Olivia shares some painting tips

_Elsa_

Olivia has a few more tips to share with them.

 ‘Let the paint drip - Load your brush with lots of dripping color and let it run down the surface of your painting as you apply it to the 'right' place. Don't tidy up the drips. They add a fluidity.

Try unrealistic colors - Instead of worrying whether you've got accurate colors, try some that are completely unrealistic. Paint a self-portrait in your favorite colors rather than skin tones. The result will probably be a lot more emotive – and certainly dramatic.

Paint with water - First paint your subject with clean water only (okay, not if you're using oils!). This familiarizes you with your subject. Then introduce color, which will flow into the wet areas. Don't try to stop the paint from spreading or worry about the colors becoming 'wrong'. Wait until you've finished, then see if you like the result.

Apply masking fluid - Masking fluid enables you to block out areas a watercolor so you don't have to worry about accidentally painting there. For example, instead of painstakingly trying to paint around the petals of a white daisy, paint the petals in masking fluid first. You can then paint freely safe in the knowledge that your white petals will appear pristine when you rub off the masking fluid (do it as soon as your painting is dry; it becomes harder to remove the longer it's on the paper).

Use a BIG brush - Painting with a big brush makes it hard to put down detail. A big brush encourages you to use your whole arm to make broad, sweeping strokes. Use a flat brush not a round one because you're wanting to increase significantly the width of the painting strokes you make.

Use a long brush - Take a stick at least a meter/yard long and tape it to the handle of your brush. Put a large piece of paper on the floor. Now paint. The long brush handle exaggerates the movement of your hand and arm, creating longer marks on the paper than you'd usually make. Don't fight this by trying to make smaller movements!’ (Source)

Olivia walks around looking at what they are all painting. She is so impressed that they caught on so quickly. They might want to consider posting their completed pictures in the Art Nook in the community.

The day is going quickly, and they are all exhausted, but happy exhausted. Time to end it for the day! They all help to clean up the room. Olivia tells them that they can continue practicing what they have learned today at home. She tells them that she’ll get back to them when she can reserve this room again.

Let’s continue - Why Art and Creativity Are Important

Start at the beginning – Olivia teachers her friends how to paint