Mop It Up

Many of our students show up to class with small brushes or a few large ones and nothing in between. It shows where their comfort zone lies. This exercise will help you get beyond comfort. Yes, another growth opportunity. Look to the kitchen, aka the other art store, for some innovative art tools.

TECHNIQUE ONE: Mop It Up

A sponge is a great way to apply paint, move it around and make great textures. It can also be used as a stamp.

TECHNIQUE TWO: Smear It

Do you have an old pair of kitchen gloves that have a hole in them and can’t be used for dishwashing any longer? Don’t toss them—take them to the studio. Use your gloves to smear paint around your canvas. Wipe off excess paint using your gloved hands and wipe it onto another surface. Use a handprint as your signature.

TECHNIQUE THREE: Sweep It

A brush or whisk broom is good for spreading your paint and infusing texture. Use the brush or broom to add texture with gel medium, let dry and then use your brush or broom to apply paint on top of the texture. Sounds crazy but the result is undeniably cool.

TECHNIQUE FOUR: Blow It

Buy a package of straws and store them in the studio before the kids grab them. Mix paint with a little water and put a few drops on your surface. Use your straw to create gestural lines by blowing air across the drops of paint.

BLOWIN’ IN THE WIND

Sandra Duran Wilson