Lightness and Darkness

Scott DochertyArt News, Art Tips & Tricks

Here is something I heard years ago, and I paraphrase here.   Watercolorists like to pull form out of light, (light being the pure unpainted paper.) Whereas, oil painters like to pull form out of darkness,  (ie, Black or color close to black.) I feel most successful with watercolor when I do small spontaneous pieces that are not designed.  With oil paint, …

Visiting the Southwest

Scott DochertyArt News, Personal

I just returned from a short trip to New Mexico to look at art, paintings in particular. We visited galleries in Santa Fe,Taos and Albuquerque. I got a good intense dose of Southwest art. Art is BIG there. Landscapes featuring mountains, rock formations, indigenous people, horses, cattle, cowboys, cowgirls and ravens are favorite subjects, and sometimes whimsy. Abstract art, not …

Help When You Need It 

Scott DochertyArt News, Art Tips & Tricks, Personal

Many years ago, I was doing a job for the Clackamas County Library Headquaters in Oregon City.  As I was struggling on a ladder to do the exterior lettering, an older man stood watching me.  Why aren’t you using a pounce pattern?” He asked.  “What’s that?” I replied.  He explained that in a pounce pattern, you draw your design or lettering on …