Let's Think About Negativity in a Positive Way! June KIUAN Exercise

[painterbear]

The results of our poll in Palette Talk show that there are quite a few who want to explore the negative side of painting this month.

Whether you are ready to try something completely new to you or you want to revisit a technique that you’ve tried before, let's have some fun with this technique.

Who knows, you just might turn out something truly unique and wonderful in the process. Even if you don't, you are sure to learn something along the way to use in your future paintings.

Below is an example of a painting done in a negative fashion that I did last year. This one started by dropping in some green and yellow paints on wet paper and letting them flow.

When that initial wash dried, I began painting around the shapes of flowers and leaves using the same colors I started with. I had no reference, just went with the shapes as they emerged and looked flower-like.

Along the way I even found some white flowers in spaces where the original colors didn't go. That is why it is a good idea to leave whites in your initial washes.

I finished it up with a positive stroke by putting in the twiggy branches with the end of a stick I brought in from the yard.



There are several threads that you might want to read before you begin your explorations with negativity.

Negative Painting article from The Watercolor Handbook. Be sure to open the links contained in the thread. Each one is a further exploration of the technique.

Outside the Lines Negative Painting Project. Check out the Gallery of entries to the project to see lots of examples of different subjects done in this fashion.

Developing a Painting with Lost, Loose, and Splash Techniques by June (Juneto) in which she explains how to start and develop a painting using negative painting along with other techniques.


Let the fun begin! Post your finished paintings here, show us your progress pictures, or ask questions about the work. Share your experiences and knowledge of negative painting with the rest of us. That's what makes these exercises not only fun, but learning experiences for those who participate!

Sylvia

[Yorky]

A super example Sylvia. I have always had trouble with negative painting.

Doug

[mimitabby]

fun idea! I might try this too ( I just did last week but i know that doesn't count)

[doppler]

Looks like fun ... will try it But first to read ...

[MRSBB]

I'm excited to learn this one Sylvia. I am also going to have to do some reading. I sure hope some of the more experienced painters put their wips in this thread. Is it ok to do some masking first? Looking to learn..........Lenore

[CharM]

Interestingly enough, my Student (who's also an art book lover) lent the Linda Kemp book, Painting Outside the Lines, to me just last week... We're working through some of Ewa Karpinska's exercises, but we may have to sidestep to create something negative in a very positive way...

[pincel]

This title is very Zen... I'll certainly join with the fun!

BTW, Ewa Karpinska does a lot of negative painting, especially in her early works.

[Steeleman]

Nice! Exciting stuff---look forward to it!

[mimitabby]

Okay, I started by wetting the paper. It was so hot yesterday that it was already drying when i applied some paint. So I sprayed it. I painted some blotches of color and left it over night. today i did the negative painting. Am I done?

[MRSBB]

Sylvia your painting looks very delicate. I tried to follow how you explained to do it. See what you think.

I like your flowers Mimi, nice bright colors appeal to me.

I tried a cactus from the RIL. You all know I can't paint a decent flower so I doubled my challenge. No one answered my question about masking, so I just went ahead and did it anyway to give me some guidelines on my cactus. Wet my paper down good and started laying in my colors, turning and twisting to blend. After it dried, I removed the masking and painted the tops of the cactus and did a little blending. Here is my results....Lenore

[mimitabby]

um, Lenore, it's really beautiful, but I don't see a cactus!

[painterbear]

Okay, I started by wetting the paper. It was so hot yesterday that it was already drying when i applied some paint. So I sprayed it. I painted some blotches of color and left it over night. today i did the negative painting. Am I done?

Mimi,
I have found that if you wet both sides of your paper and use a piece of plexiglas for a support, the paper stays wet longer and you have more time to work.

Your painting is nice and loose. I can see where you used the negative painting to form the layers of petals in your flowers. Your painting looks finished as is, but you could do another layer of negative painting to form leaves at the top if you wanted to keep going. Check out the blue leaf that is already formed in the upper left corner if you want to see what I mean. You can do more of that kind of leaf in the top middle section just as easily.



Lenore,
Your cabbage turned out beautifully. I like the color you used a lot. Just as I said to Mimi, it looks finished as it is. But I also think you could add another layer of leaves with more negative painting around the perimeter of the ones you have already there if you wanted to keep going with the negative painting.

+ for both of you. Hope you enjoyed doing these and we'll see some more examples before the end of the month.

Sylvia

[juneto]

TIP... Soaking-If, when you soak your paper and lift a corner Up and let it GO And it does Not Flop down, it ISN"T soaked . Remember to drip off Excess from a corner and always have your Color ready .It really takes about 5 minutes going back and forth with Large brush or natural sponge to truly get both sides Soaked .
June

[Yorky]

Lovely flowers Mimi and I like the cabbage Lenore, very convincing.

Doug

[aprajita]

Very nice Mimi...