I’ve been playing with Acrylic paint recently and loving it. I’ve dabbled with water soluble oils, but something about the fast drying time of Acrylics is lending to an energy I have been searching for but thus far have not attained. There also seems to be a color shift for me in terms of brighter chroma. I have no idea why! Perhaps because of the mere fact that I need to get this stuff on the canvas before it dries, and therefore I am not overthinking or over-working. Liberating!
The painting in its current stage is a bit more abstract than I normally paint, but in my opinion is not a complete departure from my current oil painting style. I may refine this a bit more but my goal is to not “identify” every object, but rather let the most recognizable shapes sing.
To begin, I used various non-brush implements to get the basic shapes on the canvas, then used Richeson Grey Matter Egberts to refine some areas (all pictured below). In the first stage of color, I used Lucas and Basics Acrylics, then for the next stage I brought out the Utrecht Acrylics. I find the latter to be quite buttery and closer to the feel of oil paint than most Acrylics.
I must emphasize that I am not zig-zagging on a crazy new path. There is a part of me that needs structure and process to keep me grounded in the academic necessities of solid painting. Thus far I have adhered to that concept. But with recent inspiration and encouragement from certain wise fellow artists, I know I’d like to keep exploring this path. I will certainly benefit from jumping out of my lane a little bit and seeing what else is on the highway.
Doing so will only strengthen my current repertoire.
In a nutshell, I am continually pushing myself to give less and less information with more impact. I think a little mystery is a good thing and engages the viewer on a higher level. Exploration and “letting go” are helping me deepen that mystery.
“Initially the painter must reveal the world to himself and then communicate that understanding to others.” ~Ken Howard
