Abstract Painting Demonstration
/
Abstract Painting Demonstration
If you’ve followed me for awhile, you know I like to try new things within the basic structure of what I do best. In this week’s video, I am painting again on raw, unprimed canvas (an experiment on it’s own) and using a color combination that I rarely use - and now I remember why!
The canvas is 36x36, gallery wrapped, raw and unprimed. Painting on raw canvas is VERY different as I documented in a previous video. You need lots of water to get the paint to move around because rather than sitting on the surface, it is being absorbed by the surface - much like watercolor paint on watercolor paper. The first thing you see me doing in the video is putting lots of water on the canvas surface.
I decided to use an Analogous Color combination of blue-green, green, yellow-green and yellow with green as the dominant color, blue-green as the non-dominant color and yellow-green and yellow as the accent colors. Here is my color palette (all colors are Golden Heavy Body Acrylic Paint):
Benzomidazolone Yellow Light
Naples Yellow Hue
Yellow Ochre
Pyrrole Orange
Cadmium Red Medium Hue
Titan Buff
Minty G (my custom blend)
Cobalt Turquoise
Cobalt Green
Jenkins Green
Titanium White
The overall concept was to have light coming from behind a large dark shape, and to have a softer, washy perimeter to further contrast against a harder edged, dark mass. I begin by putting in the yellow, which was to be the main accent color and then represent the light coming from behind the dark. I then use my hand to scoop up some Jenkins Green and put it on the canvas as the beginning of the dark shape. I rarely paint with my hands, but I thought why not?
Moving out from the dark shape I soften some edges, randomly mix in some blue-greens and begin to work the centers of interest, softening with lots of water sprayed on the canvas. After about 45 minutes of painting (after I thought I was finished), I realize I really don’t like the yellow - eek! About a week later I decided to cover up the yellow with a combination of blue-green and yellow-green. I tried to match the value and softness of the yellow, which was more difficult than I thought.
After the painting dried, it still had too much yellow, so I added more green again - I didn’t film that. The painting looks much better to me now, however I may experiment with adding a little cool yellow is small amounts at a couple of the centers of interest - then again I may just leave it alone. I’ll need to look at it another week or two to make a decision.
If you'd like to learn about abstract painting and making your own authentic work, then please join me for a painting workshop: (You can view a list of workshops HERE)
January 20, 2021 (Zoom) Interactive Mini-Workshop: Abstracting the Landscape, 6 hours. Click Here for Registration and Information
January 21, 2021 (Zoom) Interactive Mini-Workshop: Painting with David, 3 hours. Click Here for Registration and Information
February 3-5, 2021 David M. Kessler Fine Art Studio, Winston-Salem, NC Click Here for Information and Registration - Only 3 Seats Left!
February 10, 2021 (Zoom) Interactive Mini-Workshop: Bigger, faster, Fresher, Looser Abstract Painting, 6 hours. Click Here for Registration and Information
February 11-12, 2021 (Zoom) Interactive Mini-Workshop: Bigger, faster, Fresher, Looser Abstract Painting, 12 hours. Click Here for Registration and Information
February 19-21, 2021 Art League of Daytona Beach, Daytona Beach, FL Email Amelie Bush: amelieartist@aol.com
March 12-14, 2021 Arts and Design Society of Fort Walton Beach, FL. Abstracting the Coastal Landscape. Email Hanna Joensuu: hanna222@cox.net.
As always, thanks for your support!
David
NEW! Interactive (Zoom) Mini Workshops
I have just added 6 new Interactive Mini Workshops (on the Zoom platform) to my website. Most are 3 to 6 hours long and are a great opportunity for learning a lot in a short amount of time. You’ll be online and onscreen with me as I instruct, demonstrate, paint, and critique your work.
Simple Color System Colorwheel
If you have seen my videos on YouTube or taken one of my workshops, you have seen me use my Simple Color System Colorwheel. My Simple Color System is easy to use and assures that the color in your paintings will be harmonious. Proudly made in North Carolina.
You can purchase the Colorwheel HERE.
ALL ABOUT COLOR is a great online course that will show you a straightforward, no nonsense, clear and easily understandable approach to using harmonious color in your paintings.
Abstract Painting Academy is an online workshop experience specifically designed to teach you how to paint Abstract Paintings (like only you can!), Loosen Up your painting style, and use Design Fundamentals to give your paintings Dynamic Visual Impact. You get David’s personal attention and feedback on all of your work during the course.
Click Here to Find Out More
The Painting Insider (formerly Abstract Painting Insider) now has a new format and is not abstract painting specific. Weekly lessons provide an abundance of information to painters at any level. I have poured information about everything I have learned about painting over the last 30 years into one course!
