How to Paint Like Bowling

Frank uses an ever changing list of materials depending on what is available or new things he wants to experiment with. Here are some of the most common elements in his work.

• Canvas
• Acrylic paint in bright shades
• Objects to embed
• Acrylic gel to hold the objects
• Water spray
• Spatula
• Palette Knife
• Brushes
• Buckets and jars
• String
• Chalk and a file
• Glitter and a salt shaker
• Ammonia - Warning: Ammonia is corrosive. Please use gloves and masks and other protective wear

Firstly, soak the canvas in water. This saturates the canvas and makes it easier for the paint to be absorbed. Then, brush a choice of colour onto the canvas. It’s helpful to have a second canvas underneath to collect any drips. This can then be used a later stage.

Once your canvas is completely covered in colour, try adding different colours to the composition. Mix the colours with gel to change the viscosity. Ammonia will also help break down the paint and gel so the colours can bleed into each other.

Bowling likes to use shapes in his artworks. Take a bucket or jar and use chalk to trace its shape onto the canvas.

Bowling likes to create semi-circles in his work. Using some string (and a friend to help) pin the string to a section of the canvas and draw an even circle using some chalk.

Keep applying new layers of paint. Apply it different ways and experiment with how the paint can flow across the canvas. Use a palette knife, a water spray, gel or pick up the canvas and let the paint drip. See what works best.

Embed found objects onto the canvas using gel. Try different combinations of things and see how they could create a dialogue with the paint colours. You can use seashells, napkins, toy vehicles and anything else you no longer need.

Add some finishing touches, such as glitter and grated chalk to the canvas. These can add another layer of depth and texture. Bowling sometimes flicks paint onto the canvas to create punctuation. All you need to do is go for it!