My free video on using acrylic inks is up on YouTube – here is the link:
https://www.pulsarproductions.com/artists/tricia-reust
I also have a chapter on these inks in my book “Using Chroma Art Materials” – both my books are available on my website www.triciareust@gmail.com
I love printing – and have developed a way of using acrylics to print from my lino plates, and other plates including collagraphs. Along with the chapter in my book “Using Chroma Art Materials” I have a free video on this process. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkQHSu4hbTM Atelier Acrylic for no-press printing in mixed media
Both my books are available through my website www.triciareust.com.au
I like to use acrylic paint for printing as this allows me to use my prints as collage elements.
“Scrub” is a pastel and mixed media on canvas – I often print on tissue and then add these prints to my works as collage.
“Ancient Notes” – an example where I have used the print as the basis for the canvas.
I completed another demo piece – this has wet pastel as a background and I used charcoal and grey pastels. I have an instructional video on Drawing available through Pulsar Productions – here is the link:
https://www.pulsarproductions.com/artists/tricia-reust
Sometimes I am happy to leave the texture and colour in a painting be enough to convey my message, but many times I add a motif, or symbol, of reality, to serve as a jumping board to bring in the viewer and provide an element of contact. This does not have to be a large part of the work, and often in fact, is quite small in relation to the painting.
“Tree Search” is one such work, that I have just completed after the workshop in Crows Nest. This work has several other paintings underneath so the texture is all over the canvas, which is a wonderful base for my intention to depict a landscape barren of trees.
1. This photo above shows the canvas after an application of gesso, and carious cardboard shapes taped on before the first glaze of colour is painted. I have left drawings and sections of the last painting that was on this canvas, showing, because I didn’t want to lose those areas.
2. Detail of the motif painted on, to connect the viewer with the landscape and message. This detail is around 9 cms wide and 13 cms high, so quite small in relation to the size of the canvas.
3. “Tree Search” Mixed Media on Canvas 61 cms wide by 91 cms high (24 inches wide by 36 inches high). This and other works are available as giclee reproductions, in any size on canvas or paper, through www.buyartnow.com.au
at Art House Reproductions. My works are all limited editions.
Another demonstration piece completed, using wet pastel as an underpainting, begun at the Brisbane Pastel Society of Australia meeting on August 6th 2024.
From different photos I had taken, I composed a rough sketch to set the tonal distribution of shapes.
The pink and yellow ochre AS soft pastels were applied to the white Colourfix. It is important to use a paper that can take being wet, and pastels that will mix readily with water.
The pastels were pushed into the paper with a Taklon brush and water.
I indicated the colours to be used, applying the soft pastels. The cloud area was to be blended, but the strokes left visible in the water. I intend this to be an almost monochromatic work, with the underpainting adding glistening elements of colour.
This was as far as I was able to go within the time limits of the meeting.
Lennox Mood. Pastel on half sheet AS Colourfix paper.
Finally, now that I have returned from the road trip, I have some time to finalise some demonstration pieces. This is the wet pastel underpainting portrait demo from the PSA Brisbane meeting Tuesday August 6th.
Over a charcoal portrait study (begun at the NZ portrait workshop) on Art Spectrum Colourfix paper – Soft Umber – I placed green and raw umber AS soft pastels.
I then wet these areas with water and a taklon brush, and pushed the pastel into the paper, ensuring that all the pastel was melted.
Placing soft pastel over these areas to develop the portrait. This was as far as I was able to work, before the meeting was over.
The completed portrait demonstration. Pastel on a Quarter sheet Colourfix paper.
This charcoal pastel study is off to Germany as a gift. I am off to deliver workshops on my road trip beginning in Canberra, then Newbridge, and Nelson Bay on my way home. These workshops include drawing, Mixed Media and also, pastel on canvas.
Looking forward to seeing former attendees and making new friends.