MONSOON RHAPSODY
Ming Franz
Acrylic on paper
16" × 26" (41cm × 66cm)
Contemporary paintings are notorious for showcasing a wide variety of special effects, especially when the imagery is abstract. Many of these effects are obtained by pouring. Think of Jackson Pollock, Morris Louis and Helen Frankenthaler. Pouring is actually a simple concept. It’s a way of applying paint without using brushes, knives, hands or other application tools. Open a container of any fluid or pourable acrylic and turn it upside down onto a painting surface. The acrylic pours onto the surface creating a fluid shape or layer. Further effects can be obtained by manipulating the pour directly out of the container by flinging, dripping and drizzling, or by tilting the surface so the wet pour can move around. Pouring is a great way to add some fun into your painting process, smooth out unwanted texture on your surface, get marbleized effects and rich colored glazes. Techniques in this section include a smooth glossy finish often called a surfboard finish, evenly applied colored overlays or glazes, embedding and canvas staining. Pouring may be simple, but not always easy. Read further for helpful tips to circumvent common pouring problems.
COSMIC COLLISION
Jane Callister
Acrylic on canvas
36" × 48" (91cm × 122cm)