PAINTING “TEMPEST” – a coastal style abstract art painting.
BEGINNER LEVEL
Type:
Acrylics on canvas | Abstract style
You can paint this easy and fun beginner-level abstract. Just watch the demo and follow my guided tutorial below. Use the materials listed or whatever similar items you already have.
*This post does contain affiliate links to products I use in this demo (or very similar). I may be remunerated a small commission for any purchase made from using these links – thank you!
MATERIALS LIST:
Canvas – I used a 12″ x 12″ stretched canvas
Acrylic Paint:
Payne’s Grey or Indigo or similar deep inky blue – I used a fluid form of this acrylic, like this
Shading Grey – I used this in the fluid form (I use this often – it’s great for adding some depth your to colors/work without using black or anything too dark)
Titanium White – a standard on my (and many artist’s) art table
Flat brushes – this is a great, cheap set of flat brushes for acrylics
Mediums:
High-Flow or similar medium – this helps acrylics really thin out and flow on the canvas
Water
WATCH THE DEMO ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/KVnQg9f9wUk
HOW TO PAINT TEMPEST:
>> Step One: 24 HOURS PREP <<
Prep your canvas with a coat of TITANIUM WHITE
Let this dry thoroughly – at least 24 hours
WHY SHOULD YOU PREP YOUR CANVAS?
Always do this with at least one or two coats of paint to give your canvas a nice surface. If you don’t do this, your paints will seep into the canvas and create a more muddy and rough finish.
When you are ready to paint, be sure to have all of your tools assembled. This is a wet-on-wet technique and you will be working quickly.
WET-ON-WET: This means your canvas will be wet and you will be applying paints and mediums on top of each other without drying.
You will be working quickly with your tools and will need to have everything ready!
<< Be sure to watch video demo to see technique in action >>
READY, SET, PAINT!
First, give your canvas a light misting of water.
Then, apply a good coat of FLOW AID or flow medium. Any type of flow aid for acrylics or similar type of medium is fine.
You want to use this to increase the flow and working time of your acrylics.
DO NOT SKIP THE FLOW AID STEP. Very important for this type of art painting.
Once you have applied the flow medium, add a generous drop of your blue acrylic paint.
Using a damp flat brush, start to work the paint over the canvas, using various brush strokes.
Keep the blue to the lower third of the canvas, as shown in video.
After the blue has been spread, you will add a large “dollop” of TITANIUM WHITE. I used a soft body acrylic for this.
>> SEE VIDEO <<
Using the same brush (no need to clean it), you can start working in the white paint, as shown in the video.
After working in the white, and creating a soft, blended finish with the blue and white, add a drop of the Shading Grey, as shown in video.
You can use your same brush to work this into the top left half of your canvas.
Be sure to BLEND, BLEND, BLEND. You can use various brush strokes to keep the finish more interesting.
Once you are done with grey, add another drop of your dark blue onto the right lower portion of your canvas.
Using a large palette knife (DRY), keep the knife flat and start to work the paint in large semi-circles. Move from the bottom around to the the top, as shown in video.
Do this a few times to create the wave and splash effect in this painting.
NOTE: You may wish to experiment with this technique on a raw piece of canvas or paper and some acrylics to get the feel before trying it on your final canvas!
Once finished, let it dry thoroughly – at least 24 hours.
When dry, you can finish your sides and apply a final coat of varnish, if preferred.
You can see the variations of color between the white, blue and grey. You can also see the variations of brushstrokes. This is what you are aiming to create.
Happy painting!
Get this 3-CLASS GUIDED TUTORIAL set in my Abstract Art School!
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