How to create abstract art
Larger pieces come together quickly with larger brush strokes or, in this case, a squeegee – and it’s no harder to use than a rolling pin! Worked one layer at a time, the final result shows hints of the colours underneath. Use a tone similar to your wall colour for one of the layers to link your artwork to the room.
Gather your supplies
• Stretched canvas
• Jo Sonja’s Artists’ Acrylic Colours in Ultramarine Blue, Aqua, Titanium White, Nimbus Grey, Blue Violet
• Jo Sonja’s Matte Varnish
You’ll also need
Drop sheet; 25mm paintbrush; plastic squeegee; plastic lid to use as a palette; water; palette knife; flat paintbrush; wide soft brush
Here’s how
Step 1 Working on a flat surface covered with drop sheet, use 25mm paintbrush to apply daubs of Ultramarine Blue and Aqua from plastic lid to 1 side of squeegee.
Step 2 With both hands, drag squeegee across canvas surface to create bands of colour. Continue loading squeegee with paint and dragging until canvas is fully covered. Leave to dry.
Step 3 Use squeegee and Titanium White thinned with water to apply white to canvas. Drag squeegee vertically and horizontally only. Vary pressure; thin areas allow the under layer to show through, thicker areas will be opaque.
Step 4 Use squeegee with Nimbus Grey. Apply as for Step 3.
Step 5 With wet palette knife, scrape back parts of grey and white layers. Work vertically and horizontally only.
Step 6 Drip water droplets on canvas. Leave for 1 minute. Drag area with squeegee to reveal background layer.
Step 7 Use squeegee and Titanium White to apply irregular paint lines. Work vertically and horizontally only. Let dry.
Step 8 Use squeegee and Blue Violet to apply 2 irregular paint stripes, 1 vertical and 1 horizontal. Let dry. Use flat paintbrush to paint canvas edges with Nimbus Grey. With wide soft brush, paint artwork with 2 coats of matte varnish, leaving to dry between coats.
