One Stroke Painting is FUN and EASY!!!
November 21, 2002
This has got to be, without a doubt, the EASIEST and most addictive craft I've accumulated to date!
These pictures are what I've done in the first 24 hours of picking up a paint brush and 'push, wiggle, lift'-ing my way into bliss.
I've never considered myself a painter. To be honest, I've never had the attention span it takes to learn everything one needs to know to start painting. I even tried the Bob Ross method once, and gave up when my mountains looked like they were melting and my happy little trees looked like rejects from the Charlie Brown Christmas Special.
I decided to stick to sketching!
But yesterday, while in Walmart, I was trying to find something to do other than what I should be doing (which is getting ready for a craft show next weekend. eep!) because I am a world class procrastinator. (Really! I've made it into an art form! My friends often stand in awe of what I'll accomplish when I'm supposed to be doing something else!)
Also, I'm recovering from a nasty bout of pneumonia and have the energy level of a sea snail. So I needed something new to focus on while I worked up to other stuff.
So here are a few of the results.
As you can see, I've been practicing, and here's my very first project!!!!
I got the plaque on sale at Michael's and came home, sat down, and knocked this out in less than an hour, including painting the plaque and drying time! I am hoping that I can find something to hang it with, so that I can put it either on our front door or hanging under the mailbox.
I can't wait for Sal to get home from work and see this one! He thinks this is the neatest thing. :)
Needless to say, I'll be exploring this wonderful new craft like you wouldn't believe over the next few months!
heeheehee Guess what everyone's getting for Christmas/Yule/winter holiday of their choice this year???
Method- I'm not going to tell how to do this, since it IS someone else's livelihood, but basically, One Stroke teaches you how to 'load' a paintbrush so that you get base color and highlights in one. The pictures are not *as* detailed as a regular painting would be, but I love the softness of them, the flow.
With practice, you can do something like the plaque above in less than an hour. It's a wonderful hobby to pick up, and keep supplies on hand for 'surprise' gifts. (Like when your significant other forgot to tell you about the dinner party tomorrow night, and you're expected to bring a gift, or when you are very low on cash and want to make things for people for Christmas. This is a VERY easy, fast way to knock out your entire Christmas list for less, and you'll give them handmade things that they'll treasure unless they have the appreciation of a gnat!)
What you need:
Brushes- I bought a crafter's pack of 10 brushes, ranging from script brushes to wide chisels. I would definitely recommend going ahead and spending the money to get the actual One Stroke brushes. They DO work better. I've done the testing for you. --grin--
You don't need but a few to make some really awesome artwork, and I only used three in the stuff on this page.
Books- Buy at LEAST one instructional book. Walmart and Michael's both have them, though to be honest, Walmart has the better selection, which I don't usually find to be the case with books!
I bought the Basic Strokes book. It was about $9, and has a LOT of good info on just getting started, practicing your strokes, blending the paint, etc. There are also quite a few practice pages. You put a sheet of laminate over it, tape it in place, and you can practice your strokes right over the ones Donna made. It's really a great way to learn it!
Paints- here's the good news! You're not going to spend a ton of money on paints. These are the good old acrylic Apple Barrel or Folk Art paints that Michael's sometimes puts on sale for 2/$1. They're less than a buck regular price at Walmart, and I think they're right around that at Michael's. You'll also need some floating medium, also available from Folk Art or one of the other similar manufacturers. Just check around in the same aisle. It will be grouped with the fixatives and adhesives, more than likely.
Another point that I just discovered... if you get the Apple Barrel Indoor/Outdoor paints, you can paint on glasses, vases, etc. You bake it right onto the glass and it holds up fairly well, though it's NOT food safe! (get the book on painting on glass. It's great!)
Paper- and lots of it! Fortunately, most of us web-savvy types have reams lying around. Just use the back of paper you've already printed. Heck of a way to recycle! :)
Once you're ready to do 'real' paintings, you'll find lots of things to paint on. That's the beauty of this method... you can paint murals on walls, little vines on chairs or picture frames, customize your own holiday feastware, etc.
That's about it! You'll need a few cups of water, one to rinse in, one to damped your brush. And for a palette, I've been using old Corelle ware plates. They wash off very easily, and are light enough not to stress your hand holding them for the paint. Paper towels are a Good Thing! Use them! Keep newspaper handy for spills and just keeping the paints from getting all over everything. If you paint like I do, you'll end up with strange splotches on your toe, and no memory of how it got there!
And just have fun with it! Look at the books! Donna Dewberry has a TON of good instructional books, videos, and you can look up your local PBS station to see when she'll be appearing on TV in your area.
Enjoy!
One Stroke Resource Page
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Okay, to update on the One Stroke painting... There's too much to try to add here, but needless to say, I've been busy!
here's the first rose I ever did... it's the first rose on this page, as well...
Now, take a look at the corkboards I did for the September craft show. This will hopefully give you an idea of how far I've come since that first day!
And take a look at the fruit I did today (January 20, 2004), just a little over a year later...
I've done several craft shows now, quite successfully, and have even had to subscribe to a PictureTrail account, to show all the stuff I've been working on.
To see more of my One Stroke and shots of the craft shows, please go to:
Hopefully, I'll get a chance to update THIS website soon, and get up to date! :)
