". . . a brush with nature"

Recently I watched a video about adding texture to your pastel painting by using house paint. I wanted to watch it because the short little snippet I read in an article about it intrigued me and made me very curious. It was fascinating and something that I might be able to incorporate into my own work at some point in time, but just not now, as I had first hoped. 

In actuality, the addition of texture wasn’t the first step in the process, but something that came halfway through the entire course of things. Plus, it wouldn’t work on top of the sanded surface I already had and absolutely love to work on. The sanded surface would have to be created from “scratch” (Sorry for the pun. I just couldn’t help myself! LOL) after the texture was placed on the working surface, which in this case was a piece of Gatorboard. That was also a surprise to me and one I can’t quite imagine yet.

In fact, there were several new (to me) techniques explored in this YouTube video besides the use of acrylic house paint for texture. That’s often the way. New things to add in, new methods to explore and new tools to try. And sometimes the results can be amazing!

Here are a few of the items I have tried through the years (mostly in my acrylic work) that I have found quite useful for achieving different effects. 

I have tried a variety of spatulas because the edges are of different widths (great for straight lines), cake decorating tools, makeup applicators (good for pastels, too), items found at the hardware store (like wire brushes, etc.), inexpensive rollers to apply backgrounds, fabrics for texture and even pieces of stale bread! 

Experimentation can truly be the mother of invention if you are not afraid to lay your paint brush down and try something unexpected.