Pointillism Painting Process

Pointillism is a technique of neo-Impressionist painting using tiny dots of various pure colours, which become blended in the viewer's eye. It was developed by Seurat with the aim of producing a greater degree of luminosity and brilliance of color.  My idea began with this photograph taken near Adaminaby in the Snowy Mountains, NSW.  It was an assignment set in my art class by Michael Winters.
 

I then made a collage (A2 size) from the photograph using tiny torn up pieces of advertising junk mail.  It took many hours to do and was an interpretation especially as junk mail colours were not always what one wanted.
 

Finally I made this acrylic pointillist painting approximately the same size as the collage on a stretched canvas.  The background was first painted with Cadmium Red to warm up the painting.  I then used small brushes, both round and square to make the marks.  I had spots before the eyes!  But looked at from a distance the blending does take place and the colours enhanced.

Photo Reference for Palette Knife Painting

I was asked to post this photo which was the original idea for the bark painting.  Maybe the outline shape reflects the painting but I changed colours and even shapes in many places.  I always end up doing this.

Palette Knife Painting

I have done very little work with a palette knife, and I really enjoyed painting this big painting using one. The canvas is 1000 x 700mm.  It was a challenge for many of us in my art class as we had our easels set up.   I interpreted the photo I began with quite widely as I love to do, adding colours that were more in my mind than in the photo.  The background on the left had fine sand stuck on it in places and then the acrylic paint used like watercolour to create a different kind of finer texture.