A-to-Z blog challenge: Step N - action steps (part 1: surface preparation)

 

Since I paint on wood rather than canvas, there are a few steps before I can start the actual painting.

Wood is a natural product, so it must be sealed before applying any paint. You can paint directly on some wooden surfaces. Still, it is better for mixed media work to first seal the surface with a suitable sealant.

Depending on the wood and sealant, it might be necessary to sand each layer before adding the next. I typically don't sand between the layers since a slightly rough texture adds character to the final painting.

I typically seal the painting surfaces (front and sides) with two layers of sealant and the back surfaces (mounting structure included) with one layer. This helps to protect the wood since I use a sealant suited for indoor and outdoor use.

Next is one to two layers of gesso. The number of layers and type or texture of the gesso I use depends on the painting I want to create. Textured gesso will also contribute to a more textured surface. Canvas is textured, while wood is smooth.

Painting on wood gives me more options, although pre-stretched canvas is already primed and ready for painting. The more rigid surface also lends itself to a broader range of techniques and mixed media options.

The weight of a wooden canvas is often considered a drawback, but unless the painting is really big, the weight is usually not a problem.

Until tomorrow!

🇿🇦💜 Linzé

A-to-Z blog challenge: Step M - planning (part 4: action steps)

 Welcome to the continuance of my posts about my process of submitting a painting to a competition. If this is your first visit to my blog, check out the competition website and share with an artist friend who might be interested in taking part too.

Now back to my process. In this post I am going to list the steps, with follow-up posts adding more detail or information.

1. Surface preparation

2. Outlines

3. First layer

4. Mixed media elements

5. Painting details

6. Finishing

There will also be three posts (between No 4 and No 5 above) about taking a break during painting. This might be the most important step in the whole creative process!

Until tomorrow!

🇿🇦💜 Linzé

PS: You can also subscribe to my Creative Muse newsletter on Substack. I am lazy, so don't worry there will not be spam happening.

A-to-Z blog challenge: Step L - planning (part 3: schedule)

 

At the time of writing this post, I am still waiting for some final details on a commission of six charcoal drawings. On top of working on the final edits of my next novel, planned for release in December, an increasing workload at the lab, and all the other things I have to do, planning time to paint is essential.

I belong to two art groups, one of which I am the teacher, and I schedule time on my calendar weekly. However, scheduling time is not easy, given the amount of time I need for larger paintings. Every painting is different, and preparing the materials for mixed-media work takes longer than we think.

For the 2023 painting, I had to redo some of the elements three times because I miscalculated the sizes or got the colours and shapes wrong. Because I had a plan and a schedule to work on the painting, I managed to do everything to have the submission ready before the deadline. Imagine how miffed I was when the organizers extended the deadline because other artists wanted more time—and this was for a competition that ran from March to September!

Anyway, I allow enough time for all the necessary steps to have my painting ready a few weeks before the deadline. If something goes wrong or I must redo something, I will not need to ask for an extension. But that's just me! 😏

Next time, I will share the steps for the painting and how I plan my time accordingly.

Until Monday!

🇿🇦💜 Linzé

A-to-Z blog challenge: Step K - planning (part 2: medium and materials)

 

As much as I like experimenting with paint and other materials, there is simply not enough time to do that when preparing a competition submission. This means that I need to spend more time thinking and planning than I normally would with a painting.

I love mixed media that includes materials not usually found in the fine art section of my local art stores. The paintings shown here were sold in an exhibition last year, and I used diamond dots, fabric, and wooden sticks amongst other things.

Abstract landscapes
- mixed media

These paintings had me stumped for a bit, but once I got the idea to use the diamond dots, there was no stopping me. Will I be using diamond dots for the 2024 competition painting? No, but I did consider it. Given the theme, I wasn't quite so keen on the idea. Of course, there are a multitude of materials available that will be more suitable. I even rummaged in my husband's toolboxes.

I doubt that I surprised him, but I surprised myself for the list of materials that I have now collected to use for the painting. I even had to buy a few tools too, but that is just par for the course. And it lead me to add the electrical version to my birthday wishlist, because I can definitely see myself doing more of that stuff in the future.

Yeah, sorry about being vague, but rules are rules and giving away my ideas? Not today! 😉

Until tomorrow!

🇿🇦💜 Linzé

A-to-Z blog challenge: Step J - planning (part 1: size of painting)

 

Thank you for visiting my blog today. If you are a return visitor, welcome back. I am delighted to see you again!

We now get to the planning stage of doing a painting for a competition like this one. The painting I did for the 2023 competition, was smaller than the original, about 60%. Sticking to the original size would have disqualified my entry because of size limitations set by the rules.

This year the painting I chose is much smaller. The old masters did not have standard sizes for the canvases which makes it necessary for me to adjust the size of the painting I am doing. I decided to scale up, to fit a panel that I already have. The original was also done with a different aspect ratio, which added to the challenge of scale.

Sometimes art requires doing a little math. I cut and mounted the panel in 2023 from scratch, but this year I decided to go with a store bought panel from my stash.

The new size? 66% larger than the original. Yeah, that engineering degree is useful at the weirdest of times. LOL!

More on that next time.

Until tomorrow!

🇿🇦💜 Linzé

A-to-Z blog challenge: Step I - designing the composition (part 2: incorporating a theme)

Designing a composition based on an existing painting, to incorporate another theme, or style, requires some planning. And artists plan visually – digging out sketchbooks is the next step.

    Thumbnails, ie small drawings or paintings, are typically used to flesh out ideas. I do my version of that. I have a small sketchbook, A5 landscape size, that I use for either experimenting with new ideas or mediums or exploring ideas for a composition. I prefer the smaller size sketchbook to limit myself from getting bogged down in the details. I love to draw, and doing thumbnails is for ideas, not final art, so I need to keep it small.

    Again, sharing is not possible, but here is an example of what I did, and also the final artwork that resulted.

Gouache painting

Sketchbook planning

   

   

Until tomorrow!

📚💜Linzé

A-to-Z blog challenge: Step H - designing the composition (part 1: what’s in a theme)

 

As mentioned in previous posts, the competition has a prescribed theme: take one of the paintings of the old masters and interpret it with an African theme.

I thought, hey, this is easy right? And was I in for a surprise. Unlike the Baroque or Renaissance era, or the Impressionism and Surrealism styles, there is no such thing as African themed art. Historical African art was created for practical applications, e.g. decorating a home, or for religious/spiritual items, e.g. masks. Art was not created for the sake of art. More modern art created by African artists is either considered social, or socio-political commentary. Or is just considered modern or Western art [1,2]. 

So how will it be possible to interpret a piece from an old master, in a theme that does not have a definition? Well, I would say you make your own definition. At least that is how I plan to do it. Will it work? I have no idea, but one thing I do know: it is going to be fun trying!

Until tomorrow!

🇿🇦💜Linzé

References:

1. The Art of Africa, Christa Clarke, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2006

2. https://www.britannica.com/art/African-art/Nigeria