The Making of a Surf Painting

Style, Surface and Medium.

At this point I would like to discuss the combination of medium, style, and surface. What I am doing here applies to the art I am using for the tutorial, which is oil paint, although the same principle works for Acrylic. Here are three examples of surface:



Generally speaking, the smoothest surface (#1), which is what I used, is good for textural build up with paint, because the paint piles up on the surface. I make my own panels. I like this surface, because it works well for me with water sports.

Then, the medium textured surface (#2), is good for almost anything. The very rough surface, (#3), is great for paintings of hard drama subjects, such as buccaneers, convicts, muscular black slaves on 17th century sugar plantations, etc. This surface really brings out the psychological harshness of the subject matter. Which ever surface you chose, it is best to match it up with the paintings content, and message.

Now, I like to mix paint thinner for the initial wash, because it dries quickly. I use Poppy Seed oil for the rest, because it dries so slowly, that each day I come back to work, it is just like I left it the day before. This is great for the "wet on wet" technique I like to use for water sports. Rapidly drying paint mediums look very good on the rough surfaces because the "dry brush" look goes with the pebbly texture.

Please remember here that Toluse LaTreque's(sp.) most famous images were painted with turpentine on corrugated cardboard. So, really anything goes. This is just what I do.

In our next talk we will transfer the image...


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Ron Croci {click here to view Ron's COTW profile/showcase}

Original paintings and prints can be purchased from Ron. Visit Ron's website at www.roncroci.com. Ron is also represented by Mckibben Gallery, Corona Del Mar, California and Surfing Artist International, Ocean City, New Jersey.