American maestro Justin Gaffrey- a born artist. But if at the beginning creative career he prepared mainly dishes in his own restaurant, then for several years in a row the main dish in the creative kitchen of a certified chef has been amazing three-dimensional paintings. Other artists paint with paints, but Justin Geoffrey, as they say, “sculpts” his works from acrylic paints.
Style and theme creative works There is no doubt about the artist that he learned from the example of the Impressionists, in particular from the paintings of Van Gogh. This is also evidenced by the numerous sunflowers that Justin Geoffrey paints with pleasure and in large quantities. However, other flowers occupy just as much space in his portfolio: poppies, daisies, water lilies, lilies, as well as unknown wild and forest flowers, lost among herbs, bushes and trees. By the way, it is in the fields that stretch along American Highway 30-A that the artist finds inspiration. He comes here to admire the scenery, regardless of the time of year and the weather outside the window.
The artist’s original style surprises and delights many. Working exclusively with acrylic paints, as well as using a brush and palette knife, Justin Geoffrey creates his “paint sculptures.” To do this, he generously coats the canvas with material, and then shapes it into what he wants to depict on the canvas, adding paint as necessary. As a result, the paintings are voluminous, textured, a little rough and sloppy, but this is their charm and naturalness. Moreover, about unusual paintings the artist is often talked about in the media, and there is simply no end to those who want to see them in person by visiting one of the exhibitions that he quite often organizes in art galleries.
Wide application of acrylic paints in painting of the second half of the 20th century clearly demonstrate the enormous possibilities of this new artistic medium.
Having passed shortcut from invention and experimental experiments to widespread use today, acrylic paints became a recognized medium of painting.
Andy Warhol DIY Landscape
The wealth of their plastic and pictorial capabilities can be seen in the large-scale and expressive canvases of the innovative painter Morris Louis (1912-1962), the works of Andy Warhol (1928-1987) in the pop art style of the 1960s, the symbolic works of David Hockney (b. 1937) and late psychological compositions of Paula Rego (b. 1935)
Acrylic resins were obtained in Germany in the early 20th century and developed in the USA by Rohm and Haas in the late 20s. The discovery of a method for diluting resins with organic solvents led to the invention of acrylic paints.
New art material
By the end of the 1940s, mass production of the first acrylic paints began in the United States.
Artists such as Helen Frankenthaler and Maurice Louis began working with them. In the second half of the 1950s, water-soluble emulsions appeared. American painter Frank Stella (b. 1936) began to explore the possibilities of acrylic paints. Starting with simple monochrome works, he ended with canvases whose color scheme was exceptionally rich.
In the 1960s, acrylic paints began to be used in the UK. Particularly worth mentioning are the works of David Hockney, Mark Lancaster, Richard Smith, Bridget Riley and Leonard Rosoman.
Acrylic and pop art
In the 1950s and early 1960s, Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol pioneered American Pop Art by forging connections between art and popular culture. Acrylic paints made it possible to obtain clear and bright images that reflected the artists' ideas about modern life.
Acrylic paints and photorealism.
From the second half of the 1960s to the early 1970s, Richard Estes and Chuck Close in America and Malcolm Morley in England created canvases based only on photographs. Close's huge portraits and Estes's street scenes were inimitably photographic-like, and the viewer was simply mesmerized by the masterfully executed images.
Since the early 1970s, artists have returned to specifically pictorial forms of representation. K. Hoedicke worked from life, addressing themes of recent German history. Jim Nutt's work was marked by unique ideas. In Britain, Alan Charlton painted monochrome canvases with the smooth matte surface inherent in acrylic.
Modern movement
In the 1990s, symbolic trends associated with personal, social and creative quests again intensified in painting.
Paula Rego Dance
An example of a return to symbolism is last works Paula Rego.
Interest in abstract art is also returning.
As you know, evolution does not stand still, including painting! Thanks to new technologies, it was born the new kind quick-drying paints - acrylic. Acrylic painting - This is a fairly new type in contemporary art.
Due to their brightness, elasticity and durability, acrylic paints quickly gained popularity and began to be used in different directions creativity. Artistic acrylic - universal paint, can be used in painting for drawing both on canvas and paper.
Acrylic painting has captured the hearts of many artists
Modern masters need acrylic paints not only to create paintings, they use them for painting fabrics, glass, ceramics and other surfaces. IN Lately They are actively used in interior design and even in the beauty industry - they paint nails.
Fans of acrylic paints also include those artists who use paints instead of brushes. It’s a paradox, but some people do it well!
What kind of material is this and why is it so good? Acrylic is a polymer emulsion, in which the coloring pigment is dissolved. The composition of acrylic paint is extremely simple - water, pigment and acrylic resin, which acts as a binding component. This paint does not require the use of special solvents. It is enough to dilute with water, it does not have a strong odor, therefore it is perfect for allergy sufferers.
Those who are passionate about watercolors can compare working with acrylics to watercolor technique, and oil painters - with oil painting. In principle, both will be right!
Acrylic paintingmay be similar to watercolor and oil. It all depends on the density of the paints used. Appreciate beauty and versatility acrylic painting can be seen in the excellent work of Neil Hamelin, William Henrits, S. S. McNeil and Justin Geoffrey.
By the way, Justin Gaffrey - who, influenced by the work of Van Gogh, writes interesting pictures acrylic paints, very impastoly applying paints on top of each other.
Acrylic painting by artists Justin Geoffrey, Neil Hamelin, S. S. McNeil
How did acrylic paints come about?
Unlike oil paints, which artists have been using for more than 6 centuries, acrylic is quite young, it appeared about 70 years ago. By the way, do you know who popularized oil paints in Europe in the 14th century? After all, before this, paintings were painted with tamper! And one day, painters began to switch en masse to oil paints. What and how
A little history of the origin of acrylic in fine arts. In the 20s of the last century, the style of so-called “muralism” became popular in Mexico - public buildings were decorated with frescoes with scenes from the history of the country. The word muralism comes from the Spanish word el muro, meaning “the wall.”
The artists were given the task of inventing durable and quick-drying paints, which could be used indoors and on building facades. Experiments with resins began. Among the muralists of that time, there was famous artist Diego Rivera, husband, sad famous artist in the first half of the last century in Mexico.
Diego Rivera in the studio and on the left his fresco with acrylic paints
You will say that frescoes have decorated the walls since the time of Leonardo Da Vinci and, and you will be right. In those days, tamper was used for painting walls; by the way, it was also used for canvases until the 15th century. In those distant centuries, walls were painted indoors and rarely outside.
Here's one interesting oneMexican artist David Alfaro Siqueiros was the first to use pyroxylin-based acrylic paints on canvas. Surely, the name of the resin doesn’t tell you anything, this is not surprising, since it was used in paints for painting cars.
Later, specialized paints for painting were released in 1947 by the American company Bocour Artists Color. They were alcoholic, but over time alcohol was replaced with water, and paints have found wide application among artists. I know a lot creative personalities, which “migrated” from oil painting in acrylic.
Bocour Artists Colors released the first acrylic paints for artists in 1947 in America
What is the difference between acrylic paints
Each technique in fine art has its admirers. Some people strictly adhere to oil painting without changing their habits, some prefer acrylic painting, others love . Of course, the artist has the right to choose!
In the end, what is important is not the technique itself, but how comfortable the creator feels with this material and, as a result, how ART-istically he can transfer onto canvas or paper what is intended!
Acrylic paints are different from oil based ones, first of all, by their ability to dissolve in water. And this is their big advantage. Because you don't have to deal with the pungent odors of solvents, to which many are allergic.
Acrylic has other strengths:
- the paints fit well on any surface, not just canvas;
- can be used for decorative and design work;
- easy to use, and unlike oil, suitable for beginners;
- give bright saturated colors;
- do not fade in the sun, do not turn yellow or crack;
- They are environmentally friendly material and do not cause allergies;
- does not ignite;
- dissolve in ordinary water, and after drying - absolutely stable and durable;
- dry very quickly;
- resistant to any physical and chemical influences;
- They can be applied with a brush, spatula, or, after diluting, with an airbrush. The latest fashion is graffiti on walls using an acrylic paint sprayer.
Acrylic paintingSuitable for beginners and experienced artists. You may have heard about the popular hobby of many - drawing by numbers. So they paint with acrylic there. Something like decorating is a pleasant way to relax and immerse yourself in another world.
So to speak, as , which helps many to balance inner world. Many novice artists begin their acquaintance with acrylic paints by drawing by numbers.
Acrylic painting by numbers for beginners
Whatever technique the artist prefers to work in, Acrylic is definitely worth a try. You know that everything is learned by comparison. To understand whether acrylic paints are good or not, you need to try and compare, for example, with oil.
Since the paint is based on plastic synthetic resin, it is possible to achieve both exquisite glazes and dense texture. Besides, background and underpainting with acrylic paints It can be used in oil painting. This is what many contemporary artists do, practicing mixed media. True, few artists admit this, leaning towards oil painting only. A mixed media has been around for quite a long time.
But you need to remember that acrylic dries almost instantly! You should work quickly so that the paints on the palette do not dry out. And they dry quickly on canvas... For some this will seem like an advantage, but for others it will be a complete inconvenience!
Fast drying paints are the main advantage in acrylic painting
So, We got to the shortcomings:
- quick drying requires nimble work;
- many artists consider acrylic a “dead” chemical paint, so they prefer oil paint;
- acrylic hardens in hot water, what to consider when washing your brushes.
Acrylic paints They differ from each other primarily in consistency. They can be quite liquid, as well as thick, pasty, and of normal consistency too. The former are similar to gouache or watercolor, the latter are suitable for writing in impasto technique, where Special attention is given to the texture. Paints are available in jars and tubes.
It is undoubtedly proven that p painting develops a sense of style teaches a person to perceive the versatility of color and convey it correctly. For those new to painting, it is better to start working using the wet-on-wet technique on special acrylic paper. You can buy a small canvas and paint something simple, really.” crude technique" will not work here, since everything will flow down from the canvas. The watercolor version is especially good when the plot is executed in a horizontal position.
Additionally, read the article about . For starters, you canuse two flat soft synthetic brushes: apply paint with one, remove excess paint with the other, soften color transitions, smooth out contours.
Acrylic paints dry quickly, so it is convenient to use a homemade palette from a sheet of plastic and a file placed on it, which is easy to replace. You can spray the palette with water from a spray bottle from time to time so that the paint remains at the desired consistency.
In principle, to understand how acrylic paint works, it is best to try it in action... What if these are the paints that you were looking for? In my creative activity I use both oil and acrylic. These are two beautiful artistic materials to realize the plan.
Painting with acrylic paints video example
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American artist Justin Gaffrey, formerly the chef of one of the restaurants in Florida, in his creative workshop, seems to feel like he is in the kitchen again, creating voluminous, mouth-watering dishes that seem to be generously coated in thick layers. custard, paintings of flora and fauna. Looking at the “edible” canvases talented artist, the body, hungry for talent, finally gets a feeling of complete saturation.
The American artist explains his desire to change his field of activity by the emerging need to express himself with maximum efficiency, rather than simply decorate gourmet dishes. A great influence on the choice in favor of the acrylic painting technique for Justin was the painting “Sunflowers” he had once seen by the Dutch post-impressionist Vincent Van Gogh, which amazed him with its rich, careless, dense strokes. As Geoffrey admits, at the very beginning of his creative activity, he painted pictures with thin, neat strokes, afraid to make mistakes, but gradually began to try to add more and more colors and volume to his works, layer by layer forming his current unique style, spending about 12 years old.
Justin prefers to create his paintings in his own extravagant studio in Florida, completely filled with various acrylic sculptures. When creating three-dimensional canvases, he works exclusively with pure acrylic paints and a palette knife.
By his example, Justin Geoffrey proved that for self-expression with the help of color and paints, only a true desire to create is important, finding inspiration in simple landscapes outside the window. Volumetric acrylic painting American artist made a real splash on the market contemporary art, many famous people on the planet are trying to get his paintings into their collections; Geoffrey’s works are frequent exhibits at many art exhibitions. Especially for everyone who wants to see the process of creating unusual acrylic paintings, Justin often posts educational videos on his social network page.
