| TLDR: The answer to "What materials are best for Abstract Painting"? is to start with whatever you have, and as you grow in confidence, invest in premium paints and brushes. Good materials really do make a difference but shouldn't stop you from beginning! |
What Are My Paintings Made Of? Materials and Process Behind TDL Art
Every Painting I make starts with knowing the surface. I like painting on yupo paper, but I'm just as often reaching for stretched canvas or wooden panels. So, the materials I use depend on the surface that I'm using.
The Surface - Painting on Yupo Paper
I like yupo paper for two reasons: the way the paint spreads and stains the surface, and the vibrancy of the color I get when using alcohol ink.
Alcohol Ink works best on yupo paper.
Where to get yupo paper: I've found yupo paper at Amazon, Blick, and even Staples Office Products.
When I paint on yupo, I start with alcohol ink to get that vibrancy I mentioned, letting it dry as soon as I've filled the paper with ink spots. Once dry, I'll use a clear gel medium or a clear isolation coat medium to lock that layer of alcohol ink down so I can use acrylic paint on top without disturbing the ink layer.
I prefer using thin, semi transparent layers of acrylic paint so you can still see the layer of alcohol ink underneath.
The Surface - Painting on Canvas
When I paint on canvas, I start with runny, fluid acrylic paint and use big brushes or scrapers to move the paint around. Once I have wild and expressive initial layers down, I use less-runny paints like soft-body or heavy body acrylics to tease out a real composition from its chaotic beginnings.
The Surface - Painting on Rigid Panels
When I paint on panels, the process is the same as on canvas, but I tend to stick to the high flow fluid paints for longer when I am working on panels. The reason is the prepped surface on the panels I use has a some clay in the gesso mix, so high viscosity paints absorb well into it and I like that effect in my finished work.
Panels are great if, like me, you enjoy being rough with your abstract paintings. I'm talking about using wire brushes to scrape texture into paint or sanding down areas of your painting. Wood panels can take the abuse! Canvas can't.
Best Material Brands to Use for Abstract Painting:
I can only tell you what I've learned over the years through trial and error, as well as recommendations I've received over the years from other professional artists. Every artist has their own opinions on what works best for them. I'm a strong advocate of just making art with whatever materials you have easy access to, but if you're looking for my personal brand recommendations, they are:
Golden Brand makes very good paint, and I use their High Flow Fluid acrylic paints most of the time in my work. Golden is considered by many to be the best brand for acrylic paint.
Liquitex is my preferred brand for paint mediums and varnishes, but I have also started using their soft body acrylic paints and transparent heavy body paints lately.
Nova Color is a lesser known brand for acrylic paint that I've been using for years now. It's also a soft body paint and it's great quality and not as expensive as Golden paints.
Posca Acrylic Paint pens have their uses in my work. I use these paint markers when I just need a line or two of color immediately, and don't want to pause to mix the color up on my palette. I can soften the edges of the sharp edge marks I make with a damp paint brush to make it look like the rest of my brushwork.
Jacquard Pinata is my favorite brand for alcohol ink, but I use many different brands determined primarily by which colors I like best.
Brushes and Scrapers to Use
As for brushes, I don't have a favorite brand. I just use any medium to large nylon paint brushes that are made for acrylic paint, and hog hair bristle paint brushes for when I really want to scrub the paint into (or off of) the surface. I also use silicone scrapers and wedges to scrape paint around the surface. Expressive abstract painters like to move the paint around fast and feverishly! Silicone shapers are great for moving paint around.
When I'm varnishing a finished painting, I will use a soft varnish brush from the hardware store, or I will use a sponge craft brush so I can put the varnish on evenly, without any visible brush marks. The good news is, craft brushes are not expensive to acquire.
I hope I included enough information to answer any of your questions about my materials. If I missed something, please let me know in the comments.
-Kasey
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