My Work
This is an acrylic painting created on a 10 x 8-inch canvas panel. I thought of doing this painting, titled “The Inquisition,” because I was inspired by George Orwell’s novella Animal Farm.
As for image development strategies, I used magnification, distortion, and simplification. The dogs were magnified to appear large and intimidating in relation to the other elements of the painting. All the animals and structures in the background were drawn loosely, without adhering to realism. I painted most of the scene using various shades of the same base colours to simplify the palette. The reason I chose these strategies is because I wanted to capture the unfairness of the scene from Orwell’s Animal Farm in a plain and simple way.
Additionally, I used sgraffito for the fur details and applied the paint using the glazing technique with water. I am more familiar with watercolour, which is why I chose to use those techniques for painting with acrylic.
Stop and Think
Practice different acrylic techniques. Watch this video that walks you through 13 different techniques and choose at least eight to demonstrate: https://youtu.be/1TL5ebCDjN4. All of the techniques are shown in the image to the right.
Here are the materials you will need: (if you don’t have some of the technique-specific materials, don’t choose those techniques!)
-Watercolor paper or other large paper
– Acrylic paint, any colors
– Variety of brushes
– Palette for paint
– Cup for water
– Paper towel
– Glazes (glazing technique); you can also use water as a glaze
– Modeling paste (modeling paste technique)
– Stencils or cardboard to create a stencil (stencil technique)
– Sponges
– Gel medium (gel medium technique)
– Masking tape or other removable tape
– Palette knives
Divide your paper into at least eight boxes (for each technique you are going to do). Be sure to label your boxes with the technique you are using.
Bottom Row, Left to Right: Impasto, Masking, Sponge, Stencil, Drips & Splatters
Artist Connection
What is your preferred visual art medium to work with, in any discipline (charcoal, acrylics, clay, photography, etc.)? Think about the practicality of your chosen medium. What would you need to consider to explore this medium seriously? Write a paragraph response that explores the various benefits and barriers to working with this medium.
My preferred visual art medium is photography because it is quick and simple to do. Any digital camera, such as a DSLR, can be as easy to use as taking pictures with a smartphone, making it practical for capturing fleeting moments in real life. If I wanted to explore this medium seriously, I would need to consider many things, such as taking courses to learn the technical aspects of the trade and earning enough money to purchase the necessary equipment.
Some of the barriers to photography include its cost, competitiveness, and even potential dangers. High-quality equipment can be very expensive, and there is always the risk of theft, as robbers might steal your valuable cameras to sell for cash.
On the other hand, photography has several benefits because it allows you to earn a living wage while being creative, provides a variety of opportunities, and offers flexible working hours. You can find various photography-related jobs, and if you are self-employed, you can set your own schedule, as long as you deliver high-quality pictures.
In conclusion, photography is a rewarding discipline to pursue, as long as you do thorough research and take the proper precautions before deciding to make it your lifelong career.
Source: 15 Pros and Cons of Being a Photographer