Sculptural painting: amazing paintings from decorative plaster

Painting on sculpture is a special kind of art that turns plain walls into eye-catching works of art. Artists create amazing three-dimensional designs that almost seem to jump off the wall using decorative plaster. This method creates artwork that is both tactile and visually arresting by fusing the richness and texture of sculpture with the elegance of traditional painting.

A vast array of artistic possibilities are possible with decorative plaster, ranging from elaborate floral patterns to striking abstract designs. A touch of elegance and uniqueness can be added to any space with sculptural painting, whether it is used to decorate an entire room or just one accent wall. This method’s adaptability makes it suitable for a range of interior styles, from traditional to modern.

This piece will delve into the intriguing realm of sculpture painting, going over the supplies, methods, and sources of inspiration used to create these remarkable pieces of art. Sculptural painting is an exciting and fulfilling avenue to pursue, regardless of your background as an artist or your desire to add a personal touch to your home.

What is sculptural painting

This is a method for using special plaster to create relief works, primarily flowers. Before application, the material is combined with coloring pigment, or colorant, and after it hardens, it is no longer painted. This is how this method differs from the traditional high relief and bas-relief techniques.

A palette knife is the primary tool used in this work. This tiny spatula, which forms petals and leaves out of paste, has a flexible metal blade. Oil paints are mixed with a palette knife and applied with coarse strokes in classical painting.

Fibers are added to the plaster to reinforce and lift the material, enabling the flower sculptures in the painting to have a high volume. Below, I’ll walk you through how to mix the ingredients just right for creativity.

Photos in the interior

View a small collection of interesting pieces. In addition to walls, sculpture painting is used to adorn clocks, boxes, ornamental plates, and other artwork.

View the gallery for more pictures.

Necessary materials

The characteristics of the sculptural solution used determine perhaps half of the success rate in volumetric painting. It ought to:

• holds its shape well, does not break or crack after drying;
• have no rough edges;
• be spread in a thin layer;
• do not stick to the palette knife;
• be white for ease of painting;
• and be cheap =)

The required factory materials are costly and almost exclusively imported. Furthermore, they can only be found in big cities. Therefore, artisans independently create sculptural plaster using less expensive materials in order to lower the cost of the project.

Let’s look at a few combinations for paintings with texture.

Riviera Clavel. Because of the natural fibers in this plaster, even a thick layer as thick as 20 mm won’t crack. The Clavel material adheres to any surface with excellent plasticity. However, there is a drawback to this: the paste stretches behind the tool, appearing to slide off it reluctantly, leaving the flower petals rather sparse.

VGT Pain Relief. Textured surfaces with a relief of up to 10 mm can be produced using decorative plaster combined with cellulose filler. The composition gains strength and snow-white color from the marble powder, which does not shrink.

Marmur Stucco. In essence, this is the German equivalent of VGT plaster. Although the price is significantly higher, the composition and properties are similar. Because it is too liquid in its pure form, it needs to be combined with other materials to make it more dense for painting sculptures.

Author’s combination from the master relief painter Evgenia Ermilova TM. Plaster that is entirely ready to use is offered pre-painted in the hottest hues. You can purchase the item from the online store and have it delivered to Russia and its surrounding nations.

NEOMID. Polyurethane foam sealing with polymer putty. includes microfiber, which prevents cracking in the coating. For our sculptures, the material has a great consistency that makes it easy to apply and shape into decorative elements. One of the drawbacks is the light gray hue, which lessens the pattern’s brightness.

Inexperienced craftsmen should buy pre-made decoration materials so that the consistency and adhesion of the plaster are immediately apparent. This will facilitate a quicker mastery of volumetric drawing techniques.

Recipe for a homemade mixture

I’ll share two recipes with people who are comfortable using a palette knife and decorative plaster and are looking for a hands-on method to make a paste. These mixes have all the required ingredients, are affordable, and are simple to make.

First recipe for sculpture plaster:

• Silk plaster Paritet (base coat No. 1) – white microfibers with an adhesive additive.
• Gypsum dry mix Knauf Fugen.
• PVA glue.

1. Silk plaster will act as a reinforcing fiber. Add it to water and mix thoroughly until it becomes a paste.
2. Pour Knauf Fugen on a little bit, mix. In essence, we get ordinary gypsum plaster with reinforcing fibers.
3. For better adhesion, you can add a drop of PVA glue to the composition, but do not overdo it!

After mixing thoroughly once more, let the mixture sit for five to ten minutes before continuing.

Recipe #2.

• Acrylic decorative solution with marble filler – 200 g.
• Fiber 3 mm (looks like cotton) or silk plaster from the first recipe – 10 ml.

1. Measure out the required amount of material in a glass bowl.
2. Fiber 1 cap (10 ml) slightly moisten with water, add to the decorative solution.
3. Stir with a palette knife, thoroughly breaking up the fibers.

For several months, the resultant mixture for sculptural painting can be kept fresh in an airtight container.

Decorative plaster combined with sculpture painting turns plain walls into breathtaking artwork. Using inventive techniques and plaster’s texture, you can create detailed, three-dimensional images that give life and depth to any area. A sculptural painting can be anything from a delicate floral design to a striking abstract pattern, providing countless options for unique, eye-catching wall décor that really stands out.

Technique for making relief paintings

Setting up your workspace is the first place to start. You’ll require:

1. Put the decorative plaster on a plastic board.
2. Add a few drops of colorant. You can mix it not completely, but leave color transitions from saturated to almost white.
3. Pick up the material on the back of the palette knife: separate a little with the edge of the working surface. You can pick it up in one go or in several short strokes.
4. In the place on the picture where the petal or leaf will be, put the palette knife on the other edge and leave the plaster on the canvas with one stroke.
5. Don"t forget to wipe the palette knife from the remains of the paste.
6. When forming a flower bud, first make the lower petals, then overlap them with the upper ones.
7. You can also use a palette knife to correct the edges of the elements, wrap them, leave characteristic grooves.

You can make straightforward relief compositions once you’ve mastered this fundamental stroke technique of combining their directions.

A distinctive method for transforming plain walls into amazing works of art is sculpture painting. Decorative plaster adds depth and personality to any space by enabling you to create textures and designs that are not achievable with conventional painting techniques.

Sculptural painting gives you the opportunity to add originality and skill to your interior design, whether your goal is to make a big statement or a subtle accent. This technique’s adaptability allows you to match it with any style, from traditional elegance to modern minimalism.

Investigating sculptural painting is a great way to incorporate art into your daily life in addition to improving the visual appeal of your walls. Your walls can be transformed into a stunning visual storytelling canvas with a little perseverance and creativity.

Video on the topic

Sculptural painting, apple blossom from decorative plaster.

Orchid from decorative plaster in the technique of sculptural painting

Sculptural painting. Making a contour.

Sculptural painting.Pink peony from decorative plaster

Sculptural painting. I draw a three-dimensional peony with decorative plaster