About Root Beer Cactus - Process Photos

When I first started painting abstracts, I was heavily into neutral colors, grunge, texture and aged surfaces. As my experience with acrylic grew, I ventured more into bright colors. It took time for me to be comfortable with color. Currently, I’m in my 16th year as an abstract artist and I feel that it is easy for me to go back and forth between bright colors and neutral art.

I am often asked if I begin a painting with a plan in place for composition. I don’t, but what I do plan are the colors. For this piece, rather than mixing my favorites, I chose pre-mixed colors in my favorite neutrals: Titanium White, Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold, Van Dyke Brown, Paynes Gray, Titan Buff, Carbon Black, Yellow Ochre and some Zinc White.

So, how do the shapes appear? The shapes are like a puzzle. It is a lengthy dance between placing line onto the canvas and then taking it off. I make layers and cover them up in some areas all in a way to solve the puzzle. I “wreck” and painting and then “fix” it many times until I feel it is finished.

The process suits me because I do not like to have flat paint in my art. I prefer some of the layers to be transparent so that what is beneath them shows through to the top. This is what I refer to as “visual layering”. Visual layering allows the viewer to see deep inside the painting. In the process above, I have begun to block in the shapes that have appeared in the composition. I have started the problem solving.

With the white base, I can use transparent paint to cover while allowing some of the brightness to come through. In the photo above, you can notice how the brown reacts with the paint underneath- some ares and dark and some areas and lighter. Practice has taught me how to cover previous layers without regret: it’s just paint. Whatever is there, I can make again. That is probably one of the most valuable lessons I have learned while painting.

This is my favorite part of the process. The puzzle gets exciting and the painting calls to me. I think about it constantly and ideas swirl.

When the weather is good, I take the painting outside in the bright sun where I can step really far back from it. Sometimes the final phase is instantly recognizable, sometimes it takes a few trips in and out of the house to find the final composition. Usually, the changes I make at this stage are minimal, I’ve already done the heavy lifting, so to speak.

Pictured above is the final version of “Root Beer Canvas”. The painting measures 24x36 inches. I love this size for over a sideboard or Love Seat. I also think it looks good in an entry way over a bench.

This painting ended up with a lot of texture and transparent layers. It is one of my favorites for sure! Tap the image above to see the detail close-ups in the listing or to purchase.