There’s more than the “Brush” for the Artist
Do you only use brushes when you paint ? Or have you tried a palette knife and you are curious about other tools that exist for contemporary art making? If so, this post is for you!
In the past, the word "painting" traditionally made me think of taking a brush, dipping it in paint, and painting along on the canvas (or any other surface). Then there was the painting knives, the preferred tools for the beautiful impasto artworks - creating thick beautiful texture. These two were forms of painting I had known in my childhood and younger years.
I had experimented mostly with the above way before my professional art practice. Because that's what I thought of "painting" at the time. My veeery first paintings were thick impasto and I thought that was going to be my style. But, soon I discovered there was more for me to explore….
Today "painting" means so much more to me. Thanks to the internet and so many resources that had influenced me at the beginning of my art journey, I discovered the possibility of a large spectrum of tools that are available to artists that I still love to discover and experiment with.
The first awakening came when I stumbled upon a video of Gerhard Richter, a well known German abstract artist, on Youtube. His way of scraping paint had become his artistic expression. And I was intrigued by the possibility of moving, pushing, and pulling paint around on the canvas (Not exactly in the way he does and definitely not with the scale of scraping tool he uses! But it sparked some creative ideas to begin back then). I was intrigued to discover more tools to move paint on the canvas. I remember walking the aisles of the art store wondering the possibilities of many non-traditional tools that I saw. Each of them expanded my horizon of what is possible on the canvas and each one is like a trip into an exotic unknown that I can't wait to explore more.
Photo: Still from “Gerhard Richter Painting” (2011)
Discovery of Tools
This is where things start to get very interesting.
While I still love using brushes in almost every painting (I love wide firm flat brushes like the Liquitex Freestyle brushes), I love to go beyond the brush as I work.
Tools like the Catalyst silicone wedge (another favorite), squeegees, spatulas all have their very distinct properties in putting paint on the canvas, spreading it, pushing it, dragging it, scraping it, layering it… The concept of "painting" that I once knew in my earlier years had expanded so much once I got introduced to these tools. It's a painting wonderland full of possibilities!
It's nice to explore a few different tools and options on the way. Without trying you may never know the enjoyment you can get from using each. Adding a new tool to the mix can also help evolve your existing style into a new direction as it can help create some new expressions in your artwork. If you love to try new things I know you can relate!
Painting Knives
The more traditionally known tool. While I don't use them much any more, they can come very handy to spread paint and create some nice texture. If and when I use them prefer the largest ones for my work. Painting knifes are a good place to start if you have only worked with brushes so far and want to explore a new expression.
The Princeton Catalyst Silicone wedge
This is the tool I get the most questions about when I share work on social media. This is the tool that creates a lot of those interesting textures. It is a silicone scraper and it is very versatile and very fun to use (thanks for the creators at Princeton who introduced this to us!). It is a little bit bendy (since it's silicone) and therefore can create very different effects depending on how much pressure you apply. I love the flat white one (W-06) but they come in some other great options too. They fit so nicely in your palm and work well whether you create really small paintings or large ones, whether you're a beginner or pro. You can create many different styles and textures with it, specially when you also mix in some glazing or gel mediums - possibilities are quite endless. And I still like to explore with it each day. Check out the manufacturers site to get more info and be inspired.
Other tools I love and sometimes use for specific effects depending on the painting are:
Squeegees:
They come in all shapes and sizes and best is to experiment with them. They work well to move large amounts of "fluid" acrylic paint (ideally mixed with a fluid medium or some water) on the canvas to create very broad shapes. I like introducing some of their effects on very large paintings. The larger (longer) the squeegee the less control you will feel on it as more surface will be covered with one single stroke. If you want to start with one, a smaller size might be better (like 6 to 9 inch - yes they can get much bigger too!). You can work your way up later. You can find many varieties if you just search for "art squeegee" or "vinyl squeegee" on Amazon or check your local art stores to see if they have them.
What else is possible?
Don't want to get a bunch of tools yet from the art store? Or you want to have options beyond the art store? If you have an open mind, you can discover every day tools in the home that can be used as a scraper or spatula to get your imagination going or try something out. Think plastic scrapers from the hardware store, or anything "silicone". Like silicone cooking or baking tools, silicone shower squeegees etc.
You can read more about the list of my favorite materials in my earlier blog post here.
Want more tips? Grab my 7 TIPS for Painting With Acrylic Mediums.
If you like the idea of contemporary painting with non traditional and new methods...I share how you can create beautiful layered effects with a painting wedge ("Catalyst Wedge") using acrylic paints and mediums in my online course called Vibrant Layers with Acrylics & Mediums. You can find out more about this learning opportunity over here.
Catalyst Silicone Wedge
Simple shapes created with a silicone wedge (silicone scraper)
Various Tools from squeegee to paddle brush
Previous comments and answers on this post from my old Wordpress site:
Barbara Rubenstein
May 30, 2019 at 11:13 am
Love your work and really appreciate you sharing your experience! Thank you.Deniz Altug
June 2, 2019 at 8:53 am
Thanks so much Barbara for the kind feedback and for being here!
Anne Coulson
May 31, 2019 at 3:41 am
I am 78years old women with serious health , these days I am a hobby artist for myself & family. I adore your art it sings to me, I have never felt that before with art, All so I live in a county town on the east side of Australia 420 miles central west new south wales, from Sydney , so I paint to not think about my illness , & my very bad arthritis makes it painful at times in my hand . anyway enough of my winging. the town I live is called Coonabarabran, very old mountains,
Back to your art & the magic wedge, because it is certainly magic, you the artist can create paintings that can sing to you. do you ever paint in light colours,
such as pale pinks, blues, greens, mauves & white, pure fantasy. thank you for giving me pleasure in your paintings.
With kind regards, Anne Coulson.Deniz Altug
June 2, 2019 at 9:03 am
Hi Anne, thanks a lot for sharing your kind message – I am so grateful that my work sings to you! I wish you massive wellness and lot of joy in creating you art!…..Regarding your question – I do actually think (or fantasize) a lot about creating some pastel paintings lately, at times also bringing in some more natural/earthy tones. It is just that my eyes and hands have been gravitating toward the very pigmented hues as they create such visually intense experiences as I paint and mix things up. But I do feel that creativity is a journey and I do see myself experience with a lot more different variety of tones or textures over time. It actually makes me excited to think that there is so much more to explore. Thanks for being here Anne!
Tanya Taggart
June 1, 2019 at 8:14 pm
Thanks for sharing so much of yourself. It always triggers an aha moment when ever I read your blog.Deniz Altug
June 2, 2019 at 8:54 am
Thank you Tanya! I am so happy to read that.
DAGMAR HANSEN
June 22, 2019 at 6:56 pm
Jeg er så takknemlig for din hjelp,tusen takk .Deniz Altug
June 26, 2019 at 10:03 am
Hi Dagmar, I used google translate to read your message… and I want to say thank you so much for the feedback and for being here! Sending lots of love to Norway