BobBlast 180 - "Part Two - Making a Small Painting BIGGER!"

Welcome back to another BobBlast.

Today’s Blast is a continuation the previous BobBlast, a demonstration about how I approach and start a larger abstract painting with collage.

I haven’t touched it since then… So let’s continue.

I hang the piece, study it for awhile and ponder. Does it clearly communicate the title, Leaving the Nest, and does it suggest the story I wanted to paint.

For me, it’s a new painting, first and foremost an illustration of an idea using pure paint. It’s so immediate and tactile, especially when I tear and collage with patterned papers and gel medium as the glue. So again, I think BIGGER - bigger brush strokes, gestural drawing and painting with paper towels.

This is the time when I re-establish my focal point, the overall composition and color combination:

When all my tools are out and ready, I start painting lightly over the entire surface - adding color while simultaneously wiping it — effectively staining all over.
Then I punch up the focal point with a bold contrasting shape.
I add more collage at this time. I treat the collage shapes like paint… my collage pieces are a support to the paint, and layered - rather than just stuff I have glued on top of the painting. Paint goes on top of collage all the time!
At the same time that I’m painting, I am also drawing into the surface with a water soluble crayon, scratching with my fingers or brush end, and simplifying with large brush strokes.

All this leads to much movement in front of the canvas and a looser, playful application of color. As I get older, after standing, painting all day for 25 years… sitting feels pretty good too! But of course, contrary to all of the above, my mentor, hero and genius painter who creates huge portraits and he can only move his hand and brush… Chuck Close, of course.

If you are looking for inspiration, read the book Chuck Close: Life.

Видео BobBlast 180 - "Part Two - Making a Small Painting BIGGER!" канала Robert Burridge - BobBlast