Sunday, March 9, 2014

Gouache Relief ACEOs

What a great year!


I have been making and selling ACEOs ( 2.5" x 3.5" art cards) since January and have made great contacts all across the US.
I have sold over 100 and have started to get some commissions.  These teeny pieces of art are my new obsession.
Oddly, the most collectible is a style that I always personally enjoyed, but since I learned the techniques in grade school, I didn't value enough...gouache relief (also known as gouache release).
A brief description of gouache Relief
I sketch the basic form with pen and ink on 140lb cold pressed watercolor paper.  Then gouache is painted into the negative spaces carefully leaving the inked lines and areas where I want shading exposed.  The piece is left to dry overnight. Next, I apply a coat of black India ink to cover the entire painting and allow the piece to dry over night.  Here comes my favorite part.  The piece is held under running water to wash away the ink and some of the gouache.  The piece is then placed between two paper towels and weighted down with my copy of the Collected Works of Shakespeare to completely dry flat. The result is a one of a kind painting that resembles a wood block print.

I have been using this technique to create a series of "Wee Animals".

http://www.ebay.com/itm/181343914308?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2648