PAINTING A STREET SCENE IN ACRYLICS

STREET SCENE IN ACRYLICS by COLIN BROWN 

Colin has worked as a freelance artist for 30 years after an early career as an illustrator. Now he paints street scenes in acrylics using only one technique.

His paintings usually take 3 days so the evening demonstration would only be the start.

Using a square canvas board and Golden Open acrylics Colin paints with Da Vinci flat impasto brushes.

He starts with a fairly accurate drawing and then does an under-painting. Then the painting is turned upside-down. This enables Colin to judge tonal range and colours more accurately. It also makes you look harder and stops exact copying or representation. Colin aims for a semi-abstract style putting his own interpretation on the subject.

The background is done using contrasting colours. Later some of the background is painted out leaving enough to prevent the painting becoming dull. The effect that Colin wishes to get is like a silk screen print and this is done more easily with a dry brush. Colours are used straight from the tube unmixed and the brush isn't cleaned between colours.

The next stage was to turn the painting up the correct way and put in more detail.To get some linear effects Colin uses a ruler and paints lines in grey or black often in ink. Background objects are painted with a dry brush and buildings are painted a darker tone when they are against the sky. Final touches include putting in highlights not necessarily in white but in a light colour.

Colin was unable to finish his painting but he managed to give us many ideas and tips to make us think hard over our next painting whatever the subject.

Colin and half finished painting



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