THE PIECE OF WOOD TECHNIQUE OF PAINTING
If you signed up for my monthly newsletter, you will have received details of three no-brush techniques I have used for creating paintings. Included was a method describing the use of a Styrofoam cup (What? Yes, a Styrofoam cup). Two other stamping methods involved using a ball point pen to inscribe a design on discarded Styrofoam meat trays. You can see examples of such paintings in my portfolio of works at: sitkastudios.faso.com
Well, there are many other ways of achieving unusual results by using unusual tools. Of course, one can use the well-known painting knife method but each unusual tool yields its own unique result.
TA-DA! Enter the piece of wood technique. Many commercially prepared canvases come with small flat wooden inserts that artists can push into corner slots on the backs of stretcher frames. It is a good idea to use these inserts on large canvases to keep them from warping. However, small canvases don’t really require that extra bolstering so some artists skip this procedure and end up with many pieces of wood. These inserts can be useful as disposable tools for applying glue to some projects so why not painting?
Of course, I had to try it. My Tupperware paint palette (bought for $2 at a used store) has a super tight-fitting lid. With the help of a sponge padding under the palette, this allows me to keep acrylic paint damp for several weeks. (A mild solution of water and Borax, prevents paint and sponge from getting moldy). The paint might still be a bit too stiff for use with a soft brush but it is ideal for spreading with the piece of wood. The angled side works well as a brush and the thin edge creates fine lines.
To use the wood insert to best advantage, I dipped the angled side into 2-3 colours and applied the paint in individual strokes to reveal streaks of multi colours. There is no blending required for this kind of rugged style of painting. I let the paint mingle as it wants to while I just control the composition.
You can see more examples of paintings done without the use of brushes in my portfolio of works at: sitkastudios.faso.com
