Monday, April 29, 2019

The Reductive/Subtractive Technique and 9" x 12" Stencil PRAYER FLAGS


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....



Above:  This reductive/subtractive area was done with Titanium White acrylic paint over a multi-hued background.



Above:  After the reductive technique was used in this area, I came back in with diluted acrylic paint and added these orange highlights.

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.
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.

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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