December 1998
P.M. Laura
546 Graham Ave#1
Brooklyn, NY 1122
(718) 486-5055At P.M.Laura we find acrylic products great for just about everything. All of the artworks are practically acrylic through and through. Acrylic products provide the function needed at all stages of art production. Whether for painting grounds, binders, paints, transfer or glazing agents, acrylic products provide a wide range of manipulation with the safety and comfort of water. Things can be done with water that would never be done with a solvent-based paint. (Lead white. What a great idea that was.)
The painted art works(designated as acrylic on canvas or on panel) are all created in the same manner. Generally a piece of canvas is fully adhered to a rigid substrate, plywood or untempered Masonite, using a gel medium as a binder. This is done fro a few reasons. First, the surface is stiff and has no "bounce". Second, a rigid surface will be less prone to cracking in the future. And third, by using a mixture of gesso and modeling paste in a 3:1 ratio, applied in multiple coats with a plasterer's knife, an extremely smooth surface can be achieved with a minimum of sanding and labor. By coating the back with gesso, multiple coats will also help equalize stress on the panel, an extremely durable and water-resistant panel can be produced.
The paint was applied in various manners depending on the work and concerns at that time. The most important aspect of paint application has been the use of mediums. Used in a basic 2:1 ratio of medium and water, paint can be thinned to allow spraying, glazing, printing, wet-into-wet, or any number of other techniques. This works with gloss or matte and any combination of the two. The only problem is that combinations of mediums, mixed with water but without paint, seem to separate in a nonreversible manner. So this kind of combination should be mixed on a for use basis and not allowed to sit for an extended amount of time. Without proper medium usage paint can have a dead flat look to it and this can be averted and some great avenues can be opened.
Acrylic mediums can also be used as an excellent transfer agent. By using an image that is printed on coated paper, i.e. glossy paper such as magazine or color photocopy, that image can be transferred to any surface that will bond to acrylic medium. This includes cloth, paper, and the above mentioned panels. The image is glued face down on to the substrate and allowed to completely dry. Once dry, the paper that the image was printed on can be removed by using water as a solvent. Through soaking and gentle rubbing the paper coating and the ink(the image)that was printed upon it will transfer to the substrate. This can also be done multiple times to layer images. Successful transfer is determined by a few factors. Smoothness of surface and compatibility of materials are important considerations so precoating and sanding is a good preparation. Speed of process and completeness of bond will affect transfer. Quickly and completely rolling or rubbing down the image will insure good contact and good transfer.
