The Great Escape abstract drip painting is finally finished, dry and ready to brighten up someone’s wall space. I have to admit this has now become one of my favourite paintings. It’s bright, fun and full of energy which is quite ironic considering I painted it during the first COVID lockdown which even during the sunniest of days could feel gloomy, lonely and confusing. I named it the great escape as painting allowed me to escape reality for a few hours, splashing oil paint around with my music on and the sun on my face. When I look at it now it reminds me that this isn’t forever and to look for the positives.

The process

It starts with a blank canvas, or in this case four blank canvases. I love painting using multiple canvases to create one single piece as not only do I get to create larger paintings but I have to think about how each drop or drip of paint affects the next. Each canvas supports the other three so the right balance is vital.

I spend quite a long time selecting my initial paint colours, and mix up two or three to the correct consistency using high quality oil paint and thinners. Old jam jars make great paint pots, and I find a nice thin paintbrush with a pointy end create the perfect droplet shape on canvas.

I usually begin by prepping the canvases with a background wash of colour, however it had been a while since I had painted and truth be told I forgot! So I began the first few layers of paint, sprinkling oil droplets all around in a hypnotic manner then letting them dry to void unwanted colour mixing. After repeating this several times and noticing the painting develop, I realised my lack of background colour. Hmmm what to do! So I simply went for it and covered it all with a wash of blue. The raised texture of oil droplets apparent with muted shades still visible. Result! I love it when these little mistakes happen and turn out to be the start of a great painting (even if I do say so myself). Many more layers were added until finally the painting was complete.

Check it ouit at http://192.168.86.9/modern-art-paintings/the-great-escape/