HOW TO: Max Ernst Texture with Plastic Wrap

Ever wonder how Max Ernst achieved the texture in some of his paintings? Lynette Bettini gives a demo of Decalcomania which was used by a pioneer of the Dada movement and Surrealism, Max Ernst. The technique of Decalcomania involves pressing paint between two surfaces. In this demo it's oil paint between canvas and plastic wrap.
Websites Referenced:
www.bettiniart.com
www.artistchronicle.com
Music from iMovie

[@OttoRappTheMystic]

it works with gouache as well as acrylics. But with such water based paints, you cant dally, but need to work fast, since they dry very fast. Best surface to use is gessoed panel, sanded very smooth between coats, and final surface preparation a thin coat of acryl medium - this underpainting would also work with oilpaints. . I studied Max Ernst since the sixties and practiced decalcomania off and on since then.

[@FrFrankiejr]

Wonderful technique! Thanks for sharing it. I can't wait to try it.

[@razboz]

You can totally do this with acrylics, but the method can be quite different. in one variation you do a wash of acrylics, put down the clingfilm and then let it dry. When it's solid, but not quite dry you pull up the clingfilm. It's a bit time-consuming but it allows you to layer much more effectively.

[@artistchronicle]

Yes, Fr, I agree and thanks to Lynette for sharing. And, Shadows, in my bit of research I noticed that decalcomania is used with gouache (and of course oils), but I'm not sure about acrylics. Give it a try and let us know! Just work really fast! :)

[@SCREAMOguy413]

incredible!!

[@jwatson1601]

very interesting I'm going to have a go thanks

[@cameronsullings8148]

thanks for the video your a good artist

[@artistchronicle]

I checked with Lynette and she said it works with watercolors on watercolor paper if you let the wrap stay and dry on the wet paint. It shows up better on a darker color. She's never tried gouache. Hope that helps.

[@FaithMachine]

Splendid!

[@artistchronicle]

Awesome! Thanks!

[@lakshmanankomathmanalath]

Thank you.

[@terrydearing7480]

It’ s a very intuitive teqnique

[@dasadopeboy]

thanks lady

[@JarvisCockerisGod]

Thanks, this video really helped...but does it work when you use gouache too?

[@terrydearing7480]

I too desire to paint using decalomania with acrylic paints

[@artwithterryann]

I use the plastic wrap technique for my intuitive paintings ... it does work with acrylics ... drop by my channel if you'd like to see some of my examples. The plastic wrap technique is really fun ... makes a painting feel like child's play.

[@CobraDove1111]

Where are your videos?

[@cameronsullings8148]

and there was me baffled thinking he painted every little detail

[@cancontrl]

This woman is beautiful.

[@rogerevans9666]

Nice video, but I doubt if Ernst had saran wrap back in the day. Perhaps he used some type of cloth. Sorry for being Debby Downer's twin brother.

[@artistchronicle]

Haha… good point! Glad you commented

[@foto21]

Cool technique, but this won't make you paint like Ernst. Ernst still clearly had a serious command of realistic rendering of nature and figure both, the kind that takes years and likely classical training to achieve and his work is full of detail painted the same way any other great painter does - with talent, skill and experience.

[@artistchronicle]

True that.

[@221b-Maker-Street]

The title literally says *"How To: Max Ernst **_Texture"._*
No-one's pretending that on its own, it's enough you to make you _paint_ like Ernst!

[@estaanacker958]

Damn, first I was like: tf is she doing? Is she even making a piece or just showing that you could wipe something off at tandom parts and then she showed it and it was like :daang, that seems to make sense

[@artistchronicle]

Awesome! Glad you commented!

[@williamwalker3345]

love this vid i love kids im a oil you up