Report Blog Entry
About 6 months ago I got into painting. I have a fully-stocked paint kit which fits neatly into a small metallic suitcase. It contains 2 palettes, a full range of watercolor paints, a full range of acrylic paints, pastels, colored pencils, brushes of assorted shapes and sizes, and a water well. I'm not too familiar with supplies and therefore I'm not certain whether or not this set would be considered adequate in the industry. I have found it remarkably versatile and long-lasting.
The age-old conflict between watercolor and acrylic is what really gets me going- not only do I have access to 2 different types of canvases, one for watercolor paints and one for acrylic, but the differences between the two is striking, to the extent that I doubt one could paint the exact same image using either. Both have their own subtle intricacies and tricks, and to my understanding everyone prefers one over the other. I'd have to say, more often than not, I go with acrylic. Those colors which seem to pop off the page with their brilliant plastic shine are irresistible to someone trained in kitsch like myself.
The palettes, too, are top-tier. Admittedly, filling up the water well and then soaping everything off when I'm done with a given piece is a bit of a chore, although I've learned to make the most of it, as painting makes me feel productive, and feeling productive induces positive thought. It is satisfying to wash the palette off until it's ready to go again, watching all the colors of unused paint run down the drain of the sink in a torrent of hue.
I make sure only to start on a given portrait when I'm in a very specific frame of mind- one which lends itself to dream logic and to the abstraction of everyday objects. In this state I create bizarre shapes, strange patterns and figures. I allow subconscious manifestations of well-known literary archetypes to make their presence known via my brush. All three brushes, as I said, are of varying width and intensity, and are used for different purposes, be it outlines, backgrounds, or interiors. It took a while to get the knack, then again I'm a quick learner.
I understand the appeal of painting- for centuries it offered a wonderful view of colorful and fantastic extrapolations of the human mind, and prior to the widespread adoption of color film, paintings offered vivid realism which the simulacra of black-and-white movies can't really provide. At the same time, though, I'm a sucker for black-and-white and its inherent limitations as well as its corresponding aesthetic and therefore have no plans to introduce paint or color to any of my comics anytime soon. They'll remain forever in hard graphite and ink, looking raw and unfiltered, while my more flowery thoughts arise on the canvas.
Comments
Displaying 0 of 0 comments ( View all | Add Comment )