Practical Manual of Modern Painting Techniques

Introduction

Modern painting breaks away from the rules of classical art. It does not seek to represent reality exactly, but rather to express ideas, emotions, and new ways of seeing. Here, you will experience freedom and develop your own personal style.

Basic Materials

Surfaces: canvas, heavy paper, wood.

Paints: acrylics (faster drying) or oils (longer working time).

Tools: brushes of various shapes, palette knives, rollers, sponges.

Other materials: water, rags, spray, masking tape, varnishes.

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Essential Techniques

1. Layered Painting

• Apply successive layers of color.

• Each dry layer adds depth.

• Ideal for abstraction or dynamic backgrounds.
  Tip: Use acrylics for fast layers; oil paint can take days to dry.

2. Free Staining (Wet-on-Wet)

• Work with wet paint on wet paint.

• Allows colors to blend directly on the surface.

• Perfect for expressive backgrounds and movement effects.

3. Dripping

• Let paint drip or splash onto the canvas.

• Popularized by Jackson Pollock.

• Use loaded brushes or pour diluted paint directly from containers.

4. Palette Knife

• Use palette knives instead of brushes.

• Creates thick textures, relief effects, and broad strokes.

• Ideal for expressing strength or intensity.

5. Collage and Mixed Media

• Combine paint with paper, fabric, cardboard, or real objects.

• Glue the elements onto the surface and paint over them.

• Adds volume and multiple layers of meaning to your work.

6. Flat Color and Geometry

• Use large areas of pure color and geometric shapes.

• Inspired by artists like Mondrian or Suprematism.

• Limit your color palette to achieve strong visual impact.

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Practical Exercises

Exercise 1: Emotional Abstraction

• Think of a strong emotion (joy, anger, sadness).

• Use only colors, strokes, and textures to represent it.

• Drawing recognizable objects is not allowed.

Exercise 2: Deformed Portrait

• Paint a face without respecting real proportions.

• Shift the eyes, enlarge noses, change the colors.

• Take inspiration from Picasso or Cubism.

Exercise 3: Automatic Landscape

• Paint a landscape without a preliminary sketch.

• Let the brush flow guided only by your sensations.

• Add dripping or collage if you feel it is necessary.

 

 

 

 

Final Tips

• Experiment: don’t aim for “pretty” results—aim for expression.

• Make mistakes: every error is part of the modern creative process.

• Research: look at modern artists’ work and draw inspiration.

• Be brave: modern art rewards authenticity over perfect technique.

Find out more about painting courses.