Welcome to the GAB – Ginger's Art Blog
Issue 22-01
“Must-Knows”
Question – I have a painting, canvas that says it's 9″x12″. When I went to frame it I had to cut the canvas 1/4″ before it would fit in the frame.
Answer – Ahhh…what you have discovered is that the sizes can be off by as much as 1/4 inch or more. When presented with a stack of canvas on a table, one or two may not be the size printed on the canvas, and make it very difficult to frame.
Solution – You should take a tape measure with you to the store and check the canvas before purchasing. And check your online orders as this is a common problem on even the best of the canvas.
Take a measurement in an “X” pattern to make sure the canvas is square and save yourself a headache when it's time to frame your masterpiece.
To avoid accidentally buying a canvas with a warped stretcher bar, lay it on a flat surface to make sure that all sides touch. It should lay flat with no air gaps. If there are air gaps it's warped, especially the thick gallery-wrapped stretcher bars have been known to warp.
Next, hold the canvas on the ends on the stretcher bar, to see if they are warped, again looking for air gaps between the bar the flat surface.
And finally, just measure the canvas side to side, and top to bottom to make that it is the size that it is supposed to be. We have found them to be as much as a 1/4 inch off.
Latest Releases in the Academy
There is nothing quite like a lovely strawberry cheesecake after a wonderful dinner on a Royal Caribbean ship.
This was painted on a 12×12 canvas for our Red and Purple Members. This is a 3-Cookie tutorial.
Little Girl and her Teddy Bear will certainly warm your heart and bring back fond memories.
This was painted on a 9×12 canvas for our Red and Purple Members. This is a Box of Cookies tutorial.
Originally painted by Andre Zorn, Ginger has captured the impressions of London as only she can. This is a “must-do” tutorial to loosen you up and get more impressionistic in your painting.
This was painted on a 12×16 canvas for our Red and Purple Members. This is a 3-Cookie tutorial.
This winter wonderland landscape is one of the last winter paintings for the 2021-2022 season. In this lesson, Ginger shows you another way to add snow to the trees.
This was painted on a 12×16 canvas for our Red and Purple Members. This is a 3-Cookie tutorial.
This painting of the Polar Bears taking a break after a little swim is sure to bring a smile to our Blue and Purple Members.
This was painted on a 14×18 canvas for our Blue and Purple Members. This is a 4-Cookie tutorial.
Do you remember this tutorial? A Colorful Cabbage that teaches the fine art of glazing. This is a must-watch if you want to learn what glazing is and how to apply it to your paintings.
This was painted on an 11×14 canvas for our Red and Purple Members. This is a 4-Cookie tutorial.
Meet the Staff
Liz Carson
Liz Carson lives in the beautiful Texas Hill Country northwest of San Antonio with her husband and occasionally her son, a wildland firefighter/EMT. She and her husband have been building a home for themselves on their little slice of heaven amid the hills, trees, and wildlife—a very long-term and ongoing project. She recently retired from a long career in technical support and higher education software and database administration training.
Liz became interested in painting at a young age but gave it up after encountering a very controlling teacher in her early teens. Her interest was reignited when her co-workers coerced her to attend a sip and paint at a Baltimore conference several years ago.
After feeling limited by the local sip and paint, she went to the internet for an answer, found Ginger, and quickly joined the Academy. The world-class instruction and caring community became the bright spot in her days. After retirement and meeting Jon and Ginger, she was honored to be able to volunteer her skills to assist with the growth of the Ginger Cook brand.
Art Challenge
The Art Challenges are back! This particular challenge is open for our Orange and above Members. If you are a Red, Blue, or Purple Member, you can ask for Personal Art Coaching at the end of the event. Visit our website for full details.
“Playa del Carmen Beach Time” is available for all paying members of the Academy; Orange, Yellow, Red, Blue, and Purple Members.
Photo is copyrighted and all rights reserved by Jonathan Little, photographer.
The Tech Bear Tips for Non-Techies (Artists)
Canvas sizes and what's proportional to what?
Have you just painted the perfect painting on a smaller canvas and it came out perfectly, and now you want to make it bigger? What sizes can I use to keep the new larger canvas in proportion to the smaller painting?
Canvas Sizes and their Equivalent!
Ratio – Canvas Sizes
3 to 4 = 3×4 – 6×8 – 9×12 – 12×16 – 18×24 – 30×40 – 36×48
7 to 5 = 5×7 – 10×14 – 20×28
4 to 5 = 8×10 – 16×20 – 24×30
6 to 5 = 10×12 – 20×24
11 to 14 = 11×14 – 22×28
1 to 1 = 6×6 – 12×12 – 18×18 – 20×20 – 24×24
1 to 2 = 6×12 – 8×16 – 12×24
7 to 9 = 7×9 – 14×18 – 21×27 – 28×36
2 to 3 = 2×3 – 6×9 – 12×18 – 16×24 – 20×30 – 24×36
The bold numbers above are the ratios, and the italic numbers are the canvas sizes that we normally use.
Final Thoughts for this issue…
The first GAB – Ginger's Art Buzz, will be delivered on Friday at 11:30 am…at least that's the target! If you want to make sure that you don't miss The GAB, then sign up here https://acrylicpaintingwithgingercook.com/#gc-newsletter
If you are receiving our current emails, then you are all set to receive The GAB.
Thank you and remember, we are here to help you succeed!
Ginger, Jon, and the Stuffy Staff
Ginger and Jon, Thank you so much for the first GAB! Love all of the info here and the fun too. Love meeting Liz and hearing a little bit about her life. Looking forward to learning about everyone else! Your “must knows” and “tips” were so informative and I can’t wait to get started on the painting challenge. Art Hugs, Ann
Thank you for the kind words. We have high hopes for The GAB with lots of information that we want to share.
Love the GAB! Thank you!
Glad you like it! We hope to bring you the best information that will help you be the best artist that you want to be.
Thank you both for the GAB. Love the tips and the whole concept and especially learning a little about Liz and hope to learn a little of each of the Moderators in the future.
Love the picture of Ginger. So cute!
Thanks for the comments about The GAB. We are excited about the articles that we have in mind for The GAB. Not only will you be meeting the Moderators, but also some of the Stuffy Staff will be shared with you.
Wow thank you Jon for the Tech Bear Tips for ratio to canvas size. Im missing something big because I read it twice and didnt understand a thing…what is ratio? Should I have known all this or is it lost in the getting too old brain? great info for ones who understand. Haha 😆 Thanks and I love receiving this beautiful information on Liz. And, Im hoping to do the challenge! Thanks Ginger and Jon!
I will work up a video that might explain it better in the coming weeks. It’s really quite easy once you have a little bit of understanding.
Jon
Hi Jon & Ginger !
Love the GAB ! So nice to get some happy mail from two people I have come to love so much 🥰 !
Jon you are simply great at making the Techies so easy to understand and remember ! Hated ratios at school…. but you have worked it all out for us !!👍 I truly appreciate your time and commitment ! It was so nice to read about the lovely Liz Carson ! Everyone is ever so nice in the Art Family you & Ginger have created !
I love Ginger’s cute photo as a Little Bumble Bee ! You two will always look young and beautiful because your kindness and love Shines through your faces !
Sincere Thank you ,
Sending you my strongest Happy Art Hugs and Blessings …. Lorraine 🥰💕🤗
Lorraine,
Thanks, but I think that I have a little more work to do! I had a few contact me that are still confused, so I was thinking maybe a video might be in order.
This GAB is wonderful! I don’t know how you two manage to achieve all the things that you accomplish in a day. I sometimes feel that you must exist in a different time space continuum. Thank you so much for the valuable information that you share with us and the kindness you show. And I loved reading about Liz!
Thank you, LouAnn, for the kind words! There are 24-hours in a day and we like to use every single one of them!
Yes and Yes! Love this!
Hi Jon
Thanks for Ginger giving a shout to the ratios that she said would be found in the blog, I didn’t even know there was a Gab! Is the YouTube Gazette replacing this? I would love more expert tips all in one place personally. I know she gives out lots of tips and advice in all the videos, but it would be nice to have one to print out to put in my Color Mixing Journal to keep for reference. Thanks to both of your for all your hard work. HAH
Tami,
The GAB will was/is supposed to be more art-related information, whereas the Gazette is focused on the upcoming show and what’s new in the Academy. It’s a time issue thing! We are working on getting all of Ginger’s words of wisdom into one location, but again…it’s a time thing! Thanks for the feedback and the suggestions.
Jon
This is Brilliant! Wow, I have book marked it in several ways. It is so helpful. Please mention this again on a Monday for those that have not seen it.
Fantastic to get to know Liz too!
Thank you very much