Artist and Educator Annette Turow describes the techniques she uses in creating some of her mixed media works of art.

Technique in Art Process

The techniques used to complete these these pieces result from years of development and experimentation. Basically, the techniques evolved as the paintings demanded more complexity. The desire for more "surface"(texture) and enhanced color grew over time. To build up the surface, gesso is applied to seal the canvas or paper. Then 3-4 layers of white or light colored acrylic paint mixed with various gel mediums, pumice, sand , modeling paste and liquid mediums are applied to build up a thick "under-surface." These layers are applied with a knife and at some point the "sketch" is started by scraping into these layers with a palette knife. Acrylic colors are slowly added to begin the development of a composition. I manipulate the surface from light colors to dark, arrange the forms and begin to create depth in the sketch. After several layers have been applied and dried I begin to apply color with oil sticks to get a greater range in my palette. These colors mix well and dilute with baby oil to stain and enhance the acrylic surface. These phases take more time because the oil is slow to dry. Working on more than one piece at a time allows me to keep working while some surfaces are drying. The oil stick surface is blotted with rags, scraped, rubbed and sometimes thickly applied. I maintain an active questioning dialogue with myself as each color is applied as to the effects and results and what (if anything ) is demanded next.