Topics and ideas that tend to strike a chord and spark debate
are often that way because they are so subjective. In art, color is definitely
one of those sensitive subjects because no two people see a color in exactly
the same way, nor do painters always mix colors identically to create similar end
results. Usually, we all go along on our own and arrive at colors
independently.
 |
| Collange la Rouge by Sherry Zvares Sanabria, acrylic painting on paper, 30 x 60. |
|
Artist Sherry Zvares Sanabria is, however, one of those
painters who I'd follow around making notes as she goes about her studio
practice because I'd like to know exactly
how she gets many of the colors in her acrylic painting work. Painting with
acrylic on board, Sanabria creates interiors and old building facades that are
very architecturally informed and filled with subtle variations of light, with
every surface an understated but beautiful color.
 |
|
|
Blue Chamber by Sherry Zvares Sanabria,
acrylic painting on paper, 40 x 60. |
|
|
Painting with acrylics, Sanabria captures the richness of
color-and that is usually ascribed as the domain of oil paints. But her skill
in making color appear transparent and glowing shows she knows her chosen acrylic
painting techniques very well. Her paints are loose, almost like watercolor
washes. She doesn't just go from tube to surface. Instead, Sanabria is really
forceful when she applies paint, working it into the surface, rubbing it down
with a cloth, and then going in again. She also doesn't spend a lot of time
building color on her palette away from the actual painting. Instead she does a
lot of color mixing right on her surface.
Our newest book, 500
Acrylic Mixes, shows you how vast and varied an
acrylic painting palette can be and, more importantly, shows you how to create
all those hues for yourself. If you want a skillful use of color to be a
predominant part of any painting you create,
500 Acrylic Mixes is definitely worth a look. Enjoy!
