There’s nothing like the satisfaction of a well-done, completed art project! Not only have you created a tangible object of interest, but you’ve put a bit of “you” out into the world. In contemporary art circles, there is a saying: “It’s about the process, not the product.” While this may be true, in order to have a beautiful, successful product as your end result, it’s helpful to be aware of the process and the procedures. For example, Jo Sonja Artists’ Painting System was created to be a complete, versatile range allowing you to paint on almost any surface. Understanding the basic steps that are present in almost every project, and how to use the mediums most often associated with these steps, allows you to approach your project with confidence and creativity.
Once you’ve decided what design you’d like to paint, you need to decide on a surface. You can paint on almost anything – canvas, paper, wood, tin, glass, tile, fabric, cork, metal and more – as long as you have prepared the surface properly. Of course, you want to make sure that the surface is clean, and then you can choose the best medium to seal the surface and provide adhesion for the paint. If you choose to upcycle a previously painted surface, remember to wear a respirator or mask designed to capture dust when sanding any painted surface.
Now that your surface is prepared, there are a variety of mediums designed to give you the best possible painting experience. Painting Mediums alter or enhance certain qualities of acrylic paints, like Jo Sonja Matte Flow Acrylic and Background Colours. If you are looking for a thinner paint, one that dries faster, one that has more body, one that is more transparent, etc., all you need is the proper medium. Some of the most popular Jo Sonja Mediums are:
Varnishing is considered the final step in a painting project. Varnishes will even out the sheen for aesthetic purposes as well as provide a protective coating.
The above Jo Sonja mediums are just the most popular ones used in 3 fundamental steps of a decorative painting project: preparation, application and finishing. Spend some time and explore some of these mediums in your practice. (And always test when mixing products between brands and when first starting out!) The more you know about your materials, the more you can manipulate them in creative, transformative and personal ways.
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