how a painting develops Archives

How Do You Paint Your Canvas Edges? A Step-by-Step Demo

November 19, 2015 By Carol McIntyre

Do you paint your canvas edges? Have you noticed the increased popularity of wrapped canvases during the past couple of years? Though the deeper canvases, commonly called gallery wrapped canvases, are slightly more expensive for the artist, they do save us the expense of a frame. Also, as the styles of painting trend toward more abstract, mixed media and contemporary, the gallery wrapped canvas conveys a more modern design that works well in most home and office interiors.

As I have wandered through galleries inspecting the painted edges of numerous paintings, I have been quite surprised by the wide range of care – from poor to exquisite – artists have taken in painting the edges of their gallery wrapped canvases or deep panel boards.

After unsatisfactory online research for resources about painting canvas edges, I embarked on my own trial and error journey to figure out how to achieve the quality of presentation I wanted. A clean professional look of my canvas edges is important to me. Below I outline my process.

Step-by-Step Demonstration of Painting Canvas Edges

One caveat: because I do not like the manufactured texture of canvas, I gesso all of my canvases/boards irrespective of the edges.

1. After I apply the first layer of gesso with a brush and it has dried, I then paint the edges and overlap the front of the canvas with an acrylic middle-gray paint. See photo below. By the way, this middle gray makes it easier to paint the final color of the edges after the painting is finished, be it darker or lighter.

jknm

2. For this particular canvas, I wanted the edge to literally ‘frame’ the painting, so I wanted the gray to overlap the edge onto the painting surface about 3/8th of an inch. (See example at end of post of a finished painting using this overlapped framed idea.) To give my eye a guide, I drew a pencil line 5/16th of an inch from the edge using a favorite matting tool I have as demonstrated in the photo above.

Why is the space wider than my desired 3/8th? Pencil lines can often show through paint, so I wanted the line to get covered up with the next layer of gesso.

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Prepping for 30-Days of Painting a Day

August 27, 2015 By Carol McIntyre

Have you heard of those daily painting challenges? It was started by Duane Keiser in 2004. The daily painting movement or “painting a day concept” is the practice of creating a painting a day during a certain time period.

Over the years, I have not paid much attention to these painting a day challenges because it did not suit my style of painting. It also seemed a tad overwhelming and I didn’t feel inspired.

Ta-da, things change! As I continue down my path of S-T-R-E-T-C-H-I-N-G my comfort zone (see previous blogs Abstracting Objects is a Brain Twister and Ever Painted with Only a Palette Knife?), I decided to combine my interest in learning how to abstract objects with this challenge.

A 30-day painting challenge requires thoughtful preparation before taking on the task. Because I really dislike the texture of canvas – I have never liked the mechanical and predictable feel of it – I need to prepare a multitude of canvases with a couple layers of gesso. Fortunately, I had a couple of boxes of small canvases and then I went and purchased more. The sizes run from 8×10, 12×12, 11×14 to 12×16.

With all of my paintings as you can view in my portfolios, whether board or canvas I apply 2-3 coats of gesso to create a subtle texture. Here you can see the canvases lined up ready for action. I like to use a large palette knife to swirl the gesso around. The gesso I prefer has a consistency of yogurt. Other thicknesses or consistencies are available, as well as colors. It is a personal preference.

After the first layer dries over night, then I apply a second coat. [Read more…]

What’s In a Painting Title?

May 2, 2015 By Carol McIntyre

Artists, do you ever struggle generating a painting title? Or non-artists, do you wonder about the ‘how’ and the ‘why’ of a painting title?

The act of creating a title for one of my paintings can range from quite easy to a real pain. Also, I can never predict which painting – while I am painting it – will be forth coming with its moniker and which one will be a nemesis. Coming up with a title is like a ping pong game between me and the painting and I enjoy it.

Before I get into my titling process, I do want to state that I believe that every painting deserves a moniker, otherwise the painting becomes lost and it exists without sense of identity. I know that there are painters who do not agree. Some find the process difficult and others just out right avoid it. They cop-out and assign titles, such as: “Untitled,” “Blue Series II,” or “Aspen #103.” These inane titles do not contribute to a painting’s vision and/or message. I find it odd that we artists can get away with this. Have you ever seen a book without a title or a movie or a song?

Generating a title for one of my paintings is part of my artistic process. Providing a title is also another way of connecting with the viewer. People often comment on my titles saying that they enjoy them and find them clever. Others like that they facilitate contemplation and more understanding of my visual intent. I love this.

I have found it interesting how words just pop into my head while I am painting. It is random and not forced. Sometimes I document the words. However, most of the time I just let them ruminate and percolate as the painting develops. I like how the words ebb and flow within my brain waves. It is also fascinating, as I have been doing this for over 25 years, how some titles (e.g. words), just won’t let go of the painting. This happened with a recent painting. The words, “Seeker,” “seeking,” and “The Seeker,” would not budge. I tried other titles/words, but I finally flew up the white flag and let it take hold.

“The Seeker,” 24 x 30 x 1.5 oil on panel

Then there are other paintings where I have way too many painting title ideas and I ask for assistance. Often my husband provides something clever, as he likes to play with words. He came up with the title for “Bone Appetit!”

“Bone Appetit!” 8 x 16 x 1.5 oil on panel

Other times I have sought assistance from my Facebook friends. I enjoy asking for their input, because it is always interesting to hear their interpretations and how they connect words with an image. The below painting, “Pickin’ the Pedicles,” is a good example of having lots of ideas for a painting and asking for help. [Read more…]

Watch the Custom Horse Painting Demo of ‘River’ | Stage 6

February 27, 2015 By Carol McIntyre

When we last saw ‘River’ in Stage 5 of his evolution, he was nearly completed. Based on input from Beth and my own need to tweak here and there (sometimes, we artists have a hard time of stopping….we keep seeing things in a painting that need a little of this and that), I believe ‘River’ is ready to depart my studio and head for home in Florida. What do you think?

‘River,’ 24″x28″x2″ oil on wrapped canvas

Beth wrote saying that I have “captured him beautifully!!” She had described her vision as one that arrived while she was practicing yoga and that River was telling her, “I feel great, I can run again!” Previous to his death, River had been quite ill, in pain and unable to run.

I, of course, could not be more pleased knowing that I have transformed Beth’s vision. I will miss him and his spirit in my studio. Way back in the beginning, the challenge was one that I was not too sure I could tackle, though I do love a good challenge. I am grateful for this opportunity and for Beth’s faith in me and my artistic skills.

Horse lovers, how did I do? Do you feel his glee at being set free in horse heaven?

Please share this post with others who may be interested in the painting process.

Watch the Horse Painting Demo of ‘River’ | Stage 2

February 6, 2015 By Carol McIntyre

In stage two of this commissioned painting, I am building layers in the background while simultaneously surrounding River with paint. I am sure you can see River popping out. My diagonal and sweeping strokes are more obvious to convey that he will be coming out of something (we are not sure what yet….stay tuned!). Let me know if you like the direction this is going. Also, do I have the gold colors in the correct location? The strokes in that area were quite intuitive.

This custom horse painting demo continues with applying paint onto River. I am starting to make him look three-dimensional or have some volume.

Now it is time to start adjusting River’s ears, location of his eye and the action of his legs. I am also wondering if his head is too narrow.Specific input from Beth is welcome and needed at this stage of the game. Though it is not obvious in this photo, I continue to add thin layers of paint on the background.

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