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Newsletter No. 2

Sue Dickinson Wildlife Art

Please note that some links below have EXPIRED

OCTOBER 2007

If you would like to see the 2nd Newsletter in its original format, select it below:

(10/23/2007 - Sue Dickinson Newsletter No. 2)

AWESOME NEWS!!!
A Special Award

My painting, "Zebras in the Dust" has just won the top award for excellence at the Society of Animal Artists' 47th Annual Exhibition in Denver, Colorado! If you missed my previous Newsletter, you can see the painting here


"Zebras in the Dust" detail


Results of the Leopard Print Poll

Two Winners!

Rare Beauty
"Rare Beauty"
"Time Out"

Thank you to everyone who voted for their favourite leopard. It was a tie – “Rare Beauty” and “Time Out” received the most votes, so I’m releasing both as new prints, in large and small sizes, all with a limited edition of 50. The very low limited edition means they'll sell fast and be more valuable as an investment than my other prints.

Yo Ho Ho!
Early Christmas Shopping!

OFFER HAS EXPIRED

His Majesty Lioness
"His Majesty"
"Lioness Among the Thorns"

I am offering a great deal as a 2007 Christmas Special. My large prints “His Majesty” and “Lioness Among the Thorns” will be available as a discounted pair for R2900 (a savings of R1000 – the retail price is R3900). This special offer will be applicable only until 30 November 2007. Please order soon.

Painting Tip

Green in Africa

I don’t use ready-mixed green paint for my wildlife paintings. Winsor & Newton Artists’ green paint is made in England, for those awesome lush green landscapes, so it’s too vivid for most African conditions. The strong African sun has a totally different quality. African artists – try mixing your own Greens in various combinations of any Blue (eg. French Ultramarine Blue) with any Yellow:
Blue >
Yellow >
= Mix
Ultramarine Cadmium Yellow Cadmium Mix
Ultramarine Blue >

Cadmium Yellow >

= Vibrant, bright green

Ultramarine Naples Yellow Naples Mix
Ultramarine Blue >

Naples Yellow >

= Soft green

Ultramarine Quinacridone Gold Quinacridone Gold
Ultramarine Blue >

Quinacridone Gold >

= My favourite green

Ultramarine Yellow Ochre Yellow Ochre Mix
Ultramarine Blue >

Yellow Ochre >

= African wild grass green

... and many other combinations of Blue and Yellow. I try to keep my Greens interesting by letting the paint mix on the page and varying the Blue to Yellow ratio.


Economy

I keep any unused paint on my palette and re-use the dried paint by wetting it again.


My Palette!

I am considering adding a Questions and Answers feature to these Newsletters. Please submit any questions via my Guestbook


Art Crooks
New!

I’ve often been conned by unscrupulous "art dealers", "buyers" and galleries. Now I will be adding a new bulletin page to my website where art fraud can be reported. If you’ve been the victim of an Art Crook, please send the details via my Guestbook.

I hope this information will help others, and maybe someone will recognise vanished paintings.

These are some of my paintings that have gone “missing”:

The above original watercolour painting was on show at Mukondeni Gallery in Kya Sands, Johannesburg and was not returned to me.

(Sorry, these little images are the only ones I have)

Clash of the Titans Family of Giants
"Clash of the Titans" 2001

"Family of Giants" 2001

Both of the original watercolour paintings above were taken on consignment by a man called Paul Smolders. He took several other paintings too and has disappeared. I was at fault because I didn't get any details from him, just waved my paintings goodbye. I live and learn. If you know where he is, please contact me via my Guestbook

Cresta Art Gallery in Johannesburg, South Africa. The owner, Malcolm Arnesen, has vanished, owing me a lot of money.

... and many more!

If you submit your Art Crook report, please be aware of the legal implications of libel. Be responsible. Your comments must be:
1. true
2. in the public interest.

The internet offers Art Crooks the opportunity to steal paintings long-distance. Artists, be cautious!


An Unforgiving Medium


If you make a mistake when painting with watercolour, chances are you’ll have to live with it. Very few oopses can be corrected. Rather, I try to work WITH the mistake. It may become a Happy Accident.



My painting “Moonbeam” is an example. I dropped paint above the leopard by mistake. I looked at it and liked the splashy effect, so I did some more, turning my paper upside down and encouraging the paint to run.



"Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes." - Oscar Wilde


Art Materials


Brushes
I use mainly flat brushes. I can use them freely for a full, broad stroke (below left)...

Flat brush

...and I can turn them on their side for more detailed painting, without having to pause to use a different brush.

Point brush

This discourages me from fussing - the Cardinal Sin of Watercolour Painting!


Painting Tip

I never leave watercolour brushes in my water jar. It damages the bristles and, over time, weakens the ferrule. I rinse watercolour brushes with water and a small amount of soap and lay them on a flat surface to dry.


My USA agent


Shawn De Rosa will be acting as my agent in the USA. His contact details are Shwderosa@aol.com and (305) 904-4984

Inspiration

Books
I have a page on my site dedicated to books that I recommend. It's my equivalent of going to lots of art exhibitions and being cross-pollinated with ideas. There are links to Amazon.com because if you order via my page, I get points towards buying new books. And that makes me happy.

Music
I’m a music nut. Music is always playing when I paint. It influences my painting by giving me energy (for big, loose, splashy work) or serenity (for detailed, careful work) and all the moods in between. So I’ve added some music that I love – it won’t appeal to everyone but it works for me!


Inspiration

Words

"Painting is the grandchild of nature. It is related to God."
- Rembrandt

"All true artists, whether they know it or not, create from a place of no-mind, from inner stillness."
- Eckhart Tolle
(That must be why I forgot my dentist's appointment!)

"Nature is not only all that is visible to the eye ... it also includes the inner pictures of the soul."
- Edvard Munch





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