Questions Answered

Altered Photo (original photo from google images)

Before I get started, I just want to say thank you (and you, and you!) for all of the wonderful comments and emails I receive - I love reading each and every one!

Frequently those comments and emails contain questions...  

How do you create your textures?

Boy, do I love me some texture!  I am always looking for different ways to create it.  Two of the easiest ways to create texture are by using tissue paper or by painting on an already textured surface like pressboard.

I started the painting above by adhering crumpled tissue paper to my primed canvas using a watered down glue mixture.  (Nothing fancy - just plain white tissue paper and white school glue mixed with water.)  I put a layer of brown paint over the whole thing then put a creamy white over that. (By painting it brown first it really brings out the wrinkles.)

Pressboard is instant texture!  It is basically wood chips that have been glued and pressed together to create solid sheets.  (I love using black gesso on pressboard!)

*My favorite place to get wood of all kinds is the "leftovers bin" at my local home improvement store.  It is the bin where they put all of the misfits and leftover pieces from when they cut down large sheets of wood - You can find amazing bargains in that bin!*    

Altered Photo  (original photo from google images)

House paint?  I still can't believe you use house paint in some of your paintings... Is there a specific type you use?

House paint has really great coverage.  I first started using it when I painted murals, but I continue to (sometimes) use it in my paintings on canvas and wood.  When I use it, I like to use a satin or semi-gloss finish.

*A great place to buy paint?  The "mistint" section at the hardware store.  It's the place that they sell the "mistakes" for deeply discounted prices.  The colors that you find there may not be something that you want right out of the can, but you can adjust them yourself at home!*

How do you work on so many paintings at once?  Where do you find the time?

For me, working on multiple paintings at the same time makes sense with my schedule.  I basically have one long, full day a week of intense art making and the rest is shorter bursts here and there around Tyler's schedule.  (You can read more about my schedule in an interview here.)  

If I have fifteen minutes, I work on the piece that has a fifteen minute chunk that can be conquered... They are always in different stages of completion.  When I work on more than one painting at a time, I don't have to worry about drying times - I can move on to a different painting.  

Where do you get your ideas?

If you read this post, then you remember that I believe inspiration is everywhere!

The photo above was an early morning discovery.  The soft sunlight coming through my kitchen window cast this crazy shadow on my refrigerator.  (I had a pineapple on the counter with my usual paper towel holder and soap dispenser.)  These look like some fun characters to me... expect to see them in my art work at some point in the future!

Keep your eyes open - you never know what ideas may be lurking in the shadows!

I love to share, so if you have any questions I haven't already answered please feel free to leave a comment or send me an email!

In the interest of even more sharing, I'd like to leave you with this fantastic post by Austin Kleon that I read the other day.