12.536-04:002012-04-11T10:39:12.536-04:00Thanks to Joanne for your kind comments about my b...Thanks to Joanne for your kind comments about my book and my artwork. Two of those paintings are from Rancho de Taos, New Mexico. The third is from my imagination, using a triad of bold primary colors. Lots of fun to do!<br /><br />Ona--Your question about finding a publisher is complicated. I'll try to boil it down to a few simple matters. First and foremost, you need a "hook"--an idea that is interesting, unique and consistent in your work. That usually means you don't send different styles and subjects and ask the editor to pick one. Next, go to the Web site of a publisher whose books and magazines fit your topic and look for guidelines. See if you can find the name of the Aquisitions Editor. Normally you begin the process by sending a 1-page query letter to a specific person. The letter includes your hook and a brief description of your book or article. Include some information showing you are qualified in the subject. Ask if you may submit samples of your writing and your work following guidelines on the Web site (or ask for guidelines). Do not send these with the query unless requested. Also, it isn't necessary to have the article written. If an editor is interested, she may have suggestions about how to slant your article when you write it and also about the length she needs, etc. Some other thoughts: Some magazines accept email queries. For the best information across the board on publishing I go to the library and check out the annual Writer's Market book. Details on submissions and contact info are found there. Your work is so good, you won't have a problem with quality, but you may have to work at finding a niche among your great variety of subjects. Go with whatever you are most passionate about when you paint and what is most popular among your buyers and exhibitions. It will help if you are organized and a good writer. But if you're not, don't let that discourage you. Remember, they need material to publish and if you hit the right note, a good editor can pull things together. I hope this helps. Maybe Jane will have something to add. Oh, one more thing. If you send material on request, be sure to include an envelope addressed to you with sufficient postage for return. I hope this helps!Nitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04750868814181958240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3449136435638889836.post-43808288372620612532012-04-10T15:52:44.254-04:002012-04-10T15:52:44.254-04:00Hi Nita
I was delighted to see that you are our Ar...Hi Nita<br />I was delighted to see that you are our Artist of the month. I have owned your book Exploring Color Revised EDition for a long time. It is a favorite reference with me & inspiration. I especially admire your paintings in the book ``Icon``, ``Mirage`` & ``Free Spirit``<br />JoanneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3449136435638889836.post-41440466118479361642012-04-09T10:25:46.295-04:002012-04-09T10:25:46.295-04:00Hi Nita,
Thanks for all your wonderful responses ...Hi Nita,<br /><br />Thanks for all your wonderful responses to our members questions.<br /><br />I have one for you now. I'm getting to grips with the exhibition side of things but have yet to look into magazine articles and books. How did you go about finding a publisher? Any advice you could give me about publishers or magazines in general would be really appreciated. I've tended to focus on getting my actual paintings in front of people so far.Ona Kingdonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05680501377206893420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3449136435638889836.post-76581586391966468332012-04-07T20:58:09.785-04:002012-04-07T20:58:09.785-04:00Hi, Thanks for stopping by!
Madelaine--I think one...Hi, Thanks for stopping by!<br />Madelaine--I think one of the best ways to get started in abstract painting is to think in shapes. That's why it seems to be easier in collage, because collage is usually based on shapes. When you get past the images and just play with edges and colors you forget about picky details and think about relationships of the shapes. There are a zillion ways to start, but one of my favorites is to first gather harmonious colors I like in paper or magazine pages and then tear a large colored shape for the main piece. Make it have interesting edges. Then play with other colors and shapes next to it, some on top and some underneath the edges. There is no formula, just what pleases you. If you like, you can add textures and small objects to your design, but keep it simple.<br /><br />Diana--It takes a while to develop a style, but usually it happens naturally over time. The process is important, but I think among your diversified pieces you may seem some you like better than others or common elements that appear in several pieces and these things may lead you to your style if you investigate them. Try doing a series with a common element or color scheme you like and see where it takes you. You may have more of a style than you realize already!<br /><br />NitaNitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04750868814181958240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3449136435638889836.post-62966221303433513892012-04-04T21:33:17.346-04:002012-04-04T21:33:17.346-04:00Nita: I love your book "Creative Artist"...Nita: I love your book "Creative Artist" which is very inspiring. What a pleasure to be able to talk to the author of such a wonderful book.<br /><br />I get bored very easily so I found your book very exciting. However, I ended up doing a little bit of everything without my own style. At first I thought having fun in the process of making art is most important. Then I get lost of myself among my 'diversified' pieces. Please enlighten me.<br /><br />DianaDiana Linoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3449136435638889836.post-73313347328740855402012-04-03T07:18:11.697-04:002012-04-03T07:18:11.697-04:00I love the look of your collage work. I'd like...I love the look of your collage work. I'd like to go more abstract with my work and this looks just the sort of thing I'd like to try. Can you explain your process just a little?<br /><br />madelaineAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3449136435638889836.post-9197493161092181232012-04-02T21:21:30.948-04:002012-04-02T21:21:30.948-04:00Kathleen and Ona--I don't do much pouring in m...Kathleen and Ona--I don't do much pouring in my watercolors. However, I do like to begin with wet paper and big brushes, so the color flows freely from the loaded brush and spreads a bit like it does when pouring. I like Jean Grastorf's techniques very much, but to tell the truth, I'm not much into masking and that's almost a requirement with pouring. Depending on the subject, I'll usually lay in a sky or background this way and go from there.Nitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04750868814181958240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3449136435638889836.post-3088231050396260512012-04-02T17:29:10.739-04:002012-04-02T17:29:10.739-04:00Thank you for posting the links Nita. I've has...Thank you for posting the links Nita. I've has a question e mailed to me from kathleen who was not sure how to post a question so here it is<br /><br />How much do you use pouring to start a painting?Ona Kingdonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05680501377206893420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3449136435638889836.post-65481562306049349852012-04-02T17:27:16.364-04:002012-04-02T17:27:16.364-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Ona Kingdonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05680501377206893420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3449136435638889836.post-69136862139996601302012-04-01T18:18:25.713-04:002012-04-01T18:18:25.713-04:00Thanks for asking, Rebecca. You can see more of my...Thanks for asking, Rebecca. You can see more of my paintings and writing here:<br />http://www.nitaleland.com<br /><br />http://nitaleland@blogspot.com<br /><br />https://www.facebook.com/nita.leland?ref=tn_tnmn<br /><br />If you ask to be my friend on Facebook, you can see more.Nitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04750868814181958240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3449136435638889836.post-58256259693036909802012-04-01T16:29:52.704-04:002012-04-01T16:29:52.704-04:00Wow Nita, What a great story you have! I love your...Wow Nita, What a great story you have! I love your paintings. Do you have a website, blog, or facebook page where we can see more of your work? I'd love to take a look! <br />RebeccaChrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09182827109025909641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3449136435638889836.post-90363622067859015092012-04-01T15:52:23.931-04:002012-04-01T15:52:23.931-04:00Thanks, Lizbeth, for your kind words. It means so ...Thanks, Lizbeth, for your kind words. It means so much to hear that artists are benefiting from my books. That makes all the hard work worth it!<br />Janet--For years I used the same 6-8 colors my teachers used, but when I began to study paint characteristics I saw that there were many choices that I could use if I tried to find the colors that worked best together. For example, I learned that colors with strong tinting strength took all the energy out of colors that couldn't stand up to them in a mixture. I test my colors for transparency, intensity, and tinting strength and when I'm ready to do a painting, I use no more than 3-6 colors. I like to work with fresh paint to get richer color and I mix and mingle the colors on wet paper before painting so I can be sure I get the colors I want. I'm so happy to inspire housewives, because I still am one and I know just how you feel!Nitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04750868814181958240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3449136435638889836.post-82729769678953897292012-04-01T11:15:45.068-04:002012-04-01T11:15:45.068-04:00Hi Nita, How do you decide what colours to use whe...Hi Nita, How do you decide what colours to use when you start a painting? Do you have the same colours you use all the time or do you vary it. You are an inspiration to all us housewives. JanetAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3449136435638889836.post-70392805128846515832012-04-01T09:44:35.533-04:002012-04-01T09:44:35.533-04:00We are delighted to welcome you Nita as our "...We are delighted to welcome you Nita as our "Artist of the month" and thank Ona for arranging this.<br /><br />At the watercolour classes I attend your books are referred to frequently by our artist teacher, also a great admirer of your work and techniques.<br /><br />I am looking forward to watching the blog for all the questions and answers coming from our lucky members.<br /><br />LizbethAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com