This surface comes in many colors….

I have to admit I don’t have one of my paintings to share on this surface.  I typically don’t use it and don’t recommend to use it in my workshops because even though it feels very rough, it seems to lose its layerability at some point.  And in a workshop setting you want the adaptability to change things endlessly and know you can get away with it in a learning environment.  I am the layer queen, so I tend to stick with Sennelier or UArt.

That being said, Colorfix is great for a more direct painting approach so I am not telling you to not use it. Quicker studies, working from life and plein air make it great. No time to fuss with it endlessly, so the surface holds up for that.  The best thing about Colorfix is that it is much cheaper than the other surfaces I have talked about already.  So great for a beginner that wants to explore a gritted surface. It also comes in many, many colors so there is a nice range of options to serve as an underpainting to create a color harmony to a piece. Oranges, hot pinks and bright greens can be a really fun base to work on.  Try it! Letting some of that color peek through the pastel applications can lead to some really fun and lush paintings. Let yourself do that on this surface.  Trying to blend something to death on Colorfix will not have a happy result.  AND it will take off your fingertips too.  Think more broken color and deliberate mark-making. For the next portrait, try starting on a mint-green surface and see what happens!

The painting above is one my son created many years ago sitting beside my easel while I painted. I treasure it and it was done on Colorfix. (I hope he doesn’t read the blog this week or he will get mad at me for sharing…..gulp.)

Next week, Canson paper…