About the Technique. Please check the safety note which is at the end of the PDF before beginning to use this technique.

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Basil Kennedy
6 years ago
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About the Technique The bubble effect technique is an awesome technique for those artists who are really into creating textures. This effect will definitely make your work stand out from the crowd.

This also makes the technique exciting because you truly don t know what you are going to get until the end.

1 About the Technique The bubble effect technique is an awesome technique for those artists who are really into creating textures. This effect will definitely make your work stand out from the crowd. The great thing about this technique is that, no two works will ever be the same, because there is always such a variation in bubble size and shape. This also makes the technique exciting because you truly don t know what you are going to get until the end. Please check the safety note which is at the end of the PDF before beginning to use this technique. Experimentation One thing you will learn while using this technique is patience. Rome was not built in a day and you will have to experiment and practice, practice, practice. Growing the bubbles (as I call it) does take some time to master. But, you will get the hang of it if you continue to experiment and follow the instructions carefully. Good luck! Materials for the Technique

Spray Paint or Acrylic Paint For this technique you can choose whether to use spray paint or acrylic paint (I don t recommend using oil paint).

Spray paint gives a very nice shiny even surface and because the paint is so thin it really helps the texture to show itself.

Give it a good stir and it is ready to be used towards the end of the process.

Bitumen/Asphalt There are a few options here. Those of you living in America can get a product called DAP Liquid Asphalt Crack Filler.

Here is the direct website link to the product : http://www.noxudolusa.com/noxudolstore/ccp0-prodshow/n1600c.

2 Spray Paint or Acrylic Paint For this technique you can choose whether to use spray paint or acrylic paint (I don t recommend using oil paint). I like to use a combination of both spray paint and acrylic. Spray paint gives a very nice shiny even surface and because the paint is so thin it really helps the texture to show itself. I also like to water down the acrylic paint for this technique. I usually take an old tin and mix ½ cup of acrylic paint to 1 cup of water. Give it a good stir and it is ready to be used towards the end of the process. Don t use the watered-down acrylic if you want to paint the initial color of your bubbles. Just use ordinary acrylic or spray paint). Bitumen/Asphalt There are a few options here. Those of you living in America can get a product called DAP Liquid Asphalt Crack Filler. Another product is called Noxudol and can be ordered online (a little bit goes a long way and one can is likely to last a year at least). Here is the direct website link to the product : In Australia, a good product to use is black japan which is oil based and can be purchased from Bunnings or Mitre 10. Bitumen in the UK can be purchased from Wilkinsons (stores all over the UK). Bitumen in Norway is called Rustbeskyttelse and can be purchased from Biltema. Blend half cup of bitumen with 3 caps of white spirits to get the correct consistency Shoe Polish For those of you who can t get the bitumen, you can use black shoe polish which gives a similar effect. To create a similar consistency to the bitumen follow the steps below:

3 Cut some of the shoe polish into small pieces and put in an old tin. Add a small amount of white spirit and using an old paint brush begin to crush the shoe polish into the white spirit until you achieve a toothpaste like consistency. Then use it in the same way as you would for the bitumen or asphalt. Please note don t use the liquid shoe polish as that doesn t work so well! House Paint The reason I use house paint for this technique is because it is thicker in consistency than normal artist acrylic paint. And for this technique to be successful you do need to have a slightly thicker consistency. The bubbles will hold their shape better if the paint is thicker to begin with and it will save you having to add another layer of paint. If you decide to use normal artist acrylic paint, I would suggest that you add some plaster to it as I find this helps to thicken the paint. Canvas You can create this technique on almost any surface - Canvas or Board. It is up to you! Heat Gun This is the most essential piece of equipment you will need for this technique- you will definitely need a heat gun. A normal hair dryer will not work because you need enough heat to make the paint blister and then bubble. A heat gun is a great investment because you can use it for so many other purposes. Please be careful when using a heat gun! White Spirit White spirit is also known as turpentine. You will need this product to dilute either the bitumen or the shoe polish. Try to obtain the odorless product- but remember that the fact it is odorless doesn t mean it is less harmful to your health. It is very important that you always work in a ventilated area. It is also advisable to use a mask which filters out harmful vapors if you are working indoors or for long periods of time. If you are going to continue using this technique I recommend that you invest in a mask with filters. Old Brushes, Tins and Rags I use old empty cat food tins, old paint brushes and rags. Using bitumen and shoe polish will damage your brushes so go out and buy some cheap brushes.

Instructions Take your house paint (in my

some left over but white is best) and coat

You have to apply this coat fairly thickly in

finger into the paint to show you the depth

Using your heat gun, blow the hot air across

4 Instructions Take your house paint (in my example I am using red paint because I had some left over but white is best) and coat the surface of your canvas evenly. You have to apply this coat fairly thickly in the example above you can see that I stuck my finger into the paint to show you the depth you are looking to create. Using your heat gun, blow the hot air across the entire surface moving in a back and forth motion. Then leave it rest for ten minutes.

After your canvas has rested for around ten minutes it should start to look something like the

This means that the paint is beginning to dry quicker on top than underneath, which is what you want.

Next, using your heat gun, focus the heat on one particular area.

You will see that after a few seconds, bubbles begin to appear.

You will notice at this early stage that the bubble will deflate again.

So continue to move around the canvas to different areas and repeat the process of creating bubbles.

5 After your canvas has rested for around ten minutes it should start to look something like the pictures above, and begin to show ripples on the surface. This means that the paint is beginning to dry quicker on top than underneath, which is what you want. So if it doesn t look like this, then wait a little longer. Next, using your heat gun, focus the heat on one particular area. Hold the heat gun close to the surface but not too close (about two inches away). You will see that after a few seconds, bubbles begin to appear. As soon as the bubble rises, move the heat gun away to stop it from bursting. You will notice at this early stage that the bubble will deflate again. This is because the paint is still too thin and it needs to be cooked SLOWLY. So continue to move around the canvas to different areas and repeat the process of creating bubbles. I call this process growing the bubbles. It is important that you are patient with this technique. Do not be in a hurry because if you rush it, it just won t work as well. It will take you some time to perfect this technique but if you continue to do as instructed there should not be any reason why you won t get fantastic bubbles at the end. Remember Rome wasn t built in a day.

It is important to let your canvas rest after this stage because

As it cools down it also dries and hardens, which is what you want

Just feel the surface with your hand and if it is cool ( room

This time as you grow your bubbles, focus the nozzle of the heat

This time hold your heat gun closer to surface of the bubble.

6 It is important to let your canvas rest after this stage because you need to let the paint cool down. As it cools down it also dries and hardens, which is what you want to happen. So don t be impatient to rush this process. Just feel the surface with your hand and if it is cool ( room temperature) to the touch then you can progress to the next stage. This time as you grow your bubbles, focus the nozzle of the heat gun directly on the centre of the bubble. This time hold your heat gun closer to surface of the bubble. The aim is to blister the centre of the bubble just slightly, not the whole thing. So repeat this process with the rest of the canvas. What you are doing is causing the paint to blister, thereby thickening the surface which will eventually help to trap the air underneath.

Slowly work over the entire surface of the

Remember to let the work cool down (usually

They take time to grow and you must be patient.

the surface cool down between the growing

7 Slowly work over the entire surface of the canvas growing your bubbles. Remember to let the work cool down (usually after a couple of minutes max). Then repeat the process. Think of bubbles as if they were plants. They take time to grow and you must be patient. I can t stress enough the importance of letting the surface cool down between the growing stages. You should be able to run your hand across the surface and it should begin to feel a little rough and firm in places.

It is just a matter of repeating the process

apply heat to your bubbles, they will begin to

They will also begin to hold their shape.

but if you have started with white paint as I

followed by red (or you can use acrylic paint

Create your own color schemes- you don t have to

8 It is just a matter of repeating the process several times and slowly, as you repeatedly apply heat to your bubbles, they will begin to grow higher and higher. They will also begin to hold their shape. In this illustration I paint the surface white- but if you have started with white paint as I suggested above, this step is obviously not needed! Apply a coat of yellow spray paint first followed by red (or you can use acrylic paint for this step). Create your own color schemes- you don t have to use the same colors as me. This is where you can experiment and use your own favorite color combinations. Then let the canvas dry completely before going on to the next stage.

Take your diluted bitumen (1/2 cup bitumen to 3

thin even coat over the entire painting.

eventually be removing most of the bitumen

Once you have coated the surface you can dry it

Be very careful when using it as you don t want

even movement across the entire surface- mowing

Next, take an old rag and some white spirit and

You should remove most of it, but leave enough

9 Take your diluted bitumen (1/2 cup bitumen to 3 capfuls of white spirit) and begin to apply a thin even coat over the entire painting. Remember less is more, because you will eventually be removing most of the bitumen anyway, a little bit goes a very long way. Once you have coated the surface you can dry it using your heat gun. Be very careful when using it as you don t want the work to catch fire, I have to say this has not happened to me YET! Use a low setting and dry the bitumen with an even movement across the entire surface- mowing the lawn style again. Next, take an old rag and some white spirit and begin to wipe off the bitumen. You should remove most of it, but leave enough to highlight the bubbles. Wipe away the bitumen until you are satisfied with the effect. If you wipe too much off, just apply more bitumen and repeat this step.

Using your heat gun, gently dry the surface.

motions. Use as little or as much as you like.

small amount onto the wet watered-down acrylic

This will cause it to split and you will get

I recommend letting it dry naturally after this

10 Using your heat gun, gently dry the surface. Next, take your watered-down acrylic paint (See directions for diluting paint). Apply it to the surface in long stroking motions. Use as little or as much as you like. Now take your white spirit and spray a very small amount onto the wet watered-down acrylic paint. This will cause it to split and you will get some fantastic results when the surface dries. I recommend letting it dry naturally after this step, but you could use the heat gun speed the drying process. However, if you do this PLEASE remember to take great care.

11 And -Hey Presto- you re done! There is the bubble technique:- all you have to do is practice and experiment. Here are some other examples from students in my online courses:

12 Copyright Gary Reef For private viewing only. Any unauthorized copying, hiring, broadcasting or exhibiting in whole or in part without copyright owners consent is prohibited 2009 Safety Note You will be working with products which can be harmful to your health if you do not take safety precautions. Always work in a well-ventilated room, especially when working with products such as white spirit. It is harmful even if it is odorless.. Other products such as the bitumen/asphalt and spray paints are also harmful to your health if inhaled. Wear a protective mask if you are working indoors and avoid excess fumes. It is advisable to use a mask which filters out toxic fumes. It is a good investment if you are going to continue using these techniques in your work. Wear gloves to protect your hands if possible. I will not be held responsible for any future health problems which may occur as a result from these techniques. You have been warned about the risks and about using preventive measures to protect your safety and health!

UNIT 11: PAINTING, STAINING, AND FINISHING

UNIT 11: PAINTING, STAINING, AND FINISHING KEY CONCEPTS 1. Equipment needed 2. Primary kinds of Paint: Interior/Exterior 3. Primary kinds of Stain: Interior/Exterior 4. Proper application techniques: Paint/Stain/Finish 5. Equipment care and clean