BE A DRIP! A MIXED-MEDIA EXPLORATION

Here's a great way to intensify a focal area, adding interest to a painting or collage. Experiment with inks, fluid paint, water, and more! 

Underpainting for the drip technique.

Paint a base, an underpainting, on canvas or paper first. Your palette might be of several colors, with lights, darks, dulls, and/or brights. Markers make a good addition at this time, too. (Waterbased markers will run and add even more fascination!) Let dry.

The white drips add a high value to the painting.

Prop the canvas or paper at a sloping angle.

Use inks, liquid watercolors, or thinned acrylic paints. Pour them selectively or apply in places with a brush and let drip. 

Next, mix watery paint in another color, value, or intensity, and do more dripping. Here I added a few spatters too! 

Note: you can tilt the canvas any direction you wish, even changing direction as you go. If you have a spritz bottle of water handy, use it to encourage more dripping and dilution as needed. Another helpful tool is a hair dryer, which can alter the flow or slow it down.

Rework the painting as desired.

Paint out some sections to make them appear less busy, more calm.

If you don't like the painting you've created, use it as the background for a new work. If the unsatisfactory piece is on paper, you can cut or tear it apart and use the best pieces in a collage! 

Yes, chance plays a part in the dripping technique, but it adds 

emphasis and appeal.