Studio Brief 3 - Tell an Untold Story Pt 2: The Picture Book - Further Experimentation

Now that I have decided to paint my artwork, it is time to get experimenting. 

I have made the informed decision early on (after being inspired by other illustrators work) that I want to paint in gouache. It seems like a great paint to use as you have so many options with it. Watered down it acts like watercolour, thicker it acts like acrylic and thickest it can be used like an oil paint - a good all rounder.

So after spending a gazillion pounds (which I really don't have) on a nice new set of Windsor & Newton gouache paints, I began experimenting.

Here are the results:

I started by deciding on bristol board heavy weight as my paper stock. I love this paper as it has such a great smooth finish unlike grainy watercolour paper and can take the weight of paint and the wetness of water without warping and wrinkling too much. 

Tests

Paintbrush experimentation

Nib experimentation

These tests were really a quick task to help me decide on what brushes to use as I have both sable hair brushes and synthetic brushes. After being inspired by Carson Ellis, I also wanted the option of adding fine detail to my paintings should I need too and instead of resorting to using my trusty fineliner pens - I wanted to attempt to use dip pen and ink. Going all out with the unknowns for this brief!

Sable brushes were the way forward it seems (although I am terrified that they will leave hairs in the final artwork...hasn't happened yet through. Also in order to ink lines over the paint, it was soon obvious I needed a sturdy nib for my dip pen and one not so fine that it scratches the paint. 'Extra Fine', 'Rigid' and '404' all did the job well whilst also achieving the variety of fine line effects that I wanted.

I had originally thought to use black indian ink for detail, however in doing this tree study, it seemed as if the ink was bleeding slightly into the paper in the areas where they wasn't any paint as a base - nightmare! Luckily I had also bought some Quink a few weeks earlier to have a go at experimenting with and this completely solved the problem. I love Quink - it doesn't bleed.

This log study was my first attempt at trying something close to a final piece. I don't have much time to complete my final artwork and so I thought I would give it a shot and at the risk of sounding like I am giving up at the first hurdle - I hate it. I know that I am rushing to create artwork and needing to fall in love with this method but painting on paper just doesn't have enough impact for me. Maybe I am used to my paper cuts bringing an extra element to the table I don't know, but this to me doesn't do my location or research any justice and looks quite standard and boring. 

I still want to paint, I am committed to it now so I have begun to look at other stock/materials to paint on.

Acetate didn't work well despite finding some with a slightly rough surface to take the paint.. I had to use a lot of paint in order to get a bold finish and when it did dry, it began to flake away. 

Feeling deflated I know I needed something to amp up this brief and spotted a bit of broken up wood in our back yard left by the previous tenants. I have never attempted to paint on wood before so gave it a shot seen as at this stage I have nothing to lose.

Study into how layers of paint work together and if paint needs a base colour on wood or not

Study into how different pens/pencils work on wood should I need to uses some for details in final piece

Study into thick and thin layers of paint on wood and what is most effective

Successes

• Painting on wood has given me the boost I need. This material works well with my chosen media and really makes the paint pop. 
• The paint holds its own on this stock, both watery paint and thick paint create interesting but successful effects.
• It is entirely unique - has the potential to give my visual outcomes that extra something.
• It is really lovely and sturdy to paint on with no chance of wrinkling. 
• I feel it links well with the nature based theme of my book (a kind of cruel twist if you will)

Concerns

• Painting over a base colour doesn't seem to work so well with my chosen paints. The base colour easily mixes with the topcoat, changing the desired colour
• Only thick markers seem to like the wood, finer nibs scratch away at the varnish layer instead of creating a mark
• I have ran out of wood so hoping to find something similar when I go skip diving tomorrow (ew).
• The wood I do find is likely to be varnished like the wood I have tested on, and this is a concern for the final artwork as it tends to flake away.
• I have no idea how this is going to come together in my book, how I am going to present pieces of wood or even get the images onto the computer. Bad photos and scanning could take away from the finished product as the wood is obviously 3D.