Surface Tension

Unprimed surfaces are obviously very absorbent and very slow and normally the exact type of surface I hate most. But in all these recent months of paint experimentation I’d been driven nuts by mediums drying too quickly and wanted a simpler more direct approach, so I gave Rothko’s technique a try on a scrap of nice linen canvas.

It was surprisingly forgiving and subtle and explains a lot about his edges. It was hard to lighten the tone and the surface neutralized every colour mix I tried but the approach is worth a more considered piece.