Think of a good composition for your object on the canvas. Usually you leave more space from a light source side.
Optical mixing of colours
The following topics are explained in the book ‘Colour!’ by Royal Talens: the creation of colour, the properties of colour, mixing colours and painting with colour.
Using examples and explanations of various techniques, the possibilities for achieving the desired result are discussed.
Below is an example of optical colour mixing. This technique can be found on page 21 of the ‘Colour!’ booklet.
Head outdoors and take a photo of an environment with plenty of depth, or go with an existing photograph. Then choose the section you would like to use for your work.
Materials used
- Rembrandt acrylic paper
- Amsterdam brushes: a fine brush and a medium-sized gussow brush
- Amsterdam Standard Series: Zinc White 104, Titanium White 105, Ultramarine 504 and Sap Green 623
- Amsterdam acrylic markers (Medium): Ultramarine 504, Primary Cyan 572, Phthalo Blue 570, Burnt Sienna 411, Burnt Umber 409, Neutral Grey 710, Permanent Green 618, Yellowish Green 617, Primary Yellow 275, Yellow Ochre 227, Azo Yellow Deep 270, Oxide Black 735
- Amsterdam acrylic markers (Small): Titanium White (105)
- Van Gogh sketch pencils (preferred hardness)
- Bruynzeel Design kneadable eraser
Step 1
Sketch with pencil on acrylic paper. Not everything on the photo needs to be included in the sketch. In this photo there was a large tree precisely in the centre of the selected area. This would have drawn considerable attention and was therefore omitted from the sketch. Also ensure that you don’t depict too many distracting details along the edge of your work. This will focus attention on your selected subject.
Step 2
Begin by painting the first layer for the sky with acrylic colours (105 & 504) and a coarse brush.
Please note! The sky is always lighter just above the horizon than further up. Paint this on with broad strokes. Continue with the rough base painting of the buildings and shapes. Use a brush for the larger areas and a marker for the fine elements
Complete, Physical Mixing
Using my two colors, I mixed them together using a palette knife until the color was smooth and completely mixed. I painted it on with a flat brush.
You can also achieve complete mixes by painting one color on your surface, then, while it’s wet, mixing in the second color completely. Can be tricky, so use caution.
Tools used: Blue and yellow paint, palette knife, palette, flat brush, primed hardboard.
Incomplete Mix
Using a palette knife, I picked up a little of each of my two colors and spread them on the surface, allowing each color to show without completely mixing together.
Tools used: Blue and yellow paint, palette knife, palette, primed hardboard.
Scrumbling
I painted a layer of blue on the surface of my piece and allowed it dry. Then I used a brush loaded with the yellow, then wiped off a little bit, and proceeded to rub the yellow paint around on top of the blue layer. The texture of your surface will make a big difference in the appearance of this technique, so experiment with it!
Tools used: Blue and yellow paint, paper towel, flat brush, primed hardboard.
canvas 8
Sgraffito & Wipe-out
Start with applying a light-value color for background and a dark-value for the object. Let them dry.
Place a thick layer of paint for the object – mid-values and lights over the entire object. Wipe out or/and scratch a portion of the paint to reveal the darker value beneath the fresh layer.
Place darker values over the background, wipe out and/or scratch the light areas and highlights.
Sgraffito is a paint removal (scratching) technique. Anything can be used to scratch off wet paint: palette knife, brush handle, finger, credit card, etc. The technique works better when a thick layer is applied over a dry layer of contrasted color. Using this technique over a similar color can create interesting texture effects.
Wipe-out technique is commonly used for correcting painting mistakes, but can also be used to add dimension to the colors. Use wet cloth to wash off the paint, use a dry cloth to remove just the top layer of paint and reveal the layer under. You can also use a brush (wet or dry) to wipe off paint.
canvas 9
scumbling
Apply the first layer of paint for background and the object. Let it dry.
Use any of the scumbling methods to complete the painting.
Scumbling is a technique of applying a loose thin layer of a lighter semi-opaque color (dry) over a dry opaque layer of a darker color, leaving some of the under-layer visible to create an optical mixing of colors. Scumbling also creates interesting surface textures and can be used to modify a color of an area (cooling a color down or warming it up).
Other things you can do with scumbling:
- Transparent scumbling – use gel medium to create a transparent color to rough over the previously painted color
- Heavily textured scumbling – apply a thick layer of paint
- Light scumble with a rag – dip a rad into your paint and lightly touch the painting to apply paint over the peaks of the first coat
- Light color over dark – use a stiff, drying mix of paint, remove excess paint from the brush prior to painting, apply lightly over the first layer
canvas 10
mixed strokes
Pick at least 3 painting techniques that you like and feel comfortable with
Create a piece that would incorporate these techniques (B/W or Color)
