So, I have done some Aceo's lately and it seems like a nice project when you don't want to do something large. I have also heard them called "pocket painting or art". That is kind of fun too. The more I do, the more I want to do. They are not as intimidating as large paintings. They are small, intimate and fun. These pieces of artwork are 2.5"x3.5" and at first I thought it would be hard to get details that small. It can be, but you need to plan ahead. The size makes you not put in too many details because you have to be able to create them in a miniscule size but you also want them to be seen. Because my eyes are getting older, I need to use my glasses or the clamp on light and magnifying glass. It allows me to see exactly what it looks like. It may look fine to your naked eye, but if I am going to photo and put them online, this small painting gets enlarged and all the little flaws or details show up big time. What looked great in person looks sloppy and uneven when it is blown up on the computer screen.This is one time the magnifying glass is my friend. These have to be able to stand up to the scruteny of being blown up so your viewers can see them.
So, these are my thoughts -
-I like working on watercolor paper but prefer the Arches Art board. Blick doesn't carry that particular one any more but it may be released under a different title with Canson. It is watercolor paper on a 300lb art board so it is stiff. As a painting, I try to paint the edges of these with paynes gray acrylic paint like I would a regular painting to finish it off if someone is going to display it on an easle or someplace else where the side shows.
- I mostly in the past have used Cold Press paper and board. For somethings it works well and other mediums - not so much. I have done the Inktense pencils on the Arches CP board, but it is uneven in coverage because it is going over the bumps. I think I will be trying the Inktense on the Hot Press watercolor paper because it will be smooth.
-Aceo's are not just limited to painting. The only thing you need to have to qualify it as such is size. So, I think of other things I can do to create artwork with this size. I have the water soluable graphite pencils that I want to try and will experiment on hot and cold press paper. I want to try some relief and silk-screen prints too. I will have to experiment if I want to print directly on my base or if I want it on paper and then mount it to the base. Mixed media and collage. In the past I have made a ton of homemade paper. I have some I resoaked and cast them in a rectangle shape the 2.5x3.5". It is thicker and I think it will be fun to experiment with and maybe go more sculptural. I have also been playing with the sun developed paper. These are the sheet you lay things on and then set the out in the sun and after a little bit "develop" them in water. I have done a few of those that I cut out shapes and layed them down as a blockout . When dry, I mounted the on the art board and then used acrylic paint to put accents on to make them more interesting.
-Small but not always fast. These are still artwork that you put care in and want to make them look interesting. They do take up less room in my studio and supplies can be more affordable.
- I have been a careful but not totally frugal artist. I like to reycle things, or not go with top of the line always. However, I do have standards. I do not use the cheapest stretched canvas. I like things that are gallery wrapped and actually prefer my own stretched canvas. I don't use the cheapest paint because it just does not cover, so I go a step or two up. I don't go with the kid grade brushes but a lower grade artist brushes individually purchased not as a pack. With the aceo's though I am going to step up my game. I have used cheaper brushes because my kids would borrow them and not wash them out and I would end up with a stiff, useless brush. I didn't want to invest too much in a brush that had that kind of a demise. Acrylic paint dries so fast that it is one of those things you have to watch for. If you have it in water too long too, that does not do it favors. I have some that I liked but they ended up looking like my hair on a bad hair day. So, next step is better brushes and smaller ones so I can capture all of those tiny details.
Please keep checking in on here and Daily Paintworks to see what I am up to. I am thinking wood, screws and wires might be in my future.
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