Tools for Making Marks in Your Paintings

You can create a lot of really interesting effects in your abstract paintings by employing surprising tools that you’ll find in your kitchen drawers, cupboards and other parts of your house. Just dig into those drawers and use your imagination — thread spools, paper clips, carrot sticks.

And don’t stop your experimenting with the items you’re going to try as paint tools. Try them also on different surfaces. Applying paint with, say, the bottom of a peanut butter jar, will look a lot different on deli paper than it does on watercolor paper.

In the video below I show you how to make use of, among other things, a yogurt container and an olive oil carafe. 

Once you have fun using random objects to paint with you’ll never see the objects in your house the same way again! 

Click here or on the image below to watch the video.

If you enjoy this video and are interested in learning more about abstract art, techniques, mindsets, and tools, check out Art with Adele. This interactive art course allows you to watch me paint as I explain everything I am doing and the thinking behind it. Also included are interviews with gallery owners and artists, book reviews, resources to help get you started, and a private Facebook group where you can ask questions or post your artwork for critique. To find out more and sign up, click here.

HOW TO ADD SPECIAL EFFECTS TO YOUR ABSTRACT PAINTING / You can create a lot of really interesting effects in your abstract paintings by employing surprising tools that you’ll find already in your kitchen drawers, cupboards and other parts of your house.

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