Abstract Art

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.

 

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Continuing to experiment with acrylic paint on watercolor paper, I first painted a background with parchment, unbleached titanium, and a medium gray.  I painted the gray along the top and bottom, with the lighter colors in the center.

Then, because the contrast between the gray and unbleached titanium was more than I wanted, I drew vertical lines up and down with parchment to lessen that effect. 

Next, I used a palette knife to create blocks of titanium white horizontally across the center of the paper.  Then I created four blocks of mars black with the knife.

After that I added outlines and texture with more lines in parchment and black. In the final step, I took a black thinned down with water and flicked it at the painting with a brush to create splatters. 

  Paper Painting #17, 24" x 18" acrylic on watercolor paper.

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   2010 Abstract Drawing 20, 11.5" x 9"

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   2010 Abstract Drawing 19, 11.5" x 9"

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   2010 Abstract Drawing 17, 11.5" x 9"

I know I said I'd get back to painting as soon as my canvases arrived, but that hasn't happened.  A trip to Florida, plus Adrian being in the hospital for two days this weekend (he's fine now), have delayed my painting sessions.