Pictures for the untalented
2.2.2019
Translation: machine translated
Brushes and figurative art are a thing of the past; in 2019, pictures will be cast. Perfect for me, who never got above a 4.5 in art lessons.
Painting and drawing have never been my strengths. Fine lines and clean work were not my thing, and my grades in geometry suffered as a result. Then on Friday afternoon it was art's turn. It's actually a nice subject: no memorising, no exams, just creative work. It's just a shame when the idea in your head can't be reproduced by your own hand. I was always happy when the art teacher took the begging in his hand and drew half the picture for me. Because instead of just helping for a moment, he got into a frenzy where he couldn't put the pencil down. This resulted in my best notes.
The other, barely sufficient results, however, took some of the fun out of painting for me. Even Bob Ross' nonchalant painting lessons couldn't change that. There was only one time when I got out a canvas and got to work on it in my spare time. That was for my mum's birthday, because she would be so happy about it. But in 2019, a trend is taking hold that I can also follow with my skills. Pictures are being moulded instead of painted. At least that's what Pinterest says in the blog post "Pinterest 100: The hottest trends for 2019". You let the colours decide what the picture looks like in the end, you only have a small influence on it yourself. Sounds like the perfect project for me.
Get your shit together
Grab a canvas (or stretcher frame, as it is correctly called), acrylic paints of your choice, a few cups and something to stir the colours. You will need a thinner to ensure that the colours flow properly over the painting. You can use a fluid medium or just a little water. I try the latter. Several layers of cardboard and newspaper from the waste paper act as a base.
Artist paint + Craft paint
Quantity discount
CHF6.95 per piece for 3 units CHF64.16/1l
Amsterdam standard series
Gold paint, 120 ml
A colourful mess
I fill two cups with water. I need one to dilute the colour and the other to clean my mixing utensil in between. I fill the others with colours of my choice. You can also create new colours by mixing them. The important thing is that you end up with a homogeneous mixture in the cups. My colours are all quite bright and at different ends of the colour spectrum, but I wanted to try them all out. I can't wait to see how it looks in the end. Once you are happy with your choice, empty all the colours into a new cup one after the other. Important: Do not stir again!
Turn the colourful cup over onto the canvas and wait for the viscous mass to spread. You can accelerate and control the flow movement with targeted tilting movements. However, you must be prepared to get paint on your fingers and perhaps also on your clothes. I quickly realise that I have diluted some of the colours a little too much, as they mix too well and a lot runs over my fingers. Nevertheless, the picture is not yet completely covered in colour. The cup game goes into overtime, this time with less water added. But it doesn't help: the colours don't match. The picture looks as if I wanted to bring the psychedelic effect of LSD to the page. My work colleagues don't have a good opinion of the artwork either. From the endearing topographical map of Norway to "vomit in acrylic", it's all there. But I can't let that sit on me.
First attempt with guest artist
Our design queen Pia is also one of those who can't resist a side kick. Fortunately, there's still enough colour for everyone. Now I want to see what Pia can do. I'm in, I'm in. She opts for silver, purple and white, I go for gold, light blue and white. As soon as I pour them into the cup, it becomes clear that these colour combinations will work better than my first attempt. And indeed, the two pictures don't turn out badly at all. Even if some people are still a little critical of the artwork, Pia and I are pleased with our work.
My life in a nutshell? On a quest to broaden my horizon. I love discovering and learning new skills and I see a chance to experience something new in everything – be it travelling, reading, cooking, movies or DIY.
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