{"id":1339850,"date":"2024-01-23T00:15:00","date_gmt":"2024-01-23T07:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.artistsnetwork.com\/?p=1339850"},"modified":"2024-02-16T14:47:46","modified_gmt":"2024-02-16T21:47:46","slug":"testing-the-limits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.artistsnetwork.com\/art-techniques\/testing-the-limits\/","title":{"rendered":"Testing the Limits\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For Mia Tarducci, the secret to success is to keep stretching and growing\u2014to test and try new things that challenge and push her creativity. The Pittsburgh artist creates large-scale works of abstract art, which she paints in oil on canvas panel. Here, she experiments with two different gessoes from Utrecht and shares some advice for embracing a fearless approach to art-making.\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Mia Tarducci paints large abstracts in oil, prepping her canvas panels using her go-to favorites: Utrecht Professional and Utrecht Studio Series Gesso.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Try Something New <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Tarducci didn\u2019t start out creating abstract art. She began with portrait work, which evolved over time and eventually became more abstracted as she began to push herself to break free from what had become a comfort zone. \u201cThat\u2019s what I try to do,\u201d says Tarducci. \u201cWhenever I start to feel too comfortable, I try something completely new.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meet the Challenge <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the biggest pieces that Tarducci has painted measures 7×24 feet. When she embarked on that project, the artist was well aware of the challenge ahead. \u201cI was terrified,\u201d she says, \u201cbecause I\u2019d never done anything like it, but my best pieces of art come out of the times I push myself and just let go.\u201d This desire to keep exploring and growing is a driving force behind the artist\u2019s evolution. \u201cWhen you have expectations and are comfortable with what you\u2019re doing, the result can be beautiful, but it doesn\u2019t always move your work to the next level,\u201d she says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Follow Excitement <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Many abstract painters work in acrylic, but Tarducci loves oils. And being at the mercy of the medium is part of what Tarducci finds so gratifying in her process. \u201cI see a blank canvas, and that excites me,\u201d she says. \u201cThere are infinite possibilities, but at a certain point the work starts to dictate where it\u2019s going, and I become less the author of the piece and more the companion to it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find Your Voice <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Tarducci has this piece of advice for new artists: \u201cFind your voice. Find what speaks to you\u2014what defines you as an artist\u2014and try not to let the influences of other artists and instructors drown it out.\u201d It\u2019s this unique voice, she believes, that distinguishes an artist from a technician. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Tarducci Test<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Utrecht was the first to introduce a revolutionary single-step archival acrylic gesso for priming canvas. Offering a level of quality that rivals the world\u2019s leading brands, Utrecht Artists\u2019 Acrylic Gessoes come in a range of specialized formulas that deliver outstanding absorbency and archival stability on a variety of surfaces. I decided to do a side-by-side comparison of the Utrecht Professional Gesso<\/a> vs. the Utrecht Studio Series Gesso<\/a>. See the results below. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coverage Test<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

To test coverage, I painted a large canvas panel with carbon black\u2014one of the new Utrecht Artists\u2019 Acrylic colors. After the panel was completely dry, I used pre-wetted gesso brushes to apply each gesso to the canvas at a slight angle, pulling straight down with an equal amount of pressure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Coverage Test Results <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Utrecht Studio Series Gesso:<\/strong> This gesso (on the left in the above photo) is perfect for artists who prefer a pourable formula. It\u2019s very creamy, spreadable, and easy to apply. It dries quickly to a crisp, even surface with minimal brush marks\u2014great for anyone who wants a smooth painting surface without sanding. The coverage is clean and bright, but for maximum opaque coverage, two or three coats would be needed. Luckily, a gallon goes a long way. This is a great option for artists who use a lot of gesso\u2014I use it all the time in my studio. You can\u2019t beat the price. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Utrecht Professional Gesso:<\/strong> Undiluted straight from the tub, this gesso (on the right in the above photo) is very thick and smooth. It has a slightly stiff application that holds brush marks\u2014perfect for creating textured grounds. It\u2019s also brilliant, bright, and opaque, thanks to high concentrations of top-tier titanium white pigment. The coverage and hiding power is outstanding. When you want total archival coverage with the sweep of a brush, this is it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tint-Strength Test<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

To test tint strength, I mixed one tablespoon each of the Professional and Studio Series Gesso with an equal amount of primary cyan\u2014another vibrant new color from the Utrecht Artists\u2019 Acrylic range. After mixing well, I used a palette knife to pull the color down the length of the palette paper. In the middle, you\u2019ll see the undiluted primary cyan, which I added as a baseline for comparing the tint strength of the two mixtures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

TINT-STRENGTH TEST RESULTS <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Utrecht Professional Gesso:<\/strong> This gesso (on the left in the photos above) produces a much brighter tint than the Studio Series Gesso\u2014it contains very high concentrations of superior-grade titanium white. You can see how bright, thick and rich it is. It\u2019s also incredibly absorbent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Utrecht Studio Series Gesso:<\/strong> This gesso (on the right in the photos above) doesn\u2019t offer the same high-tint strength as the Professional Gesso, but it\u2019s super spreadable and perfect for whenever you want to use many thin layers. I enjoy the matte finish it creates. It\u2019s a great economical choice for artists who want to extend colors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

About the Artist <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Mia Tarducci<\/a> has had her artwork selected by jurors from the Museum of Modern Art, the Guggenheim, and the Brooklyn Museum for exhibitions throughout the United States. Her paintings have also been featured in various national art publications. She has mentored dozens of emerging artists over the years. To learn more about the artist, visit her page<\/a> on the Dick Blick site. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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