Latest posts by michael wilson (see all)
- JORDAN RIVER - February 5, 2019
- Inspired Art - August 2, 2018
- Waiting for Inspiration - July 31, 2018
- The Bridge between Painting and Photography - July 31, 2018
One of the methods I employ for painting is ‘Drag Painting’. This is an excellent way to create abstract art for beginners. Drag painting provides an immediate means to create accidental effects. We are trained to control our art but this often gets in the way of creativity. Drag painting allows you, the beginner to create exciting and often astonishing images without the use of a brush.
You will need to use hardboard as a surface. Canvas just will not work. I use plywood with 1 x 2 sticking on the back to keep the 1/2 inch plywood from warping. This tends to be a tedious bit of work so it is best to build several at once. The lumber store can cut your panels to size for a minimal cost. The 1 x 2’s do not need to meet precisely in the corners but do need to be glued. Gun nails are preferred though hand nailing small finish nails will also work. Set and spackle all nail holes. Your panels should be a minimum of 2 ft. x 3 ft. and larger is even much better.
It is best to build two or three at once. The panels will require several coats of primer and I sand primers between coats. Water based primers work well enough. Two or three coats of primer should give you a very nice even, flat surface. Unlike painting on canvas I lay my panels down flat on an easel. The tools you will need are simply several sets of squeeges – the type to wash windows. I also use silk screen squeeges and then smaller, plastic scrapers about 4 inches across.
Apply paint directly on the panel from the tube in whatever location that suits you though I recommend by putting pigment towards the top of the panel. Applying pressure lay the squeege above the pigment and pull down . Try to pull the pigment all the way down to the bottom of the panel – yes, this requires a fair amount of paint. If you had applied several colors side by side you will see how they blend wonderfully when dragged down together. No brushes are needed. Cover the entire panel by spreading with the large and small squeeges. Go across if you want and then vertically again but always press the paint hard in to the panel. You will be surprised at the dramatic effects created this way. THis is an excellent way to create abstract art for beginners.