New Materials, New Style

I love to talk about art with everyone I meet. The lovely thing about the topic is that everyone can relate to art in some way--from my 4-year-old niece, to the person who stops to chat on the street—art has a universal interest. However, when I get around fellow artists, the discussions can get rather interesting. Well…I find them interesting at least! My daughter accompanied me on an artist dinner and was amazed that it was possible to have an actual discussion about the pros and cons of different mediums (paint additives). Haha! I can talk “shop” about art techniques and materials for hours if you let me!

After talking about new things, I tend to mull them over for a while (sometimes weeks, sometimes years). When I have extra time at the art store, I’ll look at them, talk myself out of the extra cost, then go through the whole process again next time. And yet sometimes I can talk myself into it. I have been thinking about stretching my own canvases for a very long time. I’ve also been wanting to try painting “Golden Ratio” sized canvases for a long time as well. Some of the more recent musings have been around transparent oil pigments and using oil primer instead of acrylic. Also, I’ve been wanting to try this new medium recipe that makes the paint sticky instead of slippery.

This summer, I just did it! Right before Plein Air Hudson I was at the art store and bought all the stuff to try all the things. Normally I recommend trying new things at home, one at a time, not under pressure. But this past Hudson Plein Air, I had all these brand new shiny things I was itching to try...three-day competition be hanged! The very first painting I attempted that weekend was on a 10”x16” golden-ratio, hand-stretched canvas. It was tight as a drum and slick because I had oil primed it earlier. I laid out my new transparent paints, dipped my brush in the new medium, and went to town!

Well, I got very lucky this time, because I liked all of the brand-new things that I tried! (Except that the medium jar leaked sticky oily goo...I'm so glad I put it in a plastic baggie!) The new materials seemed to work together in perfect harmony, like they were meant to be used together. The painting that emerged did NOT look like my typical style. I guess that’s to be expected. As materials change, the possibilities of what can be done with them changes as well. When I paint something that I like, it gives me personal satisfaction, whether anyone else likes it or not. But it’s always nice when others like my works as well. In this case, this particular painting won Honorable Mention from Juror, Lisa Stauffer and a Purchase Award from a local art collector (who already owned 2 of my pieces). It’s called “Sail Camping on Swinging Bridge Island”. You can find it towards the end of this article in Plein Air Magazine.

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