13 inches x 13 inches, squares measure 15 mm to 25.4 mm, 33 blues.

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It has been a couple of years since I’ve written about my painting technique, so by way of review here is a post from June 2007 where I first described how I got started.

I paint in oils on canvas covered masonite board with a palette knife. I learned this technique from a local artist. I was attracted to painting with a knife rather than brushes because of the easy clean up. I avoided painting with brushes because I didn’t want to deal with solvents. With a palette knife I simply wipe it clean on a cloth and remove oil paint from my hands with baby oil.

To prep the 1/4″ boards I first cut a piece of cotton or linen fabric a few inches larger than the board. I coat both the board and the fabric with gel medium. I smooth the fabric onto the board with a putty knife. Once the ‘glue’ is dry, I apply two coats of gesso to cover the fabric and to create a white surface on which to paint. I either draw a grid with a ruler and pencil or in the case of floating squares I use a template. I wear a lab coat that is now covered in paint to protect my clothes, I sit on a high stool with my feet propped up on a step stool for stability. In my sketch book I draw the arrangement of squares I will paint and number them with the colors I’ve chosen. I mix the colors one at a time, fill in all those particular squares then move on to the next color.

Photos documenting this process can be seen here.