Explosions of color surprised me….. I was just having a quick play testing some acrylics out with the palette knife. Thinking about mixing up and testing colors and textures that I might use for bark, forest, trees.

All spurred by my recent trip down south to see The Ancient Empire, the Valley of the Giants and Grandma Tingle.
I thought the palette knife a interesting technique to test out for optimum textural patterns and effects. I am fond of the palette knife and the lovely movement it can create within a painting.
The knife I used is the PK108 for right handers.
The acrylic paints used were white, Indigo, Phalo green, Indian Red, Alizarin Crimson.
Basically, I lucked out as I was ‘testing’ color recipes and found that I quite enjoyed the area here with the swirls and shadows and lights.
Happy Accidents…. I’m grateful for those, too!
I love how each, brush, knife–fingers, whatever… create happy accidents, and learning to use those accidents is as much a skill as doing photo-realist drawings. And like all such skills… it comes from practice, from doing, and missing, and failing, and doing again. I like the mysterious part of this… that it’s about learning to control.. the uncontrollable, learning to master… FREEDOM.
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you’re right, it does come with Practice!! and lots of ones that don’t quite work. Letting Go – is one of the hardest things to teach/share with a class.
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Which is, of course, no mastery at all.. but a release from the need for mastery… from all that Patriarchal bullshit… letting it happen, is not easy for us. But maybe.. just maybe, Lao Tzu was right…
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zen is good; calm, relaxed state of mind. I try!! thanks Jacob – cheers, Debi
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The spot of powerful phalo green is just perfect in this wonderful combination of colors. It stands out but doesn’t force itself on the viewer. I do like your playful approach to color and using a palette knife.
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thank you Mary! I hardly Ever, use that green!! Its so intrusive. Smiling about the Palette knife, my dear friend.
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Now why is that that accidents always end up looking beautiful (at least yours 🙂 ), is it the playful state of never mind, freedom of movement, no rules, no hurry, no control…instinct or the trained hand muscles knowing what to do…I might just end up mumbling over this for a while. Beautiful accident with a perfect color combo, nice play Debi!
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Miss Eva the Diva of wicked mad shoes! geesh, I could no more do those….than fly to the moon!
and thanking you kindly, for such a lovely comment 🙂 I think I like that nickname!
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Most welcome dear Debi, now I need to think about a cool nickname for you :), I love mine, it’s an awesome one! I might just get used to that Diva word! 🙂
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love It! 🙂
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This is really lovely, Debi. Another wowzer from the Debster! Are you using heavy body paint? Now you have me wondering if I should buy a palette knife for lefties…..So glad you shared your lovely work!!!
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thank you miss Laura!! they weren’t Heavy body, but they weren’t flow/fluid either, just normal. they had to be ‘creamy’ not stiff, and not runny like water. 🙂
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So like, soft body? I guess softer than toothpaste?
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yes!
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Double loading the palette knife – can you explain, Debi Delight? 😘
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yes sister! hehehe
when you load up the knife, put 2 colors on it, (even 3) one is lighter, one darker for Contrast! …. its cool….
if on paper, skim and glide the knife. Like using spatulas, lightly, for Meringues 🙂
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You make it sound so eassssy, preciousssssss….what has it got in itss pocketsesssssss is that an instruction manual or perhapsssss a book to teach usssss precioussssss?
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If I had an assistant, or ‘staff’, as I joked to Charlie – it would be done!!
But, I’ve given a 40 page booklet hardcopy to a student to proof, then will work on the matching illustrations, for Beginners watercolor book 1 ebook. And, you cracked me up with your precioussssss!
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That book and you are preciousssssssssssss! 😀 Sounds great, Debi, glad you’re working on one!
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Oh Debi!!!!! Happy accSWOONdent indeedy. I absolutely love this piece. How large is it? What type of paper did you use? Just jaw dropping amazing you talented lady! Blow me away every time!!!
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Thank You Jodi!! I’m trying to sort out the new lens, and get my pixels right, lol. Took this outside to get a decent clear shot. And on canvas, its a 12×12 size, with this being a zoom in of a section I liked. The knife, and double loading it before gliding on is the key!
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Nice surprise!! This color explosion is awesome…makes such a beautiful abstract!! 😍
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thanks Charlie!! I love fortuitous occurrences with art – when the roll of the dice… wins! 🙂
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Hi Debi, the image you posted is so clear, I can see all of the texture and color swirls perfectly. Using the right tool and in the right hand (Debi) produces amazing results. Thanks for posting your palette knife technique.
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thank you Sharon.
And, for pointing out the photo clarity too.
I took the image outside and used a higher fstop in full sun which worked well, this time. 🙂
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I do so love how you LOVE to experiment, and aren’t afraid to give new things a go. And this, is fascinating!
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Thank You Lance!!
its fun, and really I think there’s …. nothing to lose. its just, paper. I don’t gamble, hehe. or Sky Dive!
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…great reply! I used to clutch over not wanting to ‘wreck’ a painting–still do sometimes to be honest. And that’s a sure recipe for wrecking a painting, yes?
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yes, that darn ‘ worry’ can wreck a lot of work!
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Salmon lying in the checkers at the back of the fish boat.
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well, now… I see !
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a lovely combination of beautiful colors and texture, Debi, cheers Mitza
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thanks Mitza 🙂
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🙂
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Very nice textures and colours!
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thanks! 🙂
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I think the texture of the paper comes through more with the knife (or for whatever reason) and makes it look like fish scales.
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yes, perhaps where it is thinner I think!
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Wonderful…
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my thanks David 🙂
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