Artistic Explorations: Libertango

This painting was created by following the brilliant class instructions of Kristina Bril'kova. While I was already very familiar with working in texture and acrylic—having completed several pieces in this technique through personal exploration and experimentation—I found great value in receiving structured instruction. The biggest takeaway from this class was the sharpening of my artistic eye. I struggled and reworked this painting extensively, and in doing so, it pushed me significantly. It deepened my understanding of composition and strengthened my ability to reflect on my process and make meaningful, effective corrections along the way.

• Preparing the surface, Working with texture

Instructions

Result

• Blocking in color and composition

  • 
    

• Many reincarnations, till composition is right

• Details and accents

• End result and reflections:

1. Leaves that are too perfect and uniform can feel artificial. Introducing more variation in shape, size, and tone adds authenticity and visual interest.

2. Investing more time in planning the composition at the start makes a big difference. Once paint and texture are down, it becomes much harder to course-correct.

3. Identify the dominant element early on. Without a clear focal point or a dynamic tension between elements, the composition can lose impact.

4. Not every area needs to compete for attention—creating quiet spaces allows the viewer’s eye to rest and makes the more active areas stand out even more. Even when the overall composition and color theme feel right, excessive texture or contrast in certain background areas can unintentionally pull focus and disrupt depth. Subtle adjustments—like toning down those elements—can restore balance without altering the core of the work.

5. Don’t shy away from going very dark—or very light—when a section needs to be toned down or brought into balance. Strong value contrast is not only essential, but also beautiful when applied with intention. Even in a bright, autumn-leaf-inspired piece, it was the contrast in neutral tones that allowed the vibrant colors to truly shine. Knowing where and how to push those extremes brings depth, clarity, and impact to the composition.

6. Using spray paint at an angle is tricky—small shifts can easily lead to uneven coverage or unwanted marks. This was by far the most challenging and most make-it-or-break-it part of the entire process—one misstep could undo hours of work as spray paint is not washable as acrylic or oil would be before they dry. After ruining a few areas and starting over, I found that practicing on a test canvas first helps dial in the technique. Even then, the spray nozzle quality makes a big difference. It's important to study the specific spray paint can you plan to use—coverage strength and uniformity can vary significantly even between cans of the same brand and color. Once the trial feels right, I hold the can steady in mid-air, then quickly bring the actual painting into place with my other hand, keeping the same angle to maintain consistency and control.

7. Applying wax as a final varnish was not part of the class, but my personal idea. Wax can greatly enrich color and seal the surface, but it may also unintentionally emphasize high points in textured areas, creating an unwanted shine. In this case, it caused some central leaves to appear overly defined and plastic-looking against a muted background. To resolve this, adding detail helped break up the artificial look, but since acrylic couldn't be used over the wax layer, oil and cold wax were used instead. This was a great move - not only it corrected the issue but also added vibrant accents throughout, highlighting how oil and cold wax can enhance brilliance where matte acrylics fall short.