Art Technique: Throwing Paint
How to Throw Paint (Not Pottery) for Creative Artistic Effects
When was the last time you just flicked the brush, brushed the bristle, and had some fun throwing paint?
Mixed media painting does not have to involve painting excruciating details, painstaking brush strokes, or meticulous color choices. No, in fact, there are really no rules when it comes to mixed-media painting. Unless having no rules is the rule, that is.
When was the last time you haphazardly threw paint on to a canvas with no regard for color, composition, or style? When was the last time you splattered paint all over a canvas just for the sake of looking at the patterns and enjoying them? Have you ever done this?
In your art journal this week, consider exploring paint spatters in your mixed media work. This project is also very gratifying when done on watercolor paper or foam core. For this project, you will need:
- Your art journal
- Newspaper to protect your work surface
- Several paint brushes in various sizes and bristle strength
- An old toothbrush
- Paint palette
- Watercolor or tempera paint
- Black sharpies
- Embellishments of your choice (papers, collage materials, game pieces, etc.)
Now, let’s get started:
Open your art journal to a blank page spread, and then set out all your supplies. Be sure your work surface is completely covered because you will be making a big mess. Have fun with this. Slap the paint across the surfaces of the pages. Splatter paint across the pages in random formations using the toothbrush and the edge of your thumb.
Once the pages have dried, embellish them as lightly or as heavily as you desire. Layer on some more paint splatters on top of the embellishments, and then allow to dry completely. Leave some areas to write down thoughts, journal entries, and quotations using the black sharpies. (These areas don’t have to be left white, but a lighter color paint would yield the best results.) Don’t worry about the fact that there are no lines. If it really bothers you, you can draw in some lines to write on. Over the writing, splatter on a little more if desired. Create more than one page spread if you have time.
The last thing you should be worrying about is how neat the paint, writing, or embellishments are. Make a mess! The idea is to let the creativity flow without worrying about theme, structure, or subject matter. Just let it out and throw some paint! Then, when you’re finished, cut or tear up the pieces of newspaper covering your workspace that has paint splatters for future art projects.
