Island Style #2

[Val]

  This didn't go so well.  I'm told my acrylics may just be a bit too old. Does that happen? Some of them seem a bit 'chalky'/'powdery'. The purple colour turned into a bit of a nightmare....the paint just keeps getting more and more gritty and not mixing as well. I'm wondering is it possible to change the colour completely and just go over top? One of the local guys suggested I just leave it the way it is and maybe try and work it in as a shadow? Think I'll sit this one out  and see what suggestions I get.

Almost forgot the picture!

[dennis]

Acrylic paint should not normally go chalky disintegrate at all. What make are you using? It tells me that your acrylics may be very student quality and that an inferior polymer binder has been used in the manufacture of the paints. I may be wrong but that is the feeling I get from your comments.

Otherwise the painting looks OK in the picture with lovely vibrant colors typical of those people.

[Val]

In that case, I'll consider it done! The acrylics I have are Reeves, they were part of a gift I received a couple of years ago. Never had them out until now. Will definately replace them with some better quality. The ones available here are by Daler Rowney.

[dennis]

That explains everything. Daler Rowney or their System 3 are one of the best on the market for acrylics.

[Val]

Excellent! Now I know I can buy them with a semblance of confidence. Thanks for that tidbit Dennis.

[nolan]

I like your background, from the photo it seems just fine. I think a perfectly solid background wouldn't have been as effective, the background adds texture

[Val]

Thanks Nolan, I've decided to leave it as is. Turns out all who have seen it like it the way it is! You are the clever one! 

Dennis, the shop has some new acrylics...Daler Rowney (apparently quite thick), and the System 3. Any suggestions as to which would be better for me as a newcomer to acrylics?

[nolan]

Either are good, just check that the Daler ones are not the Impasto type acrylics. If they are don't get them, the impasto acrylics are only really for when you want to do thick knife and texture work.

[dennis]

Val, as you have a choice go for the System 3 - much easier to work with.

[Val]

  Excellent, system 3 it is.  I still have some old oil brushes, would they be suitable with acrylics for now? I used a combination of the old oil brushes with some water colour brushes for the smaller bits on the island style paintings. I suppose I'm getting used to the w/c brushes...I found the oil bristles quite stiff in comparison.

[dennis]

As long as the old oil brushes are still flexible then there should be no problem. If they are too stiff from old paint then Nolan made a nice video on how to clean them.

 I use a combination of watercolor and oil painting brushes when I  work depending on the application and the effect I want to portray. Remember if you want a certain effect and a matchstick will do the trick then use it!

Here is a painting I did using nothing else but the fingers. It was a demo at a workshop I gave a few months back. (From a painting by a friend of mine - Andre Grobler)

How to Finger Paint by Dennis Clark of the Paint Basket

You may need to pause the video for a while for it to render properly or let it run through and then look at it again.

[Val]

  That is just amazing!!  I did see the end results that Nolan had posted. Still amazed and delighted. Like the music too. I would never have thought a picture of that clarity and quality could be done by fingerpainting. Excellent!