Merry Christmas

Afrikaans - "Geseënde Kersfees en ‘n Voorspoedige Nuwe Jaar."

Arabic - "I'd Miilad Said Oua Sana Saida"

Argentine - "Felices Pasquas Y felices ano Nuevo"

Armenian - "Shenoraavor Nor Dari yev Pari Gaghand"

Basque - Eguberri on

Bohemian - "Vesele Vanoce"

Breton - "Nedeleg laouen na bloavezh mat"

Bulgarian - "Tchestita Koleda; Tchestito Rojdestvo Hristovo"

Chinese - [Mandarin] - "Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan"

Chinese - [Catonese] - "Saint Dan Fai Lok"

Cornish - "Nadelik looan na looan blethen noweth"

Croatian - "Sretan Bozic i Nova Godina" (Merry Christmas & Happy New Year)

Czech - "Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny Novy Rok"

Danish - "Glædelig Jul"

Dutch - "Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar"

Inupiaq Eskimo (Kotzebue area in NW Alaska)- Quvianagli Anaiyyuniqpaliqsi suli Nakuuluni Ukiutqiutiqsi-
(Merry Christmas) (and) (Happy New Year)

English - "Merry Christmas"

Estonian - "Haid joule ja head uut aastat"

Farsi - "Cristmas-e-shoma mobarak bashad"

Filipino-"Maligayang Pasko"

Happy New Year in Filipino.."Manigong Bagong Taon"

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in Filipino- "Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon"

Finnish - "Hyvaa joulua"

French - "Joyeux Noël"

German - "Froehliche Weihnachten"

Greek - "Kala Christouyenna"

Hawaiian - "Mele Kalikimaka"

Hebrew - "Mo'adim Lesimkha. Chena tova"

Hindi - "Shub Naya Baras"

Hungarian - "Kellemes Karacsonyi unnepeket"

Icelandic - "Gledileg Jol"

Indonesian - "Selamat Hari Natal"

Iraqi - "Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah"

Irish - "Nollaig Shona Dhuit"

Italian - "Buone Feste Natalizie"

Japanese -" Shinnen omedeto, kurisumasu omedeto. The first part is translated "Happy New Year.
Kurisumasu omedeto means Merry Christmas.
Japanese people generally add the expression gozaimasu to indicate soemm humility.

Korean - "Sung Tan Chuk Ha"

Latvian - "Prieci'gus Ziemsve'tkus un Laimi'gu Jauno Gadu"

Lithuanian - "Linksmu Kaledu"

Navajo - "Merry Keshmish"

Norwegian - "God Jul"

Pennsylvania German - "En frehlicher Grischtdaag un en hallich Nei Yaahr"

Polish - "Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia"

Portuguese - "Feliz Natal" "Boas Festas"(Good Holidays.)

Rumanian - "Sarbatori Fericite"

Russian - "Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva s Novim Godom"

Serbian - "Hristos se rodi"

Slovakian - "Sretan Bozic or Vesele vianoce"

Samoan - "La Maunia Le Kilisimasi Ma Le Tausaga Fou"

Scots Gaelic - "Nollaig chridheil huibh"

Serb-Croatian - "Sretam Bozic. Vesela Nova Godina"

Slovak - "Vesele Vianoce. A stastlivy Novy Rok"

Slovene - "Vesele Bozicne. Screcno Novo Leto"

Spanish - "Feliz Navidad"

Swedish - "God Jul and (Och) Ett Gott Nytt År"

Tahitian -Merry Chrismas :" Ia orana te Noera"and Happy new year is "Ia orana i te mata iti api"

Thai - "Sawadee Pee Mai"

Turkish - "Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun"

Ukrainian - "Z Rizdvom Khrystovym !" - "Merry Christmas"" Z Novym Rokom !" - "Happy New Year"

"Z Rizdvom Khrystovym i Novym Rokom !" - both greetings together.

Vietnamese - "Chuc Mung Giang Sinh"

Welsh - "Nadolig Llawen"

Yugoslavian - "Cestitamo Bozic"

Special Thanks to contributors to this page: Triin N and Annalene Groenewald.


Happy Holidays........Joni

Quiz: What is the difference between Titanium White and Zinc White?
Answer: Zinc White is more transparent than Titanium White. There are a few other differences between the two. These white paints are used in acrylic and oil painting. Watercolor has a Chinese White, but generally the white paper is reserved for the whites in watercolor painting.

Titanium White: 
( Also known as Permanent White). It is the most common, can be more chalky, can be used as a primer and pigment, has a strong covering power as it is more opaque making it great for highlights. It is relatively "cool" and dries faster than Zinc White.
Flake White: 
(Also known as Lead White or Silver White...can be harmful is swallowed). This is the oldest of the whites. It is very opaque and relatively "warm".  It is made from white lead and is suitable for building up an impasto (a technique of applying paint thickly). It is comparatively quick-drying, durable and flexible. It speeds up the drying  time of other pigments.
Zinc White: It has a pure, cold-white appearance that is most transparent, fairly intense, but subject to cracking when dry. Great for magnificent tints and glazing. It dries slowly. It is relatively "cool".
Superba White: This is an improved form of Titanium White made with artist quality oil that is non-yellowing. Very opaque and "cool".


Karen, sent this site to read comments on this subject by different artist. The site is a fun one to keep in your favorites....It is called Wet Canvas....
http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=577921.


Happy Painting.

 Quiz: What is the difference between Titanium White and Zinc White?   
  
I opened the curtains today to see about 9" of snow...to think there wasn't much of any on Saturday. Two nights ago the low was 11*. I brushed the snow off the satellite  dish, with my long pole with the toilet cleaner brush on the end) so I could turn on the computer and get Internet....Hi.  



Winter Challenge: Paint the snow, if you have any at your home, or paint using these photos as your guideline. Remember snow has lots of colors...purple, blue, peach, gray etc, not just gray and white. Spray on some colors too. Go out and give winter Plein Air Painting a try (or from a nice warm photo). When cold weather Plein Air Painting...try adding some Gin to your paints so they don't freeze...(a little for yourself, if you are into it).  So, take a try at painting snow.         

                                In Memory:

         Newtown, Connecticut.

and my hometown:
      Portland, Oregon.

Quote: "Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself."....George Bernard Shaw...Irish Playwright

Viewer Contribution: 

Liz Hubbard:

Liz is one of my Intermediate student/artist. I'm always amazed how involved she is with her world and community. She keeps busy with her family's large sheep ranch, fleece, painting etc etc etc...! (click her web site at right)

Below is a painting...mix media...she started during our last class of the term. I was afraid I would not get to see it finished...but here it is. How wonderful !!!  She did so well and I'm so happy to see it.  I felt she was on to something.

Liz's statement:   

"In our intermediate painting class with Joni we often tease her about trying to turn us to the dark side, or trying to bring out our inner dark.  That is because her most often heard advice is “more darks.” 

In this piece I have taken  tissue paper colored with pencil, tore pieces and glued them to a canvas board to collage a sheep cameo.  To finish I added detail with a charcoal pencil.  I did the finish work at home and I kept hearing Joni say, “more darks.”  I added more darks, several times, and after calling the piece finished I think perhaps it still might need “more darks.”

It was an interesting study; working in just shading, starting with the lightly shaded scraps of paper and working to the darker.  The idea came from a book called Painting Shapes and Edges."

In response to her statement :... "I can (always) say more "darks"...but she doesn't  have to add any if she doesn't feel it needs more. The head pops out forward, there is a light source, the eyes talk to me...I want to reach out and touch.

Thanks for the inspiration."

Thank you.

Blog Views: This week, so far, the countries looking at Art Tidbits are from: USA, Romania, Germany & Austria.  International viewers...please write your comments or email your artwork....we would all enjoy hearing from you.

Personal Note: I am back taking classes for myself. Distance Education and online classes are a wonderful thing.  I have been a teacher now much longer than I have been a student....so going back to having lessons, assignments and tests is new for me after all these years. I'm finding it exciting and a little daunting. School takes a lot of time....now there is less time for 
creating art.  :( 

This month, I'm without students or classes to teach...being the holiday vacation between terms. I do feel the loss of time spent, the inspiration, the comradeship, the friendliness. There's also the different frame of mind...not gathering supplies or samples for class...and the regrouping on my time management. Which has brought me to write about "Balance".

Balance: Balance is my hardest word to deal with in life. In a perfect world, one would be able to have enough time to do everything with as much time needed for each project or task. Sign me up!!! When working alone in one's own studio, one must balance their time and usually that balance goes by the way of "things that need to be done" route....not the "my studio time comes first" route. If left up to my own devices, I would be in my studio 24/7....but when I return back to the main part of my home and see the dirty dishes, needed vacuuming and worse of all...it's 9pm and I forgot the cats are still outside....I know "Balance" isn't in-balance. Art making can be a lonely world...we artist tend to work alone in our creating spaces and therefore, we don't get outside feed back, we fight for time to do our art and inspiration can become stalled. The less we create, the harder it is to get back into it.

My "Balance" solution is....I divide my day by hours. Sure, some days the balance goes heavy for one thing over another...like some days or weeks maybe 90% goes to one task (like house cleaning because company will be here soon) but tomorrow, maybe more 60% house chores/whatever and 40% will be studio time. Where I get in trouble is when I let the needed tasks get the majority of my time and studio time gets less and less or no time at all.

So try to tame the Balance Devil...try graphing out your day on paper....give each task/project it's own time slot. Stick with it. You'll feel better that you gave at least a little to a lot.

How do you Balance Your Time Management?  Write or comment letting me know your Balance Solution....I'm interested.

Student Art:

Jean:

Jean, a student in my Intermediate Class, has been pushing herself to draw her subjects and to paint belong the local color. The local color of this duck is yellow, but she is learning that many colors can be used to get the depth, contrast and pop!!

Thanks !!!

Quote: "If Not Now...When?" (unknown).


Student Art:

Byrnie:
Brynie has another great painting for Show and Tell.  This was done by observing the actual 
artichoke .

Thanks !

Student Art:

Karen:

Karen has been in my classes for many years. She was already into the arts and her Mother was an artist...but I have seen some amazing steps that Karen has been taking. She has become fearless, experimental and a positive influence to the rest of the class. Below is another one of her beautiful watercolor paintings.

Thank you !!!

Blog Views: There has been over 1000 views. This week so far, the views came from...US, United Kingdom, Germany, South Korea & Philippines.

Quiz: What is vernissage?
Answer: A private preview of an art exhibition before it opens for public viewing.
                      (How long have we lived and not known this word??? New to me!!!).

Student Art:

Bonnie:
Bonnie is in my Beginning Watercolor Class. She had never painted before taking this class. The below painting is her 3rd or 4th painting ever. We were studying reflections, mountains and clouds.
She seems to really enjoy painting and I hope our paths cross again.

Thank you, Bonnie

Student Art:

Patty:

Patty is in my Beginning Watercolor Class. She has painted before and knows a lot about it...she just needed to get reintroduced and gain more confidence. 
We were studying oceans and below is her painting. 

In watercolor, the painter must reserve the whites of the paper to have any white showing in the finished painting....there is no white pigment in watercolor. It takes planing to know where those whites are to be placed. Patty used a white crayon to resist the paint and leave the whites. She marked her watercolor paper with the crayon before putting any paint on her paper. Masking fluid, candles, masking tape & crayons can be used as the resist. 

Thanks, Patty

Welcome back. I hope everyone had a great holiday. 

Blog Views: United States, United Kingdom & Poland.

Quiz: What is a vernissage?

Shapes:
A few people have asked how to find the shapes for a painting. This is in regards to the Nov. 16 posting, when students painted upside down. Below, I have outlined the main shapes in blue and then broke down the main shapes into smaller shapes and they are in red. The shapes do need to connect some how, in order for the viewer's eye to move around the painting. Remember, that shapes are not only the positive ones, but negative spaces are shapes too.

                 Happy Thanksgiving

             Have a great day. I'll post again next week

    Be yourself, because everyone else is taken.
                                                                                                                               (unknown)

Readings:
I'm reading a book, The Sistine Secrets by Benjamin Blech & Roy Doliner.

I loved seeing the Sistine Chapel* ceiling...it was breathtaking. I've seen it  twice...the first time was before it was restored and the second time it was during it's restoration (lots of scaffolding and closed off areas). Even though I plan on visiting mostly the small hill towns of Italy on my next trip, I will go see the Sistine Chapel....this time in it's full restored state and I will be thinking about this book.

Inside cover description of this book...says:

"Five hundred years ago Michelangelo began work on a painting that became one of the most famous pieces of art in the world--The Sistine Chapel ceiling. Every year millions of people come to see Michelangelo's Sistine ceiling, which is the largest fresco* painting on earth in the holiest of Christianity's chapels; yet there is not one single Christian image in this vast, magnificent artwork. The Sistine Secrets tells the fascinating story of how Michelangelo embedded messages of brotherhood, tolerance, and freethinking in his painting to encourage "fellow travelers" to challenge the repressive Roman Catholic Church of his time.
Blech & Doliner reveal what Michelangelo meant in the angelic representations that brilliantly mocked his papal patrons, how he managed to sneak unorthodox heresies into his ostensibly pious portrayals, and how he was able to fulfill his lifelong ambition to bridge the wisdom of science with the strictures of faith. The Sistine Secrets unearth secrets that have remained hidden in plain sight for centuries."

*Sistine Chapel...The Vatican, Rome, Italy.
*Fresco....(Italian for "fresh"). A wall covering technique that involves painting with  water-based paints on freshly applied wet plaster. Also known as buon fresco. Fresco last because the paint mixes with the wet plaster instead of sitting on top of the plaster, where the paint could get rubbed off.

Viewer Comment:
(I'm passing on a 2 comments that were e-mailed to me).

(In regards to the 11/16/12 posting)

Joni,

I am compelled to comment on this one....

Every time I get "stuck" on a painting, I turn it upside down!  I am so happy you taught me this and have passed the trick onto fellow painters!  Great tool if I am struggling with my painting!

Thanks!

Debbie

(In regards to the 11/ 12 posting).

I like to title my paintings, especially if I have painted them on location. It helps me recall the location and even the friends I have painted with. 

Debbie

Student Art:

I have my students paint from a photo that is upside down. This disengages their mind from thinking in terms of object to shape....example: the mind will go from "tree" to a "shape" when seen out of context in the upside down format. If you look for the "Shapes" in what you are painting (start with the big main shapes...then break those down to the shapes within etc) you can paint or draw just about anything.

Below are 2 examples from my beginning watercolor class. Aren't they great !!! Give it a try.

The photo is one of mine from a Bend area lake.

Sue:
This is the view Sue saw while painting.

This is our view now that the painting is finished. 

Patty:

This is the view Patty saw while painting.

This is our view now that the painting is finished. 

Thanks for sharing.

Blog Views: USA, Latvia, Ukraine, Germany, Malaysia, India & Sweden.

To Title or not to Title?
I didn't hear from anyone about this topic, so I am unable to pass on any comments.

Personally, I love to title my artwork...but then, I love words. I  also like to mix words within my art. Another reason I like to apply titles, is that I may have painted to make a statement and I like my title to further express that idea. It's not that I think the viewer is slow or anything...I just want to continue my emotion  from creating, to created, to viewed.

The flip side of that coin, to Title or Not To Title, is that many artist believe that the title itself will influence the viewer...and that the art alone should evoke the emotion...rather or not the emotion evoked is what the artist had in mind or not.

Some artists just hate to be bothered with thinking of titles, or it is hard to come up with something.

Where do you stand?

 

Quiz: In watercolor, what is granulation?
Answer: When the pigment separates out from the water, creating a speckled texture.

There are watercolor pigments that are granulating by nature (example...paynes gray, cerulean blue etc), however, you can make all pigments that way by mixing your watercolor pigments with a liquid "Granulation Medium".

Inspirational Person:....
Great Aunt Genevieve:
I had a great aunt, Mary Genevieve Wilcox (1888-1987), that was a teacher, poet, artist, Shakespeare lover and all around interesting person. She was an inspiration to me. I remember going to her apartment and seeing the many layers of stacked paintings leaning against the walls. I just recently acquired some of her watercolor paintings. She painted on both sides of her watercolor paper. I don't know the years these were painted, but I believe she was still painting up to the years before she passed away..? Below are a few.

 She also wrote poems ...and for the holidays she would write a poem instead of sending out cards. I received a special poem for a wedding card...made especially with me in mind. Her poem below (in her handwriting) was a 1981 holiday poem...with her original drawing. Enjoy.

Do click on it to enlarge for reading.

Quiz: In watercolor, what is granulation?

To Title your Art or Not To Title Your Art...That Is The Question???
Let me know what you think about this topic...in a few days after hearing from you, I'll write about my ideas.

Byrnie:
Here is another great painting from Byrnie. I love the movenment.

Thank you Byrnie.

Art Challenge 2: ...Balance. (See the sidebar for more information).

We as a class this term, picked a new challenge. The last day of the term was our gallery showing. Some worked on this challenge in class, and some worked on it at home.....so some were brand new to us during our gallery showing. I will daily post our paintings student-by-student.

Stephanie:

I had to smile when I saw the first painting below. How many times I have thought that I really balanced my clean dishes, but, I didn't think about it being a perfect subject for the Balance Challenge. Art surrounds us !!!

Stephanie is creative in the way she divides her painting surface into framed and unframed areas. 

You can see more of her paintings posted Sept 13 and 27.

Thank you for sharing.

Art Challenge 2: ...Balance. (See the sidebar for more information).

We as a class this term, picked a new challenge. The last day of the term was our gallery showing. Some worked on this challenge in class, and some worked on it at home.....so some were brand new to us during our gallery showing. I will daily post our paintings student-by-student.

Karen:
Karen drew her challenge...I was glad to see other medias used. The balance here is really ready to topple....I could just pull out one cherry and there it goes. Choosing "Balance"  for our challenge was a good one.

You can see more of Karen's artwork posted on 9/28 and 10/24.

Thanks, Karen, for sharing.

Art Challenge 2: ...Balance. (See the sidebar for more information).

We as a class this term, picked a new challenge. The last day of the term was our gallery showing. Some worked on this challenge in class, and some worked on it at home.....so some were brand new to us during our gallery showing. I will daily post our paintings student-by-student.

Delores: 

Delores's painting is very fun and whimsical. I love her limited palette. 

Thank you for sharing.

Art Challenge #2:....Balance. (See the sidebar for more information).

Colette: 
More of Colette's fine paintings. She had fun with this challenge.

You can see more of Colette's paintings posted on Sept. 26 & Oct. 20.

Thank you for sharing.

Art Challenge #2:....Balance. (See the sidebar for more information).

We as a class this term, picked a new challenge. The last day of the term was our gallery showing. Some worked on this challenge in class, and some worked on it at home.....so some were brand new to us during our gallery showing. I will daily post our paintings student-by-student.

Diana: 
I'm happy for Diana, as she has been wanting to paint wrecked cars that were stacked...it seems our little town doesn't stack ! But, with the help from a friend, she got a photo and now her desire to paint the idea (and it fit the Balance Challenge) is a reality. Her painting is wonderful...her best. It shows that you should paint what pulls at your heartstrings.

Check out her other paintings posted on Sept. 30.

 Thank you for sharing.

Byrnie: Byrnie is another one of my Intermediate artist/students (more of her artwork was 
posted Oct. 1 ). She too has been experimenting...she will try many techniques.  Here 
she painted with her palette knife....with great results.  She said it was okay to state her age...so, lets say she has seen just less than 9 decades. She has been doing art for a long time. All of us enjoy having her in class and she keeps us entertained.

Thank you, Byrine, for sharing.

Art Challenge 2: ...Balance. (See the sidebar for more information).

We as a class this term, picked a new challenge. The last day of the term was our gallery showing. Some worked on this challenge in class, and some worked on it at home.....so some were brand new to us during our gallery showing. I will daily post our paintings student-by-student.

Jean: 

Jean used her Asian figurines for her Balance Challenge. This is acrylic. A very peaceful and beautiful painting and great use of shadows.

Thank you, Jean, for sharing.

Blog Views: This week's views are from....USA, Russia, Germany and Malaysia.

Karen:
 Karen is one of my artist/students. Once in awhile, a painting comes around that does
 it's job...catches your eye, evokes an emotion and just plain gives the viewer a warm
 fuzzy. It gives me great satisfaction to have been around to watch the process. Karen
 experimented with spraying, allowing color to run, mix and blend etc and her results
 are beautiful. This painting should encourage you to free yourself to go belong your
 comfort zone.

You can see Karen's other paintings posted on Sept. 28 & Oct. 24.       

Thank you, Karen, for sharing.

                    

Quiz: 
What was the pigment Indian Yellow, which stopped being available (in that form) in the 
early 20th Century, made of?

Answer: 
The urine of cows that fed only on mango leaves.

Edges: 
Many painters don't make use of their brush edges...especially to their advantage. 
Every painting should incorporate different edges.....distant objects might need to be 
blurry, while your focal point may need to be sharp and crisp. Below are 3 ideas for 
brush edges.

Hard Edge:...
Most edges used are when one color comes up to and stops right next to another                       
color. This is what a lot of painters use, even if not appropriate. 

Soft Edge:...
Mixed: The edge of one color is wet and is mixed into the next edge color that is also 
wet. This makes blending graduation of  the two colors.

Optical:...
This edge makes the eye blend or causes the painting to have a unity because the 
underpainting pops up throughout the overall painting. Paint up to a color edge, but not 
right next to each other, leaving a space between the 2 edges. The underpainting shows 
in between. 

Readings: 
Check out the book, Painting Shapes and Edges, by Hazel Harrison.
I'm a true believer that if you carefully observe the shapes in your painting 
(starting with the main shapes, then breaking them  down to the smaller shapes) 
anyone can paint or draw anything. This book supports and explains that theory.

My Intermediate artist/students  are experimenting beyond the safe and comfortable painting stages...you know how hard that is to test oneself to think of going that path, let alone actually going beyond the thinking to doing?

Colette: Geraniums. How beautiful. She is an excellent painter and now she has pushed
                      her comfort zone...and still is an excellent painter.

Thank you, Colette, for sharing your great watercolor painting.      

Blog Views: USA, Russia & Sweden.    

Quote: "You are making a difference, whether you know it or not. So have no doubt about
                     that".  Neale Donald Walsch.

This quote was on facebook...it made me realize just how learning is taught. My learning standbys have been...Doing, Reading, Taking a Class and also...Looking at My Artwork (it will teach you tons) etc. But, my students have taught me so much and have inspired me beyond the right I have to receive. I have kept learning and doing because of them. My Intermediate Watercolor/Acrylic artist/students have been with me for a long time now...they are not only my  teacher they are my friends.

Thank you....Byrnie, Karen, Stephanie, Colette, Diana, Delores, Kathy, Barbara, Liz, Jean, and all my many Teachers....you know who you are...because..."You are making a difference, whether you know it or not...".

Quiz: What was the pigment Indian Yellow, which stopped being available in the early 
                 20th Century (in that form), made of?

Yes, I know it has been a week since I last posted. I would love to post everyday and I would if I had things to post. I just got the riot act from 2 of my students that they had looked several times this week and were disappointed to see no new postings. Sorry if you too were disappointed.  I don't want to post my work as I don't want this to be about me. If you have ideas, let me know.

Viewer Comment: I got this comment from a viewer and I hope her words touch  a lot of you...share your artwork. It doesn't matter what media...who you are...far or near...beginner or seasoned artists...just share.

Joni-- I wanted to tell you how much I'm enjoying the artwork and backstories on your blog. Please tell the folks to keep sharing their paintings, and thanks!
Sarah G

Viewer Contribution:
Today, was the last day for my 2 day Tapestry class. The below tapestries were done by 2  very beginning students. Their samplers are little gems and they did excellent. 

Nancy:  This is her first tapestry. She said her mind was so full of the newness of
learning that we could have had a weenie roast in class and she wouldn't have noticed !!

Tessa: This tapestry is also Tessa's first tapestry. As you can see, the two had their own ways with the lessons and color choices....excellent for the rest of the class to see.

Thanks, Nancy and Tessa,  for sharing.