Australian How To Paint Issue 27

Advances in painting product technology have led to some of the greatest changes in art history. For example, in 1841 oil paint became available in capped tubes, allowing artists the flexibility to paint outdoors. This in turn lead artists such as Monet and the impressionists to paint en plein air (outside). Without this newfound freedom offered by portable paint tubes, the popularity of this new painting style would not have led to the Alla Prima or ‘wet on wet’ technique of painting which formed the basis of the style of artists such as Monet. In fact, Pierre August Renoir said “ without tubes of paint there would haven been no impressionism.” Perhaps the greatest technical change since this time has been the invention and widespread use of acrylic paint .…

• Use background paints in thin coats, no thicker than 0.5mm, to reduce any risk of drying cracks. • Acrylic paints dry fast - use use only a small amount at a time. • Get yourself a spray bottle with a thin mist of water to keep the paint damp. I emphasize the fine mist of the spray - otherwise, you will damage your work. • In order to maintain a brightness of colour, keep a sponge or rag to dry and clean your brush or wipe excess paint off the canvas. • Build transparent glazes slowly and think about colour combinations. • Use masking tape or masking fluid to create a crisp edge.…

One owner of a well known art supply shop commented that “like all art materials, you get what you pay for.” The higher grades of acrylic paint will have richer colours through denser pigment content. The less expensive paint or student grade paints will contain less pigment and will dry with a dullish plastic finish. If you are serious about trying acrylics, it is worth investing in some of the better quality range of paints that are available. Otherwise, you will be setting yourself up for disappointment.…

Impasto medium: is a paste which will add body to the paint, great for building up a textured surface. Matt Gel Medium: use this to act as a clear transparent colour extender for glazes and as a transparent impasto for thick application. Matt Medium : use this medium to reduce the sheen of the paint to a flat finish. Results will take on the look of Tempura or Gouache. Spreader Medium: use this to spread large volumes of paint over selected areas while maintaining a controlled viscosity. Surface Tension Breaker: use this to reduce the viscosity of the colours. It will increase the ‘flow’ properties of the paint and make them more absorbent.…

Ross Wymark worked as a signwriter in his twenties, but he had not put brush to board in more than 30 years when he found himself in hospital in the New South Wales town of North Richmond. Ross was referred to an Art Therapist as part of his treatment plan. He discovered that the aim of this therapy was not to produce aesthetically beautiful artworks … but rather to express emotions through various mediums such as collage, painting, and clay modelling. Creating symbolic art helped him to become more aware of his thoughts, feelings and memories – which enabled him to address unexplored issues through this special form of communication. Over time, Ross noticed subtle changes in his emotional and mental wellbeing. With emerging self-confidence and a positive outlook towards…

STEP ONE I applied one coat of purple paint with the roller; then allowed it to dry before applying a second coat. STEP TWO I made several sketches on paper before drawing my design onto the canvas. This allowed me to rearrange my composition a few times to get the final design. I laid out the design of my leaves on paper and then marked out the layout onto my canvas with the Chinagraph pencil. STEP THREE Beginning with the background leaves, I applied the Ochre base and blended in White, with a wet-on-wet technique (blending the colours before the paint dried). STEP FOUR I continued the process of adding in varying colours wet-on-wet: Mid Green with Warm Yellow, and so on. STEP FIVE I added a more complex combination…