Mixed Media Abstract - Blue & Green on Gold

"Blue & Green on Gold" acrylic paint, impasto/modelling paste on 8x8x1/2 inch (20x20x1.3cm) stretched canvas

This painting started out as a comparison of Atelier Interactive moulding paste (top left), Matisse Impasto Medium (top right), Matisse Gel Medium (matt) (bottom left) and Matisse Structure Acrylic Transparent Venetian Red (bottom right) using a painting knife.

This was then followed by a layer of Jo Sonja Gold and when dry a glaze (colours mixed with Atelier Interactive Glazing Liquid (gloss) approx. 1:1) of Matisse Emerald. Several glazes of Matisse Structure acrylics in Emerald, Southern Ocean Blue, Cobalt Turquoise, Cobalt Teal, Prussian Blue and Atelier Interactive Mixing White (pearl/titanium) followed until I was happy with the result.

The painting has been sealed with Atelier Interactive Fast Medium/Fixer.

Abstract - Colours of the Ocean

"Colours of the Ocean"Acrylic paint on 12x16 inch (30x40cm) canvas panel

I painted this last year when I purchased my first large painting knife (#11) from Liquitex's freestyle range. See my painting knives (my #9).

 

Paint was squirted onto the canvas panel straight from the tube and spread back and forth with the knife until I was happy with the look.

 

Colours used:  Atelier Interactive acrylics in Cobalt Turquoise Lt, Pthalo Turquoise, Pthalo Blue, Prussian Blue and Titanium White.

 

The painting has been sealed with Atelier Interactive Fast Medium/Fixer.

 

My Painting Knives

Anything you can do with a brush, you can do with a painting knife. There are a lot of painters who only use a knife. You can paint quickly by covering a small canvas in minutes, create thin lines, scrape texture or lines, apply mediums, push modelling paste through stencils, the list goes on.

#1 & #2 I have had for many years. They were bought for an oil painting class and the brand has rubbed off. These diamond shaped knives are thin and the most flexible I have with a small point.

 

#3-#7 are made by Mont Marte. They are not as flexible as my old knives, but I find I use the #3 the most. It is excellent for pushing modelling paste through stencils, mixing paint. At $2AUD each, these are a must have for me.

 

#8 is from Art Spectrum and reportedly excellent for creating the corrugated iron look but I haven't used this one yet.

 

#9-#11 are from Liquitex's freestyle range. The blades on these are as follows: #9 is 4 3/4 inches or 12 cm. #10 is 5 1/8 inches or 13cm. #11 is 8 1/2 inches or 22cm. I wanted to start working much larger, so I bought the #9 last year. It is just so quick to cover a whole canvas. #10 and #11 I just bought and have so far only used to spread gesso over a canvas. It is so much easier for this than a brush. These are $19.95AUD each, but worth it.

My Acrylic Palette

This is my palette I use for all acrylic paints. This setup isn't completely air tight but I like that I can just flip the latch, open and start painting in seconds.

My palette is made from an A4 plastic folder (I bought this many years ago, but I have seen very similar in Officeworks), kitchen sponges cut to fit and a tile or freezer paper (I used Glad Go-Between Freezer Film). You just need to keep the sponge damp, depending on which paint is used either misting paint with water or pouring directly onto the sponge may be required.

The paint on the tile is Matisse Structure and has dried just around the edges of the puddles. The paint on the freezer paper is (from left to right) Jo Sonja Flow Acrylics, Matisse Structure Acrylics and Matisse Flow Acrylics and has been left for three (3) weeks with the sponge being wet a few times.

I have left Atelier Interactive paints on a tile for a month or more and they have been as good as using straight from the tube (if over misted they can get runny or if sponge is let dry out they will dry). However, the sponge seems to stay damp when using a tile.

My test with freezer paper has left the Matisse Structure as good as from the tube. But both flow formulas have become runny even without misting.

I prefer to use a tile as I can mix as roughly as I like, it is easy to clean and there is no setup time. This freezer paper is quite strong (I previously used wax paper, but it was too fragile and ripped too easily and also bled through to the sponge) but does required cutting to size each time but you have no cleanup, just throw it away.