Acrylic painting with Westlake Academy and Linda Bein

I have been working with two third grade classes at Westlake Academy to complete paintings for the Westlake Gallery Night fund raiser.  Several professional artists helped the students create their class paintings. The third grade classes that I worked with chose Canada as their country, and landscapes to represent it.

"Ready for Battle" water media by Texas artist Linda Bein

"Ready for Battle"

 

"Ready for Battle" has been evolving over the years.  It started as a watercolor abstract, close your eyes and draw three big objects on your paper.  Look at it and add a few lines where needed.  Select your color scheme and paint.  Well, I didn't like what appeared, so I took I wet brush and got rid of all my hard edges. Then I decided to put some gold paint on it.  A sword and shield began to appear.  Now Ready for Battle is almost ready.

Meet "Oakely the King" Handpainted ornament by Linda Bein

Oakley was specially hand painted for someone in California, he sure is a handsome dog!  To bad I couldn't photograph it without the glare from the ornament!!!

"It's Snowing" experimental landscape painting by Texas artist Linda Bein

"It's Snowing!"

Experimental

11"x14"

$125

To purchase contact Linda at lindaabein@gmail.com

This painting was done as a demo during an adult art class.  I have several done in a similar process.  You take an old painting you don't like (never waste a piece of 140#  arches watercolor paper) or on a new sheet.  I used an old painting and collaged  tissue paper on it using gesso to mute the background colors.  After it is dry you look at the painting, turn it around a few times and start painting, reacting to the colors and texture that you have created.  You go with the flow and find inspiration from the painting in process or you can force it to a specific subject matter.  I usually feel a landscape emerging.  I do not normally paint out in the heat or the cold, but I love to be outside; maybe that is why I enjoy painting landscapes.  The most relaxing part of my day is outside in the morning and night with the dog feeding the horses, and of course scooping all that manure!!

"Snow Covered Boughs" watercolor painting by Linda Bein

"Snow Covered Boughs"

watercolor on yuppo paper

24"x26"

$495

email Linda at lindaabein@gmail. to purchase

I do miss the snow; it is pretty as it gently lands on the bare tree branches and  floats  to the ground.  But it is not usually that serene more like the wind whips up and you have white outs and driving is impossible and the snow drifts cover your door and the drive needs to be shoveled and I shouldn't forget the negative wind chills!!!! Gives me the chills just remembering those days up north!!! But it is pretty!

"Silent Night" watercolor by Texas artist Linda Bein

"Silent Night"

transparent watercolor

22"x15"

$215

There is something peaceful and restful in the new fallen snow.  It is so quiet, a good time to reflect on all those blessings that you are thankful for. It seemed an appropriate time of the year for  "Silent Night"; it was done as a monochromatic demo.  Next time I may put in an evergreen tree (of course it will be blue) and one big bright star in the sky.  I have also thought of  putting footprints in the foreground, disappearing as they go off into the night.  It is a good lesson in glazing layer upon layer of color.

"Frosty Reflections" watermedia painting by Texas artist Linda Bein

"Frosty Reflections"

11"x15"

water media

$125

"Frosty Reflections" was done as a demo in an adult art class.  I have a similar larger painting hanging in my studio that they wanted to paint.  We work on fundamentals each week and once a month choose a piece that is more abstract. We go with the flow, each one is always different, that's what makes it interesting.

Contact Linda at lindaabein@gmail.com