.jpg)
When I decide to make a new piece, I start of by choosing if I would like to paint on a piece of paper or canvas, do I make a new body of work or continue working on a previous, unfinished piece.
-
I do layered pieces or simple poured pieces on paper, for studies and for fun.
When it comes to tools, I rarely use brushes and conventional art supplies. Rather, I use painter’s spatulas, pieces of wood or really anything that comes handy and does the job. My art supplies consist mostly of old paint containers or old used jars. But, I would say that cake spatulas are my favorite. That is the beauty of art, you can make it from and with anything, just depending on your imagination and intuition.
I love to recycle, as I am always inspired by nature and have a huge respect for it, I try to recycle as much as I can minimizing waste. I often find myself picking up parches of fabric/ plastic or other materials when I go for walks thinking on how I could later use them. I also use paint that dries on the inside of the larger bowls and containers that I use for pouring and mixing colors. I simply peel it off and instantly have a small colorful piece of collage. I glue the recycled pieces and then work on and around them.
It is pretty hard for me to explain the exact process as all the decisions I make - such as which paint to use, what to paint with and where - I do intuitively.
.jpg)
But, in most cases, I start with drawing lines on paper that is at least 300 gms thick so it doesn’t curl up much when it absorbs moisture. After drawing with a pen, I normally select a few “undertone” colors I want to work with. I use acrylic paint, water it down in bowls, or I use ink and also water it down or use a pouring medium. I rarely work with paint that isn’t watered down simply because I like paints running on paper so I can shape them easier. The end lines between colors are much softer and transparent then.
Sometimes I pour only the medium or water on the paper and then put paint on/in it to create a different kind of paint tearing effect, It is a completely different texture when paints are not watered down and you cannot run them across the paper in the same way.
When I mix the colors on the paper and create the shapes that I like, I let them air dry for 2 days. Then I usually and another layer, and keep on layering until I am satisfied with the end result. Before the last layer I insert plants or recycled parts and then put the finishing layer.
The process would be similar when I make canvas pieces, but on canvas’ I usually don’t use pencils. As I mentioned, it is pretty difficult to explain how I paint, what steps I take and when I take them, because it all comes down to intuition and what I feel a certain piece ‘‘needs’’ in that stage.
In the end I would say the most important thing for me and for others out there that are thinking of starting painting is to experiment as much as you can and work every day. Eventually you will find the materials and technique that best suit you and an aesthetic that pleases both you and your customers.
