Painting with Big Brushes
“Whispers” Acrylic on canvas 100cm x 100cm (40″ x 40″)
Years and years ago I remember the absolute horror I felt when someone stuck a 3inch hake brush in my hand and said “A whole painting with just this brush.” It was watercolour,I did it, but hated it. I never picked up a big brush again, unless it was to paint the house or undercoat a canvas. Well recently I have been feeling I need to “loosen up”, and take a break from the fine work with 20/0 brushes.
This acyrlic painting has so many layers of watercolour-like washes, with me battling to get away from fiddling. I would feel good about a section I had been working on until I stepped back away from it. If I couldn’t see brushstrokes at 20 feet away I wasn’t happy. Back to the big brush to paint over details. Also, as this was for an a exhibition recording a particular place, I needed to identify it with the city landscape in the distance. Painting city buildings is definately NOT in my comfort zone! In fact I can’t ever recall having painted landscape structures at all.
It wasn’t unitl the final stages of the painting that I allowed myself to go down to a size 5 round brush.
Exhibition on now until August 7 at Belmont Forum
Here are some of my original reference photos, taken at the Swan River foreshore in Belmont. My interpretation is not a direct copy of the photos, but more my spin on the colours and atmosphere I felt. So different to how I usually paint!
Lots of squabbly chatter from the White Cheeked Honeyeaters around the foreshore.
Just around the bend of the river is the Garratt Road Bridge, a lovely old wooden bridge with lots of character.
Rivers have been in front of my lense a lot lately – painful as it initailly was, I can feel more “Big Brush” paintings coming on!
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Wow – you did an AMAZING job – it is so fascinating to watch your journey with “BIG”, Cindy – whatever size you do, whatever medium you use, you do a fantastic job!!!
Bring on the big brush! These are incredible and I am so glad you took up the big boys and allowed yourself to play in paint. Vibrant and alive and you did a great job on the structures, these are going to be great at the exhibit. What I think is most amazing is that you tackled this for exhibition paintings, no dry runs with the big brush, you went straight for the net! Good on you!
Thanks guys – have taken the plunge with BIG again – how daunting is a massive blank canvas staring you in the face? Slap the colour on and keep going!
You’ve done well. Love the colours in the grass. what a cute little bird.
Thanks Diane, yes he is a cutie, but VERY territorial.