Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Old Favorites

This is directed to the other artists who read my blog.  Did you ever have a favorite support that you used forever and thought was the best thing since sliced bread?

My favorite support was always velour and I rarely had a problem painting on it.  However, the paintings I've done recently have been on PastelMat or ColourFix Suede.  So I had this green velour and thought it would be perfect for the portrait of this older Golden Retriever.  It's been an uphill battle since I started and I just don't understand it!

I thought going back to a previously favorite support would be like riding a bicycle - after all, you never really forget how, do you?  Doesn't the old brain make pathways from repeated motions so those motions can be carried out quickly and easily in the future?  Of course, much of the problem has been getting the right colors. Even though the pastel is covering pretty well, the green background does affect the applied colors.  But the application has been difficult also - the pastels tend to drag and sort of skip on the surface and I can never remember that happening before.

Well, I'll quit complaining and just get back to it.  If it turns out lousy, I'll give it a try on PastelMat or ColourFix Suede!  Shoot, I may even switch media altogether and that would really stir up the old brain synapses, wouldn't it?


2 comments:

Sue Clinker said...

That's so spooky Jan.
The black/white kitten I've been working on recently was drawn on my last piece of Colourfix ... which isn't a surface I'm particularly fond of, but the colour has always worked well for white fur before.

But .... I've been unhappy with the picture from day 1. The white pastel looks dull and it just lacks something. David (hubby) says it is fine but ...

Today I re-started the picture on Pastelmat. I'll see which I prefer in a day or so!

I have a pile of volour paper in my stockcupboard - I've definitely grown out of love with it.

Look forward to seeing what you decide for this one.

Jan said...

Thanks for replying, Sue. I thought I'd lost my mind or at least my touch with the velour. Like you, I do think I've outgrown my love for it.
I wish you all the best with your kitten and I'll update the progress on this GR as I can.