Use this format to expand your painting process

Christine Sauer October 31, 2019

I love this multi panel format! It’s great for pushing painting ideas around as well as expanding your process. Working this way is cost and time efficient too as you are working on many small scale paintings all on one sheet of paper. Starting with self imposed limitations such as timed exercises, choosing limited materials or color can boost your creative explorations. The examples below were from a recent painting workshop I taught on color.

Christine Sauer- Four sections of a larger grid of 5x7” paintings exploring a limited palette.

An array of favorite drawing media used to get the process started.

Christine Sauer, Workshop example demonstrating the use of chromatic white.

The process for the paintings above started with mark making as the first layer using a variety of black and white drawing media. Color was added using GOLDEN High Flow and Fluid Acrylics. The 19x25” 185lb Canson Montval Acrylic was taped off with 1” White Pro Artist Tape yielding nine, 5x7” panels. Below is an example of how the panels can be cut apart. Then the artwork can be mounted to cradled panels for display without needing to be shown under glass.

Christine Sauer, 5x7” painting on paper mounted to cradled panel.

So pretty….morning light showing off the jewel like colors.

Studio Workhorse.... GOLDEN High Flow Acrylics

Christine Sauer March 31, 2019

Pictured here in the morning light, these amazing paints look like little gems on my studio table. There’s so much to love about these GOLDEN High Flow paints. Their rich, intense color that flows off the brush like watercolor but is permanent when dry, and the ease of pouring, dripping and splashing this paint is just some of what makes it a “go to” paint in the studio. Because it’s highly pigmented a small amount goes a long way too.

Here are some of the ways that I work with these versatile paints.

Various ways of pouring and on different surfaces (substrates)
Staining rice paper (Hosho and Kozo) and tissue for collage and finished work
Drawing with Fineline Applicators and in refillable markers
Glazing with or without glazing medium
Washes of color
Flinging paint by hand

STUDIO TIP: The High Flow Bottles have a small ball in them to help keep the paints properly mixed. It’s important to shake them vigorously prior to using. You can hear the ball rolling around when you shake the paint. I save the used bottles to make custom color mixes because of the ball. Keeping the colors well mixed is trickier without the ball.

Stained and painted tissue collage

Line drawing using Fineline Applicator

High Flow Acrylic poured and puddled on acrylic paper

High Flow Acrylic poured over Heavy Body Acrylic

Flinging High Flow by hand and pouring from the bottle

High Flow Acrylic poured, stained collage paper and drawing with a FineLine Applicator

Hosho paper stained with High Flow Acrylics

High Flow Acrylic pouring, "Ebb and Flow", 12x12x1.5" on cradled panel

High Flow Acrylics make the perfect drips

High Flow Acrylics in FineLine Apllicator and with Marker Top

Mounting Paintings on Paper to Cradled Panels

Christine Sauer June 14, 2018

The parade of paintings on my work table are lined up for next steps in the mounting process (above). For the last several weeks I've been working on this project. The pile of small works on paper has been growing steadily over the last couple of years. It's impossible to keep up with uploading them to the website. Presenting them framed is cost prohibitive but I wanted a way to present at least some of them rather than being filed in a drawer for an occaisional viewing. The idea to mount them to cradled panels came about during an exchange about this dilemma with an artist on Instagram. After auditioning several paintings that would work for this kind of presentation I created a small test piece with the palm sized painting below. I love the way it turned out! More of these may go on the to-do list!

The cradled basswood panels were prepped with GAC 100 and then gesso. Mounting the larger 9x12" and 11x14" paintings went well. I used a thick application of GOLDEN's Soft Gel Matte, slathering it on with a palette knife like frosting a cake. The paintings dried perfectly flat! It was amazing considering that several pieces have collage and various types of acrylic paint on them which makes the surfaces uneven and some of the papers were buckled a bit. The sides are in process of being painted. There was an overstock sale at Jerry's Artarama on Ampersand Floater Frames for the 11x14" size so I purchased several to try out. Looking forward to putting those together.

Christine Sauer "Luminous"  11x14" acrylic and graphite on paper on cradled panel — Christine Sauer "Luminous" 11x14" acrylic and graphite on paper on cradled panel

This mounting process not only solved a problem but has also inspired many other ideas for other paintings and collages that i look forward to exploring soon. If you are interested in more specific information about mounting art to panel or are interested in purchasing a piece please email me christinesauer@christinesauerstudio.space.

Christine Sauer, "Collection:Bundles"  11x14", acrylic, collage and Inktense pencils on paper on panel — Christine Sauer, "Collection:Bundles" 11x14", acrylic, collage and Inktense pencils on paper on panel

Highlights from the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

Christine Sauer October 7, 2017

During the challenge I painted more than thirty paintings ranging from 4x5" to 24x18" on paper and cradled panel. To get through this it really helped to set some goals and create a strategy. Working in batches, I explored color palettes that were new to me, and new painting processes. This was a great opportunity to expand my painting vocabulary. The process I used generated many painting starts, finished pieces and new ideas. The images below are from the first two weeks. More will be showcased in the next two blog posts.

Christine Sauer, "Urban Flora II", image 8x6" acrylic on paper, matted to 14x11" $70 — Christine Sauer, "Urban Flora II", image 8x6" acrylic on paper, matted to 14x11" $70

Working alongside others, even though it was virtual on Instagram and some postings in a Facebook group, provided a level of accountability that kept me on track. It wasn't easy to keep up the pace. Several other things in the works were put on hold. And lots of other stuff fell through the cracks like dishes, laundry, etc., you know, all that fun stuff!

The "Urban Flora" group of paintings were inspired by flora from my small but abundant New Orleans garden. The "Marvels and Mysteries" batch are imaginative little worlds that reflect a fascination with microbiology. All paintings in this post are 8x6" floating in 14x11" mats that easily fit in frames of that size. $70 each. If you are interested in dressing up your walls with one or a grouping of these, please email me at csauerarts@yahoo.com. Framed option in bright white or natural wood also available, 14x11", $175. Free shipping in the US

Click images below to enlarge.

Christine Sauer "Urban Flora III", 8x6" acrylicon paper

Christine Sauer "Urban Flora IV", 8x6", acrylic on paper

Christine Sauer "Urban Flora V", 8x6" acrylic on paper

Christine Sauer "Marvels and Mysteries I" 8x6" acrylic on paper

Christine Sauer "Marvels and Mysteries II" 8x6" acrylic on paper

Christine Sauer "Marvels and Mysteries III" 8x6" acrylic on paper

Notes from the Studio