My Process
My Process
Today
A glimpse into the journey and conception of an art piece.
Today, the aspect of play is a big part of my practice. When I start painting it feels a bit like a leap into the unknown. I don’t always have a plan, often enough I allow the medium to guide me. Painting on un-stretched canvas takes the pressure off; no work went into stretching it, prepping it. There’s no preciousness. There’s no worry, I can just play. When the fear disappears and I’m in the moment, forgetting about everything else in the world that’s when the greatest stuff comes out, I find. I go with my gut often, a lot of spontaneous decision-making along the way.
I begin by spraying cotton canvas with water, then I pour diluted with water white ground, called gesso, and spread it across the centre of the canvas with my hands, a squeegee, or a brush, not worrying about covering the whole thing. I eyeball the amount of water and gesso needed. I work quickly and while the canvas is still wet, I add acrylic inks that I choose in preparation along with premixed acrylic colours.
Today, I find it the most satisfying way to work and I dive into that fluid process every chance I get. My canvas remains on the floor 90% during the process. I stand above it, twisting and turning the fabric, maneuvering it intuitively in response to the flow of newly created colours that often take my breath away. One of the reasons why I love un-stretched canvas is so that I can flip it to manipulate the flow of the paint whichever way I want sometimes even folding the fabric on itself to create a print of one side onto the other side.
I build my paintings up further until they feel “complete” with improvisational marks and instinctual colour applications, often involving oil and gouache sticks. I may even get inspired to add a realistic element and make that element the focal point.
When I feel the painting is near completion, I decide on final measurements of my composition. I proceed to build a durable stretcher bar for it from scratch, out of kill-dried fir - excellent wood support as it has a much smaller chance of warping or cracking, than, let’s say store-bought canvas or DIY pre-cut panels that need to be assembled. I then stretch, touch-up and seal the work.
The painting process itself usually doesn’t take a long time; it is getting the painting to its complete stage that takes the most time. From, essentially, a piece of fabric on the floor to something as unique as you and I, these works, born out of my passion, carry a magical kind of energy that humbles me, and I find myself short for words while trying to explain it.
My commission process.
I just want to start with this statement, I love commissions!
To know that I am able to bring your vision to life aligns with my purpose and my desire to create. Your trust in me and my abilities energizes and inspires me greatly. In the studio, I work on canvas primarily, however, if you require the painting to be weather resistant or placed outside, in that case I would use a different foundation.
On canvas, my process is fluid, and can be quite unpredictable. I begin by working on unstretched, roughly sized cotton canvas on the floor. For commissions I would be working on more than one piece simultaneously and give you the choice of a few “backgrounds”.
I can never replicate exactly what I’ve done in the past, yet I can work with the same colours and materials and try and achieve a similar effect. From there I can proceed with pure abstraction or include a realistic focal point, such as a portrait, cityscape, a figure or silhouette, whatever you prefer. Prior to that we would discuss your colour preference, your decor style, size and the kind of finish you might want. It would take me about two weeks to complete the painting from the beginning to the end. I can bring you along each and every day and explain what I am working on. If you wish you can visit my studio.
Prices will slightly vary but it will be approximately two Canadian dollars per square inch. Also, for works above 36 in.² there is additional discount. After the painting is complete you can decide whether you want to frame it or not, and that can be organized along with the install.
Follow On Instagram
Leanna Litvinenko is a contemporary artist whose vibrant creations reflect her deep reverence for colour and the natural world.
Links
Site by Floww