Abell to Art: Impressionist Paintings

As a visual artist, there are many tools at my disposal. Part of the appeal of the creative process is choosing what to use when. With regards to choosing materials, it can be both overwhelming and exciting when a beginning a new artwork.

Have you ever viewed an artwork and pondered, "How did they do that?" Or even, "What was used to create that?"

The 'secret sauce' can often be found in the materials an artist uses as well the technique involved.

In this post blog, I will offer a little insight into my own method to the madness. Hopefully, it will provide more understanding into the possible materials utilized for many artists. Good to know whether you are an artist, art collector, art aficionado, or just one who appreciates what they see.

For all artists, the cost of the materials involved is a large component of the overall artwork pricing formula.

First of all, some clarification...media refers to the type of paint used and the base where it is applied. A medium refers to the materials that are used to create a work of art. The plural of medium is media, so the words may be used interchangeably.

Since I enjoy painting with water media: watercolor, acrylic, and water soluble oil paints, there may often be additional items to include during the process.  "Why, you may ask, do I paint in three different media?"

Essentially, the type of painting/subject to me dictates which I paint I may include for the process.  Certainly, there are countless fine artists who have perfected their skill with one particular type, but for me I enjoy the experimentation and even integration of more than at a time.

What  may be advantageous to the painting process for one artist might not appeal to another artist. Creating art is very similar to the cooking process-the tools and techniques can yield varied results and are dependent upon personal preference.

The Art of the Matter

With so many media readily available, the options are endless. The commonality for my choice of painting media is water-based.  It is also important to use the highest quality products for the best results. The type of materials used in creating a compelling work is an primary consideration. Experimenting with a variety of media enables me to capture the natural light in a variety of ways

Method to Media

Watercolor- free flowing, but can be quite challenging to manage the amount of water and reserve the white areas. It is always helpful to remember the paint will dry lighter. The impressionist results make it very appealing. Different techniques and different archival papers, such as wet in wet, dry brush, rubbing alcohol, negative painting, and detail work can alter the results. I have found it ideal for painting buildings, pet portraits, and small botanical paintings. Watercolor pencils are often included for intricate detail work. All watercolor paintings are completed on the highest quality Arches watercolor paper for its "tooth" and ability to hold up to the water application. The watercolor brushes used have short handles and natural fibers that can be reshaped easily.

Acrylic- dries quickly- can be a good and bad thing if en plein air. The paint is quite pliable, allowing many possibilities to enhance canvas with texture. It can be thinned or thickened as needed with water and numerous products. A medium applied with palette knife and blended with paint can yield realistic or impressionist effects.  Applying acrylic inks with acrylic paint is a fun way to create very vibrant landscapes.  Most acrylic paintings are completed on the highest grade gallery wrapped canvas. Occasionally, works are completed on acrylic paper, canvas panels, or watercolor paper. Subsequent layers of paint can be applied over previous ones, always mindful that acrylic paint tends to dry darker. A final layer of clear varnish is applied to preserve the end result.

Oil-  water soluble paints have many advantages- still has the look, feel, richness, and depth of color like regular oil paints thinned with solvents. It can take many days for a painting to thoroughly dry. Since the paint itself stays soft longer, a painting session can be continued later. The same brushes and palette knife used for acrylic painting can be used for oil painting. My preference is flat brushes and rounded tip ones, usually synthetic. I am also a fan of fan brushes in all sizes.

The Art of the Process

The next time you look at any type of artwork, think about the process that was involved. If possible, ask the artist about their choice of media.  They would no doubt be delighted to let you in on the process!