I don’t know if you’re anything like me, but I never met a craft or art medium that I didn’t like, whether it’s pottery, knitting, painting, sewing or weaving. I always enjoy the process, although I do like doing some things more than others, and then I really love to explore the process of a given medium deeply.
A year or two ago, I started to paint on canvas with acrylic inks and fluid acrylics, sometimes incorporating collaged paper images, and other times adding details and patterns with acrylic paint markers.
On my trip to the east coast in March, I had a week and a half between gigs and knew I would have some down time while we were visiting Phil’s brother in Connecticut, so before I left I painted un-stretched, primed canvas with various colors and cut the canvas into approximately 9″ x 12″ pieces, with a few smaller pieces, and then put them in a zippered pouch that I store my ipad in. Then I filled another large zippered pouch with a bunch of different colored Posca Markers in the 3 ml and 5 ml size points.
This turned into such a great way to be able to paint and create on the road. I’ve always been frustrated that the way I make quilts is not travel friendly. So if I want to be creative while on the go I usually rely on a sketchbook or knitting. Which is fine, but it’s not as fun as painting is for me.
One of the other things I like about working on canvas is how much easier and faster it is to explore an idea and create imagery than it is when I make a quilt. I can play with so many ideas without committing to months of work.
The other issue I have going on, is my state of mind over the last couple years. I’m just too stressed and worried about the direction our country has gone in, and for me that hasn’t been conducive to making more involved longer term projects – like quilts. I know I’ll get back there eventually, but I just can’t go there right now.
For me, making these paintings are like taking anti-depressants. I can easily slip into the zone, escaping the present, and get lost in the color and pattern.
I saw this photo on Instagram and was inspired to paint a pot of cactus. I often use images to see how things are formed, but I don’t use them as something to copy. I used the photo as a jumping off point. I looked at how the cactus was formed, the way it clustered, and branched, and also how the spines made patterns. But aside from the technical aspects, the similarity stops there.
I drew this octopus in my sketchbook from a relief design I saw on a fountain in Germany, and thought it would be fun to paint using paint markers.
I used chalk paper to transfer the design on the painted canvas and then painted the octopus blending a variety of light and dark warm colors so each leg would be defined from the other by color changes.
I used this photo of a huge blooming cactus as reference for another cactus painting. Once again the painting looks nothing like the photo, I only used the photo to look at the shape of the flowers, buds and fruits and how they were attached to the cactus branches.
After drawing the image on the canvas, I blocked in light and dark areas to define the the edges of cactus branches from each other, then added the flowers, fruits, and spines.
I love how these paint markers have enough opacity to paint on top of other colors and still be bright.
The cactus and succulent garden below started by painting a few succulents in the middle and then I filled the spaces and gaps with a variety of other plants. I often do google searches to come up with different types of plants to include in a painting.
These dusty miller cuttings from the garden were the inspiration for this tall skinny piece on purple canvas.
Sometimes the paintings have no visual reference as a starting point, they just grow organically, like elaborate doodling.
If you’d like to learn more about how I Paint with Acrylic Paint Markers join me in my workshop at Craft Napa next January.
This week, I’m off to Colorado to teach a Tea & Ephemera workshop in Monument and then I get to squeeze in a visit over the weekend with my old art school room mate Tracy on her llama ranch.
Keep creating,
Judy
I’d love to spark your creativity at one of these upcoming events:
2019
August 2, 3 Meissners Santa Rosa, CA Tea & Ephemera and Painting Imagery with Textile Paints
September 27, 28 River City Quilt Show, Sacramento, CA
Color Theory, and Painting Imagery with Textile Paints
October 31-November 2 International Quilt Festival, Houston
2-day Paint and Printapalooza, and Tea and Ephemera
2020
Craft Napa Jan 15-18, 2020!
New Zealand February 2020! Christchurch, Napier, Palmerston North, Tauranga, Whatakane, New Plymouth, Ngarawhahia, and Whangerei
May 27-31 Woodland Ridge Retreat, Menomonie, WI
Tea & Ephemera and Painted Imagery
October 18-24 Hudson Valley Quilt Retreat, Greenville, NY
Paint and Printapalooza
ABOUT JUDY
Judy is an artist, explorer, image wrangler, knowledge seeker, instructor, speaker, creative alchemist, and purveyor of inspiration, helping others channel creativity on a daily basis.
6 responses to “Oh how I love painting with acrylic paint markers”
It must be extremely difficult for you to live in the US. However, I am pleased that you can use your art to emotionally manage! Being a Canadian, I wanted to see if I could easily find your preferred markers and that, I did. The place I will order from has a list of use of these markers on various surfaces that I thought you might be interested it. https://www.currys.com/docs/posca_faqs.pdf
Hi Laura,
the day in day out assault on civil rights of our citizens and the poor souls trying to come here to escape a worse hell has tremendous fatigue on the psyche. You want to stay informed, but witnessing the constant abuse of power is overwhelming, especially when a significant portion of the country does nothing and is willing to let Putins forces rip us apart.
That’s an interesting list Laura, thanks for sharing it. I’ve found the Posca’s work nicely on fabric too, but the color soaks into the fibers, because there’s no gesso layer like canvas, so they are not as bright, but I found if you go over a line twice it’s more intense.
So beautiful!! I wish I could be I side your head and see what you see. Lol. But, I hope to take a class from you someday.
Hi Shellie,
thank you! My head can be a dark and scary place sometimes, lol.
When I write blog posts I try to make them interesting and informative. I like to explain the choices I make and why, and also in this case what I see if I’m using an image for reference.
Too many people have the perception that you can’t work from photos because it could be copyright infringement, and that would be true if it were copied or reproduced in some other medium as is. The key to working with photos is to them as a way to study the shape or form of an object, ie how branches divide on a particular type of tree, the shape the leaf, the way they sprout from the branch, or how light and shadow falls on a given object, so that you as the artist can create a whole new tree that is recognizable as a particular type, but not a carbon copy of the one in the photo, unless you- the artist- took the photo, then copy away. 😁
Thank you, Judy, for this post. I, too, hope to take a class from you one day. I especially appreciate you outlining your process. Your work is fascinating. Please keep doing what you’re doing!
Hi Valerie,
you’re welcome. Thanks for commenting, it’s so nice to hear feedback like this. ❤️