I'm moving this blog to my new website.

You can visit the new blog and website here.:
www.paintingsbykegilmore.com

 Part II of "How to bring light values back into an acrylic painting" is already posted on the new site.
Here is a direct link to it:
http://paintingsbykegilmore.com/2013/09/15/how-to-bring-light-values-back-into-an-acrylic-painting-part-ii/

Work in progress: how to bring light values back into a painting

What do you do when a painting has become too dark or has opaque passages where you really would like shining translucent color? 

Overpainting in white can help. Here are images of the painting after opaque whites were added back into the composition through:  drybrushing white paint and some gesso and knife painting additional textural areas with light molding paste.

Notice how the added molding paste brings variety to the mark making and unified some larger shapes.

Now, glazes are able to shine when they are added over those whitened areas. Images of the glazing are coming soon.

Current emerald abstract commission, 24"X36"X3/4", possibly finished

Here is a photo of the piece as a whole:

Here are some close-up detail images.

Two new painted sketches (done as possible designs for a custom abstract)

Here is the first sketch, done in cooler, grayed violet and eggplant tones. 

The following are some close-up views of that sketch. The texture is made with a lightweight, archival paste as well as drips made with "acrylic flow release":

Here is the second sketch, also textured, but painted in slightly warmer tones. 

 

Here are some close-up views of the textures:

Here is that same painting, but with a bit more reddish-violet added on the upper left.