Art Exploration - Mixed Media on acrylic base

Artists have their own ways to create.  Many of they also try to explore new ones from time to time.  It can happen in a blink and the idea emerges, and of course disappear the same way, too.

Many of my friends like "The Red Tavern" but they may not know it is a work that was done across two years.  It is a typical work that I started with a radon acrylic painting to prep the paper, left it aside, picked it up after a long time and put on collage without any plan.  Then, I sketched whatever I saw on the WIP.

藝術家們都有自己創作的方式，也常常在探索新的方法 ，靈感可能只是瞬間發現，當然，也可能相同地快速消逝。很多朋友喜歡作品「紅酒館」， 但可能不知道到這幅作品花了兩年才完成。它其實是我用壓克力隨意畫個底，然後放在一旁，過了很久再拿出來做些拼貼，沒有預備任何計畫。最後，才從半成品中找出有感覺的樣子上草圖。


That sometimes works pretty good when I run out of ideas.  But I can't say it is the best way or the most comfortable lead for me to create.  You may have to go through the same painful process of digging out the ideas.  The result could also be disappointing.  However, the experience of letting these preparation works lead the way is attracting.  It also can challenge your ability to create under different circumstances and through that you learn.

有時沒創作靈感，這招還蠻有用的，但也不能說這是我找創作線索最自在好用的招數，其實這麼做你可能也要經歷挖掘想法的痛苦過程，而且結果還可能令人失望。不過，讓那些前置作業來引導作品的經歷則很具吸引力，這也能挑戰自己在不同情況下產出創作，並且能學到東西。

Prep the paper with acrylic, putting more
than one color on the brush and paint it.
壓克力打底，筆刷沾雙色(或多色)來刷底色。

Here I share a brief example of how I did "The Red Tavern".  I am still on the journey to explore it more, but I'll show how I've worked it out so far

簡單分享「紅酒館」的畫作過程，雖然我也還算在繼續探索中，但在這裡先展示目前的畫法。

First, prep the paper with acrylic.  You need to put more than one colors on the brush.  Try dipping it with one main color and then choose a minor color and add a little onto the tip of the brush.  It makes the base color interesting that way.

首先用壓克力打底，在筆刷上用兩種以上顏色，先沾滿主色，然後在筆尖加上一點次要色，這樣刷出來的底色比較豐富。

Paper adhered with random cut-outs.
隨意貼紙材在底紙上

When the color is dried, adhere paper in random sizes that you like, finished or unfinished to the acrylic art paper prepared.  (Here I used finished ones, gesso finished, because I like to have texture in the picture.)  I would suggest you cut the paper for irregular shapes and put two or three different sized cut-outs and don't worry about correct composition of the image.

底色乾後，找一些自己喜歡的紙材，可以用加工過或未加工過的紙材，隨意貼在準備好的底紙上。（這裡我用的是壓克力打底劑加工過的紙，來增加畫面的質感）建議把紙剪成各種不規則形狀，然後每張底紙貼2-3張，不預先想構圖。

Tracing paper on the base for sketching.
蓋上描圖紙開始構圖

Then, find yourself tracing paper to cover the base, and sketch whatever you see from it, with imagination.  After sketching, transfer it onto the base.  (For transferring how-to, watch this youtube video for reference.)  With the sketch, you can start painting it with acrylic colors you like.

然後，找一張描圖紙，蓋在底紙上，然後在描圖紙上開始進行想像力構圖，看看拼貼帶給你什麼靈感。構圖後，再轉印線稿到底紙上，然後就可以用壓克力上色了。（轉印線稿的方法，可參考這個youtube影片。）

I hope this little sharing may offer some inspiration for you, too.  You might find sparkle in the on-going and be lead to something new to create.

希望這個小分享可以給大家帶來靈感，在進行當中激盪出火花，帶領你完成新的創作。

My works made in this tip will be presented on a group exhibition of the art class I went.

• Exhibition Theme: The Flying Factory
• Date: Sep. 21st - Oct. 4th.
• Venue: 1F., No.231, Sec. 2, Jianguo S. Rd., Da’an Dist., Taipei
• Exhibition Page: https://www.facebook.com/theflyingfactory

我的相關作品將在我們插畫班聯展展出：

• 聯展主題：飛行工廠
• 時間：9月21日-10月4日
• 地點： 文化大學大夏館1樓藝廊(台北市建國南路二段231號1樓)
• 展覽專頁： https://www.facebook.com/theflyingfactory

Come visit us!  來找我們玩喔！