Expressive painting in mixed media

355 Pages·2014·108.71 MB·English

by  French

EXPRESSIVE PAINTING
in
MIXED MEDIA
SORAYA FRENCH

EXPRESSIVE PAINTING
in
MIXED MEDIA
SORAYA FRENCH
THE CROWOOD PRESS
First published in 2014
by The Crowood Press Ltd Ramsbury, Marlborough
Wiltshire SN8 2HR
www.crowood.com
This e-book first published in 2014
© Soraya French 2014
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy,
recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in
writing from the publishers.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBN 978 1 84797 799 1
Frontispiece: Pink Sensation
CONTENTS
Acknowledgements
Introduction
1. Getting started
2. Exploring the media
3. Tantalizing textures
4. Collage
5. The language of colour
6. Experimental flowers and still life
7. Expressive landscapes
8. Exploring further
Recommended suppliers
Index
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
My sincere thanks and gratitude to Golden Artist Colors along with Sandy and
Jason Mackie at Global Art Supplies for their continued support over many
years. Special thanks to Patti Brady for organizing the supplies for this book. I
would also like to extend my great appreciation and thanks to St Cuthbert’s Mill
for their generous supply of Saunders Waterford paper over the last few years.
My deepest gratitude to my special daughter for her patient and meticulous
help with photography, layout and text reviews, you are so clever and the most
gentle and wonderful teacher, it was pure joy working with you.
I am so glad that I had the insight all those years ago as an eighteen-year-old
to choose a husband with so much practical and technological knowhow. Your
love and support throughout our life together has enabled me to follow my
dream and for that there are no words to thank you enough.
This book is dedicated to Tim, Yasmin and Saasha.
The author in her studio.
INTRODUCTION
If you are reading this book, the chances are that you are ready to take the
challenge of delving into the exhilarating world of painting in mixed media. This
genre of painting is by far the most liberating form of expression for artists. Each
medium’s individual characteristics bring something fresh to the table and
broaden your artistic horizons with a myriad of possible techniques. You can set
aside many of the anxieties associated with the limitations of working in a single
medium and push the creative boundaries by the many different and exciting
combinations. Incorporating gels, pastes and paper collage as well as a whole
host of mark making materials widens the margin for experimentation and will
help you create exciting visual and tactile textural effects in your paintings.
However, thinking creatively and the ability to process your creative ideas in
a cohesive manner are just as important as your expertise in applying the
materials and the elements and principles of design. I am hoping that this book
will help you develop your understanding of a variety of possible painting
techniques with mixed media, as well as address some of the behind-the-scenes
psychological factors that go hand in hand with the technical aspects to help you
create better paintings and, most importantly, increase your enjoyment of the
process.
A word of advice: ensure that you take time to get to know the attributes of
each medium so that you can make informed decisions about its contribution to
your painting. This simple step will help you avoid producing paintings
overladen with incompatible layers of discordant materials.
To get the most out of this book be prepared to step out of your comfort zone
and start experimenting with some new and challenging ideas to help you
progress with your painting.
The City Beyond detail.