the early stages. notice the tape to protect and give sharp lines , and the texture straight from Homebase
now some detail, smaller brush, enjoy and feeeel it on.
attend to that door shape next. Blue? seems apt. needs a whiteish bit of entertainment though
now it is beginning to look like a painting. Do i like it? yes not bad.
is it right? probably as good as i will ever get it so quit!
Watercolour. Tubes are best. Use a lot of paint and less water to get rich colour. In this painting I used a light yellow and ultramarine blue to get my green. the rest are reds of various shades, oranges and some yellow ochre put on in layers mostly. Oh and Indian yellow – can’t do without Indian yellow.
Arches 140 lb or heavier, cold pressed. You need robust paper if you want to get those rich colours to fix. Why Arches? No particular reason, it works well for me so no reason to change.
Allsorts including oil and acrylic brushes. My favourite is an inch flat but a thick one. The hardware store is a good supplier of those. My advice – find the brushes that suit you from ANY source
Yes, I use anything to get what I want and i am always looking for new ways. Wall scrapers, wire wool, wall filler, are all in my paint box. it is so much fun trying out new stuff.
This poses an interesting question, spontaneity versus planning, freedom and improvisation versus unintended, happy or not so happy accidents. To get true emotion into a painting is it a conscious or unconscious activity. How do we push forward, is it by planning and lots of thinking or by trial and error. I think the answer must be somewhere in between.
Hi Alan – I did a one on one with you back in 2007/8 I think – then ended up in Australia…although back in UK now. I’d have to say that this post has even the most helpful by far (as I am so visual) to actually see the process & steps you take,along with the commentary.
Thank you so much! I talk about starting to paint again because it has been shelved for a good while & this has inspired me as much as anything lately.
All the est,
Norma
Hi Alan! I think this is a brilliant and useful idea, giving us an insight into your process and thinking as you paint. I really enjoyed reading it. More please! Best wishes, Stephanie