Some MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard) boards were offered for use (which would otherwise head to the recycling bin as they were part of the packing material for imported furniture).
I like the idea of recycling so prepped some panels with gesso and began experimenting.
As is often the case I don’t know what I’m going to paint so I do something, then something else, etc.
There are always factors influencing what might happen. With the MDF board, a very smooth surface offered potentials different to canvas. For instance, the brush moves on the surface differently than on canvas (unless the canvas is primed and sanded to a smooth finish). Also, being a robust surface, the usage of masks works easier.
Different types of brushes became interesting to use on this surface too – like a very floppy “Pure Squirrel” brush. (I’m generally not inclined towards “mark-making” in itself – there’s gotta be some other grist to drive the work. What’s been happening with the Squirrel is a prance with other, broader elements that have already arrived).
As for the circle thing – I like circles, and with the purchase of a circle cutter, it makes these easier to propagate. I also like the tension between these very defined shapes (in this case, the circle) with other, more amorphous perturbations.
There are other techniques experimented with over the years that are also arriving for play: Transparency and the use of fluorescent pigments.
These boards are also small (51 x 51 cm) – providing scope to work on several paintings at once (which opens up other possibilities).