Expanding the mind, Tea Cup and Cherries, 12x12
'Tea Cup and Cherries' 12x12" Acrylic
I thought I'd try something different and work with acrylic! I know, I'm a pure hearted pastelist who favors the dusty fingered method. But recently I read that artists should try new mediums every so often to spice things up a bit. So, on Sunday I had a new student (11 year old) over for a lesson and she wanted to work with acrylics for a class project in school. Even though I'm not an acrylic painter, the knowledge of how to create is still intact and transfers well. So we jumped into the medium with a new sense of adventure.
I noticed the acrylic was very slippery, and I was awkward using a paintbrush. This 'extension' of my fingers made a distinct discord with me and at times I just had to have my fingers into the action, like smearing and smudging where the acrylic was mis-applied. There was definitely not as much forgiveness as pastel. Well, anyway, I've painted and posted this image a dozen times over and probably will continue to paint it because it has a nice combination of warm and cool colors. It also made it easy to repaint because I only had to think about the medium and not the image as much. In the end the acrylic wasn't so bad. I've been flirting with oils , but I think I'll try to master the brush a bit more before investing in another medium.
Image source: Wetcanvas
Labels: Cherry bowl
posted by Brenda Boylan at
March 07, 2011
7 Comments:
I'm a big believer in experimentation in different media...if only to make you appreciate what it is you love about pastel. Of course I end up wearing whatever else i try! Good job.
Appears that you can paint whatever you want in whatever medium you want! Great job!
Lovely! I think it's a great idea to try different mediums. Fantastic job with it!
You are so right Brenda, expanding our understanding of what painting means is always good- whether changing mediums or exploring other possibilities. You made the switch effortlessly- from the thumbnail I thought it was a pastel.
Cindy, yeah, the experimentation with the acrylics solidified my love for the pastel medium. This doesn't mean that I won't experiment with acrylic more, oh no, but that pastel is so dang forgiving!
Thanks Celeste, here's to more cherries...possibly with oils next?
Kimberly, yeah, I think it's great to play with other mediums too. I've painted with pastels exclusively for 17 years now and I think that I am at a point where I should branch out of that cubicle. Thanks
Loriann, thanks. I've noticed when practicing artists switch back and forth to other mediums their style still stays intact. I think that you have done this very well! I found that painting with a brush helped me to find more possibilities with pastel. So now the quest is on!
Beautiful use of color. Until I read the post, I thought I was looking at a pastel.
By the way, I'm an oil painter; and when necessary (which is almost every painting), my fingers wind up being my brush. They work better than bristles!
Thanks Shirley,
Really? You put your fingers in the oil? No longer do I feel alone! :)
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