Finding The Beauty On The Mundane

It was a rainy fall day in Florida. I was working on a portrait commission at my home studio with the patio door open, listening to the raindrops falling on the pavers. Inside the house, the lights were on, since the clouds were overcasting the daylight. I was working on three commissions at the time, and my home studio seemed like a factory line. The commissions were line up one after the other. I planned to work two hours on each commission each day. This approach was helping me advance the projects as well as letting the oil paint dry. 

In one of my breaks, while cleaning my brushes and walking in the kitchen to grab something to eat, something caught my eye. It was an onion. And onion? Yes, a simple creamish orangy onion. As I got closer to the counter to see the onion, I noticed that the onion had two straight leaves growing out of it. It was so beautiful, and at that moment, I sensed love flowing on my soul. Why would an onion make me feel like that? It is a mundane vegetable, which I bought to eat. Could it be that seeing the two leaves growing from the onion had made me realized that the onion is still alive? That is not dead. A sign of life: leaves. The start of a plant. The beginning of a life cycle. Maybe, I am too romantic, but I love life, and being a spectator of a sign of life had brought me happiness to my heart. 

I grabbed the onion and put it aside from the other onions. Of course, I talked to the onion and told it, “You are so cute.” Then, I sat on my painting chair, moved my commissions aside, and placed the onion in front of me. I knew I was supposed to be working on the commissions, but I needed a break too, and 25 minutes of contemplation of a beautiful moment of life is worth it the procrastination. So, I painted the onion on cardboard and left the background blank. 

Now comes the dilemma. I know I bought the onion to eat it. But now, I can’t. It is alive. It has made it all the way here, and it is showing signs of life; I cannot chop it and eat it. I am going to help it. I will plant it and let it grow. If it made it this far, why not allow it to develop fully. Maybe it gives me more onions. 

If art has taught me something is to be observant, and in the observation process, find the beauty on the mundane, the simplistic, routine, or an onion. I am very grateful I was given the opportunity in this life to become an artist since I have learned to see the world with the eye of curiosity, love, and beauty. If more people would see the world with eyes of grace, maybe we could all find love to help heal our planet and help each other instead of fighting with one another. Perhaps “Finding The Beauty On The Mundane” will help us reconnect with our souls and beauty in others and ourselves. To make a better world, let us find the beauty in the mundane. 

Vanessa Montenegro 

 For more information about my art and my classes, visit vanessamontenegro.com

Follow me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/vanessa.montenegro.artist

Follow my daily art post on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanessasartstudio/

©2020 Vanessa Montenegro

All photos, images, and text are copyright protected. Not to be used without permission.

Summer Camps and Art Workshops at Vanessa's Art Studio

Art Summer Camps for Kids and Teens:


I am offering summer art camps this year in June and July.




Week 1: June 3 - June 7 

Drawing Morning Sessions 10:30 am to 12:00 pm. $125

Drawing and Painting Afternoon Sessions 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm $125

Week 2: June 10 - June 14

Drawing Morning Sessions 10:30 am to 12:00 pm $125

Manga/Illustration Afternoon Sessions 2:00pm to 3:30pm $125

Week 3: June 17 - June 21

Drawing Characters, Superheroes & Heroines Morning Sessions 10:30 am to 12:00 pm $125

Digital Art Character Design Afternoon Sessions 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm $125

Camps Week 4: June 24 - June 27

Drawing and Coloring Animals Morning Sessions 10:30 am to 12:00 pm $100

Watercolor, Markers, and Ink Techniques Afternoon Sessions 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm $100

Camps Week 5: July 8 - July 11

Drawing from Observation Morning Sessions 10:30 am to 12:00 pm $100

Sketchbook Project Ideas Afternoon Sessions 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm $100

Camps Week 6: July 15 - July 18

Art - 5 Different Mediums Morning Sessions 10:30am to 12:00pm $100

Drawing and Painting Afternoon Sessions 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm $100

Camps Week 7: July 29th - August 1st

Learn How To Make Collage Paintings! Morning Sessions 10:30 am to 12:00 pm $100

3D Sculpture Afternoon Sessions 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm $100 



Adult Summer Workshops


I have created another series of the adult summer workshop for 2019. Please mark your calendars. 

• Watercolor, Markers, and Ink Techniques Friday, May 31st 9:00 am to 4 pm

• Drawing from Observation Friday, June 28th 9:00 am to 4 pm

• Adult Workshop Drawing the Human Face Proportions Friday, July 12th 1 9:00 am to 4 pm 

• Creating Skin Tones with Oils August 2nd 9:00 am to 4 pm 

• Creating Skin Tones with Pastel Pencils Part 1 August 9th  9:00 am to 4 pm

• Life Figure Drawing Workshop Sunday, August 11th 10 am to 4 pm (live model on the second half of the session)

• Basic Pastel Lesson for Landscapes. August 16th 9:00 am to 4:00 pm 

• Palette Knife Friday, August 30th 9:00 am to 4 pm

• Sketchbook Project Friday, September 6th 9:00 am to 3:00 pm




Summer Schedule:


You can not come to our summer camps or workshops? Join us in our regular classes. I have weekly once a week classes for kids, teens, and adults. 



For more information about our programs visit vanessamontenegro.com or email me to info@vanessamontenegro.com

Vanessa Montenegro

For more information about my art and my classes, visit vanessamontenegro.com

Follow me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/vanessa.montenegro.artist

Follow my daily art post on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanessasartstudio/

©2019 Vanessa Montenegro

All photos, images and text are copyright protected. Not to be used without permission.




Using Thumbnail Sketches

When students tell me, "Miss Vanessa, I have an idea for a painting/drawing. It is all in my head. How do I start?" My answer is straightforward, "Did you draw your thumbnails sketches?" Most of them answered no. When I ask why they haven't done them, their answer is always because that takes extra time. Yes, it is true that drawing thumbnails sketches add more time to the creative process. However, using thumbnails sketches can help artist formulate ideas, make important decisions before the artist start on his/her painting and resolve compositional questions.

What are Thumbnail Sketches?

Thumbnail sketches are quick small drawings that enable students to explore the different aspects of the composition such as space, color, texture, light source, mood, and tones. It also helps the artist explore various formats, crops, and surfaces. By drawing thumbnails sketches, the artist explores the subject in depth and experiment the composition and all its elements in different ways helping the artist identify the most effective way to organize an image that grabs the attention of the viewer. By using a thumbnail sketch will also help resolve any problems of size, shape, and format before beginning the painting or drawing.

How many thumbnail sketches do you usually need?

I recommend at least two — ideally three. Once you create three, you can narrow down to the one that you most like.

What media should I use?

You can do it with any media. A pencil is a great tool to explore rapid sketches. Ink helps with quick drawing and can be more energetic.

Should I use color? 

Not for your first draft but you can use it later as you have a more clear idea of what you want.

How much detail should my thumbnail sketch have?

Simple lines and placement. No details. It is only a quick roadmap to understanding how your art will be placed on your canvas.

For more information on art classes visit my website https://www.vanessamontenegro.com/art_classes.html

8 Morning Routines That Have Helped Me Become A More Effective Artist.

A couple of weeks ago, Lauren, one of my art students, told me that she was reading a book called “Daily Rituals: How Artists Work” by Mason Currey. The book profiles briefly 161 artists (novelists, painters, poets, philosophers, filmmakers, and scientists) and focuses on how they made time each day to do their work. Fascinating! I got myself a copy.


As I made it through the book, I began to think about my routines and what works for me and put together my list.  Here it is:


What are the eight-morning routines that have helped me become a more effective artist?

1) Waking Up Early Before Sunrise

I love waking up early when the sky is still dark full of stars, and the moon is still dancing around. It is a very quiet time of the day, and there are no distractions. Waking up early gives me the time to exercise, meditate, clean and plan before I start working.


2) Exercise

When I exercise early morning, the routine of exercise refreshes my mind and releases stress. By the time I am finishing exercising, I feel a sense of accomplishment and ready to focus on any task.


3) Meditation

It gives me the ability to view things differently and helps me concentrate during the day. I try to do a meditation that focuses on gratitude.


4) Thinking Time

Going for a peaceful walk with my dog, as I listen to the sounds of nature and look at the beauty of nature is part of my thinking time. My thinking time is a special moment of the day. It is the moment with my best friend, my dog, who has been my loyal companion for the last 20+ years. My thinking time is time for appreciation and thinking.  It is time for processing and bouncing ideas in my head. Some of my best writing and artwork ideas have come from these moments.


5) Cleaning Time

After feeding my pets, it is cleaning time. 45 minutes of organizing and cleaning. A clean home and clean workplace help my brain focus on the task of the day. When things are disorganized, and the house isn't clean, I cannot manage to focus on my artwork or any particular job.


6) Setting Goals For The Day

Write a set of goals for the day on a piece of paper. After organizing, I sit down to write what I want to accomplish that day. I always write a big list, but I know that I will only get to the first three on the list. The other will be rewritten every day until they are accomplishing.


7) Work on my artwork daily

Art is like a sport. If you want to become better, what do you need to do? Practice. Practice. Practice. Well, art is the same. You must work on it every day. If you don't have much time during the day, what should you do? Even if you work every day on your art for 15 to 30 minutes, you will see results.


8) Learn something every day

I like to learn something new every day. I read, listen to a podcast or audiobook, or watch YouTube videos. I like to be efficient with my time, so I either do it while I am exercising at the gym or when I am painting or drawing.


These are my daily routines. They have helped me enormously in getting into my artist zone and connecting with my creative soul.  Every time I skip my routines, even part of it, I feel like I cannot work as well and I am not as productive. It has taken some time to figure out what worked for me. But once I found the formula, it has made an enormous difference in my creative process.

Maybe this inspired you, or perhaps you want to share your routines with me. Go ahead and share in the comments below.

Vanessa Montenegro

For more information about my art and my classes, visit vanessamontenegro.com
Follow me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/vanessa.montenegro.artist
Follow my art post on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanessasartstudio/
Buy my art at https://www.etsy.com/shop/vanessamontenegro

©2017 Vanessa Montenegro

All photos, images and text are copyright protected. Not to be used without permission.

How to clean paint brushes?

How to clean paint brushes?

Some of my students have asked me to write a blog on how to clean paint brushes. Since I teach both acrylics and oils, below, you will find tips on how to clean acrylics and oil brushes.

Acrylics:
How to keep your brushes clean while painting?
Keep a big jar filled with water. Every time you finish using a brush, wipe it with a paper towel or rag and wash it right away to avoid paint drying on the bristles. Then dry it and set it aside while you work with another brush.  Don't let the paint dry on your brush since it makes it harder to remove the paint from the bristles.

How to keep your brushes clean after you finish painting for the day?
Place the brush bristles in between a paper towel or rag and squeeze out the excess paint. Dip and wash the brush around in your cup of water to release any leftover paint. Gently take off the excess water. Then, take the brush to the sink, hold it under warm water and massage the bristles with soap. After you finish rinsing out the soap, wrap the brush bristles in a paper towel or a rag, and squeeze to release water. Let the brush dry horizontally on a table or place on a glass jar with the bristles facing up.

For Oils (walnut oil users only): 
In the studio, we use non-toxic oils made out of walnut oil. We don't use any medium other than walnut oil. So this method only applies to the walnut oil users, and not for all other oil paints.

How to keep your brushes clean while painting? 
While painting, keep two jars filled with walnut oil. To clean your brush, first, wipe the brush with a rag trying to take the excess paint off the brush. Then, dip the brush into the first jar of oil rubbing vigorously to remove any color. With the rag, wipe the oil from the brush again and dip the brush into the second jar to remove any remaining color. Finally, wipe your brush with your rag to remove any remaining oil and complete the process.

What if I am done working on my artwork for the day? 
Since walnut oil dries slowly, the same method described above can be used at the end of the day. The only difference is to make sure that there is no residual paint left on the bristles.

What if I am not going to be working on my artwork for a couple of days or weeks? 
First, use the same method mention above. Then, wash your brushes with mild soap and water. I prefer to wash them with biodegradable dishwasher soap ( like Mrs. Meyer's Dish Soap) and warm water. After washing the brushes, I dry them with a towel, and either sit them flat on my painting table or facing up on a glass container.

Before I start painting, I always dip my brushes in the oil and clean them to relax the bristles.

I hope you find this information useful.

Vanessa Montenegro

For more information about my art and my classes, visit vanessamontenegro.com
Follow me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/vanessa.montenegro.artist
Follow my daily art post on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanessasartstudio/
Buy my art at https://www.etsy.com/shop/vanessamontenegro

©2017 Vanessa Montenegro
All photos, images and text are copyright protected. Not to be used without permission.

An Easy Strategy To Reach Your Artistic Goals

Are you looking to paint more paintings this year? Are you looking to make your life an artist masterpiece? Maybe, this is the year you stop procrastinating and start creating more art. Perhaps, you want to create the ultimate portfolio that stands out of the crowd. No matter what artist goals you want to achieve, here is an easy strategy to reach your artistic goals.

If you are like most people, by mid-January early February, you are ready to quit your New Year's resolution and go back to square one and to the old habits. So, how can you prevent this from happening in 2017? Let me share with you a trick I learned years ago. Rather than just focusing on the final goal, focus on what you do every day. Don't concentrate on the end goals so much but instead put more emphasis on what daily and weekly practices you can put into action. This doesn't mean that you don't set goals to draw or paint ten masterpiece during the year. It’s much more fundamental than that. It’s about learning how to develop new habits by a shift in perspective. It’s daily and weekly small changes that can lead to shifts in behavior, and accumulate over time to create one massive transformation.

So what are weekly and daily actions you can take to build art progress in your life?
How about getting in the habit of working on your sketchbook every day?
Students that get in the habit of working on their sketchbooks every day tend to progress faster than students that don't have a sketchbook.
How about being committed to attending art class on a weekly basis?
Students that consistently come to class on a weekly basis see progress on their art much faster than students that show up once in a while.

How about practicing on the daily basis what you learned in class weekly?

Students that consistently practice what they learned in class see faster results than those who never do homework. 

So set your daily or weekly habit today and see amazing artists results in the future.

Best,



Vanessa Montenegro

For more information about my art and my classes, visit vanessamontenegro.com
Follow me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/vanessa.montenegro.artist
Follow my daily art post on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanessasartstudio/
Buy my art at https://www.etsy.com/shop/vanessamontenegro

©2017 Vanessa Montenegro
All photos, images and text are copyright protected. Not to be used without permission.

Painting From Your Mind Rather Than From a Photo or Observation.

Painting from one's mind rather than a photograph or observation can be tough. However, if you focus, it could be one of the most rewarding gifts to an artist. The ability to put on paper or canvas what he/she sees in his/her mind  doesn’t come easy for everyone. But with a little bit of training, programming, observation and emotion anyone can achieve it.

This weekend I ran the Ragnar Trail Relay at Alafia River State Park. It was an amazing race and the trails were spectacular. But just before the race started, my beloved iPhone died. At first, I was disappointed because I wanted to take pictures of the different trails I was about to run. But then, I realized that it was going to be better not having a phone since it would free my hands, in case I tripped over a root (famous on these trails) and it will be an excellent opportunity to train my brain to capture the moment visually and recreate it in my studio.

Well, so what to do? My phone was dead. How was I going to record what I saw? I decided to try to record the amazing beauty by just using my memory. When I saw something spectacular, I looked at it and looked at it and told my brain to record as much info as you can. I would focus on the light, the colors and textures and what I was feeling in that moment. I felt that the emotion would anchor it more in by being. When there is emotion in an action, our brains record the moment better as part of survival instinct. I had to do this while running because I had a teammate waiting for me at the transition. I did this exercise on every consecutive leg I had to run. Yes, I had to run three different trails at three different times of the day (afternoon, night and sunrise). Lucky me, I am a slow runner so I got to observe more than all the Speedy Gonzalez's that passed me. Also, lucky me again, when I ran I had amazing light, even at night. With the eyes of an artist everything always looks amazing.

So did my experiment worked? Was I able to recreate what I saw on the trails?

On Sunday afternoon, since I couldn't do much because I was all sore, I focused on painting. I was amazed how much I could remember. I couldn't stop painting. Just that afternoon, I painted from memory more than half a dozen small paintings. The images were stuck in my brain and flowing through my hands onto the carton. I didn't look for any reference. I didn't want any distraction or influences on my fresh memories. I focused on remembering everything I felt while running. I know that probably the memories aren't completely photographic images or realistic. But I love them. They tell the story of my race and what I saw and felt in the moment. They are the images recorded in my head painted on a carton and my story of wonderful race.


So here are my "Little Sketches for Big Ideas" from memory. I hope you enjoy them and see the Ragnar Trail Relay at Alafia River State Park, through the eyes of an artist who happens to run very slow and who records the beauty in the moment through her eyes of her memories.

To buy my "Little Sketches for Big Ideas", visit
Thank you for readying this post.

Vanessa Montenegro

For more information about my art and my classes, visit vanessamontenegro.com
Follow me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/vanessa.montenegro.artist
Follow my daily art post on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanessasartstudio/
Buy my art at https://www.etsy.com/shop/vanessamontenegro

©2016 Vanessa Montenegro
All photos, images and text are copyright protected. Not to be used without permission.