The reductive (also called subtractive) technique works this way: First, with acrylic paint, I paint a layer of new color in a limited area -- then, while this layer is still wet, I place a stencil over it. Holding the stencil in place with one hand, I use a paper towel or soft cloth to rub off still-wet paint in the areas that are exposed thru the openings of the stencil. (What I mean by "new color" is that the substrate has already been coated with other acrylics, as in the examples below; and those early layers of paint have been given time to dry.)
Today's post will show a new stretched canvas with a background created almost entirely with the reductive/subtractive technique.
The stencil used in today's project is my 9" x 12" Prayer Flags --
Below are three close-ups showing different areas of the stretched canvas....
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| Above: This reductive/subtractive area was done with Titanium White acrylic paint over a multi-hued background. |
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| Above: After the reductive technique was used in this area, I came back in with diluted acrylic paint and added these orange highlights. |
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| Above: This reductive/subtractive area was done with Titan Buff acrylic paint over a multi-layered background. One of the background layers had undergone the same technique, but with blue paint. |
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| Above: a close-up of the focal point when the painting is near completion. The blue foreground is the stencil itself, stained and added with heavy matte medium to become a collage element. |
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| Above: The entire canvas, at the point of near-completion. Below: Note the right side of the canvas, now that an art crayon has been used to add a blue line. This line was then covered with matte medium to set it permanently in place. |
The final version appears above; its title is Go Fly a Kite!
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