Arizona

I start by drawing random lines with watercolor crayons.

The firt colour is usually a dark one. Here, it’s a sepia.

I add spots of color that set the tone for the work.

The next colors are mixed directly on the canvas to produce gradients. During this step, I spray the canvas with a mist of water to keep the paint wet. In some places, I spray water jets to create drips.

I leave it to dry. During this time, I make sketches to establish the direction to give to this work. If, until now, the process was rather intuitive, the rest will be more thoughtful and methodical.

I now add organic flat shapes and decorations (dots, lines, splashes).

I finish by adding graphite and charcoal lines.

Here it is! Finished.

Since this work is made on a 4 cm thick gallery canvas, it can be installed on the wall without a frame. For this reason, I always pay attention to the sides while painting. I can paint them with a solid colour or in continuity with the artwork, continuing the patterns on the sides. That’s what I did here.

Varnish is often a subject of debate. Should I varnish or not? As far as I’m concerned, I don’t hesitate. The varnish protects from UV rays and dust which could become embedded in the paint. However, I do not like the high gloss varnish. That’s why I opt for a varnish with a satin finish like that of Liquitex. I apply two coats.

Here are the colours that I used to make this artwork.