Sunday, February 10, 2013

Giving Julie's Fracturing Technique a Try

Girl in Striped Scarf
9 x 12 oil on stretched canvas
     Last week Julie Ford Oliver released her video showing the fracturing technique she uses in her oil paintings.  It's such a beautiful effect and something I've wanted to learn more about.  Of course Julie makes it look very easy, but for me it was not. And of course I expected this since Julie is a professional and extremely good at what she does.

  Here's my first attempt at using the fracturing technique...done in oil paints which is not my usual medium of choice, though they are really nice.  I ended up softening her face and not "fracturing" it.  It started out fractured which you will see below, but I messed up and just could not achieve that look again, so I left it soft.

I highly recommend this video if you want to loosen up in your art work or if you just love to learn new things.

Here are some photos to show the process of this painting and the sketch I used to go by.  It was a lot of fun and I want to give this a go with acrylics, though I think it will be a lot harder to do since they dry so fast.  Julie talks about that in her video.



first layer of color

more colors, details and "fractures"

I wish I would have left it at this stage...I like her face, but the background needed work.  I ended up changing the whole thing because I accidentally got paint on her face which of course forced me to change it.


Sketch used
Graphite and Watercolor  on ivory paper

28 comments:

  1. Well hello and thank you, Lisa.
    I LOVE what you have achieved here and for your first attempt it is especially amazing. Look how well she in incorporated into her surroundings. Glad you didn't fracture the face. In my latest one of a child I did not either. Fracturing can be a little of a lot. One of my friends is using it only for the background.
    You get a gold star for being willing to try something new and in a different medium that what you usually use. I also LOVE the sketch you based the painting from.
    You are a joy!

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  2. I love it too! I like the various stages. I love your initial sketch. The fracturing does look good in the background. You will get better if you try it again! Your art is beautiful!

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  3. Lisa - love this painting and good for you for trying something new. Are you aware of Golden's Open Medium? It extends the drying time of the fluid/body acrylics. Here's a link to Golden's technical info on it:

    http://www.goldenpaints.com/technicaldata/openmeds.php

    I use the open medium all the time now. You can also buy open paint colors or just add the open medium to the colors you already have. It really helps with blending. And there's a sweet spot in drying when the paint is wonderful to manipulate. You should check it out.

    I learned about the open medium in an online acrylic class with Julie Pritchard & Chris Cozen called 'Layer Love.' It's ongoing & forever - so if you google Julie, I think you can find it. If you need more info than email me.

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  4. wow, i'm impressed, lisa... and i agree with julie that i like her face not fractured. i adore julie's paintings and want to try this, but need to make one of those scraping tools first. also like julie, i love the sketch...

    xoxo

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  5. I like the soft face too, it's approachable. This looks so completely exciting and vibrant. Alive and moving overall. I want to try it out myself when I grab a moment to do so. Love your art Lisa, always! *smiles* Norma, x

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  6. Wow, Lisa, your first attempt is fabulous! I agree about leaving her soft face.
    Isn't is fun trying new things. Reflection says hi! xo Carole

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  7. I think you did a great job Lisa! I love her! I have a scarf like that ;o)

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  8. Great result, Lisa! I also watched Julie's video just today. I tried fracturing this evening...but I'm not satisfied, so I will either work with it some more or try it again anew. You did a great job and you were wise not to slash her face! Looks great!

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  9. This is wonderful, Lisa! Not bad for the first attempt...I hope you do it again...and glad you didn't do her face..nicely done!!

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  10. Looks tricky Lisa, I am always messing up areas of paint I like while trying to push other areas it does get really frustrating. I think your final image really gives an impression of a snowy windy day.

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  11. Even if it occurs later in your life, for me there is no doubt you are born with an artistic talent... I love the way you have painted it, Wonderful work! Bravo!!

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  12. I like that fracture photo #2 has a really fab effect. Nice stretching of your work. xox

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  13. She is beautiful, I would be proud of this had I created it. I hope you will continue to practice this technique, you seem to have grasped it well.

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  14. I think she turned out marvelous Lisa! Good job!
    Maybe one day I will check Julie out.
    D~~~~

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  15. how wonderful that you are trying new things. I think it is an awesome piece.

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  16. i dont know much about techniques but this looks good Lisa!!!

    hope you have been well ♥

    Mita

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  17. Is that done with a palette knife?
    Very cool technique :)

    Her scarf makes it appear to be a very blustery day, indeed ;P

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  18. I think you have done an amazing job my friend..this does not look easy.
    Sending you oodles of love this Valentine week.
    Happy creating. xo

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  19. beautiful Lisa, i love the process!! hugs

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  20. That looks totally awesome!! I love the snowy-effect and her blowing scarf!! xox Conny

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  21. This turned out great Lisa. I used the same fracturing technique on my new piece( the orange part) except I attempted it with acrylic. Helps loosen up the brush strokes that's for sure. I loved Julies video...she is awesome;)

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  22. love the sketch! Great job on the painting .. love the look .. it makes her look colder .. interesting technique .. I'm going to look into that.

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  23. oh so very cool and thank you for showing all the steps. and then your painting is so adorable with her scarf flying out straight. your imagination slays me and i love it!

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  24. I really love the way this turned out. Looks like you had some fun trying out this new technique. I am going to have to go check out that video.

    Hugs~

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  25. That's so cool! I'm in awe of the way that you can render that image so artistically and yet so wonderfully abstract, but not really abstract.... it's just wonderful! What an exciting technique to work with!

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  26. Oh wow! I have to check that out. Looks great!

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  27. Good job Lisa!!! I have yet to try it although I did find some rubber to make the tool.

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