I am starting to realise the truth of what I have read for so long:my creative expression alters considerably when using different media. Why is this? Perhaps for me some of the answers currently come from technical ability. I can achieve more controlled mark making in acrylics and therefore have more confidence in the range of bold and mor original strokes that I use.
Consequently when using acrylics I relax more into the work and find it easier to experiment and move forward in my process journey eg discovering that I could make interesting textures and introduce more life by combining paint and pouring medium in a new way see sketch book practice of standing stones in primary colours.
I have found it more challenging to achieve this kind of flow and bolder ,free strokes when working in oil. Actually this is a similar pattern to my handwriting. When stressed it is small and contained but when I am relaxed it is large and more ‘eccentric’! Maybe this tells me something about my grip on the paintbrush. I probably need to loosen my grip and allow the flow to take place without thinking too much.
In fact frustration lead me to the point of giving up- until luckily I decided to play with some pallet knife layers on top. For the first time I could see some movement come into the landscape. I ended up getting carried away and have overworked the effect but it was heartening and gave me some encouragement.
The following are some of my oils learning points from today:
1. using an acrylic base layer saves time but be careful as thickly laid down dark colours like blue tend to bond less firmly with the supporting paper and I ended up with a green on applying yellow oil.
2. be even more careful to lay down long single strokes for sky/ sea as strokes remain in the thicker slower drying oil.
3. be aware of drying time of different colours and thicker layers as well as the amount of thinner used as this will affect fluidity of applying layers on top and the overall stability of the paint.
4. for now I love using pallet knives to bring spontaneity that I cannot achieve with brushes. I can do so much more than just add texture with knives, they allow easier manipulation and act for me a bit like a round brush in acrylics!
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