We already discussed ways to add visual interest to your painting by using paint in unexpected ways. Using paint to texturize a composition is a painter’s initial method (Read: Add Excitement to your Paintings Part 1).
But there are lots of other ways to add a third dimension to your two-dimensional piece.
Gesso And Mediums
Gesso and Mediums are most often used on rigid supports. As these products dry hard, using them on paper wouldn’t be a good idea. Any movement of the support would cause cracking, and the surface would break and chip off.
Gesso
When a surface is prepared for paint, such as a canvas or wood panel, the conventional product used is gesso. Traditionally, gesso is made of rabbit-skin glue, chalk and white pigment. It is applied over raw canvas or a wooden panel to prepare the surface to accept paint.
The porous surface is absorbent, so it works with water media, oil and tempera. The glue mixture is brittle, so in the original formulation it’s used on rigid surfaces. Linseed oil is added to the compound when used on canvas or other flexible surfaces. Traditionally, many very thin layers of gesso are used to build slowly a proper ground for painting.
With the advent of synthetic formulations, acrylic gesso has taken a large percentage of the market. Made with acrylic polymers, acrylic gesso comes in a variety of densities, and it can be thinned with water or medium to be used as a thin coating. Used alone, it can be built up to impressive dimensions and textures.
Fiber Paste
This thick, opaque medium contains mineral fibers that can give the appearance of hand-made paper. Applied with a palette knife, it can be used to prime a support with a rough or smooth finish. The dried product is porous, so it’s perfect for use with watercolor or acrylic paint.
Molding Paste
Molding paste is available in several densities. Regular, light, hard and extra-heavy pastes are used in various ways, and each has its own characteristics. The products are made with acrylics, and have different additives for diverse applications.
The light paste is good for use on canvas, where a heavy application can cause the fabric to buckle or even rip. Extra-heavy paste holds tool marks well, and it can be built up for deep peaks and valleys.
All of these pastes can be tinted with acrylic paint, and maintain a rigid but elastic surface that accepts paint and adheres to the substrate.
Pouring Medium
Acrylic pouring medium is great to create pools of high-gloss color. This product doesn’t bubble or crack, and allows areas of rich color with no evidence of brush strokes.
Glass Bead Gel
Glass bead gel is coarse textured and holds peaks well. It contains glass beads that are best seen in thin films of product on a light-colored ground. The product is gel based, so adding paint tints the gel and allows the glass beads to shimmer in the colored surface.
Found And Repurposed Materials
You can add all sorts of objects and materials to your paintings. Thin, lightweight items can be glued onto the surface or other techniques such as sewing or wiring them to the support can be used.
Organic Materials
If you’re using organic materials, you should be certain they won’t deteriorate or have an adverse reaction to the paint and support. Things like leaves, a butterfly wing or grasses must be enclosed in a permanent, waterproof and airproof substance like clear medium to help preserve the object.
Some materials can discolor the painting by leaching natural colors into the surrounding paint and support. It’s best to research or test organic materials to determine if they will be suitable for your painting.
Man-Made Objects
Mixed media artists have great fun adding found materials to their work, and fabricated items are very popular. Adding plastic or metallic objects successfully requires proper adhesives or other securing devices. Glue, wires and actually screwing an object onto the surface are several methods, and these three-dimensional additions add variety and an unusual look to a painting.
Paper
Adding additional layers of paper adds interest to a painting. Torn edges add visual variety and different types of paper add textural elements.
Paper Underlayment
Using pieces of newspaper, pages from a book or magazine add interest to a background. Torn pieces or an entire page can be applied in a haphazard fashion, or used as precise sections on which to paint.
Adding illustrations that are subsequently over-painted add interesting layers and are an easy method of introducing additional images to your composition
Layering Transparent Papers
Using clear acrylic medium to adhere pieces of tissue or rice paper to your support is a great way to add color and texture to your work. Tear pieces of paper and apply to your support in a flat manner, or crumple paper to give it more texture and interest.
This surface can then be painted with acrylic paint. Add transparent medium to your paint so the layers of paint show through, or use the paint in an opaque manner to obscure parts of the background paper.
Using items other than paint on your work does take a little research. If you’re doing something for fun and don’t expect it to last, that’s fine. However, if you’re spending time working on a painting that you want to last for years, it’s important to ensure the materials you’re using have a life expectancy equal to your paint and support.
So, put on your treasure hunting shoes and start searching for fun and unique things to add to your painting. You’ll add excitement to your painting life as well as to those who see your latest masterpiece.
