Yupo paper

If you think painting on Asian paper is a challenge, then painting on Yupo paper is like (I’d imagine) doing slalom ski runs backwards. This paper is completely synthetic and is basically plastic. It has to be tried before you make up your mind about embracing it or not. It has no texture and it is best used for free-flow abstraction. When the paint hits the surface it goes wherever it wants to. The paint then lies on the surface until it dries because the paper has no absorption ability. For creative effects the paint can be blown around with a hairdryer; the paper can be tilted to tip the paint wherever you would like it to go; you can drop other colours into it and watch the alchemy of colour mixing; you can drop in vinegar or bleach or inks. When it dries you can get a felt pen and scribble on it.

If you don’t want to do abstract work, then painting a realistic subject is exceptionally difficult. The dominant characteristic of the paper is that everything flows everywhere and everything can be wiped off. So to create ‘the whites’ you just wipe off the paint with a tissue. To build up tones, colours and shadows, you will find that anything you add will change or lift off anything underneath. One solution is to just let the paint settle where it wants to, wait for it to dry and then cautiously lay more paint down. The painting can easily go to mud and you will find there are absolutely no rules that apply to painting on this paper. My advice is to wipe out for the white areas (or wipe off the whole painting and start again!), bravely add dark thick paint for shadows and tone and, if it looks OK, then leave it alone! It is a great paper to experience and experiment with – you may become addicted to the unconventional results