Painting a Canvas

[smurfchops]

Don't know if this is the correct category, but I am thinking of painting some modern art for my bedroom instead of buying a ready painted canvas . Any hints on how I could get a good, professional effect on a canvas - can I use emulsion? I have painted furniture and distressed it, and it looks OK, and now I want to take it a step further. I can't find any websites with ideas, do you know of any? I need inspiration ! :)

[gary baldy]

You can buy pre stretched canvases from art and craft shops ( i suspect you know that already) and yes you can use emulsion although i recommend you use a matt vinyl or silk.
I think the key is "keep it simple" - bold geometric shapes and think hard about colours (you can get really useful colour harmony books that show what colours work best with each other).
Get loads of books out of the library and "steal' from peoples work you like eg Rothko, Klimt, Kandinsky even.
Sounds like you know what you are doing well enough already though - have fun

[hobsonbear]

i love taking favourite photos that i have taken to framing shops where they print it on a canvas and stretch it round a frame, it looks like a painting. great one off pictures that can also be give as presents for the personal touch. (if the person is in it). good luck!

h

[xrayspecs]

Try making a Fresco. This is basically painting on wet plaster You can use plaster of paris blocks. Just create a bund using plastacine and pour the POP into the bun to a depth of about and inch ( you decide how big you want the total paintable area to be). As the POP dries you can guage how well it takes paint and once it has reached a workable consistency you can paint on it (water based paint like emulsion is OK) once the POP has dried varnish it to seal the colour and you can then fit the plaster block directly to the wall or block frame it and hang it like a normal picture. Much more creative than a canvas!

[smurfchops]

Thanks everyone ... keep coming with the ideas and gary baldy (I love your biscuits by the way) I like the idea of 'stealing' other people's work .. can you or anyone else think of any other artists with 'simple' designs I can take inspiration from? :)

[Narolines]

Klimt? Simple? I don't think so..........

[gary baldy]

When i said Klimt i meant more in spirit than in style - he used lots of strong shapes mixed with subtle romantic ideas.
Mondrian is the obvious choice for 'simple' designs.
Have you ever seen Damien Hurst's spot paintings? They are really lovely and very easy to replicate.
What about some Action painting like Pollock or have a look at Jasper John's stuff.
Also have a look for Patrick Caulfield (my personal favourite).
Like i said Rothko and Kandinsky but for very different reasons.
Even some of Picasso's stuff is very basic and bold.
If you are feeling a bit clever check out some Op Art especially Bridget Riley.
Do you want me to go on? I suggest you just get a big book out of the library on C20th century art and get inspired.

[smurfchops]

gary baldy, and everyone else of course, thanks very much, you have given me much inspiration .. I feel a new career coming on .. :)