Montana Artworking by Cindy Betka

The Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art has accepted 2 of my oil paintings for their annual art auction. I am very pleased. The auction is a premiere social event in north central Montana connecting art collectors with the region’s finest artists, set against the backdrop of lively music, good food and drink. The 19th Annual Art Auction will take place in Great Falls, Montana, Saturday, April 9, 2016. Proceeds from the event support the museum’s exhibitions and related educational programs. Blue Flow,  Oil, 16" X 20" Clapping Leaves,  Oil, 20" X 16"

Are you a timid artist? I believe most of us are perhaps depending on where we are in the creating process. I find that I overcome timidity when I am at a point of frustration. My thoughts are that something must give with this painting. So just take a drastic step. Here I load my brush with a nice rich color and make a bold stroke. I figure it is just a piece of paper or canvas with some paint on it. What do I have to lose, besides the hours of work I already have into the work. OK, sometimes it works, sometimes it does not. Surprisingly, most of the time I discover just what that painting needed and it works in a good way. Well, below is my progress on that large watercolor/mixed media triptych. Still working on it and still overcoming the timidity. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.  John 14:27

Still Life with Pie, Silver Ewer and Crab by Willem Claeszoon Heda (1658) Oil on canvas Frans Hals Museum , Haarlem Black Paint Types: Ivory Black Made from inorganic synthetic carbon black and Calcium Phosphate. First called Bone Black was invented by the Romans using burnt animal bones. For a nice good grade they began using ivory instead of the animal bones. Ivory Black has a higher carbon content than Bone Black giving it better intensity. Technical investigation of Rembrandt's paintings has been conducted by Hermann Kühn in 1977. The pigment analyses of some thirty paintings have shown that Rembrandt's palette consisted of the following pigments: lead white, various ochres, Vandyke brown, bone black, charcoal black, lamp black, vermilion, madder lake, azurite, ultramarine, yellow lake and lead-tin-yellow. Self-Portrait with Beret and Turned-Up Collar (1659), National Gallery of Art , Washington, D.C Lamp Black Carbon Black first made with burning

The basic types of white oil paint are the following. Titanium White This is the most opaque and whitest white. Widely used. Flake White Traditionally this white was made using lead flakes. Some manufacturers include zinc. It has nice flexibility and faster drying. Zinc White Not as opaque which is good for glazing. The consistency is quite stiff. Depending on the manufacture, types of white paint can differ slightly. There are mixes of white paints available that give you in-between qualities. Other paints maybe mixed with mica for a opalescent look. It is best to read the manufacturer’s descriptions and experiment. I have included a few details of my paintings where white was used a great deal. I use a titanium white that has some zinc in it.