The Painting of "Amber Fusion"

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The Painting of “Amber Fusion”

This is the third painting in my “Fusion” series. The paintings are my take on a monochromatic color combination where I am using one color family (multiple colors of yellow, in this case) plus black, white and grays. I am always hesitant to make a yellow dominant painting because they typically don’t sell and yellow can be hard to deal with, particularly when trying to make dark values. But, I thought I would give it a go, and I really like the resultant painting.

The paint I used is Golden Heavy Body Acrylic Paint, in the following colors:

  • Benzidazolone Yellow Light

  • Diarylide Yellow

  • Naples Yellow Hue

  • Yellow Ochre

  • Mars Yellow

  • Light Violet

  • Neutral Gray 4

  • Neutral Gray 6

  • Mars Black

  • Titanium White

The canvas, as you see it when I begin has an underpainting on it. The previous day I put on a middle value mixture of Neutral Gray 6 and Titan Buff. I actually did the underpainting for another video for one of my online workshops, but I really needed it for this painting. I knew many of the values would be light and I wanted a middle value ground to begin from so that I could see the lighter values as I applied them.

In mixing paint for the limited palette painting, the yellows were too bright to use at full strength. I mixed the Light Violet with all the yellows first to gray them down enough to make them useful.

I begin this piece, as I begin many, with the application of a dark middle value - in this case I used Neutral Gray 4. As I lay it in I mix in Neutral Gray 6, Naples Yellow Hue and some Mars Black in the area where I will develop a center of interest. I try never to have a single color in one area, but randomly mix in other colors for variety.

I then gradually begin to add middle value gray and some yellow. I try to keep the yellow muted and light in value for the most part. When adding any of the colors in, I choose them randomly. I know this may sound odd, but when I lay out my palette I know everything will go together, so randomly choosing the color and them pushing the edges of the colors together without over blending is something that gives a cohesive look and feel and brings variety to the shapes.

Notice that I move the brush in every direction possible: perpendicular to the surface, parallel with the surface, straight strokes, curving strokes, blending all edges as I go. I try never to make a shape that I have to go in and blend an edge - I blend as I go, with one shape flowing into the next shape, colors all integrated together.

As the painting is wrapping up I begin to lay in the lightest value yellows next to the darkest value blacks and grays to develop my centers of interest. I put them in first with a nylon bristle brush, then soften them and blend them into the painting with a dry natural bristle brush. Then I use my Marabu Art Crayons in White, Sunshine Yellow and Caramel to add a little line work and visual texture. I fiddle with the centers of interest a little more (too much actually) and then I’m finished. The signature is the final touch.

This painting video is dedicated to Jonas Gerard who passed away on September 25. Jonas lived in Asheville, NC and was one of the most popular and prolific artists I have ever met. Everywhere I teach people ask me if I know Jonas - and I am always happy to reply yes. I learned so many things from Jonas over the years, particularly how to use big brushes and lots of paint, and how to stay loose while painting. He was a spectacular artist, mentor and friend and I will miss him dearly.


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)

As always, thanks for your support!

David

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