Abstract Art : how to paint

March 04, 2014

New Palette Knife Painting in Red, White and Black

I used a brush to cover this 24" x 24" canvas in a parchment background before beginning the foreground with a palette knife. Then I chose cadmium red to begin laying down colors with the knife, applying thick swaths of the acrylic paint.

Next, I added a few swaths of cadmium orange, and then used titanium white to set off these colors, being careful not to let the white blend too much with the red and orange. The last color I used was mars black, quickly swiping it onto the canvas to get a sense of sharpness and energy in the marks.

After that, I did a back-and-forth dance--adding more of this color here, that one there, blending the paint in some areas, being careful not to in others. Working with the palette knife is always tricky--you can get interesting effects by overlaying colors, and by using the knife to scrape away paint, leaving the under color.

My last step was to draw lines in black, outlining some shapes, adding texture, and defining the overall composition. By outlining a "negative space," for example, I could change it from background into foreground.

Stopping in time is also important--before you overdo an effect and wreck whatever the painting has going for it. I think I stopped in time on this one--when I look at it again tomorrow, I'll decide.

Abstract Painting #229, 24" x 24" acrylic on canvas.

Mar 4, 2014 11:30:12 AM | abstract art, how to paint, painting process

February 25, 2014

Fine Tuning Two Abstract Paintings

I often let new paintings sit for a while and then give them another look. Today I worked on two abstract paintings that had been hanging around the studio. I liked them both, but felt they might still need something more.

In this first one, I added just a few more spots of color--a bright orange and a pale yellow--which made a big difference, I thought. Then I played with it some more, mixing a light blue with white to make an even paler shade, and using it throughout the canvas where I thought it might do some good. Check out the original painting, and see if you can see the difference here:

Abstract Painting #225, 40" x 30" acrylic on canvas.

While fine tuning the next painting, I made more drastic changes. I had been focusing on black and white and grays in recent painting sessions, but this time I went back to the colors in the underpainting: yellow, orange and red.

I began with a cadmium red deep, adding circles of this color interspersed among the dark gray and black circles toward the bottom of the canvas. I continued the layers of circles, working my way toward the top of the canvas, with cadmium red medium and red light, a medium orange, and finally cadmium orange.

Abstract Painting #224, 36" x 30" acrylic on canvas.

Feb 25, 2014 12:05:12 PM | abstract paintings, Art Process, how to paint, painting process

February 11, 2014

Painting With A Palette Knife

Before I began painting with a palette knife, I first used a brush to paint the background of this small canvas with unbleached titanium. Then I began adding wide strokes of color with the palette knife, beginning with cadmium red deep, raw sienna, and burnt sienna.

I left spaces for the titanium white, which I added next. I allowed the white to blend somewhat with the other colors, but not too much. I then added a bit of parchment, and finally some burnt umber.

Once I got the basic blocks of color in, I continued to add more of one here, more of another there--always being careful to control the amount of blending with the background. When I wanted a more solid color, I added another layer with the knife. I also added some of the darker colors gingerly to the background to give it more texture and interest.

My final step was to draw lines in burn tumber outlining some of the shapes and guiding the eye through the composition. The lines added emphasis as well as texture.

Canvas #223, 20" x 20" acrylic on canvas.

Feb 11, 2014 12:37:00 PM | how to paint, Making Art, painting process, Texture

June 24, 2013

Adding Nuance and Detail to a New Abstract Painting

I liked this bright, expressionist painting when I first made it, but after letting it sit for awhile, I decided it could use more nuance and detail.

Abstract Painting #202, 24" x 24" acrylic on canvas.

I began with titanium white, brushing it on to highlight sections of the original composition. I used the brush lightly, covering over some of the deeper colors underneath, but leaving some to show through.

I continued to paint in this manner with pale colors: parchment, a pale yellow, and pale orange. Then I added the more intense cadmium red deep and cobalt green.

At some point in the process, I drew lines with Prussian blue, feathering them with a brush. I did everything with a light touch in order to let the texture of the under-painting show through.

Now I'll let the canvas dry and see what I think in a few days.

Abstract Painting #202, 24" x 24" acrylic on canvas.

Jun 24, 2013 1:00:00 PM | abstract painting, how to paint

May 29, 2013

New Abstract Painting in a Lighter Mood

Sometimes I just want to be light and frivolous in the studio, and that's how this new abstract painting came about. I began with a cadmium red light, which is one of my favorite colors.

I worked in an overall manner with loose brushstrokes. I used parchment and a pale yellow for light and airiness. I added several shades of lavender for fun. A darker plum red gave some weight, and a pale green-gray provided the background.

After playing with all these colors, I stood back and decided the painting needed a touch of black. Using a smaller brush with a thinned-down mars black, I made some quick playful strokes.

Here's what it looks like now:

Exotic Travel Two, 40" x 40" acrylic on canvas.

May 29, 2013 1:00:00 PM | abstract paintings, how to paint

May 20, 2013

New Abstract Painting in Greens and Blues

I began this new abstract painting by squeezing thick lines of paint directly from the tube: lime green, light blue, pthalo blue, and spots of yellow. I painted the background in unbleached titanium, avoiding the other colors until I had most of the canvas covered.

Then I took my brush and began combining all the colors, painting instinctively to swirl and blend the strong colors into the background. Next, I took a thin mixture of a grayish green and added that with a brush.

To lighten everything up, I added titanium white, blending that as well. Then I stood back to study what I had.

I decided a touch of alizarin crimson would help, and applied some with a brush. I liked it, but overall the painting looked too dark and muddy. So I picked up my palette knife and began to scrape sections, to add more white, a bit of the lime green, the pthalo blue--working instinctively until I liked what I saw.

Abstract painting #199, 24" x 24" acrylic on canvas.

Now I'll let this one sit for a few days.

May 20, 2013 1:00:00 PM | abstract painting, how to paint

May 17, 2013

New Abstract Painting in Spring Colors

I still can't get over spring! Driving, walking, looking out my window--it is all glorious. Having suffered a long cold winter makes me super appreciateive of this change. And here it is reflected in my new abstract painting.

Abstract Painting #198, 24" x 24" acrylic on canvas.

This painting focuses on the light greens, the yellow-greens, and the darker greens. I used pthalo blue for accents, titanium white for highlights, and brown umber for toning it down.

I began this painting by squeezing blobs of paint from the yellow, blue and green tubes onto my canvas. Then I painted the background in unbleached titanium--a kind of beige.

After that, I let my brush go wild swirling the colors together while being careful not to blend them too much. After that I cleaned my brush and added titanium white--letting some of it blend and some of it remain pure on the surface.

This kind of painting process is extremely improvisational--you have to stop before you end up with a gray mush. Yet you have to keep working until you find an image that speaks to you.

May 17, 2013 12:08:26 PM | abstract expressionism, abstract painting, how to paint

May 15, 2013

Flames of Passion Rise in New Painting

Loving my cadmium reds and oranges, I used a palette knife to apply them in bold strokes, rising up as if in flames. I added some alizaron crimson for depth, and some cadmium yellow light above the flames.

Using a brush, I painted the whole background in parchment, blending it with the other colors around the edges. Then I brushed on highlights in titanium white.

Next I added touches of pthalo green and burnt umber for contrast and shading. Then I went back in with the brush and the knife to get the feeling I was looking for.

Abstract Painting #196, 20" x 20" acrylic on canvas.

A few days later, I decided more was needed and drew lines in burnt umber. I used my finger to blend and soften the lines. I think this painting has more impact now, but time will tell whether I need to work on it again.

Abstract Painting #196, 20" x 20" acrylic on canvas.

May 15, 2013 1:00:00 PM | abstract painting, how to paint

May 13, 2013

A More Austere Palette & Composition

Just as my bipolar moods swing from high to low, my paintings swing from busy and bright to a more austere palette and composition. In this latest one, I began by painting the whole canvas in titanium white.

Without waiting for the white to dry, I used a palette knife to make some bold sweeps in mars black. Because the paint was still wet underneath, the resulting black varied from opaque to blends of gray.

Next I used the knife again to add sections of parchment--a kind of off-white that contrasted with both the white and the black. Again, it came out solid in places, blended in others. The trick was to be careful about how and where I placed it.

I wanted some accidental marks made by serendipity, but by being careful where and how I put the overlaying paint, they were accidents with purpose.

Finally, I drew lines in mars black to tie the disparate sections together.

Abstract Painting #195, 20" x 20" acrylic on canvas.

May 13, 2013 1:00:00 PM | abstract painting, black and white painting, how to paint

March 27, 2013

Using a Palette Knife in New Acrylic Painting

I'm still experimenting on small canvases, applying the acrylic paint with a palette knife. After my first red, yellow and white painting, I tried another one today. First I applied white and parchment in the center third of the canvas, blending them with the knife.

Next, I applied cadmium yellow light to the top section, and then alizarin crimson along the bottom. This formed my background grid. Then I put enough pyrole red on the knife to make broad sweeps up from the crimson toward the yellow.

I was careful not to have too much blending, keeping the red mostly separate from the white and yellow. Then I decided I needed more white, and added some, again without mixing it too much into the color underneath.

I used the knife to do a little blending and scraping, but not too much. Then I drew lines in cobalt green to add texture and contrast.

Now I have too of these red, white and yellow canvases. Tomorrow I'll decide what to do next with them.

Abstract Painting #186, 24" x 24" acrylic on canvas.

Mar 27, 2013 1:00:00 PM | abstract art, how to paint

Abstract Art

Abstract art, abstract artists, and the daily practice of painting and drawing.