Working with Acrylics on Board

I recently started painting on MDF or thincraft board and have found the surface lends itself to a completely different process.

1. First my significant other painted both sides of the board and edges with a white acrylic undercoat – housepaint.
2. I painted on a thin wash of Australian Sienna as a base colour.
3. Using a  charcoal pencil I sketched in the details of a young zebra taking care that the stripes were clear and as they shoud be.
4. I worked down and around the zebra with a purple light as I wanted the drama of the colour.
5. When it was dry I turned the board upside down and worked around the zebra with stronger, loose mixes of sienna, red oxide and  and cadmium yellow to give the effect of grass.
6. The next step was the sienna, red oxide and burnt umber to paint the little zebra’s stripes. I then put in the white with a little touch of the sienna to take out the starkness and give a texture to the hair.

It was a great process as the paint had a lovely smooth flow onto the board and allowed for finer work.  I then sprayed it with a varnish to sharpen the colors.  I wanted bright and exciting colors.  I am pleased with the effect.

Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained – (acrylic)