The Canvas Salvage Project - Stage 2 (Phase 1)

Canvas Salvage Project

Australian Art Creativity Studio ADHD Experiment

© Jody Arnold, August 2026

Stage 2 (Phase 1) - 8th August, 2026

Canvas Salvage Project - Stage 2

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So while listening to the studio radio channel on Spotify, we managed to add the next layer of colour to the salvaged twilight canvas. So now we have a base backdrop for the stratosphere and atmosphere. Although basic knowledge in painting, the dark colours go down first. And the gradual honing of hues to tints then become layered several times to create a finished product.

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I always stumble at this point. Because the darkness of the backdrop seems unnatural to most mainstream art you see, it can trick the mind into thinking you have made a mistake.

It also doesn't help that my auADHD brain registers this as an already completed project in visualisation, and so this is very bold and jarring to that already formulated image stored in my head.

It does take a literal thought process to recognise that this is just a background blocking in layer, because the spatial recognition has already distracted me with the superimposed the final outcome upon the focal point (which is the canvas).

When this happens (the above), I have at least disciplined myself to work out that I need to remind myself that acrylic is a layering paint, unlike oils which is a combination application.

Personal Reflection:

I was glad to see the old patchy layer of Byron brand paint be covered with the navy Liquitex.

Byron brand paint is good student paint but it is middle range paint that is only just above what I call poster paint (kindergarten paint). It was marketed as a premium paint, but the Liquitex was very competitive with the other brands in price and yet had a much more professional quality in application. It had consistency fluidity, generous coverage, and you can see in this comparison photo, what happens.

The cobalt blue of the Byron, that was an entire tube on that layer. So that’s approximately 75ml. The Liquitex navy? That was literally about a tablespoon of paint doing that entire stable canvas range. The Liquitex was a dream to use in comparison. I would give kids the Byron, but serious artists the Liquitex.