Winter, Latour-bas-Elne by christine vandenhaute

The textures make this painting. Wonderfully harmonious colours and very interesting technique.

Have just been looking at the other paintings in your portfolio. The colours and technique make very individual. very interesting paintings. I like your work very much. Do you feel like giving a bit of info on how you work? For example do you use brushes?

Thanks to both of you for your kind comments (and, indeed, everyone who has taken the time to comment on various works in the gallery) they are much appreciated. To answer your question, Judith, I am more than happy to give info. In fact, trying to think through how things happen is very useful. I use palette knives, I try not to supplement their use with brushes but rather to use then exclusively. I work with System 3D acrylics (featured in June 2010 edition of 'the Artist') or with regular acrylics mixed with modelling paste to increase their body. I lay the basic composition, lines and colours down with the edge of the knife. Next I build up layers of colors by lightling stroking paint onto the canvas with the flat of the knife. The paint does not lie evenly but rather adheres to the canvas intermittently creating a textured surface. Finally, again using the flat of the blade I rub in glazes to imply shadows on textured surfaces.

Thank you very much for answering so promptly. I am fascinated by your approach and think using knives with acrylics must be much more satisfying than a watercolour approach with brushes. I have almost nil experience with acrylic paint but your paintings are really inspiring. I am glad you answered here as I do not normally look at the forum discussions.