From the Artist: I have been preparing for this project for a while. I actually started several paintings and just used the knife for the background. I did do one where I did hibiscus flowers for my daughter-in-law and wasn't happy with the results and finished it with a brush.
In this one I used the heavy body type acrylic so it would stay put without sagging. You'll note that I have used an abstract style for the background. Rather than try to do realistic leaves I left it up to the viewer's eye to complete the details and added some gold on the branches.
It took a little while to get comfortable using a painting knife but I think it can be a useful tool for covering large areas quickly and applying texture. This was an interesting exercise and I feel that I benefited from preparing for and completing it.
From the Painting Guide: I'm always pleased to hear when someone says they feel they benefited from tackling a project. Painting with a knife does initially feel odd, but I think it's generally under-rated as piece of painting equipment as it produces painterly marks you can't get with a brush. Just look at your leaves, the mixture of green and swirling of the yellow on the green... it's lovely. I also like the way the composition leads my eye up from the bottom to the top, across the flowers onto the butterflies.
Things to Consider When Looking at This Painting:
Contrasts: Look at the difference in the texture and color saturation between the background and the subject of the painting. How the lighter tones and saturation in the background create a sense of distance or space between the background and subject. This is emphasized by there not being any shadows.
Number of Elements in a Composition: There are two butterflies, six leaves, six flowers and (depending on how you count them) 10 bits of stem. This consistent use of an even number of elements may be coincidental, it may have evolved that way as the painting was created because it felt right. It doesn't matter, my point is that it's number of elements is something to be aware of when you're creating or assessing a composition.
In this one I used the heavy body type acrylic so it would stay put without sagging. You'll note that I have used an abstract style for the background. Rather than try to do realistic leaves I left it up to the viewer's eye to complete the details and added some gold on the branches.
It took a little while to get comfortable using a painting knife but I think it can be a useful tool for covering large areas quickly and applying texture. This was an interesting exercise and I feel that I benefited from preparing for and completing it.
From the Painting Guide: I'm always pleased to hear when someone says they feel they benefited from tackling a project. Painting with a knife does initially feel odd, but I think it's generally under-rated as piece of painting equipment as it produces painterly marks you can't get with a brush. Just look at your leaves, the mixture of green and swirling of the yellow on the green... it's lovely. I also like the way the composition leads my eye up from the bottom to the top, across the flowers onto the butterflies.
Things to Consider When Looking at This Painting:
Contrasts: Look at the difference in the texture and color saturation between the background and the subject of the painting. How the lighter tones and saturation in the background create a sense of distance or space between the background and subject. This is emphasized by there not being any shadows.
Number of Elements in a Composition: There are two butterflies, six leaves, six flowers and (depending on how you count them) 10 bits of stem. This consistent use of an even number of elements may be coincidental, it may have evolved that way as the painting was created because it felt right. It doesn't matter, my point is that it's number of elements is something to be aware of when you're creating or assessing a composition.