Abstracting Ideas with Acrylic Paint
Problem Statement: create 4 small abstract studies that demonstrate an understanding of acrylic painting techniques. Use inspiration from your personal life as well as from the modern and contemporary abstract artists we'll be looking at in class. GT - your series should be thematically related and be read as a coherent series of paintings.
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SKETCHBOOK Assignment - Acrylic Techniques Reference/Exploration
Break up you sketchbook pages into sections to test out and become comfortable with the variety of ways that acrylic paint can be used. Even within these small "tests," consider color and composition. Get used to mixing every color - don't use colors straight out of the tube! You should have at least 8 explorations but try using ALL of the techniques listed below. Label each composition with the techniques you tried.
Break up you sketchbook pages into sections to test out and become comfortable with the variety of ways that acrylic paint can be used. Even within these small "tests," consider color and composition. Get used to mixing every color - don't use colors straight out of the tube! You should have at least 8 explorations but try using ALL of the techniques listed below. Label each composition with the techniques you tried.
Hard Edge - use tape, a straightedge, or a very steady hand to create a clean edge with paint.
Soft Edge - your brush or finger can be used to soften or blur the division between an edge.
Stamp - any object can be stamped into paint to create a mark that can be easily repeated.
Stencil - stencil brushes help create a clean edge by dabbing the paint on rather than brushing.
Layering - after a layer is dry, paint over (and over and over...) to create interest and history.
Drybrush - wipe paint off until your brush has very little paint left to create a textured effect.
Sgraffito - while paint is still wet drag the end of your brush or other implement to incise lines.
Expressive mark-making - physicality and confidence of brushstrokes to show emotion.
Transparency - intention watering down of paint to lower opacity and create overlays of color.
Mixed Media - many artists incorporate other materials like collage, charcoal, anything goes...
Dripping/Spattering - acrylic needs to be thinned with water or gel medium to increase fluidity.
Palette Knife - paint with/make edges, or use to scrape away layers of paint from your surface.
Impasto - a method of thickening the paint to create actual texture - modeling paste may be used.
Soft Edge - your brush or finger can be used to soften or blur the division between an edge.
Stamp - any object can be stamped into paint to create a mark that can be easily repeated.
Stencil - stencil brushes help create a clean edge by dabbing the paint on rather than brushing.
Layering - after a layer is dry, paint over (and over and over...) to create interest and history.
Drybrush - wipe paint off until your brush has very little paint left to create a textured effect.
Sgraffito - while paint is still wet drag the end of your brush or other implement to incise lines.
Expressive mark-making - physicality and confidence of brushstrokes to show emotion.
Transparency - intention watering down of paint to lower opacity and create overlays of color.
Mixed Media - many artists incorporate other materials like collage, charcoal, anything goes...
Dripping/Spattering - acrylic needs to be thinned with water or gel medium to increase fluidity.
Palette Knife - paint with/make edges, or use to scrape away layers of paint from your surface.
Impasto - a method of thickening the paint to create actual texture - modeling paste may be used.
How to tell The Good from the Bad
1. Consistency
This refers to the consistency within a painting as well as the consistency of an artist’s portfolio. If a portfolio is all over the place with a few stunning pieces mixed with low quality work, the artist is either still developing or doesn’t quite know what they’re doing. Same goes for within a single painting. The flow must be consistent from one side of the painting to the other with planned and precise strokes.
2. Color
Colors that don’t mesh well together are a dead giveaway that the artist isn’t a professional unless of course it’s done deliberately in which case it has to be obvious.
3. Texture
Most of the time, good abstract art is compiled of layers. There’s typically and underpainting and these layers often create texture.
4. Meaning
All great art has some sort of meaning behind it. Some type of emotion, whether positive or negative gets thrown onto the canvas. There’s thought and planning put into it. You’ll know when an abstract piece is done at random. It lacks personality.
5. Complexity
As an artist completes more and more pieces, they grow and learn new techniques, which is evident in their work. In contrast to what you may think about abstract art, the techniques used in this style (by a professional) cannot be easily replicated.
6. Comfort
Uncomfortable paint strokes will tell you right away that the artist is an amateur. Experienced artists are confident and produce every mark with intention. Paint splatters may look random but they’re put there for a reason.
There are so many different feelings toward abstract art. There are many people that simply don’t understand it, others that think they can replicate it, and of course the abstract artists themselves who put much more time and thought into it than many non-artists realize. What do YOU think? Has your opinion changed since our research of other artists and after you've gone through the process of trying to make a high quality abstract painting yourself?
This refers to the consistency within a painting as well as the consistency of an artist’s portfolio. If a portfolio is all over the place with a few stunning pieces mixed with low quality work, the artist is either still developing or doesn’t quite know what they’re doing. Same goes for within a single painting. The flow must be consistent from one side of the painting to the other with planned and precise strokes.
2. Color
Colors that don’t mesh well together are a dead giveaway that the artist isn’t a professional unless of course it’s done deliberately in which case it has to be obvious.
3. Texture
Most of the time, good abstract art is compiled of layers. There’s typically and underpainting and these layers often create texture.
4. Meaning
All great art has some sort of meaning behind it. Some type of emotion, whether positive or negative gets thrown onto the canvas. There’s thought and planning put into it. You’ll know when an abstract piece is done at random. It lacks personality.
5. Complexity
As an artist completes more and more pieces, they grow and learn new techniques, which is evident in their work. In contrast to what you may think about abstract art, the techniques used in this style (by a professional) cannot be easily replicated.
6. Comfort
Uncomfortable paint strokes will tell you right away that the artist is an amateur. Experienced artists are confident and produce every mark with intention. Paint splatters may look random but they’re put there for a reason.
There are so many different feelings toward abstract art. There are many people that simply don’t understand it, others that think they can replicate it, and of course the abstract artists themselves who put much more time and thought into it than many non-artists realize. What do YOU think? Has your opinion changed since our research of other artists and after you've gone through the process of trying to make a high quality abstract painting yourself?