fbpx
Painting Process, Painting techniques, Acrylic paint, Erin Duncan Creative

plan the painting first!

How + Why

This week I’ve been working on the latest addition to my 100 Bad Paintings project.

I had a super productive painting session today and I want to share it with you because documenting what works is really useful. We can recreate these steps again in the future and have lots of excellent painting sessions!

Firstly, I did not begin with a blank canvas.

I had loosely layered different shades of green over the canvas a few days ago. Knowing that I was going to be painting a garden and wanting to mess up the page a little first.
It helps me to not be too precious!

Using a white charcoal pencil I sketched out a basic idea of my painting over the green.

The lady and the dog that I made earlier made me decide to create a garden to put them in!

Painting, Erin Duncan Creative

 

Choosing Colours

Often I just can’t wait to start painting so I pick up the brush and start choosing colours as I go. You know what though? It pays to take a little time to plan!

So this time I pull out my trusty box of swatch cards.
It’s a a bunch of colour cards which I hand make or collect from Bunnings.

They are so helpful, when I take the time to use them!

When I lay them out and visualise a few different colours and combinations against my canvas it makes all the difference:

🐞 I make stronger colour choices. 

🐞 Colours create unity in the painting.

🐞 I know where I’m heading with the piece. Which colours I’m starting with and will incorporate as I go on. 

In this instance I chose to use Buff and Pale Pink in the background which I probably wouldn’t have done without taking the time to test things out.

The result is that I am feeling great about the background. It’s really got me all jazzed up! 

 

Choosing Techniques

If I notice that I’m going too slowly it’s usually because I’m afraid to go forward in the painting. Afraid of making a mistake.
It’s because I haven’t tested out what I’m doing.

I desperately want to forge ahead with the painting but I will work a heck of a lot faster if I test things out first!

🐝 Spend a little extra time exploring the medium with chosen colours.

🐝 Get out my sketchbook or grab some scraps of watercolour paper and PLAY AROUND!

🐝 It’s basically making a map forward. It makes a huge difference to test how colours work together and techniques work/ build together.

 

Erin Duncan Creative, Painting, Acrylic, painting techniques

 

This whole process only takes about forty five minutes and I think it’s well worth the time. 

I mean, it’s totally not necessary to do any of this. You can just forge ahead bravely! I do all the time! But the exploration definitely brings a little something extra to your work.

It helps you to go beyond and draw more of your inspiration together cohesively.

It’s having a more considered practice.

Now I can move forward with this painting with much more confidence and speed. I know where I’m heading with it and I’m happy with my colour choices!

I send out fortnightly-ish emails with updates on my painting and writing. I’d love you to join me! You’ll also receive 10% off your first purchase fro my art shop. 

Erin Duncan

Erin Duncan

An Australian Artist and Illustrator currently living in Tasmania.
Everything I make is a way for me to share a little magic, wonder and possibility with the world.

Read More

Recent posts

custom illustration, house illustration, brand design illustration, custom portrait illustration, Australian illustrator

Custom illustration

Have you ever considered CUSTOM ILLUSTRATION? I make one of a kind artwork for clients. It could be