Techniques

I have experimented alot with techniques over the years. One of my favourite techniques involves carving out the whole motiv/ design on a large panel of wood. Then I lay the canvas over the wood and apply pressure to all edges and crevasses. I am left with a slight indentation of the carved design. I then make sure the canvas is completely level and spray a thick layer of thinned oil paint over the whole canvas. The paint particles seperate or accumulate within the linseed oil depending on the levels of the surface. It usually takes 1-3 months before I can touch the painting!


Due to the slow drying process, the thicker areas of paint create an interesting fractal like surface. What I like most about this technique, is the fact that I am only partially in control of the final result.


Another technique I enjoy focuses on texture. I drown the canvas with house paint and then cover it with glad wrap (cling film) and put it on a hot oven to cook. The paint starts to boil, bubble and steam under the plastic.


When the process is finished, I am left with a very intricate surface of lines and holes to continue painting on. Alternatively, I might scrape a two dimensional design or poem out of the house paint(as in my painting “Leif”) before covering it with plastic. Then when I paint my desired motiv on the surface, it gives the impression of two seperate elements that have been superimposed.


Most of my more unusual techniques were derived from observations after accidents and then trying to understand what and how it happened.


90% of my work is done in oil paint and through this medium, it is the exploration of colour and the expression of stroke that lend to the mysterious elements of creation.