One of the things I like most about the work I do is the never ending search for new ideas. I think beyond a pretty picture finding an idea is most rewarding for me and along with new ideas I’m also always looking at new ways to express those ideas.
Drawing vs painting
I’m a draw-er. I know it’s not a word but drawing is what I love most, do first and feel most natural with, I’m a draw-er. Verses a painter. While I do like painting its not natural to me. It may all be because I spent thirty some years drawing TV storyboards and layouts for print ads as my first career. Not a big call for painting in the ad agency business.
New looks
Recently I’ve been in the studio drawing more and leaving it as a visible base layer to my painting. Instead of covering the drawing I’m playing with leaving the drawn line exposed. Hardly a new technique of any sort, but for me some new ground that I’m enjoying. The paintings on this post are all a part of that new exploring. Each one is created with a grease pencil under drawing and then a black Sharpie line drawing.
I then add watercolors or very thin acrylic paint washes that act very differently here on canvas than they do on watercolor paper. Wiping, scraping and layering has all been part of the fun action that you can’t do as well on paper. When it all dries a good varnish sets and seals the work for display without a glass frame.
Evolve or die
Although I may work now in a wider variety of media, digital, ink on paper, watercolor on paper, acrylics on canvas, mixed media on canvas – I’d like to think there is always and underlying sameness in style and idea con tent. That’s to say I hope my natural hand shows in all the work regardless of the execution style. – I’d love to hear your thoughts if you’d like to share them.
Fall forward.
If you want to see if any of these paintings are still available visit Bicycle Paintings
If you want to follow Michael Valenti, go here on Instagram @veloist
