Art and Design A comprehensive guide for creative artists - Aaltodoc

Liquids for painting
The types of liquids necessary for executing a painting
artwork can also be obtain by squeezing fresh or dry fruits,
leaves or plants and sap from plants as well as juices to
extract colouring matter or pigment. See Watercolour painting.
According to Jenkins (1980, 133) liquids for painting include:
Food dyes Ink solutions
Tea/coffee Crushed orchid flowers
Ash Muddy cement
Clay Mud water
Bleach Fruit juice
Liquid shoe polish Water mixed with powder colours
Generally, nearly all the above mentioned types of liquids
can mix well with gum arabic to bind solutions of (water)
colour. It is a natural gum obtained from trees and it is
commonly used by printing and textile artists as a binder.
As a creative artist, try different experiments like mixing
ordinary liquid soap with wax together with a single
pigment, then paint. Obtained results shall show a pleasing
textural effects. The creative artist can furthermore execute
painting artworks by using Jenkins (1980, 137) Painting
Variations; For instance:
Detergent
painting
String painting
Bleach painting
Foot painting/
hand painting
Straw painting
Here, powder colours are mixed with a liquid
detergent (jik). It is good to use on glass or
aluminium foil.
Immerse a string into paint, then drag or
swirl it between a folded paper. Pull it out
and check the obtained results.
The artwork is made by using undiluted
bleach. The bleach can be used on coloured
papers or fabric. Rinse the paper to regulate
the bleach, also use nylon brushes.
Can suitably be done from outdoor, in this
way; paint the feet with a brush, or dip the
feet (or hands). After that, step out on a
large sheet of papers or a clean fabric.
Through the mouth, paint or ink is sipped or
pulled inside a straw in small amounts to be
blown out on a surface, spread it or use the
straw to mix it (by blowing) for the time of
creating a painting artwork.
Chalk painting
Resist painting
Spot painting
Can be done with wet coloured chalk on dry
paper and the vice versa.
A sketch is made using crayons and then
a wash of watercolour or food colouring is
painted over.
Blots of different colours of paints can be
poured on a paper and then pressed down
when a paper is folded to come up with a
fraternised blend of colours.
A loofah sponge is ideal for this method
of painting. It is fibrous and home grown.
During painting, apply a colouring matter
on the gauzy fibers using a brush. Then, run
it (loofah sponge) on any other obtained
surface, or by stamping.
66 67
Sponge
painting
Painting and application of materials
Every medium of painting has its own shortcomings as well
as prospects. In the words of Mayesky (2009, 269), “a set of
paints can be carried easily if the containers are placed well
in a tomato basket.” He was referring to a particular manner
of handling paints, transporting them from one place to
another.
Thus, during working; a painting beginner should be
nurtured with the various ways of how to deal with the
entire process of executing a painting artwork. For instance,
it is important for the learner to begin by learning how to
prepare powder colours. If they are well prepared, they are
easy to handle, clean and wash. In addition to that, powder
paints dry quickly.
Powder paints can be prepared locally by adding one
specified type of fermentation substance like honey, sugar,
or local brew (mwenge bigere). In small quantities not in
excess of reasonable requirements, mix the fermentation
substance with powder paint and then, put a cover and tie
the container. Wait for the process of fermentation to take
place. It may take two to three days for your (paint) pigment
to be ready for use.
To make an effective smear of paints on a surface, the
creative artist may use only the fingers (the thumb or the
middle fingers) and probably chewed sticks. But in actual
practice, many artists paint with a brush or a palette knife.