Absorbent Ground with Resists

Here is a little experiment I did with Golden Absorbent Ground and various Golden mediums used as resists. 

I applied two coats of Golden Absorbent Ground to a sheet of Bristol, and, after the surface was completely dry I applied stripes of Clear Leveling Gel, Color Pouring Medium, High Flow Medium, and Super Matte Medium to see how they would work as resists under various types of paint: watercolor, fluid acrylic, High Flow acrylic, and Heavy Body Acrylic.

 

You can find information on all of these products on the Golden website, and purchase them at Blick or your favorite art supply retailer. Here are links to the Absorbent Ground; Clear Leveling Gel; High Flow Medium; Color Pouring Medium; and Super Matte Medium.

The vertical stripes are the mediums used as resists. The horizontal yellow stripes are the paints I applied over them. I hope you find this information helpful. Trying out new materials can be a way to get out of a rut or reinvigorate your art practice. Thanks for visiting!

Mashing Up, or Carefully Juxtaposing

 As a counterpoint to my more-or-less orderly stripe paintings, I like to mash things together in my works on paper. These are 11"x14" on Bristol, and they include collage, drawing, and painting.

I also love to cut up gelli plate prints, made with Golden OPEN acrylics, and put those parts together in ways that surprise me:

You can win a set of Golden OPEN acrylics, an 8"x10" GelliArts Gel Plate, and a 6" Speedball soft rubber brayer in this month's raffle. CLICK HERE TO BUY RAFFLE TICKETS.

Art Basics - Playing with Arylic Paints in a Sketchbook

In an attempt to reach out to beginner painters, I've been exploring student-grade paints. Some teachers highly recommend that the beginner start with the best of paints, such as Golden. And that probably is good advice for some. However, I have seen many people afraid to explore freely because of the cost of the material. It's easy to feel intimidated by high quality paint, as if your image must be worthy of such fine material. 

 

I feel it's important to get the paint that suits you and your budget. If an expensive set of high quality paints is going to sit on the shelf untouched because of fear, then get something more affordable. Student grade paints do not have the same pigment load as professional paints. That is a given. They also have different consistencies, brand to brand. The only way to really know what is right for you is to try a few different brands and qualities of paint.

My advice to beginner painters who are not ready to spring for high-quality paints is this: start with a set of student grade paints (not craft paints), and gradually add your professional quality paints (Golden being my preferred, Holbein, Sennelier are some I've used as well) as needed. One tube or bottle at a time. grow into your good paints as your art practice develops.

Supplies I am using in this video are:

Strathmore sketchbook, hardbound, spiral bound. You can see some commentary on sketchbook options in this video.

Blick Matte Acrylic White, Galeria Acrylic Paint, Liquitex Basics, Arteza premium acrylic paint, 

Disposable Palette

Palette Knife; I like this square-ended one, but I suggest you try a few different shapes. Mine is the small #7, Liquitex Freestyle Painting Knife.

Your eyes and your hands are your most important tools. Enjoy!!

Survey Results

 I asked you a few weeks ago about your art practice. How does art fit into your life? And what is your main medium. Here are the results from that survey:

 

For the great majority of responders, art is a major component of their lives. It's either a profession, a serious hobby, or they describe it as a passion. The lines between these categories are pretty blurred. For many of you, art is a passion and a profession, or a passion and a serious hobby. Some took issue with the term "hobby", which was not unexpected. "Hobby" tends to suggest 'not serious' to some. Art for relaxation and self-care was a significant component for some of you. Here are a few quotes from those who checked "other":

"I want to make some kind of art and every once in a while I try, but I don’t know where to start. I have watched lots of videos and bought tons of classes, but feel unhappy and dissatisfied with everything that I do."

"I love printmaking and collage but I'm a beginner and am always frustrated with what I create, which makes me want to do it less, so I sabotage myself by always finding other things to do, like household chores. I"m trying hard to overcome this block."

"It is like breathing to me, necessary to my life and wellbeing. It keeps me connected with all of life self-healing wholeness."

 The second question, about your primary medium, had a big hole in the multiple choice options. I forgot to include watercolor!! Duh.

Not surprisingly, the greatest segment of responders work in acrylic and collage, same as me. The vast majority of "other"responses, again not surprisingly, said watercolor was their main medium.

A couple of quotes from 'other' responders:

"I am a ceramicist and create underglaze abstract “paintings” on my slab-built vessels. I explored 2-D through clay monoprinting, which led to acrylic painting. I now work in the two mediums — clay and acrylic — in a complementary fashion."

"Watermedia: tempera gouache watercolor Materials that are plastic free and eco friendly"

In addition to these, we got: artist's books, polymer clay, mosaic, soft pastels (another medium I should have included in my list), repurposed house paint, found materials, and a few other painting/drawing media such as ink, crayon, and so forth. 

Here is February's survey. This one asks about your workshop preferences and your advice for beginners. I will share results at the beginning of March. THANKS for participating!

 

A Deeper Dive: Working in Series

 "When you finish a series..." "When I work in series..." "Oh, maybe I will do a series..."

Do you ever not work in series? What is a series? How do you approach a series? Is working in series something special? Is it any different from just working? Do you plan to work in series? Do you plan the series? Often I wonder how other artists think of series when they treat it as something special, something separate from 'regular' work, or as if it is a finished-product goal. To me, the series is the unit of art making. I always approach my work as if I'm doing one of a hundred pieces with similar parameters, even if I stop at one. I have an idea, and I explore the idea over the course of a bunch of pieces. To me the series is the process of working through an idea.

Sometimes a series, or an idea, is pretty well defined, like this exploration of concentric circle/stripes:

Moving Target, Pilot, 20"x20"

Moving Targets, each 10"x10"

Moving Target #?, 36"x36", in process (partial)

Here is another group of "Shape Studies" that I did in a continuous time-frame (maybe not one session, but several successive sessions). The parameters for these are a little looser.

These are each 9"x9" on paper

And more "Shape Meditations" I did at a later date, but I would consider them part of the same series, in that they constitute a similar exploration. These are all 9"x12" on Bristol.

In the above two groups I am putting together shapes that are different from each other in several respects - size, color, value, pattern/texture - and seeing what kind of interesting negative space I can create.

I would love to hear your thoughts on working in series and what it means to you. Please comment. I check comments daily for 'moderation'. I need to do this because of a plethora of bot-generated spam. Thanks for visiting!

SlackTide

 This series started like any series of mine - a visual inquiry in a given format. I'm exploring color, texture, edges, proportions, the nuts and bolts of visual content. And then what emerges may or may not speak to me. These stripes reminded me of the pilings under piers jutting out into the ocean. The reflections of them and the underwater portion distorting the angle. 

I'm offering this one in a raffle to raise money for Rupert Village Trust. See the right margin.

A Deeper Dive: Is Your Work Authentic?

I am going to say that authentic work is work that comes from you, the artist, honestly. The images are not imitating other artists, they are not coming from a place of people-pleasing or trying to anticipate what the market will favor. It sounds simple, right?

How do you peel away the layers of influences that are inevitable and necessary, to find what is uniquely you, or what is true for you? Voices in our heads can include:

• Any rules we were taught about what makes good design or composition
• Our Inner Critics who voice our self-doubt and give it more importance than it deserves
• Anxiety over what will sell or what will be accepted in a show or a gallery
• Opinions of others whom we listen to - a spouse or friend or colleague

Working in a sketchbook, playing, experimenting

How do we learn about composition and still maintain the freedom to develop our own unique way of expression? How do we put aside the Inner Critic or the gallery submission and just get down to work? How do we take criticism (positive or negative) from those we care about, without giving it more weight than it deserves?

Trying out some pinks and reds

We look to other artists for inspiration. This is an important (to me) part of being an artist - be inspired, learn from others.  But how do we keep from imitating artists we admire? How do we avoid making paintings of paintings instead of just making paintings? 

Collage and Crayons

I don't have answers; just raising the question. The sketchbook pages here show some visual inquiries, and I wonder if working in a sketchbook more often helps to develop the honesty, the authenticity.

I would love to get your thoughts on these questions. Please comment; I have to 'moderate' because otherwise I get a lot of bot-generated spam. But I do look at comments and publish them every day. THANKS.

State of the Studio

 I'm doing a little re-organization in the studio; maybe that is organization. Not re-organization. So I've pulled out all my paints and organized them by color into plastic tubs. I'm putting up some pegboard, which is really painful to do with my arthritic right hand (right handed with a drill driver), but it will be worth it. The goal is to have easy access to my paints and tools (shelves, etc, on the peg board), and to be able to put them away and clear the decks for new projects at any given time. I need to be able to shift gears more easily. 

I generally keep my tools in similar plastic tubs, but each tub contains all the tools I need for Project X, or Technique Y. When seeking a bone folder or a painting knife or a squeegee I have to paw through multiple tubs in endless search. 

How do you organize your paints and tools and surfaces? Love to know. Please comment - I have to moderate comments because of bot/spam comments, but I check every day for those 'awaiting moderation'. Thanks!

Studio Portrait

A View from the Loft (my office and yoga space)

The Fluid Acrylics and a few High Flow

Trying to Color Code the Tubs - this one is reds that are not Tomato Red or Orange. I have another box for just the Cadmium reds, Pyrrole reds, and oranges. This one is for the outliers such as pinks, magenta, and my beloved Quinacridone Gold.

Installation of pegboard in process

The Tubes of Heavy Body

Nelson, my studio assistant (he's technically a subcontractor, as he chooses his own hours and brings his own tools - which are very sharp; he also assists other projects, so he is not on the payroll.)

Art Basics: Your Supplies

 Here is a video showing you the supplies I recommend for someone just starting out in art. You can see a list of my recommendations, and links, in my previous post.

Thanks for watching, and enjoy your art practice! Happy new Year.

Just to be clear: as you grow into your art practice you will want higher quality paints. Add them gradually as your budget allows. As many of you know, my preferred brand is Golden - they create paints in a range of formats and viscosities (heavy body, fluid, high flow, etc) and a huge variety of mediums and grounds. There are many other high-quality, pigment-rich paints available, too. But to begin an art practice, the less-expensive student-grade paints are a good choice.

Supply List For Beginners

I have been asked a few times what supplies I would suggest for a person just beginning their art practice. So I put together this list of recommendations for those interested in working with acrylic paint, collage, and drawing materials. Download the list here.

My general advice on art supplies: start with basics - paint, brushes, paper, drawing tools - and if you want to do collage, paint your own collage papers. Leave out the fancy stuff: metallic or pearlescent, fluorescent, glitter, or dimensional paints, special-purpose paints such as pouring paints, alcohol inks, and the like. Not that you won't try these products at some time in your journey, just don't rely on the bling factor to make your art for you.

 

Even though I use professional quality paints, I suggest the beginner use decent-quality but less expensive paints such as Liquitex Basics, Blick Studio Acrylics, or Nova Color Paints. You don't want to feel too precious about your materials. Ease into your acquisition of professional quality (expensive) paints.

 

 I have created a list on the Blick Art Materials website. You can order from the list, or just take a look at each product and find comparable products at your favorite art supply retailer. 

 

This is my Beginner's Supply List. Download it here.

 

Why Do You Make Art?

 I want to ask: What are your aspirations in art-making? What does your ideal art self look like? Where are you trying to get with your art? Is your goal a moving target or fixed? But... in the end it's all the same question. Why do you make art? What is your primary motivation for making art?

I am sorry that I have to moderate comments. It is because I have gotten a TON of bot-generated spam. Please do comment, though. I do check every day and publish all comments that are not spam. Thank you for your thoughts, and for visiting my blog.

How Do YOU Study Composition?

 Composition is the one aspect of painting that I am most often asked about, so I am continually evolving my approach to teaching it. There are many ways to explore composition. Cut paper collage is one of my favorites because it is very direct, and it is accessible to any level of technical skill. 

 Join me for a Technique Takeaway on Zoom, Friday, December 17, 5:00 - 6:30 pm Eastern Time.

See details at Winslow Art Center, and sign up here.  

Composition with Cut Paper Collage!