Sue Flanagan’s Website

Ahhh-acrylics! So much to explore!

My interest in multi media art leads me to exploration in acrylic grounds for my pastel paintings. A ground is the primer that is put on a surface (paper, board) that gives it tooth or texture to accept the pastel. Until lately, I have used manufactured sanded papers and pastel boards that have a fine and even surface. Here is a summary of my experience with making my own surface using commercial grounds. Click on any image to enlarge it.

I started with a 16 x 20 in. acid free mat board in a neutral color. I did know how well the acrylic ground would cover the surface.

I used a small, smooth, foam roller to apply gesso to both sides of the mat board. This is necessary to prevent warping of the board and to seal it.

After the gesso dried, I taped the board into 6 equal sections.

Then I applied different grounds to each section using the same paint roller.

This is a close up of the sections. Starting with the upper left corner, there is Golden Pastel Ground undiluted. In the middle is Colourfix white and the top right square has Liquitex Natural Sand Texture Gel. The bottom left is Golden Pastel Ground diluted 20%. The bottom middle is Golden Pastel Ground diluted with fine pumice added. Finally, the bottom right has Lascaux Pastel Ground. Each square has one coat. I have to admit that I was careless with the bottom middle square. I think that I added too much water and applied it heavily. This made the ground crack when it was dry.

This is a picture of my set up. I decided to do a simple apple study. This is the initial application of pastel to each surface. As you can see, the opaque white of the Colourfix shows through.

Then I used water to move the inital pastel around for an underpainting. When it was dry, I started to apply more soft pastel. I primarily used Rembrandt pastels. I did not intend to bring these images to completion. I just wanted to see how the surface accepted the pastel, erased, blended, etc. In fact, I had to abandon the Liquitex. It created a beautiful underpainting but the next layer of pastel would not adhere. I will use this in the future but in selected areas in a pastel painting. Also, the cracked Golden surface (bottom middle) could not be covered so I abandoned that one as well. Next time I will be more careful about measuring and following the instructions.

I hesitate to tell you my impressions because this will vary with each artist’s technique and the pastels and tools he/she uses. I will probably use all of these surfaces in the future. I do recommend that every pastel artist tries this. It may bring you out of your comfort zone and take your art to the next level. I learned some new ways to paint.

Still to come-my home recipes for grounds and using other surfaces besides mat board.

Keep painting and by all means, enjoy!
Sue Flanagan

This is a recent pastel painting that I did. The mixed media work that I have been doing is making me more adventerous with pastel.  I set up a still life of a cup, potted plant, and an apple. The first picture is the beginning step where I laid down pastel using the pastel sticks. I then took a bottle of distilled water and sprayed the image, tilting the board to let the pigment move like watercolor. I used too much water and the paper I was using buckled too much for my liking so I had to press the paper between boards.

Then the real challenge for me began. I then layered pastel over the dried surface but only as much as needed to give the viewer enough information. I did not want a lot of detail. As you can see I ended up eliminating the glass cup of coffee and cropping the image to a 16 x 16 in. size. The picture on the right is the final painting.

Well, I was going to show you pictures of the Koi fish paintings that I did for a client. However, the video card in my camera is damaged and I cannot retrieve the images. The client ended up buying 3 paintings for Christmas presents and for herself. This is just one more battle I have had with technology.

Laura Svencner, a collage artist at the LaGrange Art League, organized an “Art Jam.” Approximately 15 artists came together in the League’s studio to make art. We all challenged ourselves to do something that was different.  I experimented with acrylic products: self leveling gel, gloss medium, polymer, string paste, sand medium. The artists worked in a wide variety of media. We brought food and music. It was a wonderful, creative, day. For more information and pictures go to www.lonecrowart.blogspot.com.

I hope you are off to a good start for the new year!
Sue Flanagan