Louise Reynolds -

Articles posted by Louise Reynolds

Art Through Symbols: The Skull

Skulls may arouse our morbid curiosity – with the knowledge each of us carries one hidden beneath the surface – yet their enduring symbolism extends far beyond anatomy. As memento mori, they remind us that we all meet the same end, but throughout art history, skulls have also embodied power, served as instruments of satire, and even become emblems of beauty. The Art Through Symbols series explores the interpretation of symbols throughout art history – be they cultural, religious, folkloric, or personal. Each article analyses a series of artworks before detailing an art-making tutorial inspired by the symbol for you to try. Art Through Symbols: The Skull Interpreting Skulls “The skulls were there and I could say something with them. To me they are as beautiful as anything I know. To me they are strangely more living than the animals walking around…” – Georgia O’Keeffe When we look at skulls, we are confronted with our own mortality – perhaps welcoming in an existential dread – or giving us the steadying reassurance that, aside from birth, death is the one experience we all share. For artists living through times of crisis, amid plagues, famines …

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Resist Techniques for Painting, Drawing, and Printmaking

In this article, I describe the resist technique by referring to historic examples, from dyed fabrics to etchings, and Henry Moore’s drawings. Then I demonstrate how you can apply the resist technique to a host of mediums, such as acrylic, oil paint, and mixed media for drawings. Articles in the Techniques Series define the meaning and context of art making processes and give practical tutorials on how to work with them. Resist Techniques for Painting, Drawing, and Printmaking Definition: The resist technique refers to media or materials that have been used to block out or reject the subsequent layers that are applied to an artwork, to retain the quality of the ‘resisted’ area. For example, an oil pastel drawing will reject a layer of ink applied on top of it, adhering to the surrounding areas of paper, and tape applied over a dry area of oil painting will resist the next layer, so the original one can be revealed again later. What is the Effect of the Resist Technique? The resist technique has a different visual effect depending on the medium or combination of mediums it’s used with. In general, it indicates that the artist is a …

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Art Through Symbols: The Moon

The moon doesn’t just move our seas, and mark time through its phases, but is an ever-evolving symbol in the visual arts that has collected a broad net of meanings. From rebirth to madness, and introspection to immortality, our fascination with the moon is imbued with the reassurance that it’ll be in our sky as long as we are. The Art Through Symbols series explores the interpretation of symbols throughout art history – be they cultural, religious, folkloric, or personal. Each article analyses a series of artworks, before detailing an art-making tutorial inspired by the symbol for you to try. Art Through Symbols: The Moon Interpreting the Moon The moon has hung bright on our collective visual consciousness throughout history. Perhaps we are so enchanted by it because it’s our closest planetary neighbour in an endless universe, or that its cycles plainly mark the passage of time. The moon has always been associated most broadly with eternity, appearing to every living being for as long as our planet has existed and will remain. Our tides roll because of its constant tugging, and folklore and mythology both suggest the full moon pulls people into madness or beastly …

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Wet-on-wet Techniques for Watercolour, Gouache, and Ink

In this article, I define the wet-on-wet technique for water-based media by looking at examples of it used throughout art history beyond the infamous ‘Golden Age’ of watercolour painting in 18th to 19th-century Britain. I then give demonstrations and practical advice for applying the wet-on-wet technique with watercolours, gouache, and ink with a variety of effects to your own paintings. Articles in the Painting Techniques Series define the meaning and context of art making processes and give practical tutorials on how to work with them. Wet-on-wet Techniques for Watercolour, Gouache, and Ink Definition: The wet-on-wet technique is the application of water-based media to an already wet artwork or surface. The technique can refer to an entire sheet of paper that the artist has washed over with clean water, a specific shape that the artist has wetted with water for the paint to bleed into and fill, or a wet watercolour painting that the artist continues to add to before the first wet layer has dried. When multiple colours are added to the same wet surface, they’re able to bleed, disperse, and mingle together. What is the Effect of Wet-on-wet with Watercolours, Ink and Gouache? The wet-on-wet technique …

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Testing Natural Earth Paint’s Acrylik Range

The Natural Earth Paint company’s mission is to produce quality art materials that are archival, non-toxic, plant-based, and eco-friendly, and are safe for kids to use. Their Acrylik Paint range embodies all of these qualities, claiming to be the world’s first paint that behaves like a typical acrylic, that’s also completely safe for the user and the planet. In this article, I’ll delve into the details of their key differences, and test seven colours from their range, including three metallics. Testing Natural Earth Paint’s Acrylik Range The Differences Between Acrylic Paints and Acrylik Paints It’s easy to assume that acrylic paints don’t give off fumes because they’re applied with water and often don’t have a distinct smell, but this isn’t true. As they dry, they emit VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), which vary depending on the paint. Some of these include substances like formaldehyde, ammonia, and benzene. These are from the additives that are added to paints to perform functions like extending their shelf life, preventing mould, and manipulating their consistency. Some people are more sensitive to this outgassing than others, especially those with specific allergies. It’s definitely possible to make acrylic painting safe with proper ventilation and avoiding …

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The Dabbing Technique for Painting

Dabbing is an incredibly versatile painting technique that most artists utilise, from applying tiny areas of rough texture to decisively dabbing entire paintings. In this article, I define the technique by looking at key examples from art history – from the Dutch Golden Age, the Japanese mid-Edo period, to Les Nabis in Paris. Then I demonstrate how to apply dabbing to your own works, in oil, acrylic, ink and watercolour paints. Articles in the Techniques Series define the meaning and context of art making processes and give practical tutorials on how to work with them. The Dabbing Technique for Painting Definition: Dabbing refers to the application of paint or ink to a surface using a repetitive vertical hand motion. The media is bounced, pressed or touched onto the surface without linear movement or hand gesture, giving a diffused effect. Dabbing may be achieved with brushes, rags, or palette knives. What is the Effect of Dabbing? Paintings made with dabbing may have a diffused quality, where the artist has intentionally foregone linear or painted mark-making. It’s perfect for applying the texture of naturalistic elements like clouds and foliage, building up patterns, and for realising subtle tonal effects like …

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Tonalist Techniques in Painting and Drawing

In this article, I explore the techniques used in Tonalism by looking at the qualities of artworks from the movement. Among its leading figures were American painters such as James McNeil Whistler and George Inness. I then demonstrate how to create your own Tonalist works in painting and drawing media. Articles in the Techniques Series define the meaning and context of art making processes and give practical tutorials on how to work with them. Tonalist Techniques in Painting and Drawing Definition: Tonalism refers to artworks with a restricted palette of colours, which exist within a narrow variation of dark tones. These muted palettes lend themselves to nocturnal scenes, suggesting dusk or dawn, often depicting the landscape or people. ‘Tonalism’ refers to both the painting technique and the late 19th-century American art movement that originated the term. What is the Effect of Tonalism? Tonalism has a contemplative, quieting effect, with its muted palette and sombre tones evoking the quiet stillness of dusk. Tonalist works often evoke a feeling of loneliness, as if you have come across the dying light on an evening walk, or seen another person absorbed by their own thoughts at the end of the day. …

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Pointillist Techniques for Painting and Drawing

In this article, I explain the pointillist technique by looking at works by the artists who created it – Georges Seurat and Paul Signac – and others who embraced it, like Anna Boch and Lucie Cousturier. And then I demonstrate how to achieve the pointillist technique in your own work, using oil and acrylic paint, pencil, and pastel. Articles in the Techniques Series define the meaning and context of art making processes and give practical tutorials on how to work with them. Pointillist Techniques for Painting and Drawing Definition: Pointillism is the application of small dots of pure colour that form a complete image when viewed from a distance. The technique relies on optical mixing, where instead of combining colours on the palette, our eyes merge the adjacent dots to reveal form, value, and space. What is the Effect of Pointillism? When pointillism is executed well, it conveys to the viewer that the artist has a deep understanding of colour. These works often use complementary colours to create contrast and visual interest. And they have soft transitions between tones by diffusing the dots of one area with those nearby. Since these artworks rely on optical mixing, the …

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The Blocking In Technique for Painting and Drawing

In this article, I explain the blocking in technique, by defining its purpose and demonstrating how to use it to plan the placement of tone, colour, and composition in artwork. I refer to art history by looking at examples of unfinished paintings from the Renaissance to the pioneering approach of Cézanne. Through my demonstrations, I show how blocking in can speed up the art making process, in acrylic, oil, pencil, and pastel. Articles in the Painting Techniques series define the meaning and context of art making processes and give practical tutorials on how to work with them. Blocking In Technique Definition ‘Blocking in’ refers to media that has been applied broadly with minimal detail, to give the artist an idea of the placement, form, tone, size, or colours of the imagery. A resolved artwork may be completely ‘blocked in’, or retain some areas from the blocking in stage. Although it more commonly functions as an initial underpainting or underdrawing that will later be developed further by the artist. What is the Effect of Blocking In? When you block in the early stages of an artwork, it provides a foundation to build from and allows for any necessary …

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Testing Natural Earth Paint’s Natural Varnish on Oil and Acrylic

If you’re searching for a vegan and environmentally conscious varnish for your oil and acrylic paintings, then the Natural Earth Paint: Natural Varnish may be the perfect solution. Made in small batches with archival ingredients, it’s claimed to be fast-drying, clear, glossy, ideal for retouching, and free from harsh fumes. In this review, I put these descriptors to the test and explore its qualities by testing it on canvas and wooden panel, with oil and acrylic. Review of Natural Earth Paint: Natural Varnish About the Natural Earth Paint Company Natural Earth Paint is an American art materials company founded in 2009. The founder, Leah Fanning, started the company while intentionally pursuing a non-toxic painting practice during her first pregnancy. From there, she developed paints, mediums, primers, and varnish using natural pigments and ingredients that don’t contain any fillers, heavy metals, or derivatives from the oil and gas industries. A couple of common examples of these derivatives are acrylic polymer emulsion found in acrylic paint and alkyd resins sometimes used in oil paints; both are derived from petroleum. The company also advertises its products as safe for kids to use because of their non-toxic qualities. Alongside donating to …

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