The Artist - UK (2021-02)

46 artistFebruary 2021 http://www.painters-online.co.uk

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I

f asked what it is that compels

me to paint, I’d answer texture.

When painting and drawing in

the landscape there is texture all

around you – the stones beneath your

feet, the contrast between soft grass

and hard rock faces or the details in

buildings. The skill is to express these

environments with conviction so that

Surfaces for creativity

Robert Dutton reveals his favourite painting surfaces and his methods

for creating texture for unique, expressive paintings

your artwork reveals as much about the

subject as it does about you.

Paper

The process begins with the painting

and drawing surface, which has to

be strong and the texture needs to

work for and with me. Experience

and experimentation have taught me

what will give me the best chance of

achieving what I want to convey.

The way I work from initial sketch to

final painting is usually multi-layered

and mixed media; something extra is

always added for the texture that is the

driving force behind my work. Therefore

sketchbooks have to be robust, the

paper has to be heavy and be able to

work with me in the field for gathering

information for the studio work. I choose

140lb (300gsm) glued or spiral-bound

100-per-cent rag content watercolour

pads with surfaces varying across the

range from Hot Pressed, Not and Rough.

The brand I use most is Canson, usually

their Moulin du Roy and Heritage

ranges. Moulin du Roy 140lb (300gsm) is

an excellent sketching and watercolour

paper and even for pastel work; the

tooth is fine enough for detail yet has

t Summer Clouds, Strong Winds, Bright Light

• Buttermere, the Lake District, mixed media
  on collaged Canson Moulin du Roy 100-per-
  cent rag content 600gsm watercolour papers,
  223 30in (56 3 76cm).
  This is a prime example of how I express the
  landscape with multiple layers of different
  media and collaged textures of strong,
  heavy-duty watercolour papers together in
  a single painting. The undulating surface of
  the collaged pieces, together with pumice,
  marble dust, slate dust and paint, add to the
  depth within the painting