acrylic painting
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Saturday, May 17th, 2008
I inadvertently leaned the large painting of Maple Leaves near the framed photo of Sun Shower 03 that hasn’t made its way to storage yet after a show.
Ever since I took that photo, left, last summer I have wanted to use the idea of dramatic light rays in a painting, but not until this morning did I think to use it in Maple Leaves. One idea leads to another; I’m also going to use some tricks I learned during the painting of Sun Shower 01 (2007) where Watercolor masking medium was dotted on the canvas with a toothpick in areas where I wanted water droplets to remain white or lighter in color.
The thumbnails here are details of that work. It worked great but I removed it too soon before finishing and the results weren’t as obvious as I had hoped, so this is another chance to try again. This time it will be creating small streaks, left it on much longer so the vibrancy of all the colors will show through when the medium is pulled off.
The painting could be left as ‘Maple Leaves’ which is how it started out, but it has that bright glare acrylics are notorious for and I see a lot of potential in trying something fantastic with this painting. It’s one of those huge decisions made at key moments in the life of a painting – to risk or not? The 84 x 45 x 3 inch Maple Leaves title is now changed to Sun Shower 04.
Zen, Day and Night
Thursday, May 15th, 2008
Zen Garden 08 Day interest and night drama! 24H x 24W x 1D inches acrylics on woven canvas strips over a layer of wrapped canvas. Sold.
Hangs diagonally about one inch from the wall surface. The wrapped sides are painted, frame unnecessary. View the piece from start to finish April 27th, May 12th and May 13th. The tiny openings between woven strips are brightly colored orange and reds, and to ensure they’d be noticeable. A string of small clear lights is woven into more canvas strips behind the frame. It’s quite attractive in the dark and also hung diagonally, optionally hung as a square.
Zen Garden 08 – work in progress
Tuesday, May 13th, 2008
Crackle glaze was applied at one stage, but the humidity is too high so it didn’t take, may apply again later at some point. Today playing with the patterns, colors, refining the pebbles, splattering to give them more realistic texture.
Zen Garden 08
Monday, May 12th, 2008
The Emerald Tree Boas is out in one work-area, the recently started Maple Leaves in another, and in the afternoon when I feel less like thinking but still want to keep the hands busy, have started painting Zen Garden 08.
Today’s work, details
Friday, May 9th, 2008
Maple Leaves, details after a few more hours working today – 48 x 84 x 3 inches acrylics on canvas. Changes may be subtle from here on; time to set it against a wall and study for a while before adding more. It’s a good time to start another painting.
Maple Leaves, work in progress
Thursday, May 8th, 2008
Maple Leaves – 48H x 84W x 3D inches acrylics on canvas, wrapped sides painted. Work in progress.
On paintings with such large surfaces, acrylics are used more like watercolors, with gradually built thin layers of paint and matte gel medium. Soon after this stage as I become more confident with the subject, paint is applied thicker in areas helping to give a better illusion of depth.
Painting large again
Saturday, May 3rd, 2008
This morning I started painting Maple leaves on one of the large heavy-duty frames we made last week. Trying to think of a catchier title as I work. 48H x 84W x 3D inches acrylics on canvas. It should be a good study of the color green.
And speaking of green, yet another photo of one of the Anoles running around in the back yard this morning – I love watching these little guys!
Techniques
Tuesday, April 29th, 2008
Artini, 24 x 24 inches acrylics on canvas. Rubbing white with a damp cloth over the textured surface, I can apply this technique to the next painting. This is serious play! The painting Artini and another recent one, Myrtle At The Zoo illustrate that: whether seasoned or just beginning, artists need to stay open all the time to media-exploration and self-discovery. Even if it’s been tried many times before, there are a lot of little tricks that are easier to try out on less serious paintings, enabling more confidence when trying them out on work with higher cost of materials and time-investment. Experimenting and exploration result in knowledge and experience of the properties of various media; learning about yours and the media’s potential and limitations.
Woven canvas
Sunday, April 27th, 2008
I started covering the new stretcher-frames we built last week. Leftover canvas was cut and ironed into strips about 1″ wide, then woven across a 24 x 24 inch stretcher. I have a few ideas, and will start painting this one when Artini is finished.
Artini, Shaken Not Stirred
Friday, April 25th, 2008
Artini, Shaken Not Stirred – 24H x 24W inches acrylics on canvas, wrapped sides painted, frame unnecessary, hung diagonally.
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