Artists & Techniques
One Moment , Lawrence Coulson
LAWRENCE COULSON
Lawrence Coulson uses oil paint to create his stunning moody landscapes. To achieve the final effect the artist uses brushes, as well as well as his fingers and different tools like palette knives, sandpaper and even cocktail sticks to scratch out the smallest details. He says: “Oil-based materials give me lustre, depth, warmth and tone. I also apply layers of pastel colour to add softness. Along with using very soft brushes, my hands and fingers are vital for moving the paint around, pushing one tone into another. I love this hands-on approach”.
Finding a way to express artistic vision can be a long and complicated process for an artist, and choosing the right medium is an important part of the journey towards identifying and establishing creative self-expression. One of the most popular choices is oil paint.
OIL PAINT
Oil paint is commonly composed of particles of pigment suspended in linseed or poppy oil. The slow-drying paint can be modified with a solvent such as turpentine or white spirit, or applied in a thick impasto style. Artists have used oil-based paints since the 12th century but the technique was fully adopted in the 15th century. The paint was used by Old Masters like Rubens and Rembrandt and is credited with transforming early Renaissance painting. Thanks to its slow-drying properties, it gives artists more time to make changes and blend the colours to full effect. Oil paints contain more pigment than acrylics, giving richer and more luminous colours, while also having the benefit of being more hard-wearing. The disadvantages of using oil paints include the danger of cracking if the paint is applied thickly, and discolouration over time. Self-taught artist Andrew Kinsman has been working with oil paints since he was just 10 years old. Andrew takes inspiration from English Romantic painters John Constable and J.M.W. Turner. Fascinated by the Pre-Raphaelites, he also studied symbolism and mythology before discovering the intense colour palettes of the Dutch Masters. He says: “I want to capture a snapshot of ‘real life’. I love working and reworking until I’m happy with the detail, colour and contrast of light and dark. Seeing this come to life over time is the ultimate thrill of being an artist.” ANDREW KINSMAN
RICHARD ROWAN
Sky Of Substance , Richard Rowan
Richard Rowan is best known for his back-to-front glass painting technique. The artist paints on the reverse of the glass sheet, then bakes the glass and leaves it to dry for two weeks, before adding finishing touches. Richard uses oil paint because it allows him to achieve a smoother gradient and wider spectrum of colours. He says: "Instead of painting with acrylics, decorating paints or inks - in my eyes an abomination - I discovered the reflection of light. It was in this moment that my life started."
Lying In A Shallow Dream , Andrew Kinsman
118 FINE ART COLLECTOR AUTUMN2019
FINE ART COLLECTOR AUTUMN2019 119
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