Kathleen’s Art Blog

As an experienced instructor, Kathleen shares tips, techniques, and tutorials for acrylics, oils, watercolor, and sketching. She also gives insights into her artistic adventures to encourage beginners to start, and the more experienced to continue, their artistic journies.

Kathleen Moore 4/11/19 Kathleen Moore 4/11/19

The Process of Painting

I always start a new quarter by explaining to my students how important it is that we develop a practice of simplification and analysis before beginning a drawing or painting. I have them do an exercise to find large simple shapes based on value within a reference image. This helps tremendously!

Kathleen Moore 9/19/18 Kathleen Moore 9/19/18

Composition

We look around us and see a beautiful arrangement of forms. The scene, whether it is in nature, a grouping of objects, such as a still-life, or a figure, catches our eye. We decide to draw or paint what we see.

Kathleen Moore 1/3/18 Kathleen Moore 1/3/18

Beginnings

I began a new painting today. The images inspiring this painting have been floating in my head for a couple of weeks, since I made a trip out to Dungeness Spit on the Olympic Peninsula. Standing on the shore facing the Strait

Kathleen Moore 10/9/17 Kathleen Moore 10/9/17

Get Synesthetic!

Put on a disk of Miles Davis or Weather Report, sit on the floor with a large sketchbook & markers and start drawing!

Immerse yourself in the abstract sounds of jazz. Feel the ups, downs and circular motions of the music. Notice the traveling quality of the beat. What color is the trumpet sound? Is the bass cool or