Ingredients
The Base
The base is what holds it all together. I use rigid foam from 1/2 inch to 2 inches thick and MDF board. It’s often a combination carefully negotiating the needs of light weight and strength. Put together using different glues and epoxy.
Texture
Over the base I use primers and latex paints, sometimes with thickeners. For extra depth I use drywall mud. I find it’s consistency much preferred for sculpting and shaping and sanding. If necessary I can layer the mud to create exactly what I’m aiming for.
Color
The depth of my creations starts with under-painting. I use High quality acrylics, they cost twice as much as regular acrylics but they are worth it. Added to the base acrylic is high quality pigments. By mixing my own paints I can create the exact color and opacity I need.
Application
To lay out my under-paints I use many things from my airbrush to brushes to rollers. I even use toothpicks, paper towels and q-tips. Whatever it takes.
Acrylic Epoxy
One of my favorite and scariest moments is creating the different layers of epoxy. It’s scary because it’s much more difficult to deal with than paints and it’s an all or nothing type of coating. If all goes well then the contrasting or complimentary colors are glorious. If it doesn’t then everything up to that point is ruined and I have to start over.
The colors have to be just right with just enough transparency to allow the under-painting to show through. Building multiple layers gives an incredible depth to the piece. The acrylic epoxy I use is the highest quality I have found and includes UV protection keeping the acrylic and under-paints from fading. It cures rock hard protecting from scratches and is also fire resistant.
The Prints
I’ve used many different printers over the years for my images but by far my favorite and the one I use almost exclusively is a printer in Denver, Colorado. I test each image on particular mediums before I decide which medium works best for that particular image. I’ve tested on different papers, canvas and aluminum. Some images come straight out of the gate looking like I had envisioned but others take several rounds of papers and editing/adjusting to work. I’ve spent several hundred dollars testing one image before I was satisfied but in the end it was worth it.
The prints have no glass in front of them. Instead, I coat them with a special UV spray that also protects them from scratches. This way nothing sits between the art and the viewer. I have always wanted to find a way to remove as much of the glare from my images and I am happy with the results. It’s much better than even museum glass.