Let's Experiment with Farrow and Ball
- Nicki Hughes
- Mar 26
- 2 min read
Isn't that for walls?
All artists need to experiment. To really play with new ideas, and try different bases and paints. Maybe charcoal or crayons? How about watercolour instead of acrylic? Oils that used to take weeks to dry, now take a few hours due to the new water based oils you can purchase. Glazes and texture mediums add a different dimension to the work - I particularly enjoy using moulding paste to create texture on larger canvas.
The traditional ways of painting are being pushed and expanded. We are moving into a new era. With the introduction of all these amazing new mediums, incredible work can be born. I know artists that use emulsion for their under painting to save on expensive acrylics, and I've experiments with spray paint on really large pieces.
We've all heard the term mixed media.
That's exactly how I work. I mix it up a bit!
I use palosanto smudge sticks at the beginning of all my work. To cleanse the space and set the intention. When smouldering, it creates beautiful marks while embedding healing frequencies in to the canvas or paper. I sometimes add crayon marks in mid flow and occasionally add rice paper on top of the under-layers for texture. Many of you have seen how I add 23k gold leaf and crystals to finish. That's all 'mixed media'.
Back to the F&B .....
I wanted to really experiment. To use a high pigment household paint as my base, and feel the difference as the piece evolved. Everything has a frequency. That's why I create as an Energy Artist.
I didn't want to use basic mass produced paints, like Dulux - no disrespect to that brand, but it just didn't feel - or smell right - I needed something that was high pigment and moved in a specific way.
Farrow and Ball was the obvious choice - being manufactured in the next county, I loved their history and the colour options. The chalky effect was so interesting. Having asked friends for left over match pots, I soon realised the textures really were beautiful to work with, and I intended to use them as the underpainting.
The drawbacks? They take longer to dry than my usual acrylic!
This piece - Venus - was a joy to create. I had to take TIME with her. No rushing - that's one of my traits! I would want to hurry up and complete, but part of the painting journey has been to learn to enjoy the whole process. Waiting a day or two between layers while the deeper areas dried, is all part of the energetic flow.
As I neared her completion, I could also add my usual acrylic white and gold for extra 'pop', and a smidge of fluorescent pink into the mix.
She's spending some time at my framer while we source a perfect tray frame for her - the frames I choose are as important as the actual piece. The energies all work together. It's part of the completed work. Thankfully, my framer understands my process, so Venus is in very good hands!
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