LIQUITEX BASIC METALLICS

Instructions

Reference the downloadable project sheet for project pattern diagrams.

Step 1

Remove the canvas from the floater frame.

Set the floater frame aside in a safe clean space where there is no risk of damage of paint splatters.

Take the canvas and draw up canvas with a pencil into the main shapes of the coastline, the ocean pool. Refer to finished artwork image which is a guide only. This has been marked up darker than desired to be clear to the project viewer, mark up the canvas lightly with pencil.

Step 2

Mix ultramarine and magenta together to make various purples and, using a brush, map in the darkest darks as shapes in both the rock shape and wave movement in the water.

Step 3

Mix cadmium red hue and white together to add warmth in the sand area and rocks as shown.

Step 4

Use ultramarine by itself thinned down with some matte medium or with a damp brush and apply blue in the sea as shown (over the dried areas of dark passages of water ripples).

Step 5

Metallic Aqua Green: Apply this colour thinly in the areas shown in the ocean pool and in the ocean coastline.

Step 6

Metallic Yellow Gold: Apply in the ocean pool edge and soften into the metallic aqua green to simulate sunshine on water.

Step 7

Ultramarine Blue & Phthalo Blue: Use both these blues as desired in thin applications over the dried aqua green in the waters - in the ocean pool use very thinly and with loose squiggly brush marks to emulate the pattern play of light on still water.

Step 8

Mix a purple with the ultramarine and magenta and thinly place over the rock areas and around the ocean pool and in the corners of the pool on the top and bottom left.

Step 9

Create various mixes of iridescent white, metallic yellow gold and metallic burnt orange to create some more pale yellow through to more apricot mixes. Apply these to the sand area as shown.

Step 10

Create a muted metallic mix of ultramarine and yellow gold to add muted green passages in the water. This may feel stark, however, this will be overlayed with transparent colours to anchor this addition into the water.

Step 11

Thinly layer of phthalo blue mixed with satin or matt medium over areas in the water to knock back and deepen some of the aqua green and muted green passages of colour.

Step 12

• Medium: Ceramic Stucco
• Colour: Burnt Umber, Ultramarine, Quinacridone Magenta, Metallic Burnt Orange

Create different mixes of colours on your palette in various ratios and then add ceramic stucco to these. Mix through with a palette knife, this is prep for the next step. Mix Ultramarine with a little burnt orange and/or burnt umber for a dark indigo colour (see on palette mix image - bottom mix)

Step 13

Application of mixes above in the rocks and the rocks peeking out of the ocean and smeared to show a bit of a graduation/thinned application to suggest underwater rock. Think about the direction of mark, load the palette knife with one or two colour mixes and scrape the rocks in a gestural way.... leaving some areas thick and others thinner/more granular against the canvas.

Step 14

Next is ocean texture and enhanced movement through painterly marks created with a loaded palette knife with paint.

• Colours: Metallic Aqua Green, Phthalo Blue, Ultramarine Blue
• Mix a small pile of: Metallic Aqua Green & Ultramarine Blue

Load this mix with Metallic Aqua Green and or Ultramarine Blue colour on your palette knife. Do a one-swipe direction mark, thinking about moving the palette knife in a wavy or curved line to suggest movement in water. This can be repeated in areas with various swipes of colour/s of your choice that fit the feel of water.

You may also wish to use these mixes to block a bit more greener hues closer to the coastline at the bottom of the painting.

It is recommended to let this all dry for some time before continuing.

Step 15

Apply thin layers of phthalo blue perhaps thinned with medium to create transparent layers of colour. Brush this in wavy brush marks in the ocean pool across some areas to create some depth.

Step 16

• Colour: White and or iridescent white and metallic burnt orange
• Medium: Matte gel

Mix some white with matte gel. Separate this mix into two piles on your palette. Add a tiny bit of metallic burnt orange to one pile to make a cream.

Tip: The matte gel gives more body to this texture, however it can also be done without the use of this medium.

Use these colours loaded on the palette knife to create frothy breaking wave details against the coastline and in areas shown. It is recommended to only do this once the prior paint work is dry so the white crashing waves remain crisp. Perhaps practice loading and quick swipes on a separate piece of paper to gain confidence with the handling prior to diving into creating these marks on the painting.

Step 17

The ocean pool edge:

• Colours: Metallic Burnt Orange, white

Mix to create a peach, if desired add a bit of Cadmium Red Hue or Metallic Yellow Gold.
Using a small square brush add in the precision detail of the pool edge. Turning the painting around as required to get the best angle for good control in creating the edge. If desired, a painters tape such as frog tape can be used to assist in retaining a cleaner edge. If this technique is used, pull off the tape whilst wet and any bleed through (which can sometimes happen depending on the tape quality used) can be gently wiped with a damp brush.

Step 18

Catching textured edges on the rocks by dry brushing across the dried ceramic stucco areas.

• Colours: Various mixes as desired.
• Suggestions:
  • Ultramarine and Cad red hue to create smoky greyed mauve with iridescent white.
  • Iridescent white and Metallic Burnt Orange.
  • Purple: mix either blue with Quinacridone Magenta

Use a bit of the greyed mauve mix thinly to create some shadow around some parts of the ocean pool.
Some of this may also be mixed with ceramic stucco and used to graze delicate suggested shadows in the sand on the right or bottom right. Note that the image below has seaweed/algae added which is explained in the following step (Step 19).

Step 19

• Yellow Gold
• Blues: Ultramarine/phthalo blue

Create the desired seaweed colour mix using either blue with the Metallic Yellow Gold. Ultramarine will give a more muted olive mix, Phthalo Blue will give a brighter green.

Use the Metallic Yellow Gold and the green mix of choice to dab details loosely of seaweed or green algae on the rocks and in the sand near the pool (bottom right) as shown. This can also be done by dry brushing (loading a little paint on the edge of a dried-off brush).

Step 20

If warmth is desired in the rocks add some Cadmium Red Hue mixed with a little Phthalo Blue and perhaps even a touch of Burnt Umber to knock it back. Use this by itself in some rock areas lightly and consider also adding some Iridescent White and making a tint of this mix and use that as some "wet sand" look in the rocks around the pool in some places.

Step 21

The painting is finished - depending on the unique approach to each step that has been followed a revision of some marks or colours may be desired. Add any tweaks or changes if needed.

Step 22

Allow to fully dry.

Take the canvas and centre it inside the floater frame. Use a screwdriver to install the painting within the frame. It may be useful to hold a gap even on each side with some folded cardboard (you could use the protective corner cardboard of the frame packaging.

Tip: Note that these floater frames come in a natural wood colour. They can be kept as is, stained or sealed with a wood stain or sealer (Mod Podge) or primed with Gesso and painted any colour desired. Opening up endless opportunities for matching the frame to bespoke décor as desired.

If planning to alter the colour or finish of the frame, ensure this is done prior to installing the artwork into the frame to protect the artwork from damage and to also get even coverage on the floater frame.