“Never, never, never give up.” ― Winston Churchill

It is so strange how alcohol ink paintings can go from one thing to another is barely more than the blink of an eye.

This "poor painting" started out as part of the Color Field experiment that I was doing for a call for entry. I had high hopes for the concept, but it just didn't end up looking like I had hoped.

Then, I reworked it and came up with this painting. Compositionally, the sun is too big and is competing with the grove of trees that actually looks pretty good. I decided to leave the trees and wipe the rest of the board clean and start over. On yupo paper this works well. On clayboard, the board doesn't release the ink as readily. As I wiped, I thought, "Wait a minute here. I like what is happening!" So, I stopped wiping, added a few drops of blender and paint and took a look.

It's one of my favorite alcohol ink paintings to date.

"Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time." - Thomas A. Edison

Quick and Intense - Alcohol Ink

"A Walk to the Creek"

5" X 7"

Price TBD (I plan to frame it)

I find almost all art enjoyable, but some media are just more joyful and surprising than others. Alcohol inks are relatively new to me and the very nature of these inks makes each painting part experiment and a learning experience.

Last night I decided to add some texture on the clayboard ink painting. What does that mean? You arrange items (toothpicks, plastic wrap, etc.) on the wet ink and let it dry. This morning, when I removed the items (which either absorb ink or cause the ink to pool), the painting above was the result. I absolutely love the trees. I could get lost in the section below. Enjoy!

There are additional ink paintings on my website. You can also find other artists working in this medium on Facebook.

Watercolor on Canvas Board

I've been painting on Arches cold press or rough 300# papers since 1990. I love it. That said, when I saw Fredrix canvas boards, I was tempted. How would the paints flow on this linen surface? Could I frame it without glass?

The Produce Aisle

16" X 20"

Watercolor

$295 (unframed)

Click here to purchase

I chose a rather ambitious and atypical subject for my first painting on this new to me product. I found the darkest darks hard to achieve, but being able to lift the paint back off was a fair trade for that problem. On paper, it would have been necessary to mask off the roots or carefully paint around them.

With this canvas board, I was able to paint the solid color of the shadow and then after it dried, I went back in and lifted the paint off. I was very pleased with this effect and when I have an image that this would work particularly well with I may choose to use canvas again.

Granulation and wet on wet techniques still work fairly well on the canvas.

I have sprayed the finished product with several coats of Liquitex Archival UV Protectant Varnish.(Matte). I am planning to frame it without glass.

Do you paint with watercolors on canvas? Leave your experience in the comments. I would love to hear what you have to say.