Menu
This mini-series of paintings were commissioned by a friend of my wife’s that asked for a pour painting similar to the ‘Flowing Horses’ painting that I had created several months prior (2021). Lily had given me the idea of creating 4 paintings, representing each member of their family’s Chinese zodiac animal. After looking at ‘Flowing Horses” process, I wanted to try to create the impression of the animal rather than the silhouette. I also wanted to try to make the impression very subtle, almost hidden or abstract, as if the colors of the pour medium are pushing through the figure, creating strong movement. Movement is a very dominate principle in ‘Flowing Horses’, so I wanted to keep the same energy in the ‘Impression, Zodiac’ pieces.
After having experimented with this masking technique (in ‘Flowing Horses’), I wanted to go a bit more detailed and make the animal in the composition appear somewhat transparent. Having gathered multiple images of the different animals, I started with the stencil sketches for each of the masks that will be made on the canvases.
1) I start the process by first designing the stencils in Adobe Illustrator. I do this because I want the stencils to appear to only have 1 value, which makes the impression of each of the animals’ contour and large details rather than intricate details. This design method is a bit different than the method I used when creating ‘Flowing Horses’, which uses only the silhouette of the horses (more of a solid shape of color). I want to try to incorporate as much detail as I can without making the design over complicated.
2) I use pieces of masking tape to completely cover each of the canvases. I then sketch my design on each canvas with a black marker making sure to fill in the areas that I will cut away (e.g. the areas that will be covered with color). This helps to make the process less confusing. I very carefully use an X-acto knife to cut into the tape, making sure not to go all the way through the canvas. This part is a bit tricky because you I need to regulate the pressure of the knife carefully.
After the tape stencils are set, there are an infinite number of ways to prepare and pour the paint. This first technique, that I use for the bull and rabbit paintings, allows me to control the colors a bit more than the second technique (see below).
1) Materials: 4 stretched gessoed canvases, several colors (or tones) of acrylic paint, Pebeo brand acrylic pouring medium, silicone oil.
*You can use other brands of acrylic pouring medium as well, just be sure to check the drying time and finish (glossy/matte). Pebeo has a longer drying time, so you can take your time as you pour.
2) When I prep my paint, I mix colors in several plastic cups (don’t use paper as the longer the paint sits the more the paper cup becomes saturated). I then apply a somewhat thick layer of white acrylic (mixed with pour medium) on the canvas and use a palette knife or flat object to smooth and spread the paint around. I apply the colors in parallel lines from top to bottom with each line a different color. I then use a damp paper towel to pull the colors from one end to the other. I also used a straw to shift some of the paint because it had a bit too much white on one side. Using this technique allows you to control how the colors will be arranged in the final composition.
*I plan to go back and experiment with different color schemes, ways of arranging the lines, using curving lines, dots, etc.). It would be interesting to also create a monochromatic composition (ex. black, white, and range of blue values).
This pouring technique is a bit more spontaneous because you layer colors in a cup which will remain separated as you pour, so the colors run in different directions when poured as well.
1) I start this process with layering different colors in a plastic cup. Layers that you use more mixture in will tend to dominate the composition (e.g. if you include more amounts of blue tone, that’s what will be more abundant). I also layer the same color at different levels. I filled roughly 3/4’s of the cup I’m using (which was more than enough to cover a 12″ x 12″ canvas. If you are covering a larger surface, be sure to first figure out how much paint you will actually need.
*If you want to create the “cell-like” texture in the paint, you will need to apply a few drops of silicone oil (too much isn’t necessary). This helps the paint to separate after you have poured.
2) For this experiment, I turned the canvas upside down, placed the cup in the center, and flipped the canvas back over with the cup. This allowed me to be able to bring the cup up slowly as I move it to see what kind of pattern it would make.
3) Also, with this method, because the paint is a bit thicker, you are able to pick the canvas up and move it to let the paint run to different parts of the surface.
Depending on how thick you pour the paint, it could take up to 3 to 4 days for the paint to completely dry. The paint needs to be completely dry all the way through before attempting to remove the tape stencil. Otherwise the paint could run when the tape is removed.
1) I use an X-acto knife again to help slowly remove the tape. Some areas I needed to cut into to break the tape free so I could continue to remove it. Because I was using canvas, some very thin colors leaked under the tape. This is probably due to the canvas being porous. I ended up going back and painting white acrylic through the masked out areas to make the composition consistent.
*I plan to experiment with this technique on a different surface. Smooth wood board, or a thicker wax card paper. I feel like the tape would seal better on this type of surface. This could show a cleaner result when the tape is pulled up.
2) I finished each canvas by applying a layer of epoxy resin to the surface. To do this I first apply several layers of masking tape around the edges of the canvas. This needs to be built up to form a “wall” around the edges. I also use clear box tape around the backside edges to reinforce the edges of the masking tape.
3) Epoxy Resin is mixed, depending on the brand that you are using. The resin I used consisted of a mixture ratio of 1(B):3(A). I then poured the resin on the surface of the painting in one spot, allowing the resin to fill in the surface. It usually takes 12 to 24 hours to completely set up. Afterwards the tape can be removed.
*If I need to move resin around the surface, I try to do so by slightly tilting the canvas slowly. This assures that no bubbles form in the surface, which can happen if you shake the surface.
Be sure to subscribe to the email newsletter to keep up with my art projects, tutorials, and art experimentations.
