Painting

I now this is a carving message board but most of us paint their carvings. So... Do you guys have any suggestion on books about acrylics painting? I would like to learn shadowing, highlithing, ect. Mycarvings look way to rustic.
Have a great day
D!

[Kenny_S]

I know there are many great painters out there that can field your question better than I, But I think it is practice by doing. If one way doesn't work the way you thought it should, try a different way. Mainly what I know is quality brushes and paints. Bring out your own technique on how to paint. You may find that it is what you were looking for.

I keep thinking,If I could paint like Teri, i would be happy but then have I taken something away from Her. The only way we can get any better is by practice. And that is by doing.
Sorry, if this has not helped you.

Kenny S

True enough, Kenny - I think 3 people could learn from the same book, but in the end they will develop their own individual styles. (and thanks for the compliment!)

D, as far as learning to paint with acrylics, I'd suggest you go to a local craft store and pick up a few books on tole painting - regardless of the designs in the book, they're excellent for learning basics about shadowing, highlighting, etc.

Teri

[Donna_T]

D,
The best lesson I've learned about painting carvings is that on most carvings, mix the paint thin, thin, thin so that you're just tinting the wood,layer by layer, but letting some of the wood characteristics and color show through. Except for some carvings like birds, I usually dilute paint 10 to 1 and sometimes put a drop of retarder in the mix so it will blend better. If you paint items with acryllics straight out of the tube or bottle, you get a plastic look. But that's just my opinion and of course, there are exceptions.
Practice and trial and error are the best ways to find out what works for you.
Donna T

Thanks.
Donna, that is exacly what I am trying to move away from.
'the plastic look'. I put gesso on my carvings so diluting might nor work for my style.
Terri, I love your carvings and looking at them is how I got the idea of getting better at painting. I just can stare at your carvings for hours.
Doel

There are some good ART books on Acrylic painting, but they may not relate directly to painting on a carving. I do dilute my paints for carvings, and use different types of paints; oils, acrylics, and even watercolors. Each has it's own merit and drawback.

If you want to get away from the 'plastic' look, I would suggest diluting. I would also suggest practicing on some scrap pieces of wood. Make some cuts to simulate a carved piece and maybe put in a little detail so you can separate colors as on a carving.

One other thing, try to dry-brush on a lighter color after the first coat dries. It could be white or yellow or a mixture. This will add depth. This is especially effective if you leave some of the knife marks and the carving is less smooth. Some of the carving books have sections on painting. I'll check some to see if I can recommend one or two specifically.

Acrylics can be effective without diluting... Desiree Hajny's style is 'heavy' - less dilution, but she layers and highlights with great success.

Mitch

[Donna_T]

Santosdepalo,
Why do you use gesso first? Or perhaps I should also ask why kinds of carvings you are doing--stylized, animals, caricature or realistic people, birds, what?
Donna T

[AlArchie]

Gesso provides a stable base for realistic painting, or painting that will absolutely mask the wood grain, but if you'd like a sealer that will not hide the grain and still give you base that the additional waterbased acrylics will not raise the grain on, try a petro-based sanding sealer. You can apply thinned acrylics over this and even washes, without affecting the grain.

Al

Didn't someone on this board suggest putting some kind of wax coating on the carving to test paint. Or did I read that in a Mag.


Brad

Hi D - If you're going to use gesso first, I wouldn't thin the paint too much. If it's possible, though, I'd lose the gesso altogether and sand the surface, if you need to, to make it smooth enough for painting. That sure isn't necessary, though - although I do sand my carvings, I know that most carvers don't sand at all.

Using thinned down layers of paint will keep you from getting that 'plastic' look - if you want deeper color, add more layers. Without the gesso, the paint will soak into the wood, so you won't lose the look of the wood or any grain. Highlighting and shadowing are easily done by side-loading a flat brush (wet brush, dip just a corner into the paint), then brush back and forth a few times and you'll see the color fade across the brush, dark to light. Then just swipe it across the area where you want to add shadows or light.

Hope this helps.

Teri