Texture painting

Impressionism study of Van Gogh’s style …

Objective: After experimenting with soft blending of colors as Georgia O’Keefe does; student will compare & examine

the techniques of another impressionist painter, Vincent Van Gogh; before imitating his style.

Art Concepts: Impressionism; Painterly quality; expressive lines; palette knife painting technique; texture

painting; juxtaposition of color for optical blending;

Resources:

Palette Knife Painting Demos:

1 2 3 4 1. by Leonid Afremov http://letsmakeapainting.blogspot.com/2012/07/palette-knife-painting-demo-by-leonid.html 2. http://www.artisanhq.com/category/discipline/painting/page/12/ 3. http://www.youtube.com/channel/HCfnhPcpjnTv8

4. Pansy Oil Painting - Andreas Bu palette knife technique

5. Painter Gary Garrett demonstrates palette knife painting in this short YouTube video, Heavy Impasto Palette Knife Acrylic Painting Demo - Gary Garrett - Castaway Island. "This technique sacrifices fine details for a more impressionist style of applying the paint. There's a real FREEDOM in not being concerned about details." http://napavalleyartcamp.blogspot.com/2010/03/gary-garrett-palette-knife-painting.html

Close up & final painting > http://www.jensartblog.com/2009/07/autumn-riches-72-x-36.html

Other artists: Diane Whitehead; Tim O’Toole; Susanna Shap; Leonid Afremov

More resources:

"Donna," palette knife painting by Shelli Ardizzone

Paint Like Van Gogh, Almost! with Shelli Ardizzone http://www.impactfolios.com/sheljoe/page12839.htm This process is a totally gratifying, a plunge into using a limited triad of color, and the palette knife to deliver and

manipulate the paint. The students do a simple sketch of the still life set up, and learn how to mix a grand assortment of

colors using the 3 primary colors and white. It is a color explosion, and painters of all levels push the envelope in direct

color application. This is new and unknown territory for most attendees. Use of the knife, and the directly applied clean

colors, seems to inspire inhibition, bipassing the usual adult sensors in the joyful creation of the work.

After drawing out a basic sketch of flowers on my canvas, I mixed together equal amounts of

acrylic heavy gel and acrylic modeling paste. Then, following the lines I’d drawn, I sculpted the

petals, flower centers, and leaves with a small palette knife.

After drying for about two hours my textured flowers were ready to paint. I like to paint quickly,

use really vivid colors for my poppies, such as Cadmium Yellow Deep, Cadmium Orange, and

Napthol Red, with deeper tones of Bordeaux Red and Violet for the shadowed areas.

Working fast isn’t a problem because the texture allows me to correct any errors easily in the last

step. I don’t usually find that a lot of detail is necessary, but simply let the texture (and vivid

colors) do the work. http://emptyeasel.com/2007/10/05/how-to-add-incredibly-thick-texture-to-your-acrylic-

paintings/

It’s amazing how a simple glazing

technique over thick, acrylic medium can

really make those flowers pop off the

canvas. And after a final touch up to

emphasize the edges of the petals, this

painting was ready for its protective

varnishing.

Remember, no matter what subject matter

you like to paint it’s very easy to add

texture and drama to your art using this

three-step process.

o find out more about Carol’s highly

textural paintings, visit her painting blog

or website at CarolNelsonFineArt.com.