SOUTHWEST STRIPES: SERAPES AND SUNSETS

When I painted a number of Southwestern pieces for a hotel lobby in San Antonio several years ago, I developed these techniques to make striking work resembling traditional serapes (suh-ROPP-ays), or striped Southwestern and Mexican blankets.

By masking off areas with painters tape and blending within the narrow areas, even beginners can achieve a fantastic effect. Depending on the number of layers, a simple canvas square can end up looking like a priceless Pendleton trade blanket pattern with the addition of just two simple stencil shapes.

While I was planning this workshop, I realized that some of the techniques of Japanese Sumi-e painting work beautifully with serape stripes. You won’t believe how easy this technique is and what spectacular results you can get, especially when you add stamps, stencils and mark-making.

The great thing is that this technique can be used on two-and-three dimensional objects – wall pieces, floor cloths, boxes, even cow skulls. Because the stripes are blended in acrylic paint, the substrate can be paper, wood, or heavy fabric. I have even used old drop cloths to make wall hangings.

These beautiful serape stripe techniques will add a new Southwestern energy and magic to all your work!