Art Progression: The Background
I’m trying some new techniques, and figured I’d do an art progression post! My artworks typically involve a high level of detail and stay mostly in the realm of realism. I’m looking to expand my artistic vocabulary and travel into the land of abstract (of course, there will still be highly detailed aspects of realism intertwined!).
The beginning of that journey starts here – the background is a 4 color acrylic pour (turquoise, white, black, and silver), with rough texture added to the canvas. The silver made for an interesting addition, as it didn’t play by the same rules as the other colors. I used cheap acrylic paints as this was a test artwork, plus water and a pouring medium. For a more professional finished approach, I’d try art quality acrylics and pouring media.
Art Progression: Laying Out The Subject From A Simple Horse Drawing
The story behind this artwork: every horse you interact with, you leave your “mark” on. This piece is about Jax, my PSSM horse. I got him as an unbroke 4 year old, trained him, went through a major muscle disorder with him, and brought him back to health. It’s been a long journey, but he’s a “horse of a lifetime” and is more than worth it!
Art Progression: Filling In Subject Detail
Just as my life has been changed by having this amazing horse in my life, his life has been forever altered. Training a horse is about so much more than the initial 30 days – trust, patience, curiosity, a willing heart – these things come natural to some horses but can be lost with improper training and handling.
Art Progression: Final Details
I’ve watched this boy grow and mature for six years, and his willingness and curiosity always amazes me. I’ve watched the gleam in his eye flutter as his disorder took over, and I’ve seen it shine bright again as his health improves. I’ve seen his strengths and weaknesses, and watched him try his heart out through all of it. I can’t claim my training and handling did this 100% – maybe 40%. He’s just “that kind” of horse.
Art Progression: The Finished Acrylic Horse Painting
Color, texture, pattern decisions: For the background, I chose a bold pattern with a rough texture. The high contrast black and white is made more vivid and interesting by the blue – the color of his eyes. This gave the artwork a tumultuous background before even adding the subject – a perfect backdrop to represent some of the ups and downs we’ve faced. Jax is finished in metallics as he has proven himself to be a strong, stoic beast, and a “tough as nails” metallic finish seemed appropriate. My name represents my “mark” on him – through training, health issues, and partnership.
– There truly is “no other feeling in the world to compare with it if one loves a great horse” –
Quote by Samuel Riddle
Products Used In Making This Artwork Progression:
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- Acrylic paint – I used cheaper craft paints as a test run, but want to eventually try bulk student paints from Blick Art. I have used my Liquitex acrylics for paint pours and like the results, but that paint is a bit more expensive to use for paint pouring.
- Blick Art also has books and paint specific for pouring, and paint pouring kits!