Friday, December 30, 2011

"smushing" technique

This is a demo of a technique we'll call "smushing" for lack of a better explanation. It's simply mopping colors around letting the water do the work for you and giving the mingling of colors time to work before going back in with your brush and making mud. I'm doing this for my PaintFriendsForum for a little monthly blurp I try to do. This is actually the first time I've also tried to put a collage together so this is somewhat of a learning experience for me...we'll see what happens when I click the post. I've also done a step by step of the background and that'll be posted next.

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10 comments:

  1. The results are excellent.
    Can't wait to see your collage.
    Happy New Year, Mollie!

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  2. Thanks for stopping by, Christiane...I decided to post a larger shot of the finished painting...couldn't really tell much from the collage. I will say that they tasted fabulous...I ate both of them...

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  3. Love the term "smushing"! It's hard for people to understand and harder to teach, isn't it? Hope you won't mind if I borrow the term sometimes! Love the brightness and happiness of your work and look forward to seeing more in the new year. Happy New Year!

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  4. Thanks Deb...hope you have a great 2012 too..."Smushing" probably isn't a word, but it sorta fits what we do with the paint and brush doesn't it...

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  5. Something I have tried but know how difficult it can be. What is your secret is it the dampness of the paper prior to applying the paint? Is it a satin finish or is it more moist? Love the out come

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  6. Thanks, Peggy...always wonderful to see a new face around here. As far as the paint to water application going on with most of my stuff, I prefer working wet on dry paper and working with charging in strong colors and going back with clean water to move(smush) the colors around...it's really hard to explain. I do know that for me, one secret is to not go back into my applied paint and try to "fix" something...that's when I usually make mud so I really try to wait to go back in until it's dry to make adjustments once I'm past the damp stage...give it a try and let me know what you think... I think I have a really heavy hand so it gets tricky, but water is our friend when it comes to staying clean and fresh. Goodness...you didn't want a "book", but it's one of those things that is hard for me to relate.

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  7. Just found your blog on Pat Elliot's post. Great way of presenting your Smushing technique! very nice paintings :)

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  8. Thanks for stopping by, Kyla. Pat is a dear friend for sure...hope you'll stop by the forum where Pat and I interact a bit more...www.paintingfriends.com.

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  9. love the word "smushing" molly ..wonderful demo ..your collage is very effective showing all the stages..just seen pat's pears .

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  10. Thanks so much, Jane..."smushing" is really just mopping paint...it's probably not even a word...ha. Have visited your blog...wonderful work.

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