“Living Sand Dollar” is a simple shape, a circle. As a circle is round, painting this shape follows the same basic principles as painting other round objects, such as oranges. However, since the object is mostly flat, creative shadows and highlights emphasize the edges and create an illusion of dimension.…
Painting nostalgia invokes wistful yearning for the past using generational clues, natural time markers and vintage compositions. “My Parents’ Wedding Day”, is a remembrance painting. Viewers know that this art is a period piece through the depiction of artifacts (my father’s military uniform and my mom’s now-vintage wedding dress) as…
Painting optimism is conveyed through the confident use of vibrant colors, committed textures, and open compositions. Children often have an easier time painting boldly than adults do. For adults who are reluctant to let their paints loose on the canvas, it may be a helpful exercise to view children’s art,…
Dynamic painting is kinetic; the act of painting it, the subject, and the composition exude high energy as it relates to movement, change and vigor. In “Painting Colors“, you can see in the video that the physical act of painting the abstract paint splotches is active exercise, high energy. So…
Allegorical paintings represent abstract concepts through pictorial symbols and extended metaphors. Artists paint one thing, while meaning another, or might literally paint allegories- as in, the painting depicts well known literary allegories. In which case, perhaps the art is a “double” allegory. Allegories are stories and symbols of moral importance,…
Artists create illusions. When painting in perspective, some objects appear nearer to the viewer while others recede into the background. In reality, the paint is on an even plane, a flat canvas. Shapes are stretched and skewed, which makes parts of the picture look to be in the distance, while…
Oil Paintings by artist Natalie Buske Thomas, time lapse paintings to watch her paint these works. Topic: how to depict the act of thinking in a painting. Contemplation may involve thoughtfulness, observation, gazing upon, prayer, or meditation. Painting an abstract concept such as “lost in thought” pushes an artist to…
When we feel that someone may be resentful toward us, it’s difficult to be spiritually, emotionally and therefore even physically, at rest. My mom was a very private person who suffered indignities at the hospital. She would have been mortified to realize everything that happened to her, and for many…
Whether a self-portrait of an artist is depicted as an Observer, Participant or the Star, a painting that reveals a glimpse of the artist and the timeline shared by all who occupy it, is a historical marker. Sharing one’s life with others adds to the tapestry of this universe that…
"Fred" is a collection of oil paintings and a children's book to inspire creative children to always believe in yourself and never give up. Childhood and life story of the artist Natalie Buske Thomas, with time lapse videos to watch her paint the art.