New from Old

Ok this is done now.

  I like to leave a painting that I think is complete, setting out where I can view it daily for a while.  Often paintings I thought were done when I first put the brushes away, tell me a different story after viewing for a while.  Even paintings that do look finished will give me ideas for a new painting.  This is an example of one that I thought was done but as it set out it realized it need more.
Another reason I like to view them is to see if they keep my interest, it is a huge part of a good painting. 

This is a follow up to that last blog the painting that started a small series, and in the end the original even changed.

And Then There was Three

the third of three, 10 by 8 inch oil on canvas panel

The other night I got out the water based oils and did a practice, the basic still life. 

Not having use oils in a while decided to keep going, but on another painting.  So I decide to see where I could go with the same basic objects, and one addition.  The addition was the fun object that really got me going.  So now there three and I see a little series getting started here.  

the first of three 10 by 8 inch oil on canvas panel

the second of three 10 x 8 inch oils

One more adventure in printing

White ink on Black paper

  

  I have 2 more weeks to my printing class; it is going by so fast. The class is at The Flint Institute of Arts, and is taught by Bill Stolpin, great teacher check out his web site:  http://www.stolpinart.com/
  The class started with easy print methods, using scratch foam, and easy cut rubber, both fun and easy to work with.   We moved on to lino cuts and wood cuts, which are harder but can give you great detail.  Of course now I look at everything and think huh can I carve and print that.  

   Found out cheap foam plates work, don’t last long but you can get a few prints out of them.  Last night I noticed some kids craft foam, and had to give it a try.  Well it was no fun to carve just wanted to crumple up, but being stubborn did it anyways.  I did it but don’t plan to do another, really not worth the work involved. Got an interesting print out of it and just thought I would share.  

white ink on red paper

 

Also here is my very first woodcut, there will be more to come of this method.

black in on white paper

on red paper

Cat Printing and Musings on Art

Cat helped printing

The Cat Artist…..I just want to share the finished work from my last post.  Also, sharing the secret of how the last print was completed.  I started with a red printing of my design and planned the second layer to be a light teal color.  I completed 12 prints that I proudly set a side to dry, when my crazy domestic Bengal cat managed to sneak into the studio and proceed to pounce on the drying pile of prints.  Six prints survived and 6 others had a variety of paw prints added.  After chasing my four legged painting partner out, I gather up the ruined prints and started to throw them out.  Throwing out art work in hard to do and I just could not let them drop in to the trash can.  So, I rolled out some fresh black ink and added one more layer.  Well, I guess my cat had a better plan than mine; the last six prints are now my favorite.

test print of the top layer

where I had planned to stop

printing over a mono print, there is a cat under that top pattern

 

My musing for the day….It is interesting looking at the printing I have been doing, I think the designs could be worked up in photo shop or cut and pasted from glossy magazine art.  But, the process of carving the lines and rolling the ink is what makes this art work.  Viewing the work you can see the texture of the ink, that slight rise and sheen that it creates and that is the character of relief printing.  I just hope that young artists don’t get cut short by technology and miss the process, that part of creating that comes only from working with ink covered hands.

And I always finish my printing day with a finger paint mono print from the left over ink.

Take it and run with it

first printing

Take it and run with it…

Recently I took a Zentangle class, if you are not familiar with that, it is a form of ink drawing, based on patterns.  I was not sure where it would lead but found the process interesting.  Working with the ink drawings has managed to lead to new ideas, and that is why I love to take class and workshops when ever I can. 

   The class had a project of that involved drawing with white ink on black paper.  Look at the designs from the class I noticed that those patterns would make a good template for ink relief printing.  The reason for that is when printing you have to think in reverse of what the final print will look like.  Thought I would share some pictures of the process and where it is leading.  These are just the first in a series of ideas that will end up as finished art works. 

   Hope this inspires you to try some new projects.  For more information on Zentangle check out; http://www.zentangle.com/, an look for friends of Zentangle on Face Book.

white ink on black paper

rough lay out for print plan 

foam printing plate

another plate for print

first inking of a plate

idea

idea

idea

and yet another idea

Try it all

Media makes a difference

A simple subject, such as a dog profile can change significantly, depending on the art media used to express the subject.  For me the media often sets the tone of the feeling being created in the picture.  How you express with different tools is some thing to keep in mind when working on a subject.

With pen and ink detail and design sing out.  Ink and a summi brush will be loose and free spirited.  When using acrylic color and texture dominate.  But then if the paint is watercolor the mood and color will create a totally different style.  This is why I love to try new media, just to see what the media has to teach me.  There is something to learn from every tool we try.

Television and Art

TV is on but who is watching

Are you married to a spouse that is hocked on TV?  If you are you know that there are times you end watching television just because, your other half is there.  I thought I would share my sketch book with you that I keep by the remote, just for those times.

Sometimes when you can gain access to the remote, hit the pause button when an interesting and nicely shadowed face is on the screen.  Those faces are great for practicing quick portrait drawings.  And there is of course a time limit, because how long do you think your partner can handle letting you have that kind of control, before they start complaining. 

     So the main point here is; there is always time for art…one way or another.  Hope you enjoy my TV sketch book.........