Implied and Applied Texture

This past week in my Acrylic Toolbox class we learned about implied and applied texture.

  

Implied Texture is when you are painting an object creating the illusion of the texture through an invented system of marks, or patterns.

Applied Texture is when you literally create a texture from the application of paint, including the addition of mediums to the acrylic paint.

Here's my attempt at the implied/applied texture assignment:

Implied Texture (top row) and Applied Texture (bottom row)

For this assignment, we were to choose 6 objects each with a unique textured surface.  We then zoomed in on an area of each object and rendered the texture we saw on a much larger scale.  We were required to use only white, ochre and chromatic black paints and our choice of other mediums (molding paste, pumice gel, etc)

For the assignment (above), my implied textures were (top row, l to r): a curved glass surface, a piece of coral and a piece of accordion folded and cut paper; my applied textures were (bottom row, l to r): the edge of a towel, a seashell and a beaded earring.  The one I had the hardest time with was the beaded earring.  It's rather difficult to create the flat sides and straight edges of a polyhedron with molding paste...at least the first 16 are  : )

Complementary Apples

Just sharing results of a recent class assignment.

Assignment:  Pick 2 complementary colors.  Pick a single fruit or vegetable.  Arrange a still life with the piece of fruit/veg.  Slice if desired, but use no more than 2 slices.  Using white, chromatic black (made from ultramarine blue and burnt umber) and one of the complementary colors, create and paint a value scale at the top on half of the canvas, then from observation of the still life paint  it using the values created.  When finished, using white, chromatic black and a complement of the first color used, create and paint a value scale on top of the other half of the canvas and then paint the still life from the first painting not from observation of the actual still life.

Below are my paintings of a red apple.  I found it to be difficult focusing on the values (highlights, midtones and shadows) and not the color of the apple.  I also did not do a good job of matching the values from one color to the other, i.e., the inside of the green apple is darker than the red apple.  If I wanted to spend more time on this assignment, I could do more to make them look more alike, but I don't want to : ) I'm moving on to the next assignment which is due in a day and a half and I've got a ways to go...

Paintings from Masking Fluid Drawings

I recently created a work for a friend and thought I'd take pictures to illustrate the process I've been using to create my recent works.

In this case, I first looked up some pictures of prayer flags on the internet to get some ideas for composition, then I made a sketch.  Sometimes I just start drawing with no particular image(s) in mind.

 

Next, I paint the surface of my canvas with black gesso.  For this painting,  I taped off a 2 inch border after the gesso dried.

Next, I "draw" an image with masking fluid and let it dry, then paint over it with a layer of off-white paint:

 

After the paint dries, I begin rubbing off the masking.  I've found that  gum eraser makes the job go a little faster:

Here's what it looks like after all the masking has been removed:

 

Next, I begin painting in the areas of the painting...

 

Here's my finished painting, I scattered lines for a loving kindness prayer throughout:

 

May you be filled with lovingkindness

May you be happy

May you be well

May you be peaceful and at ease

May you feel safe and secure

May you feel loved and cared for

Miniature = Fun Size

The Art Squares Open Studio is next Saturday.  It will be my first. I'm not sure what to expect, but I've been having fun preparing for it, tending to little details like starting the blog, updating my biz cards to point to the blog, cleaning up the studio and making it looking generally welcoming (I hope) and creating some works to display.  Up till now, I've only had my 2-D Design classwork on display...a little boring, so I figured I better get something else up on the walls. 

I've hung the framed paintings.  I have a few more that I finished this week that I will be framing and hanging. 

When I was cleaning up the studio, I came across some miniature canvases that I've had a few years.  I pulled them out and today I made a few miniature paintings of motifs that have been appearing in my works lately.  I love mini-things, they're fun size : )

Have masking fluid, will paint

In previous attempts I've made at painting on canvas, I've been extremely cautious.  I made sure every inch of the canvas was covered in paint and that the paint was evenly distributed everywhere, no transparency or brushstrokes could be seen.  The painted areas just looked solid.  On top of that, I outlined the painted areas with a Sharpie paint pen, not trusting myself to paint smooth, solid lines.  These paintings were very "crisp" and may as well have been prints on canvas.

Below are my most recent works. For these paintings, I used black gesso, masking fluid and acrylic paints.  I really enjoyed the process of making these.  I had so much fun drawing with the masking fluid.  My favorite part about it was the lack of control I had with the particular applicator I was using.  The lines came out thick, thin, skippy, blobby.  It was wonderful.  The imperfection of the lines helped me to be more relaxed with my painting and you can see this  in the color distribution.  I love it. These paintings taught me how to be a little less controlling of the outcome. 

My knowledge of paint and painting techniques is minimal and, up till now, the only painting class I've had was a Tole Painting class years and years ago. Since I am giving more of my time to creativity now, I'm letting myself playing with various types of paints, tools and techniques and I'm learning some things, but I definitely see a painting class or 2 on the horizon...but first I must finish my current drawing class : )





Masque III


Masque II - "Where Are We Today?"