Intuitive Painting and Collage
Instructor: Robin Urton 503-752-8292
Website: robinurton.com ; email: urtonart@msn.com
We will begin by preparing surfaces for mixed media paintings by sponging, dripping, pouring,
scraping, embedding textures and other surface manipulations. Most of these experiments will be
done on paper, then cut or torn then glued down to a more durable surface. (An alternative way of
working is to do these surface textures directly onto panels or canvas). The idea is to generate a
variety of textured surfaces that will serve as background surfaces on which further collage
elements or painted imagery will be added.
For the first day, bring inexpensive papers to paint on, acrylic paints, and brushes. If you have
any stencils, stamps, or textures to embed into the paint, bring that too. Please visit the following
page on my blog to stimulate some ideas: http://www.robinurton.com/blog/?page_id=442
You do not need to buy all of your materials before the first class, and a lot of things can be found
(or borrowed from each other). Below are suggestions of things you might want to incorporate
into your mixed media paintings.
Suggested Materials List:
Collage Papers: your choice of drawing papers, tissue papers, torn pages from books or journals
(or photocopies of either), textured papers, rice papers, etc.
Supports Surfaces (this is what you glue your collage pieces to): choice of thick paper (bristol
board, watercolor paper, illustration board), canvas, wood or masonite panels, 12”x16” to 14”x18”
would be a good size. (Masonite panels can be purchased inexpensively at “I’ve Been Framed”)
Acrylic paint in a variety of colors (at least one of each primary (Red, Yellow, and Blue)…plus
White, and any other colors of your choice). Tube or Liquid variety of quality artist’s acrylics.
Craft paints can also supplement your choices.
Acrylic Gloss Medium and/or Gloss Gel (Used for mixing with paint, gluing, and acrylic transfers).
Acrylic Retarder Medium is also helpful if you like to work with slower-drying paint.
A variety of synthetic brushes; flats, rounds and filberts in different sizes. I will have some to
share, but you need to have your favorites. Make sure you have at least one flat brush that is at
least 1 1/2 inch or wider. Also, foam brushes are handy!
Palette knives (1-3), Exacto-knife, Scissors
A variety of drawing materials, such as pencils, oil pastels, caran d’arche crayons and/or
watercolor pencils.
Glass palette, or wax paper disposable palettes. Glass is a good reusable palette because it
scrapes well (use tempered glass, or duct tape to a backing board). Sta-Wet palettes are also a
good choice for saving wet paints.
For Acrylic image transfers: Laser copy images of photos, drawings, or other images. If you wish
to try to direct transfer, be sure to reverse the image when photocopying. Also magazine images.
Jars, Rags, paper towels.
.
Other Suggested Materials:
Lace, Textures, Plastic Wrap, Aluminum Foil for creating textures in paint.
Stencils or stamps if you have any (otherwise you can use mine)
Composition Gold Leaf
- I will do a demo of metallic leaf gilding. I’m open to sharing a small pieces of composition leaf
with students, but if you want to create something that uses more sheets you’ll want to buy a
booklet of composition leaf (comes in gold, silver, copper and variegated colors)
Those who wish to incorporate oil painting will need a choice of colors, quick-dry medium such as
Alkyd medium (or cobalt drier to add to linseed oil), and odorless turpentine. Supports for oil
painting need to be primed, or coated with acrylic paint (acrylic cannot be painted on TOP of oil).
Good Sources For Supplies:
I’ve Been Framed, 4950 SE Foster Rd, (503) 775-2651
This store has some of the best deals, especially on Taklon brushes ($2-3 each); also carries a
14x14” tempered glass palette for $5.95, and frequent discounts on paints
SCRAP (School & Community Reuse Action Project): 3901A N Williams (503) 294-0769
-this store has recycled supplies that are usually pretty cheap. They’re moving soon,
so call first.
Some of the following give special discounts to students:
Columbia Art and Drafting: 1515 E Burnside St, (503) 232-2216
Muse Art and Design: 4224 SE Hawthorne Blvd, (503) 231-8704
Utrecht: 1122 NW Everett St, (503) 417-1569
Art Media: 902 SW Yamhill St, Portland, OR - (503) 223-3724
Michael’s: 11211 SE 82nd Ave; (503) 652-0465 and 1798 Jantzen Beach Center;
(503) 285-0218 (other locations in Beaverton, Tualatin, and Oregon City)
Online Art Supply Sites:
misterart.com
dickblick.com
jerrysartarama.com