Friday, October 1, 2010

Palette Knife and Mixed Media Fun

When I discovered how much fun the palette knife was, it seemed that color and value just carved their way into my compositions.  Flower petals took on a life of their own as they created their own form and shadow patterns when  the light changed on the finished canvas.  The palette knife can pick up multiple colors, just like the brush can from the palette.  But the amount of paint is thicker and sculpts as you go. I use various sizes of knives, depending on the size of the canvas and what I am painting.

In this composition, the trees were the story I wanted to tell as the late afternoon sun sent sparkle into this thick wooded hillside. After the Mod Podge and tissue dried, I applied the palette knife to the surface to sculpt the trunks, shadows, and branches. This included many layers. In  addition I used spray gold for a metalic light and even a little sparkle sprinkled in.  Andy Warhol had a series of compositions in which he used diamond dust for luster.

Take a look at this one in mixed media, and then join my friend group at http://bethsummersartist.blogspot.com/.   The frame for this one is a gold metalic floater, because the painting sits right inside the frame edge, and enhances the gold in the composition.  This one is priced at $4900.00 and will be viewed for the first time at the Valley Art Studio Tour on Oct. 1 and 2 at my studio in Porter Ranch.
                    "Torn Piece of  Tissue Sky"
                    Tears or surprise? Wilderness?
                    God's promise is love.