The Portrait Collection: Art Materials
A week ago I gathered some of my favorite journaling supplies: pencils, paints, and my watercolor journal. I knew I wanted to draw a face, so I started sketching. Then I added washes of watercolor paint, layers of acrylic paint, and pencil. I got lost in the process for hours. I was never entirely happy with the results so I kept working. The paper was too delicate and I knew I could not salvage it, so I tore it out of my sketch book and threw it away. I felt a hint of guilt, like I had wasted hours of my time being unproductive.
Knowing that experimentation is part of the process, I let go of the guilt. I learned from this art journaling session. Having the courage to move on and try again, I know the next one would be better.
I went through a similar process when I began creating portraits a year ago. I made a lot of ugly art in my journals. Eventually I gained the confidence and started painting miniatures. I moved on to larger pieces of paper and canvas. I explored a variety of mediums, all of which I loved. The process was a little different for each, but I adapted every time.
I begin most of my work with collage and black stabilo pencil. Over that I layer acrylic paint. I like to use hight qualitiy artist acrylics like Golden, both in heavy body and fluid. I thin paints using Golden glazing liquid. On top of the finished piece I like to use a white gel pen and sennelier oil pastels for detail.
When working on canvas I usually use more traditional materials, but some days I want to create a textured surface. I used layers of handmade tissue collage papers, which gave the piece a wrinkled, aged appearance. I used Golden acrylic paint, doing my best to stay loose and expressive. I incorporated small amounts of black stabilo pencil.
I enjoyed working with oil pastels on top of my paintings, but I wanted to try them on their own. I didn’t know where to begin so I took a class with Mindy Lacefield and I fell in love with this medium. I created layered texture using Sennelier oil pastels on Strathmore gray toned paper.
Each medium pushed me into a different form of expression that allowed me to explore and connect with my inner child. If you’d like to learn what materials I use in my art journals, follow along here! A list of supplies, including the specific colors I use, is included in each post!
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