tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32904700130271193222024-03-12T21:56:34.595-04:00NuncketestThe flora, fauna, and history of the Lake Nippennicket area within the Hockomock Swamp Preserve in Bridgewater, Massachusetts. The Wampanoag Native Americans named the lake Nunketest, meaning "Lake of the Red Waters".Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072444717957864494noreply@blogger.comBlogger1274125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3290470013027119322.post-74167694530975243972015-05-16T23:27:00.002-04:002015-05-16T23:27:42.034-04:00Leafing OutThe shoreline trees are now beginning to leaf out. Most are still with some flower and only small young leaves.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5S9tQ0sikSKj5CUOyJzTwUpGJ0hw3y4R-rlhV6t5xqIt10BtYdacry7wLMGMT1taip8K1y1LSupmnbskouus1DcCy3eI32nh-xie0gyvOSWXNFdkZfkIAZjxp91BUvH6Wy62mmSb7ThiN/s1600/IMG_5240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5S9tQ0sikSKj5CUOyJzTwUpGJ0hw3y4R-rlhV6t5xqIt10BtYdacry7wLMGMT1taip8K1y1LSupmnbskouus1DcCy3eI32nh-xie0gyvOSWXNFdkZfkIAZjxp91BUvH6Wy62mmSb7ThiN/s400/IMG_5240.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">May 6</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH8qtSu_O42yQr_wd6y0MKm4gPWF9BtTRofo1NunitLZib1z38Om5vleT60l_8eA9XxgWdGK5AtqjC4NDmtyE26WwR-HvadosHAy813mbiN3eb1CcAy5aKzGfvLld6jJ61TYgyhZlPjs5J/s1600/IMG_5255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH8qtSu_O42yQr_wd6y0MKm4gPWF9BtTRofo1NunitLZib1z38Om5vleT60l_8eA9XxgWdGK5AtqjC4NDmtyE26WwR-HvadosHAy813mbiN3eb1CcAy5aKzGfvLld6jJ61TYgyhZlPjs5J/s400/IMG_5255.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">May 10</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFAebvcNonDopmzZ928Swj8CBsa0a1R3UJmiJGiTpIbhKNGbv3P2MuU8UKt1xt08mJw90kiGd-ydYYG7IouQaq0coqUsQRF8GV00okv0dIW8d99sgyS6MdjaKsv8IPuniQC6tf-JqNvmW/s1600/IMG_5275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFAebvcNonDopmzZ928Swj8CBsa0a1R3UJmiJGiTpIbhKNGbv3P2MuU8UKt1xt08mJw90kiGd-ydYYG7IouQaq0coqUsQRF8GV00okv0dIW8d99sgyS6MdjaKsv8IPuniQC6tf-JqNvmW/s400/IMG_5275.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">May 16</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935478985802990726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3290470013027119322.post-38396576393174056512015-05-07T09:44:00.003-04:002015-05-07T09:51:21.614-04:00The trees are wakingThe trees are waking! Well, at least that's how it seems. There must have been all kinds of chemical reactions taking place as the trees sensed their environmental brightening and warming that led to swelling buds with flowers and first leaves.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It was a trying winter in these parts, and the change in scenery here is most welcome!</div>
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv-2g0PJKx706PYUhZBTl0dTjjzuDLDT__f_h-KwUCqTtvDI-g97e6aYK2MKQ6I-W4pkOIg2AnvNGwVRXU_WFdSdFx4TZC4p5p9ustzzgkwTs7ic0B4Pfs_uRgql5RwsicmW6-PAS_J6A7/s1600/IMG_5233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv-2g0PJKx706PYUhZBTl0dTjjzuDLDT__f_h-KwUCqTtvDI-g97e6aYK2MKQ6I-W4pkOIg2AnvNGwVRXU_WFdSdFx4TZC4p5p9ustzzgkwTs7ic0B4Pfs_uRgql5RwsicmW6-PAS_J6A7/s1600/IMG_5233.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sassafras Flowers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTaGi9ZcagYfALv_Z6paOsIGdb3OiPy0AkekTF4UC3PR4CddvLNORJAGzMKCqfusg7J90fsOz1FYVV_FbKQcdrc4C9RcDmp1TzMsy28McqafOp7b3VRj4BIwIHTaE1Z7zYj-0YCqfwqCqk/s1600/IMG_5238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTaGi9ZcagYfALv_Z6paOsIGdb3OiPy0AkekTF4UC3PR4CddvLNORJAGzMKCqfusg7J90fsOz1FYVV_FbKQcdrc4C9RcDmp1TzMsy28McqafOp7b3VRj4BIwIHTaE1Z7zYj-0YCqfwqCqk/s1600/IMG_5238.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maple Samaras</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKcqMAN74kehToQjC82Po_XQ_y1LyZYVN_HmKZ1jXuV61Qe9Rrr_DCJ3XPFM2mDRRWLiS4oACeH1tcyYu9gFby9J59v1vR3yjheEcoJdtmIHhPfZgRAk5OMH06RuLHOcAArUw9C-8jlfcc/s1600/IMG_5244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKcqMAN74kehToQjC82Po_XQ_y1LyZYVN_HmKZ1jXuV61Qe9Rrr_DCJ3XPFM2mDRRWLiS4oACeH1tcyYu9gFby9J59v1vR3yjheEcoJdtmIHhPfZgRAk5OMH06RuLHOcAArUw9C-8jlfcc/s1600/IMG_5244.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White Birch Catkins</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguRkZmb704xrFshX4FytiefpQ6wcHVBSHI5gl55xFRtkVvwBfTDfXFdQnzv5Ao_2EdWzGZDMqvLPc-xzeUdax78-kq0hj1VBbWlsU-uqSrXgftelzN9vijcomBxcWBvoOZgt52IDtVBj1c/s1600/IMG_5251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguRkZmb704xrFshX4FytiefpQ6wcHVBSHI5gl55xFRtkVvwBfTDfXFdQnzv5Ao_2EdWzGZDMqvLPc-xzeUdax78-kq0hj1VBbWlsU-uqSrXgftelzN9vijcomBxcWBvoOZgt52IDtVBj1c/s1600/IMG_5251.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cinnamon Fern</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935478985802990726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3290470013027119322.post-81892853577439684122015-05-03T19:27:00.002-04:002015-05-03T23:01:00.296-04:00The Coming of Spring<blockquote>
"Every year we find new cause for happiness in the growing buds, unfolding leaves, and the shaping of blossom. We add to our pleasure in these things by tracing their development. We cannot but wonder at the manifestation of the perfect mechanism that enables a small bud to contain during the winter a complete set of leaves, stems and flowers, and to unpack them in regular order at the coming of Spring."</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i>The Artistic Anatomy of Trees</i></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i>Their Structure & Treatment in Painting</i></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
Rex Vicat Cole</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGujN5hxqy7fYQnWBbz8V6pum-70RUcpEjoV9cbuWvzYxDnsCooGNCS-PN3NiGMqFEqaQcnwdOdJwnLMgrF3VzRgvPz1JYNEaSoRnGLkJJlFrNpVHMwUZjHk2Pk4Dzve8K_9tvxX5xWt_V/s1600/IMG_5190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGujN5hxqy7fYQnWBbz8V6pum-70RUcpEjoV9cbuWvzYxDnsCooGNCS-PN3NiGMqFEqaQcnwdOdJwnLMgrF3VzRgvPz1JYNEaSoRnGLkJJlFrNpVHMwUZjHk2Pk4Dzve8K_9tvxX5xWt_V/s1600/IMG_5190.jpg" height="320" width="292" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Oak</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4SR2JKVXdTeTFZo9k7M3-Nrdawn1W4Qa5ll15K8_OBQ7Fv_yVMBnyWsCX7jA_eb6S22fQ6GrX6S4SjgMEm3VVPfgrV8puMyiZ3nJno87_wz5E8BowOfh_AnMutxbI3AStaLP6DoGzDOdw/s1600/IMG_5194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4SR2JKVXdTeTFZo9k7M3-Nrdawn1W4Qa5ll15K8_OBQ7Fv_yVMBnyWsCX7jA_eb6S22fQ6GrX6S4SjgMEm3VVPfgrV8puMyiZ3nJno87_wz5E8BowOfh_AnMutxbI3AStaLP6DoGzDOdw/s1600/IMG_5194.jpg" height="320" width="218" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Oak</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNw6lkbRl5QtaWqTTx3JQ2Kifclnceh7Aia_vQPXfvKfzxWQBb0f3-86XNQfigSd96HJXoInrMla96ReelxcPIB07uxJpmsSt_udXQx-SwnmLWWNJX9jSMFMiEEmanbHAxYrTn7YISqmaC/s1600/IMG_5199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNw6lkbRl5QtaWqTTx3JQ2Kifclnceh7Aia_vQPXfvKfzxWQBb0f3-86XNQfigSd96HJXoInrMla96ReelxcPIB07uxJpmsSt_udXQx-SwnmLWWNJX9jSMFMiEEmanbHAxYrTn7YISqmaC/s1600/IMG_5199.jpg" height="320" width="164" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fiddleheads<br />
Unknown species</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZTfKxvdW3MCAO_GDUu4P7sG0vyr99TR1J_VfRxLbaMS98o2rkIcy6VGwxGYWJH3RhCfNKJ4ZuEwdQN1dIrxZgnFNI-E2j35EK5ahkQeKiVhCv4FKnD1i7agRh-80rjP57_7LjgwTJpLiy/s1600/IMG_5205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZTfKxvdW3MCAO_GDUu4P7sG0vyr99TR1J_VfRxLbaMS98o2rkIcy6VGwxGYWJH3RhCfNKJ4ZuEwdQN1dIrxZgnFNI-E2j35EK5ahkQeKiVhCv4FKnD1i7agRh-80rjP57_7LjgwTJpLiy/s1600/IMG_5205.jpg" height="233" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wild Cherry</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0QhnjSQyWsh0s_noCBuII5kqavded6p3UGlcVg1JRc39Rcgg0g5BRGeczA-h36InAWchf-pab6I6H_g6jph9umG0XYarhDDooDuJdW0TMPhTjCUXj53c53-69Uj9Z4uMLLahfdWVURJcZ/s1600/IMG_5214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0QhnjSQyWsh0s_noCBuII5kqavded6p3UGlcVg1JRc39Rcgg0g5BRGeczA-h36InAWchf-pab6I6H_g6jph9umG0XYarhDDooDuJdW0TMPhTjCUXj53c53-69Uj9Z4uMLLahfdWVURJcZ/s1600/IMG_5214.jpg" height="320" width="283" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mosses<br />
Unknown species</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<i>The Artistic Anatomy of Trees</i> is a wonderfully inspirational book. Available inexpensively from Dover via <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Artistic-Anatomy-Trees-Dover-Instruction/dp/0486214753/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1430696079&sr=8-1&keywords=the+artistic+anatomy+of+trees" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, read extensive previews on <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=RvW-B1scfZ4C&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false" target="_blank">Google Books</a>, or see the original volume on the <a href="https://archive.org/details/artisticanatomyo1915cole" target="_blank">Internet Archive</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-W2bLplnI4MF2Fn_fENVi960qMLic5Zl6uC6unrMPlrz_sUQrVW3aPfap7jgF-3qMnafT6gmY6t0qGUM1p4CQ_UINDeZkC9PX_bph6LGj2PIfgR2QUsEJArI-srrcegIfjbkLNoIcquCS/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-05-03+at+7.30.55+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-W2bLplnI4MF2Fn_fENVi960qMLic5Zl6uC6unrMPlrz_sUQrVW3aPfap7jgF-3qMnafT6gmY6t0qGUM1p4CQ_UINDeZkC9PX_bph6LGj2PIfgR2QUsEJArI-srrcegIfjbkLNoIcquCS/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-05-03+at+7.30.55+PM.png" height="320" width="197" /></a></div>
<br />Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935478985802990726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3290470013027119322.post-21097913645513714092014-02-27T16:51:00.000-05:002014-02-28T12:54:02.875-05:00I saw a bee!There at my doorstep on Sunday morning, I saw my first bee of the season. It was the buzz of that little honey bee that got me flashing back to steamy hot summer days when my yard is alive with bumbles and honeys and other bee species unknown to me.<br />
<br />
And it was then I remembered last year's intent to start up some bee beneficial plants. I had my seeds. Alas, I failed to carry through.<br />
<br />
Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not merciless. I do have quite a few bee friendly species. Flowering crabapple, flowering quince, butterfly bush, lemon balm, holly, sweet pepperbush, goldenrod and jewel weed come to mind.<br />
<br />
But it's actions that count, right? Ya, right! :-)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg93n8M99QAiPoolzKGLPm2wGmD0izHsLbpqLJX6uXPILKKlyLdR7CMNAm-Gsmralarn65_OuTKZZXEL0WU8fxPorXhG51Rxcd0xDHaAYZX5njPMd8LX1yZH-bGSiXRpFFVSWwGfYqss9x/s1600/IMG_0182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg93n8M99QAiPoolzKGLPm2wGmD0izHsLbpqLJX6uXPILKKlyLdR7CMNAm-Gsmralarn65_OuTKZZXEL0WU8fxPorXhG51Rxcd0xDHaAYZX5njPMd8LX1yZH-bGSiXRpFFVSWwGfYqss9x/s1600/IMG_0182.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lavender, Thyme and Rosemary seeds<br />
from <a href="http://www.johnnyseeds.com/" target="_blank">Johnny's Selected Seeds</a> in Albion, Maine.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaUyWGXVHurtDtcOrkEL8neglGhOOyauv3w6jOQWVoZBdZw_Zga16MPOv8_LSzr9RkzuzGXjI-59gp8lN8JfuE-8a7-QfqoBcUiAEmRI4T4pPp9V2tJdQ0uLnYVtKIbVGftMaeURFnQYRi/s1600/IMG_0183.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaUyWGXVHurtDtcOrkEL8neglGhOOyauv3w6jOQWVoZBdZw_Zga16MPOv8_LSzr9RkzuzGXjI-59gp8lN8JfuE-8a7-QfqoBcUiAEmRI4T4pPp9V2tJdQ0uLnYVtKIbVGftMaeURFnQYRi/s1600/IMG_0183.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A small flat, seeded with the above.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There are lots of seeds left over, so I may start up another flat soon. And if something goes wrong, come Spring there's always a trip to the local nursery where I can stock up with ready to plant herbs.<br />
<br />
This post is dedicated to my good friend <a href="http://pencilandleaf.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank">Val Littlewood</a>.<br />
<br />
Do spend a bit of time on her <a href="http://pencilandleaf.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Pencil and Leaf blog</a>. At the very least, you <i>have to</i> read <a href="http://pencilandleaf.blogspot.com/2014/02/lets-help-beesshall-we-its-so-very-easy.html" target="_blank">this recent post</a>. When you do, I can guarantee with certainty that the next time you see a bee, you will think of Val. And when you do, drop her a line and let her know. She loves a good bee story!<br />
<br />Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935478985802990726noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3290470013027119322.post-17487853566409171762014-02-20T10:09:00.001-05:002014-02-20T11:22:30.535-05:00Good Enough Panel MakingWhat's a panel? To an oil or acrylic painter, it's an alternative to a canvas support. It could be of solid wood, plywood, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medium-density_fibreboard" target="_blank">MDF</a> (medium density fiberboard), copper or even one of the new composites like <a href="http://graphicdisplayusa.com/en/products/dibond/dibond/" target="_blank">Dibond</a>. Sometimes canvas is secured to a panel.<br />
<br />
A panel, like a canvas, needs a primer base and then a ground to be considered complete. Examples of primers are rabbit skin glue and acrylic dispersion primers (like Golden's GAC 100.) Examples of grounds are gesso, lead paint and acrylic dispersion grounds (like Golden's Gesso.)<br />
<br />
Just those two little paragraphs above open to a world full of knowledge, opinions and outright nonsense. I try to wade through it all with the likes of forums within <a href="http://www.naturalpigments.com/forum/" target="_blank">Natural Pigments</a> and <a href="http://www.amien.org/forums/" target="_blank">AMIEN</a>. I keep up to date with products and research from the web sites of <a href="http://www.goldenpaints.com/technicaldata/techsheets.php" target="_blank">Golden</a> and <a href="http://www.gamblincolors.com/newsletters/index.html" target="_blank">Gamblin</a>. Museum sites can be tremendous sources of information for art conservation. (See <a href="http://www.nga.gov/content/ngaweb/conservation/resources.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/technical-bulletin/" target="_blank">here</a> for starters on these stunning resources.)<br />
<br />
I've tried linen panels but prefer a smoother surface. I'm not painting on very large supports, the biggest at this time being 16 x 24 inches. These are my surface and size requirements.<br />
<br />
Over the past couple of years, I've tried 1/4" "Birch" plywood from the local building supplier, Home Depot. Splits in the veneer surface and localized warping plagued me.<br />
<br />
Home Depot also offers MDF and I've been, until recently, working with their 1/8" MDF. I did find slight warping apparent in sizes over 12 inches.<br />
<br />
I have settled on 1/4" MDF. No warping over a span of two feet.<br />
<br />
To prepare my panels, I first cut to size on my table saw. Then over the course of a week or so, I will apply two coats of <a href="http://www.goldenpaints.com/technicaldata/gac100s.php" target="_blank">Golden GAC 100</a> to all sides. Then it's a coat or two of <a href="http://www.goldenpaints.com/technicaldata/gesso.php" target="_blank">Golden's Gesso</a> all around with a couple more layers for the front. I then let the panels sit for a week or so to dry more completely.<br />
<br />
This little process is built upon the product information on Golden's site. It can possibly change over time so I visit regularly. My requests for technical support with Golden's products are always well answered. I like 'em!<br />
<br />
You see, my goal here has been to establish a process that I'm comfortable working through and that I feel provides good protection for a painting's future. My standardized process feels "good enough" for me. I like that!<br />
<br />
I do as some point want to explore MDFs. Are they all the same? Do some fit better with GAC 100? Perhaps I should scuff up the panel first?<br />
<br />
I might want to explore grounds as well. Do I want to use a lead ground instead of acrylic? Will rolling acrylic gesso provide a smoother surface than a brush?<br />
<br />
One could easily become lost in the technical abyss and never come out. I do have experience with that phenomenon. I think that's why my "good enough" statement is key here. I may be able to make incremental improvements in my panels but certainly don't need to delay painting. It's good enough!<br />
<br />
<i>(See my earlier posts on panel making <a href="http://nuncketest.blogspot.com/2012/06/panel-making.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://nuncketest.blogspot.com/2012/07/panel-making-ii.html" target="_blank">here</a>.)</i>Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935478985802990726noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3290470013027119322.post-17097617340828720932014-02-18T11:24:00.001-05:002014-02-18T11:24:50.822-05:00Another gift paintingHere's another little painting I recently gave to a friend. It was my first try at a Luis Melendez copy, just a little bit and rather incomplete at that.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMIcZFxoY_yb-btIYP6Qy8aBvITuzCTGAdn4hC040hdjLY_F2i3zTpsUC1ZEM4cBpKw4fnsN1Zy3xo37Fy3d7N814FgbA6sbDYseUph-eMWyRWEliWgj3b9kWvxU5vFWSp5L7gUBxz-s70/s1600/IMG_0068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMIcZFxoY_yb-btIYP6Qy8aBvITuzCTGAdn4hC040hdjLY_F2i3zTpsUC1ZEM4cBpKw4fnsN1Zy3xo37Fy3d7N814FgbA6sbDYseUph-eMWyRWEliWgj3b9kWvxU5vFWSp5L7gUBxz-s70/s1600/IMG_0068.jpg" height="332" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A small piece of a Melendez<br />MDF panel<br />8 x 10 inches</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I have a second copy that's more complete and a third just getting underway that's a full size version. We'll take peeks at those later in the contexts of panel making and Old Master copying.<br />
<br />Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935478985802990726noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3290470013027119322.post-71213377587712060732014-02-17T16:04:00.003-05:002014-02-17T16:30:21.532-05:00Meet JuniorIn December I began this painting of a friend's cat, Junior. At that time, all I had was a picture in that pose on a windowsill. I kind of made up the rest as I went along! So naturally, lots of changes that led to lots of changes. :-)<br />
<br />
Junior taught me that planning is important. I've some new work that I'm trying to hold in step by step fashion. It's hard. I want to dwell on the details here, and then there! And then...<br />
<br />
So more on that later. For now, here's Junior! He's a very sweet cat! :-)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUYll7PyC1iAdfBfpoaoRAEsCY7Nwo2zDybQEcMo8neJBJKtuZrH8-_1smDVse9q267xSUIex710r7ChqfjTir-6_moJhOGe3Z7Yax006jDjvliG8vcSdEMjdRvovlhpIZK_hKqmfG_F6m/s1600/Junior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUYll7PyC1iAdfBfpoaoRAEsCY7Nwo2zDybQEcMo8neJBJKtuZrH8-_1smDVse9q267xSUIex710r7ChqfjTir-6_moJhOGe3Z7Yax006jDjvliG8vcSdEMjdRvovlhpIZK_hKqmfG_F6m/s1600/Junior.jpg" height="400" width="318" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Junior<br />
Linen on panel <br />
8 x 10 inches</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<i>Note: This image is somewhat oversaturated and reading too contrasty. Since this photo, I've stopped using my iPhone 5 and gone back to the Canon with raw files for art work photos. But the iPhone was so handy...</i>Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935478985802990726noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3290470013027119322.post-39997861922709874912013-02-24T09:23:00.002-05:002013-02-24T18:44:32.821-05:00Bird Art BooksMy current bird art books, for instruction and inspiration. Between these books and my art work I'm developing a greater awareness of birds. I'm now more likely to hear their songs and notice movement in trees.<br />
<br />
Does one really need to know anatomy to draw birds? All three books cover basic anatomy--a featherless body, feather groups, beak and eye position, and feet details. Feather groups work for me and I'll present them once I get my "coverts" in order.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIy1eRU1EmUJwSs_RGSJ0NxeDV1CLYYz2Y-JJTYW87sOY_khW5i9B0Fa9wyU8Z2byyQN-GKME9DYFcfrZ1Bxxr2Ycfw4-vwd5ZW2tvEldT46k4POyARirqNYWrcDy_LJhGzzbE1UjO0krq/s1600/IMG_0008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIy1eRU1EmUJwSs_RGSJ0NxeDV1CLYYz2Y-JJTYW87sOY_khW5i9B0Fa9wyU8Z2byyQN-GKME9DYFcfrZ1Bxxr2Ycfw4-vwd5ZW2tvEldT46k4POyARirqNYWrcDy_LJhGzzbE1UjO0krq/s320/IMG_0008.jpg" width="262" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie6gbEg47cpGCSVd2OcAXqkxaCeIRqr-Cuk9Q4Nsuh3L9jwePk61Nd6tUTccfWe9r55A7wj6qWBx0wpVfry9jUbmUcPxM-D6jpc-nj1p2gv19IxzmKwuw7ruwXmN0SpA5hRZ3Vdx-NYl33/s1600/IMG_0009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie6gbEg47cpGCSVd2OcAXqkxaCeIRqr-Cuk9Q4Nsuh3L9jwePk61Nd6tUTccfWe9r55A7wj6qWBx0wpVfry9jUbmUcPxM-D6jpc-nj1p2gv19IxzmKwuw7ruwXmN0SpA5hRZ3Vdx-NYl33/s320/IMG_0009.jpg" width="245" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXrYntPAyu_9QdjdCFGSI4fOf_wgWSr4whq2IqBVvtB7DflqC-9GA4tRW3rt_1AhkJiApimad8f02XZSJ8Qb4VFrsthgMOl0rDaB9tNir6rwkUepBPg-Ir9Xz8HfS5ROOo5I8kHXVcoMLP/s1600/IMG_0010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXrYntPAyu_9QdjdCFGSI4fOf_wgWSr4whq2IqBVvtB7DflqC-9GA4tRW3rt_1AhkJiApimad8f02XZSJ8Qb4VFrsthgMOl0rDaB9tNir6rwkUepBPg-Ir9Xz8HfS5ROOo5I8kHXVcoMLP/s320/IMG_0010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935478985802990726noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3290470013027119322.post-78182346462341142502013-02-17T16:19:00.004-05:002013-02-24T09:36:51.050-05:00Birds with inkI had an introduction to the dip pen during one of my Cornell courses. At the time, I found no pleasure with that out of control little springy thing. Nib stuck in paper. Nib stuck in floor. Nib stuck in hand. Never mind the ink blotches and spills.<br />
<br />
I recently had a real urge to give it another go. I'm using a Hunt 108 crowquill with Higgins Black India ink. It's amazing the range of line width allowed by this nib. The paper is Strathmore Drawing Medium.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTnzcP2JmF9fNpc7l9BUfJvx0kqmCyd_bucmxcAA5HyhmYKcAhStKxW6SyEwuifQV7B6m5id9S2kle7_lPjAxcZx3-CEB09cBFgon_5pFZDKJQ3jKKVwiDJV6SGZ76rY2yS3GwY98g5pgj/s1600/practice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTnzcP2JmF9fNpc7l9BUfJvx0kqmCyd_bucmxcAA5HyhmYKcAhStKxW6SyEwuifQV7B6m5id9S2kle7_lPjAxcZx3-CEB09cBFgon_5pFZDKJQ3jKKVwiDJV6SGZ76rY2yS3GwY98g5pgj/s320/practice.jpg" width="294" /></a></div>
<br />
My thought was to develop an expressive line, one that could describe a real live bird and hopefully have the sense of not just a bird, but <i>this</i> bird.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUL1Y304Y91ep0j6WOTIHuIW4ZF5Ppsa0D-T5MLeD5JOMn2BFmQq_VotfhawVkLXNn5IrO_M8G1YDU7YWl7iTfAJtVodAyk4iQbO8XLPWNlwmQol4xA-gf8bf8qBr-gmwJyqQR2m2B09V/s1600/titmiceink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUL1Y304Y91ep0j6WOTIHuIW4ZF5Ppsa0D-T5MLeD5JOMn2BFmQq_VotfhawVkLXNn5IrO_M8G1YDU7YWl7iTfAJtVodAyk4iQbO8XLPWNlwmQol4xA-gf8bf8qBr-gmwJyqQR2m2B09V/s320/titmiceink.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Well, it will take practice to modulate the line width and ink flow! What I found so very cool was that I could develop a beak top in a single stroke. The possibilities...<br />
<br />
I love this pose taken from a recent photo. There will be more of this little one.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ndebGRaCJMbbqbD__Vld2iRZxoZE-LuS_V9NNxg7TAuBHtkJyUK7JZAD-Q_QQ1Uxh414KMU4Vhkw4f7tk3RNWXASlEwD5Y0vXd4Xkv7apLbwvGlt6qkeo8zqtnYpi6Y5L3ms2oR0OmLE/s1600/Nuthatch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ndebGRaCJMbbqbD__Vld2iRZxoZE-LuS_V9NNxg7TAuBHtkJyUK7JZAD-Q_QQ1Uxh414KMU4Vhkw4f7tk3RNWXASlEwD5Y0vXd4Xkv7apLbwvGlt6qkeo8zqtnYpi6Y5L3ms2oR0OmLE/s320/Nuthatch.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White Breasted Nuthatch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Another favorite! They have the biggest blackest eyes! And that tuft, forever in motion.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkDU13zpkeSIcM0Z0w_mStDBbvg8VIyrXRdm2V9cBzfcdi3pBrOq1Mmc__yB75bcrjG1RAlSU5z_zwVGZ4IpV_NKN65QKowUgXj9H27vi9G_0om_N8F3JsZKWFyVnkw_zok4qsVJp0p98h/s1600/titmouseink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkDU13zpkeSIcM0Z0w_mStDBbvg8VIyrXRdm2V9cBzfcdi3pBrOq1Mmc__yB75bcrjG1RAlSU5z_zwVGZ4IpV_NKN65QKowUgXj9H27vi9G_0om_N8F3JsZKWFyVnkw_zok4qsVJp0p98h/s320/titmouseink.jpg" width="257" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tufted Titmouse</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935478985802990726noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3290470013027119322.post-76696089324396228642013-02-16T13:46:00.003-05:002013-02-24T09:37:03.523-05:00Bird ArtSeemingly out of nowhere came an interest in drawing birds! Here are a few days of my first sketches. Many are from direct observation at my feeders. A few are copy work from b/w printouts of photos. I like using photos to capture interesting poses and help me practice accuracy.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4GbPlyHE-h3doRT9cfvqabhMhfPw0pDQnelPs-daLIArrgcNiYIygtBNXSGNjijMqGDC45Zb0fOC-qMU4FbdOhF5Hj4QLn_JqFnZGObUd3OtXPeHVZejsWDbWyoC8FhkPKCVF2Wo7GTth/s1600/IMG_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4GbPlyHE-h3doRT9cfvqabhMhfPw0pDQnelPs-daLIArrgcNiYIygtBNXSGNjijMqGDC45Zb0fOC-qMU4FbdOhF5Hj4QLn_JqFnZGObUd3OtXPeHVZejsWDbWyoC8FhkPKCVF2Wo7GTth/s320/IMG_0002.jpg" width="307" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFlEF7CN7Mtxn3rwofX0g-o4t3ORdGmKWx9qf9ySXcVmgtdT-qSUTpSW1ndU7vtwU6k-1k39RksjwVgTcNz4UFZEJmWvp5rX4HXlM0khyZ1cNWF0DLjtBayMEZnOaBsZUANH1siZlcIxCM/s1600/IMG_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFlEF7CN7Mtxn3rwofX0g-o4t3ORdGmKWx9qf9ySXcVmgtdT-qSUTpSW1ndU7vtwU6k-1k39RksjwVgTcNz4UFZEJmWvp5rX4HXlM0khyZ1cNWF0DLjtBayMEZnOaBsZUANH1siZlcIxCM/s320/IMG_0003.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiugNbhouErln-gWGT5SERpiMBodjqI4jquePvAdv-PN4jmn1lkytkxei_xrqz757iAw3tzeJv7LOxsZAH8681PSGTTD9TaL6KZntoTy08gG9bLFPAuRZBzwjzPEHLe-U96TSylAnqHvZ8M/s1600/IMG_0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiugNbhouErln-gWGT5SERpiMBodjqI4jquePvAdv-PN4jmn1lkytkxei_xrqz757iAw3tzeJv7LOxsZAH8681PSGTTD9TaL6KZntoTy08gG9bLFPAuRZBzwjzPEHLe-U96TSylAnqHvZ8M/s200/IMG_0004.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyq8Va9xDlWYzbvo23vZsK5fP4tnfRuo9nzEtDjTf7ujyaZbeQ8FLp-jNIKywvXeBcETwyeCe990Y6q1DYEJlnR_ehrkicXjKfFek1FTvtY0eXtlT2v_kLqR9RaRvT-0NAH5A-ITLjhvsg/s1600/IMG_0005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyq8Va9xDlWYzbvo23vZsK5fP4tnfRuo9nzEtDjTf7ujyaZbeQ8FLp-jNIKywvXeBcETwyeCe990Y6q1DYEJlnR_ehrkicXjKfFek1FTvtY0eXtlT2v_kLqR9RaRvT-0NAH5A-ITLjhvsg/s400/IMG_0005.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtb-KYbYd3StyquMTlmLHDzY0ja8AOSyFsRf_eZe2OOy5kVG94FxE9iJvSkeFInjTCHImNOIKm2myBGiAreoXKOybfs_PVY-qnMWGyQ-AJHc_MkBR98dDIg9-BjzzoX9SRY7s-ZYdH8gY6/s1600/IMG_0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtb-KYbYd3StyquMTlmLHDzY0ja8AOSyFsRf_eZe2OOy5kVG94FxE9iJvSkeFInjTCHImNOIKm2myBGiAreoXKOybfs_PVY-qnMWGyQ-AJHc_MkBR98dDIg9-BjzzoX9SRY7s-ZYdH8gY6/s400/IMG_0006.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MxNIn59gM8lNNNVXpN29ZHC9RutJEetkwfTuRkPcvjLZe5r4D449U56AKdhL7ZnQO2swvctPtggsFv70CRf68jGg3z0QlYitrueD5795YOfkcF9ElfLgvaYyarKrjK0OMsrvddZ0zwbl/s1600/IMG_0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MxNIn59gM8lNNNVXpN29ZHC9RutJEetkwfTuRkPcvjLZe5r4D449U56AKdhL7ZnQO2swvctPtggsFv70CRf68jGg3z0QlYitrueD5795YOfkcF9ElfLgvaYyarKrjK0OMsrvddZ0zwbl/s400/IMG_0007.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935478985802990726noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3290470013027119322.post-65380408814019517592012-12-29T20:07:00.001-05:002012-12-29T20:08:28.653-05:00Cleaning brushes<div>
Some days I paint a little, break a little, and repeat. I get used to leaving my brushes out. And then I forget to clean them.<br />
<br />
I've put off cleaning the most recent oversight for some time. I tried a soak in Gamsol but nothing doing. Spike oil would cut the dried paint but it's expensive stuff for cleaning brushes.<br />
<br />
I heard that Murphy's would work so I put it up against the mighty turpentine, two brushes for each. The turpentine--fast, powerful, and full of toxic warnings--cleared up two brushes in 30 minutes or so. Murphy's took a few hours with its two but achieved the same results as turpentine! I can't find a warning of any kind on this product and its smell reminds me of lemon balm. Its <a href="http://www.ppd.ufl.edu/pdf/msds/Murphy_Oil_Soap_Liquid.pdf" target="_blank">MSDS</a> doesn't seem to show any out of the ordinary cautions.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpw-TD3PdkaVh1lP1K0CTEK7rIxKVnlKVrz9gNw9rbU82EWsvJ1GEibqWqkTGZDW1BrvUFGgpZ_EflNdxsYV_tpPeIEpYTcQ1c2XtK7pyOoE2J74xvCTTApR-6omEJuiECqdLR0BkBtg8M/s1600/IMG_3556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpw-TD3PdkaVh1lP1K0CTEK7rIxKVnlKVrz9gNw9rbU82EWsvJ1GEibqWqkTGZDW1BrvUFGgpZ_EflNdxsYV_tpPeIEpYTcQ1c2XtK7pyOoE2J74xvCTTApR-6omEJuiECqdLR0BkBtg8M/s320/IMG_3556.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
So unless I'm in a real hurry, and I can't imagine why, it's Murphy's for me! :-)<br />
<div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935478985802990726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3290470013027119322.post-43887314256910516872012-12-26T15:15:00.002-05:002012-12-26T23:09:56.588-05:00Inspired by an onionIn <a href="http://nuncketest.blogspot.com/2012/09/first-still-life.html" target="_blank">a painting from a few months back</a> I found joy and frustration. I liked what I was doing with the light but felt some things were wrong. After repeated deconstructions, it became clear that I failed to show enough details, enough clues, to properly identify the sphere as an onion. Now, I didn't want to take this to photorealism or high botanical accuracy but I did want it to read as a vegetable. (I do have other issues to get to with this painting. We'll just take them one by one.)<br />
<br />
I realized that if I couldn't properly draw an onion with good detail, how could I model one in paint with a slightly loose style? I don't think "loose" is about painting quickly and willy-nilly but actually a very controlled effect by an artist who know the details and knows how much detail can be left out.<br />
<br />
I'm reading "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Drawing-Observation-Introduction-Perceptual/dp/0077356276" target="_blank">Drawing From Observation</a>" by Brian Curtis. It's bringing me to ponder what I see versus what I <i>think</i> I see. I think this is a fascinating subject and I'll get into more details in upcoming posts as I work further into the book's exercises.<br />
<br />
For now, here are a couple of quotes from Chapter 3, Mechanics, that I find intriguing:<br />
<blockquote>
"Fluctuating line is the single most crucial element for establishing the overall level of sensitivity in a drawing."<br />
<br />
"Every mark that you make needs to be in constant flux to embody the restless energy and tension that underlie the functioning of our biological organism and, more specifically, our perceptual experience."</blockquote>
<br />
So for now I am going to freely play with line. And onions. This won't get my onion properly painted today or even next week. But that's okay. There's no rush.<br />
<br />
Here's one with a blunted 2B. Where <i>is</i> my sandpaper...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqfiZs4aBuq04YYexDw3fu4r4uaFguyUfoCao3rrZU43tXIsL0AgGQuMmJCvdEpR9kcFgumwN-eeR5QigVFGhgFGAAV9oLv9QRKQW6Z_Sdik6cUrOB0Wo4tAPB6MbXYPx-Xvv3ywGShuKS/s1600/OnionLines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqfiZs4aBuq04YYexDw3fu4r4uaFguyUfoCao3rrZU43tXIsL0AgGQuMmJCvdEpR9kcFgumwN-eeR5QigVFGhgFGAAV9oLv9QRKQW6Z_Sdik6cUrOB0Wo4tAPB6MbXYPx-Xvv3ywGShuKS/s320/OnionLines.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"A line is a dot that went for a walk." </div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Paul Klee 1879-1940</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935478985802990726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3290470013027119322.post-77557711479242790772012-12-24T15:49:00.001-05:002012-12-24T22:17:59.161-05:00Merry ChristmasAfter a few months of introspection, I think I'm back. More on the details in upcoming posts but for now I'd like to share inspiration by way of my teacher, my mentor. Some time ago she was standing over me and quoted while I worked through an old master design exercise:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>
"Begin by adorning yourself with these vestments: Love, Reverence, Obedience, and Constancy."<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
Cennino d'Andrea Cennini 1370-1440
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
You know those moments when time disappears and your art is really working? That quote reminds me of this.<br />
<br />Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935478985802990726noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3290470013027119322.post-10748177402792140362012-10-05T20:53:00.000-04:002012-10-05T23:03:13.212-04:00ViridescenceI have a few pieces on display at Cornell University's <a href="http://mannlib.cornell.edu/" target="_blank">Alfred R. Mann Library</a>. Marcia, my instructor for all three botanical art classes, recently brought this exhibit together. It couldn't have been any easier for artists. All I had to do was was place high resolution images into my public Dropbox!<br />
<br />
For details on each course, see the links at the top right on my blog.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL16gJn6L0Jknt9WDpF6edt5U1Yqp1o-h2oHGyVfmgss9bd1DYntkcW_oME3W1K76ptDLSMJzjyhFojdI6zd6lTRJ4Fy23ImawFYduXSayew07o5DJrEfxcMyN6WxXUqc8PeIg0HU3jaEd/s1600/Botanical-Illustration-display-011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL16gJn6L0Jknt9WDpF6edt5U1Yqp1o-h2oHGyVfmgss9bd1DYntkcW_oME3W1K76ptDLSMJzjyhFojdI6zd6lTRJ4Fy23ImawFYduXSayew07o5DJrEfxcMyN6WxXUqc8PeIg0HU3jaEd/s320/Botanical-Illustration-display-011.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOpf82raAvaZjn-qVY9lidxN9Tj17PvqXnZOIV9mFhkql7HEqzDZ0n_YTcWznkV6Oe3HCH9CAA_Db3ecM_mhrC1PCi7bMchc9tfmWtWUj3wp7Sw0wSlu8khFrXzqLyubNLXDv6BaTNfqu_/s1600/Botanical-Illustration-Mann-003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOpf82raAvaZjn-qVY9lidxN9Tj17PvqXnZOIV9mFhkql7HEqzDZ0n_YTcWznkV6Oe3HCH9CAA_Db3ecM_mhrC1PCi7bMchc9tfmWtWUj3wp7Sw0wSlu8khFrXzqLyubNLXDv6BaTNfqu_/s320/Botanical-Illustration-Mann-003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfVPo2OxZRf8NPIttWbd5dTnbym7DJK91Htr9cJslIagFxmyu9vl7IBysrOBNajvlE4Z78kRatHdtU_T6jkX75PEVR58MSeVMNC0islMTlXM-aZzqhEtwDYD-Ui1BH9u3slaJHeKkvEZS2/s1600/Botanical-Illustration-display-016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfVPo2OxZRf8NPIttWbd5dTnbym7DJK91Htr9cJslIagFxmyu9vl7IBysrOBNajvlE4Z78kRatHdtU_T6jkX75PEVR58MSeVMNC0islMTlXM-aZzqhEtwDYD-Ui1BH9u3slaJHeKkvEZS2/s320/Botanical-Illustration-display-016.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935478985802990726noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3290470013027119322.post-69013713168143690212012-09-23T18:18:00.000-04:002014-02-17T16:58:56.019-05:00MomentumAfter a few weeks of focusing on my first still life, I felt the vacuum upon calling it done. I did have a couple of limited palette charts that needed wrapping up.<br />
<br />
In this first chart the center row contains the starting pigments. Columns 1, 4, and 7 are the tubed colors, others being mixed neighbors. Kind of amazing the color range!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhbPDDXRv_xdSKQrLiNSmOJ9C4PKVHURc0jaHRJ-oAqGF245j6jUUDpqOaCT8nrvbGWoULh24VjL5LkErIiq6NvjMYayvRCjZ8v1vO8HFTMJEGE5o69yS8XTEWuRBqIOqfV6EGnFvK0LKQ/s1600/IMG_3466.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhbPDDXRv_xdSKQrLiNSmOJ9C4PKVHURc0jaHRJ-oAqGF245j6jUUDpqOaCT8nrvbGWoULh24VjL5LkErIiq6NvjMYayvRCjZ8v1vO8HFTMJEGE5o69yS8XTEWuRBqIOqfV6EGnFvK0LKQ/s320/IMG_3466.jpg" height="222" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow Ochre, Ercolano Red, Ultramarine Blue<br />
Mixed with Vine Black or Titanium White</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
This second chart is certainly a more subdued version and seeing that I used Vine Black for blue, I left out darkening with black, going only for tints with Titanium White. It might sound odd but I can stare at these charts for the longest time, imaging the worlds that could be built with such a humble set of pigments.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXB6Rxjn00YMStHciiV1a1EEvDnJa-84v0lHYAlzeagg9Pm36oLM7SRLAtk1jNtbYj_6Vn1Yjy5foOYGPCBNcJlI2QeNoG-8afLhShArud7OeMNHM8Jxhbrq2FkDm9WvAoHGmDqmFvQyU5/s1600/IMG_3467.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXB6Rxjn00YMStHciiV1a1EEvDnJa-84v0lHYAlzeagg9Pm36oLM7SRLAtk1jNtbYj_6Vn1Yjy5foOYGPCBNcJlI2QeNoG-8afLhShArud7OeMNHM8Jxhbrq2FkDm9WvAoHGmDqmFvQyU5/s320/IMG_3467.jpg" height="172" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lemon Ochre, Burnt Umber Reddish, Vine Black<br />
Mixed with Titanium White</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
In an effort to keep work ahead of me, I started a couple of studies. This first is based on an painting by Adriaen Coorte. Many of his paintings make use of a table top, mostly of stone. I like his warm/cool methods and I'm trying to apply them here. Next I will straighten my edges (they were hand painted, no tapes or tools) and then paint in some sea shells.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEichhNWCGSl-XBvr66Z4o6wZhMcOGJpqIKv_U6MOhNuWBwSx3Q9u58dDLQFZ8g3f9nSPrSlss4YdIifsnylXafsKgyH2acefc7fMuUifuFghDhpDF_e-BEIREMILXydLJy_HLRoAD4gfCmk/s1600/IMG_3463.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEichhNWCGSl-XBvr66Z4o6wZhMcOGJpqIKv_U6MOhNuWBwSx3Q9u58dDLQFZ8g3f9nSPrSlss4YdIifsnylXafsKgyH2acefc7fMuUifuFghDhpDF_e-BEIREMILXydLJy_HLRoAD4gfCmk/s320/IMG_3463.jpg" height="209" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raw Umber Green Dark, Burnt Umber Cyprus Dark</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I'd painted this portion of a Luis Melendez painting some time ago. Now I'm retrying it using a method that I am picking up second hand from an artist friend studying in a local atelier. The surface is first coated with Burnt Umber Cypress Dark thinned with OMS. Form is developed by rubbing out with a rag in my hand, a rag over my finger, and a cotton swab. In some cases I have to pick up the brush and reapply pigment. It's really quite thrilling to see an image begin to appear out of the darkness. I wanted to push this further but by 2 AM I was fading and knew this umber would be dry when I woke.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6S225-8UQCbaydWdNB6WDxvvTsamC51VHXNE-tNwFVMGGAQV-T7jU58uTbWjwhGdvHg-2xkBtwq0dtggKihxqr4_E6EGUUrqOtQ6lb8WXHP-RlUXEeU_J1xiy4lIaF7wcEOiYQxPPBHQ/s1600/IMG_3465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6S225-8UQCbaydWdNB6WDxvvTsamC51VHXNE-tNwFVMGGAQV-T7jU58uTbWjwhGdvHg-2xkBtwq0dtggKihxqr4_E6EGUUrqOtQ6lb8WXHP-RlUXEeU_J1xiy4lIaF7wcEOiYQxPPBHQ/s320/IMG_3465.jpg" height="320" width="254" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rub out technique.<br />
Burnt Umber Cyprus Dark</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So now I have two pieces in my queue and I'm working on laying out another Melendez copy piece. By the way, I've jumped away from smooth panels--birch plywood, GAC 100, acrylic gesso--and switched to linen. The charts are on linen pads, the paintings on linen panels. Both products are <a href="http://www.jerrysartarama.com/discount-art-supplies/canvas-and-boards/canvas-panels-and-boards/centurion-deluxe-oil-primed-linen-panels.htm" target="_blank">Centurion OP DLX</a>, deluxe oil primed linen. I enjoy the grab of the canvas against my brush and paint. Additionally, the rub out technique needs the linen's texture.<br />
<br />Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935478985802990726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3290470013027119322.post-90601723092056219192012-09-18T14:59:00.001-04:002012-09-18T17:44:23.289-04:00My First Still LifeI've been hunkered down with this piece for the past three weeks. I first built a composition with natural light, photographed, and printed out various tonal arrangements to help me set values. With the exception of titanium white and ultramarine blue mixed with burnt umber for the deepest shadow, the oil-based pigments are earths--ochres, umbers and green earth.<br />
<br />
After the first week or so I might have stopped. Rather, each evening I'd poke about with new ideas. Curiously, a change in one spot might reverberate calling for updates in other areas. An often felt example was that of making a change on a single clove in that bulb of garlic and how it would disturb the overall form of the bulb. All in all, just a wonderful learning experience.<br />
<br />
The surface is very shiny at this point, making it tough to photograph. I took advantage of filtered overcast sky to work around the glare and this photo is reasonably close, albeit with a bit of value and hue shifts.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWKXinOfHH-1l7OHMkixa6Tyr2gAElWjsL28zZlrQ7C0KP9fML75N5bFtmcPIROvYkSwhiSluTufy9YCsxa1rPCI_d84h6QT8AJtWkPAxpwolU-H8et1abrQwQA83SZmuPe2VN7Zo0WF1B/s1600/IMG_3450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWKXinOfHH-1l7OHMkixa6Tyr2gAElWjsL28zZlrQ7C0KP9fML75N5bFtmcPIROvYkSwhiSluTufy9YCsxa1rPCI_d84h6QT8AJtWkPAxpwolU-H8et1abrQwQA83SZmuPe2VN7Zo0WF1B/s400/IMG_3450.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935478985802990726noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3290470013027119322.post-45922316877704813392012-08-31T07:00:00.000-04:002012-08-31T07:00:21.516-04:00Mostly Greens<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA4XWn39QNwgSp7OrSpDt9dAbT7fSrf-Q_3S5y7F4hPuagliqK8UTHxXnqOxlxlLZetC6AjxG5uu5jJaHozG9FDX-lBWWZuhHJtXE_eRxSF-qwxk-JnH8MDNgfOfPiE5hpkMWvselzdFmp/s1600/IMG_3318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA4XWn39QNwgSp7OrSpDt9dAbT7fSrf-Q_3S5y7F4hPuagliqK8UTHxXnqOxlxlLZetC6AjxG5uu5jJaHozG9FDX-lBWWZuhHJtXE_eRxSF-qwxk-JnH8MDNgfOfPiE5hpkMWvselzdFmp/s320/IMG_3318.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaIKdykHkBsE7NQbUMwoW0Bz1p6XvOXGdw6b2SsuqQ9kkIuIEeC9t4K9ox2Obp_DAsVm_M2Qnq5CL_0V2bSFmCQDpc_riUT3VVJuOPOHWxDWsb7mgkYyfxbAmEnfrAiUQL6AaKJu3IRAcc/s1600/IMG_3373.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaIKdykHkBsE7NQbUMwoW0Bz1p6XvOXGdw6b2SsuqQ9kkIuIEeC9t4K9ox2Obp_DAsVm_M2Qnq5CL_0V2bSFmCQDpc_riUT3VVJuOPOHWxDWsb7mgkYyfxbAmEnfrAiUQL6AaKJu3IRAcc/s320/IMG_3373.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8iAu9IM-OPiLvFQRVAxkJ5j7Kcoiv1On7-q_dzfjReEggy-HaqsRuY7ppx1AqHLwefCtwXYiQc_TsxpG0s7I_tQezJK7YbT48VzgeTXTlSjV2TA9AYY5B0Nq4T7d3hqCyPk6LYLlgYZ0O/s1600/IMG_3380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8iAu9IM-OPiLvFQRVAxkJ5j7Kcoiv1On7-q_dzfjReEggy-HaqsRuY7ppx1AqHLwefCtwXYiQc_TsxpG0s7I_tQezJK7YbT48VzgeTXTlSjV2TA9AYY5B0Nq4T7d3hqCyPk6LYLlgYZ0O/s320/IMG_3380.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheNx86fFIrLiodBkh6Lo-pvexjDCDFaictWC3a0DTLGX-QpER-aTDnI3AkFpdmsX1A8q6P3ldCbDnbierBaeAMwYdrlvRCFoWcGjhN_-gbocQnJDsee04MuwAWRfFvPjeeS-Zbqsa1OIyq/s1600/IMG_3351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheNx86fFIrLiodBkh6Lo-pvexjDCDFaictWC3a0DTLGX-QpER-aTDnI3AkFpdmsX1A8q6P3ldCbDnbierBaeAMwYdrlvRCFoWcGjhN_-gbocQnJDsee04MuwAWRfFvPjeeS-Zbqsa1OIyq/s320/IMG_3351.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935478985802990726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3290470013027119322.post-19415864465761068422012-08-30T13:37:00.000-04:002012-08-30T13:37:35.561-04:00Mycelium MusingsRecent rains seem to be the stimuli for hidden mycelium to fruit. All were found within a fifty foot span.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjckwliVHflRYwo_9tyN_VeOgoPbWNou-V2gs4zlzDoSWIGZUib_2yBBa3LHJjfIxTtMpMWDoj6LDZUqDBzaB1yUJ6fk6qjS3ZJVTXsmxeUkydeB8EnADpLwJ-7TKD4hwo5kvkDGDfcqGT9/s1600/IMG_3331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjckwliVHflRYwo_9tyN_VeOgoPbWNou-V2gs4zlzDoSWIGZUib_2yBBa3LHJjfIxTtMpMWDoj6LDZUqDBzaB1yUJ6fk6qjS3ZJVTXsmxeUkydeB8EnADpLwJ-7TKD4hwo5kvkDGDfcqGT9/s400/IMG_3331.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTgslP886RHCKt41McRLvxv7kscGmVZq6pH7wHW5InsEPrcpxuWv7dDpVG080sKso-aBuYm4pUWW_Jmc1tlbnmC1yTrAyVLQ9PixpBdnmzGVxirU3E25fDVa_UkCKlxLYA-Vjt9tit2o9/s1600/IMG_3343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTgslP886RHCKt41McRLvxv7kscGmVZq6pH7wHW5InsEPrcpxuWv7dDpVG080sKso-aBuYm4pUWW_Jmc1tlbnmC1yTrAyVLQ9PixpBdnmzGVxirU3E25fDVa_UkCKlxLYA-Vjt9tit2o9/s400/IMG_3343.jpg" width="347" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3zmA3L7xLGNochZ4omHhRy_o03OXcv8bCOWqHkEv7L2mmq1eWO4r4AzOzNyDfiGFScyIa7-U_w0GnOQaf0OlunxfizZxvXt4qoUeXybYA86akQzYHczrdjl-G0rby2MWEV7lMcuaghfLi/s1600/IMG_3384.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3zmA3L7xLGNochZ4omHhRy_o03OXcv8bCOWqHkEv7L2mmq1eWO4r4AzOzNyDfiGFScyIa7-U_w0GnOQaf0OlunxfizZxvXt4qoUeXybYA86akQzYHczrdjl-G0rby2MWEV7lMcuaghfLi/s400/IMG_3384.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJka_ZjYkhyqMLBkEhnGcVTOwoTbDnd4YBC95ZxzxdHQyQhW6XIZG16xCt04qCHX1g0P8TIaMh8rEEQYXbRs1OVQHd4i5DamnxXxOpjEo85_JCTGB_gnJ5nyNaKBAsYWI0M4g125yDU_gb/s1600/IMG_3382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJka_ZjYkhyqMLBkEhnGcVTOwoTbDnd4YBC95ZxzxdHQyQhW6XIZG16xCt04qCHX1g0P8TIaMh8rEEQYXbRs1OVQHd4i5DamnxXxOpjEo85_JCTGB_gnJ5nyNaKBAsYWI0M4g125yDU_gb/s400/IMG_3382.jpg" width="321" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935478985802990726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3290470013027119322.post-70442860440297972882012-08-29T20:16:00.000-04:002012-08-29T20:33:09.776-04:00Around the lakeI've lately been back to my daily explorations around the lake. The heat of summer is waning, nights becoming cooler. Late summer wildflowers presage the glorious fall colors soon to arrive.<br />
<br />
Let me kick off this series of visual posts with my favorite "around the lake" spot.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzDVjbZPyQzSa23eneSjoWv2F-2ZR2tkuMDJ8WPnMP643zWZfQZ37e1FoNE0kBc9cnhb8GvK6wFz_sfEFeDMpTeDt4UbQBnnnTKkAlzuQmAhh4jEahpfms1M2j_2Q2hoLRwY3-zVcWN2k/s1600/IMG_3324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzDVjbZPyQzSa23eneSjoWv2F-2ZR2tkuMDJ8WPnMP643zWZfQZ37e1FoNE0kBc9cnhb8GvK6wFz_sfEFeDMpTeDt4UbQBnnnTKkAlzuQmAhh4jEahpfms1M2j_2Q2hoLRwY3-zVcWN2k/s400/IMG_3324.jpg" width="285" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reflecting Pool</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5O2IP7oxr9lLf4c1X8LlKiPGqvsLNlPygFMPd1mrd82LNLPYN6suSrh0O4tgi3QFw-MN9KtcNt54AV2nPKKqurXTaIkAQHYyOGMMG5Ju76wWyjlbB1DhvycYhifgt529NaT3Bgm2CBIgS/s1600/IMG_3364.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="88" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5O2IP7oxr9lLf4c1X8LlKiPGqvsLNlPygFMPd1mrd82LNLPYN6suSrh0O4tgi3QFw-MN9KtcNt54AV2nPKKqurXTaIkAQHYyOGMMG5Ju76wWyjlbB1DhvycYhifgt529NaT3Bgm2CBIgS/s320/IMG_3364.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starling acrobatics</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguNEtEdgvRN7cNMWdrJuVjR8IBYlERVjSv-QhOA7mnoM7u5K7BA0QU7stVjGs4BYw7XZfNh-PrrFj1ub_6Ab2zKUjo4QV4BPe1DvLbh4jExVUJYH3qhs3FVxVBe2sg7zX15tkAFCu4M9EU/s1600/IMG_3366.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguNEtEdgvRN7cNMWdrJuVjR8IBYlERVjSv-QhOA7mnoM7u5K7BA0QU7stVjGs4BYw7XZfNh-PrrFj1ub_6Ab2zKUjo4QV4BPe1DvLbh4jExVUJYH3qhs3FVxVBe2sg7zX15tkAFCu4M9EU/s320/IMG_3366.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joe Pye and Goldenrod</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935478985802990726noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3290470013027119322.post-87560135315791697612012-08-08T16:32:00.000-04:002012-08-08T16:33:38.399-04:00Lily WorkThe paper support from the previous post just didn't feel satisfying so I brought out one of my new birch plywood panels and transferred the design. I began with a grisaille underpainting and then explored glazing lightly. I was working from a monotone printout posterized down to just four or five values on the lily.<br />
<br />
I then mixed strings of yellow into brown--cooler colors for the highlight and halftone; warmer colors for the local color and shadow. I spent a good deal of time standing back up to ten feet or so, working to get the form to read well from a distance.<br />
<br />
I'm now going back in, developing detail while holding the overall values in place.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN9UMhOI8KljEGmIU4tipDOfw3iy7ukHnmsQam16oWcWuCD3XOjNRHqwhm_sAliIFJCJHsORMWBvA4I5tOZaBz3ts2VthNbR8kDDfa7uaMd2lGK7-6kavipTt1UmeY21U1v-0CFJmm1Hr9/s1600/IMG_3280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN9UMhOI8KljEGmIU4tipDOfw3iy7ukHnmsQam16oWcWuCD3XOjNRHqwhm_sAliIFJCJHsORMWBvA4I5tOZaBz3ts2VthNbR8kDDfa7uaMd2lGK7-6kavipTt1UmeY21U1v-0CFJmm1Hr9/s320/IMG_3280.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935478985802990726noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3290470013027119322.post-35461643252725256062012-07-15T18:34:00.002-04:002012-07-15T19:40:56.132-04:00Yellow Day LiliesI've been on a quest since the yellow day lilies in my yard began flowering. Nearly every day there has been a photo session for reference material. Once I sat out sketching to become more familiar with details. Then I've been out there taking measurements and notes. Lastly came color studies.<br />
<br />
A hand mulled yellow, PY154, proved too warm so an order with Kremer supplied a relatively cool PY184. I also mulled up a tube of PG36 to pull any needed green while keeping the chroma high. From my studies with "Yellow and Blue Don't Make Green" as well as Munsell, these pigments promised to return nice high chroma.<br />
<br />
I created this chart to explore the possibilities. Three days work here, phew.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTkIgv4YEFjmrTG92_ni0hOrgUWq5PgZ5sSW3Uw-jm1lM_wvvLVPWh2sJk-8n1BqVptfJnRd8oBCDBViir09Xmu058M1-4Eokw2BUWjIAPw3VsCqjbScMNnlc0RW2uhKcfusrS7GG6MLgA/s1600/IMG_3272.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTkIgv4YEFjmrTG92_ni0hOrgUWq5PgZ5sSW3Uw-jm1lM_wvvLVPWh2sJk-8n1BqVptfJnRd8oBCDBViir09Xmu058M1-4Eokw2BUWjIAPw3VsCqjbScMNnlc0RW2uhKcfusrS7GG6MLgA/s640/IMG_3272.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
Next I simply wanted to explore getting paint down. Rather than work on design, I selected one of my many photos, cropped, and printed on the b/w laser. I applied one coat of Golden's GAC 100 to the front side only to seal off any oil absorption and began painting on the paper taped to a panel.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmB64YboteMqKyIBzXwLLnaophyphenhyphengjiCqJqwSrA5NhfSDI5alwb_2SLZlCSgSexqDAEyoX6yBvJNFXVjrEbNag8bT5PiJraPqPDxQpniDxtoVriPs1EY5XHmx3IKQpEz2yk1vHsthZ-JjnC/s1600/IMG_3269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmB64YboteMqKyIBzXwLLnaophyphenhyphengjiCqJqwSrA5NhfSDI5alwb_2SLZlCSgSexqDAEyoX6yBvJNFXVjrEbNag8bT5PiJraPqPDxQpniDxtoVriPs1EY5XHmx3IKQpEz2yk1vHsthZ-JjnC/s320/IMG_3269.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This is proving to be a good path for me as I get to explore tone and color in easy fashion. I can make up these printouts in minutes and they feel like wonderful practice.<br />
<br />Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935478985802990726noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3290470013027119322.post-90350160045503144912012-07-04T16:44:00.000-04:002012-07-06T00:29:15.794-04:00Panel MakingI've been back to panel making, inspired by recent conversations with Golden technical support. The following took place over the past five days.<br />
<br />
Birch plywood now replaces hardboard (masonite). I had a sheet of 3/16th's laying around. In the future I will probably increase thickness as there was a bit of warping with a couple of the panels. Ya, some were just fine and I don't know why.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh10v_x0HC8mwjzBYSP8UV4zcFpPTLH0KmSzdI2oI2P0nPKrCD22kHWsHpFQkRwk3YjYchzr-_bDQDe6N_ZHWY8N_K7ippwTq8eWcRPWbxNTTZcDpUPGKXEsA9FWFryarHzqE8kc_eB5SIS/s1600/IMG_3156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh10v_x0HC8mwjzBYSP8UV4zcFpPTLH0KmSzdI2oI2P0nPKrCD22kHWsHpFQkRwk3YjYchzr-_bDQDe6N_ZHWY8N_K7ippwTq8eWcRPWbxNTTZcDpUPGKXEsA9FWFryarHzqE8kc_eB5SIS/s320/IMG_3156.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birch plywood (3/16")</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After cutting to size came a bit of sanding with 100, 150 and 200 grit to round off the edges and corners and a light scuffing with 200 grit over the entire panels.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4lw3-Y0itmi3PvXQ8LfCDBOAz-8q5RQj8tWPXY0xEVzunbmRb8U8TahG5VyDBAqkgE3flB_zu9O3Y9GW6TPzXv_mubBOz5B5kGQ9JmU5XgW9IEUt4u4ODiNIH1YtmrCty6Zjkau203aro/s1600/IMG_3157.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4lw3-Y0itmi3PvXQ8LfCDBOAz-8q5RQj8tWPXY0xEVzunbmRb8U8TahG5VyDBAqkgE3flB_zu9O3Y9GW6TPzXv_mubBOz5B5kGQ9JmU5XgW9IEUt4u4ODiNIH1YtmrCty6Zjkau203aro/s320/IMG_3157.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rounding edge and corner</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I opted to use GAC 100 before applying gesso. I like the idea of isolating the raw support from the gesso. Maybe different woods have varying absorptions? I don't know, but perhaps this helps to take some variables out of the picture.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Golden's GAC 100 dries to a tacky touch. Stack panels and they will stick slightly together, coming apart with a clicky grip. There is no sanding to be done with this stuff. Brings the grain out nicely, doesn't it?<br />
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_rCDUoQXNm6nLqPgVjgbyP3qllMowwt9dez96rhSVdw5T3z7k3kTQYt2v-xo61Jg1zmjY3tNYim5gXmUHeFcDt8DPMv5enM94V_JpjkgyENPJxRJAhrorE96qoOqYLVD15iFTH59hn_C/s1600/IMG_3168.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_rCDUoQXNm6nLqPgVjgbyP3qllMowwt9dez96rhSVdw5T3z7k3kTQYt2v-xo61Jg1zmjY3tNYim5gXmUHeFcDt8DPMv5enM94V_JpjkgyENPJxRJAhrorE96qoOqYLVD15iFTH59hn_C/s320/IMG_3168.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two coats of Golden GAC 100</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In the previous post we found that the new sandable gesso does not need base coats of regular gesso. I still have the old stuff here so needed to firstly apply a couple of coats of "regular" gesso. There was no sanding with these coats.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-OqIXVWfmNE_oVSOrLkKWxQPIujbHq7K-eb9ec2bRjkzwTou397yrZpncvfmtZGMolpkJqdx4mh_NihvU6jtu0ToVQBZFg7oB_6YAW8Efw8XU4_pXcHtKr5FECkVgWru-rBjKynRbGy8C/s1600/IMG_3169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-OqIXVWfmNE_oVSOrLkKWxQPIujbHq7K-eb9ec2bRjkzwTou397yrZpncvfmtZGMolpkJqdx4mh_NihvU6jtu0ToVQBZFg7oB_6YAW8Efw8XU4_pXcHtKr5FECkVgWru-rBjKynRbGy8C/s320/IMG_3169.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two coats of Golden Gesso</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My workflow is to lay out the panels and walk them to my painting station one by one. Paint a side and put it back. Once done, restart with the other side. It helps to assure me that I equally coat all sides. The gesso products dry to touch so quickly that I can paint nonstop.</div>
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4nkmlEF1sDZ8vYlEh4IksflLLjeR6knAdFwJ5sbOudByezM3P_dDbOyyGSz_sur8agsjMiLCiU9KBzYdnfWpJykhvqBtMc7syQqt57jXg7VClonPA5sD_4fAhZlQgS9wPSCmQTuictmIw/s1600/IMG_3170.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4nkmlEF1sDZ8vYlEh4IksflLLjeR6knAdFwJ5sbOudByezM3P_dDbOyyGSz_sur8agsjMiLCiU9KBzYdnfWpJykhvqBtMc7syQqt57jXg7VClonPA5sD_4fAhZlQgS9wPSCmQTuictmIw/s320/IMG_3170.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keeping order</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Here are the first two coats of sandable gesso. I experimented with various toning media. Acrylics behaved just as nicely as aqueous dispersions. Wish I would have had a tube of deep dark acrylic. It takes a lot of pigment to pull down that gesso. I now think of it as white paint!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I let these first two layers of sandable gesso dry for a day and then sanded with 150 grit to remove most brush marks. The surface was already quite smooth but I just wanted to knock it down a bit. Must one wait a whole day before sanding? Perhaps an hour or so would be adequate. Not sure...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGGhZd4LfcnplsRKYQ41ogSWh1iomnXWshNTi8nqFFh5kSIeeq-g9UUItxGfbIHGF9bQM6k-PSbLa0DVMaaf2PhyNh3RCfox1vGLOMlPy9RQ7c-CIolRg8aW_DbxYD-7uw_WRaaFxKZJYd/s1600/IMG_3184.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGGhZd4LfcnplsRKYQ41ogSWh1iomnXWshNTi8nqFFh5kSIeeq-g9UUItxGfbIHGF9bQM6k-PSbLa0DVMaaf2PhyNh3RCfox1vGLOMlPy9RQ7c-CIolRg8aW_DbxYD-7uw_WRaaFxKZJYd/s320/IMG_3184.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toned with Golden Acrylic (left) and toned over with aqueous dispersion (right)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Here I tested dry pigments premixed with water using a palette knife. Although the pigment appeared to be well mixed...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPpYo2pwfqdtle5pxPrOpe_pEoDEkGCXkrzN9mBYkl3qCVaNdDZVFTEfQOVfT1oIKjF1ybwIzNucPvGrVr6Z4uGdyGQadbIMN1X4FdKxWF6yi-4ivg_JzVyULeIpTRP36JxjrqxTOtmyhx/s1600/IMG_3186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPpYo2pwfqdtle5pxPrOpe_pEoDEkGCXkrzN9mBYkl3qCVaNdDZVFTEfQOVfT1oIKjF1ybwIzNucPvGrVr6Z4uGdyGQadbIMN1X4FdKxWF6yi-4ivg_JzVyULeIpTRP36JxjrqxTOtmyhx/s320/IMG_3186.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mixing wetted pigment with Golden Sandable Gesso</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When I began applying sandable gesso toned with my mixed pigment I was in for a big surprise. The gesso went on very light with dark streaks. Essentially I was mixing my paint on the support! I considered halting work to properly mull the gesso but kept on, eventually applying two coats front and back to all panels.<br />
<br />
It will be well worth my time to try mulling pigment (that is, rather than just mixing with palette knife) and mixing with sandable gesso. I use my dry pigments for many purposes already so why not use them here as well? I thought I'd prefer acrylic in a tube but I'm leaning back to my old friends. (I recently inventoried my pigment collection--over 60 of them!)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZHcZa3v2awAeVnaDpIFq6c-dEmgPZSFYPz4PHx1f1ACI1PvCg_XohcI-B0fjAoifkZjmqswXzIAI2y6WwF_F3PMYhvBNQvWvzcCDjw6VA5Pd7icMwWxWC2fTbxwHePHU2VM4rpcWFJIG/s1600/IMG_3187.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZHcZa3v2awAeVnaDpIFq6c-dEmgPZSFYPz4PHx1f1ACI1PvCg_XohcI-B0fjAoifkZjmqswXzIAI2y6WwF_F3PMYhvBNQvWvzcCDjw6VA5Pd7icMwWxWC2fTbxwHePHU2VM4rpcWFJIG/s320/IMG_3187.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Streaking pigments</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And here's my results! Tomorrow I will give them a light sanding with 150 grit to level them off. I may go to 200 or higher grit with a few as I begin experimenting with first applications of oil paint.</div>
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5dsixvtMk9E6SfJJ37tZhooDVyRnrMItQ7K8MeKeJTHGuXtVgyDvA9RcEGkeq3UgJ5xDTess2imf7GXHAYtZelNGai7_a0fCX3CDmicBTwKOPZFgZ2Tc0sJStsuOBcgn6Svhdhu8F-Wo/s1600/IMG_3189.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5dsixvtMk9E6SfJJ37tZhooDVyRnrMItQ7K8MeKeJTHGuXtVgyDvA9RcEGkeq3UgJ5xDTess2imf7GXHAYtZelNGai7_a0fCX3CDmicBTwKOPZFgZ2Tc0sJStsuOBcgn6Svhdhu8F-Wo/s320/IMG_3189.jpg" width="210" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Final coats drying</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935478985802990726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3290470013027119322.post-41688903601215909482012-06-28T13:32:00.001-04:002012-06-28T13:57:54.043-04:00Panel MakingFor some time I've been experimenting with panel making to support oil paints. I thought I had a good process down but still had a few questions. As I am using Golden products, I turned to their technical support to help me out.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
. . .</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Here is my query to Golden Technical Support:<br />
<blockquote>
I am making panels for oil painting only--no other media. I begin with masonite which I lightly scuff and then apply two coats of GAC 100, then two coats of Acrylic Gesso and finally a few coats of Sandable Acrylic Gesso. My goal is to achieve a smooth surface and I'm pleased with my initial results.<br />
<br />
I do have a few questions that I hope you can answer:<br />
<br />
-- For oil painting only, should I still first use GAC 100 or can I start right off with Acrylic Gesso?<br />
<br />
-- If I should use GAC 100, would GAC 500 work just as well. (I am interested in the self-leveling property.)<br />
<br />
-- Do I need to use Acrylic Gesso before applying Sandable Acrylic Gesso? I seem to remember reading that in one of Golden's guidelines for use but cannot now locate it. From what I can find I do not need to use regular gesso before applying sandable gesso.<br />
<br />
-- Can I tone Sandable Acrylic Gesso with dry pigments? I have toned the Sandable Acrylic Gesso with a raw umber aquaeous dispersion from Natural Pigments and that seemed to work well. I later read that Golden recommends toning with acrylic paint. I'd like to be able to use my collection of dry pigments if that is possible.</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
. . .</div>
<br />
And here is Golden's reply:<br />
<blockquote>
We are not fans of hardboards, generally speaking. 'Hardboard' is the general term for what used to be called masonite, which was a brand of hardboard, not produced anymore, to my knowledge. Hardboards are made with wood dust and a variety of ways of getting them to stick together. Some use resins, some use polymerized oils, etc. The main issue has to do with moisture sensitivity. We think that either Birch Plywood or MDO Plywood are better choices, and that either of those panels would have better dimensional stability. Having said that, many artists are still using hardboards of various sorts. It is possible that certain types are more stable than others, but we do not have that information.<br />
<br />
You do not need to be concerned with SID or support induced discoloration if you are painting with oils, so the GAC 100 or another stain blocking primer is not required for that reason. The other reason for using GAC 100 is to block oil absorption into canvas, but I doubt this is a concern with the hardboard. We still like the idea of some kind of separation or primer, and you could use a commercially available one such as Kilz, in either the alkyd or water borne variety, or you could use GAC 100. The newly re-formulated SHG does not require a coat of Gesso first, so you can apply it directly over the GAC 100 ( or 500 if you like, in this instance ), or commercial stain blocking primer.<br />
<br />
Yes, assuming you can get the dry pigments to disperse well, you can use small amounts to tint the SHG. Too much may make the mixture have a higher propensity to crack or craze upon drying. The reason we recommend acrylic paints is because dry pigments tend to clump and it is difficult to get then dispersed and homogenized in the material, without using a paint mill or special mixing machine. But, if you feel it is working for you, then by all means go ahead.<br />
<br />
Our Sandable Hard Gesso tech sheet is found when you put your cursor over 'Products", then click on 'Gessos and Grounds'. Here it is:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.goldenpaints.com/technicaldata/sandable.php" target="_blank">http://www.goldenpaints.com/technicaldata/sandable.php</a><br />
<br />
I hope this information is helpful, and if you have more questions, please don't hesitate to call or email.
</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
. . .</div>
<br />
My follow-up responses:<br />
<blockquote>
I finally found the reference to first applying regular gesso before sandable--right on the label. So for now I'll stay with my process until I pick up a new jar of sandable gesso.<br />
<br />
I hear you on the dry pigments. I suppose I could try to premix pigment with gesso using a palette knife or muller on my grinding glass but I'd be going against the quick drying nature of the gesso. All this instead of a little squeeze of acrylic paint... </blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
. . .</div>
<br />
I'll be documenting my adjusted panel making in a later post. I have plywood to cut and a proper color of acrylic paint to select. I've learned that even with an established process, it must be revisited to keep up with product changes.Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935478985802990726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3290470013027119322.post-54044754281355026932012-06-21T22:23:00.000-04:002012-06-21T22:25:39.659-04:00A little more workSome time ago I wanted to compare the relative yellowness of various oils. Additionally, I duplicated the comparison so as to keep one in sunlight, the other darkened. While building these samples I really didn't pay attention to the thickness of applied oils, making my test a bit skewed. But, the difference between light and dark is more significant than I would have imagined.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVzhimDYjCkSgzXOY2bTHz-REHryyUZtzckgiMnHnkru7hFjYVfAGH8HB2u987Ps6s6RJ-Uva9xhex39Ribs0iPwJjSou3pYnvkFg2mBRjnGIF0yE6CXSiR-i6uUSZB0QA_0-F-7bJyhNf/s1600/IMG_3149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVzhimDYjCkSgzXOY2bTHz-REHryyUZtzckgiMnHnkru7hFjYVfAGH8HB2u987Ps6s6RJ-Uva9xhex39Ribs0iPwJjSou3pYnvkFg2mBRjnGIF0yE6CXSiR-i6uUSZB0QA_0-F-7bJyhNf/s320/IMG_3149.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
After a good start over a week ago, I'd slipped away from my brushes. At this point I'm simply blocking in with minimal form and detail.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDSNWzNz5qqB-u9QgsQorrvQ1Ids5mr0-lQcAzIxC69UG_dvGGLN7NIVGp1jrYAoibmsgjhbNsFy36Pwkho1Eco1JW2H_jWPMysKDyqa-am4hIMtKV_ORsB9SRt-OXERFovcF3guJFSdQV/s1600/IMG_3151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDSNWzNz5qqB-u9QgsQorrvQ1Ids5mr0-lQcAzIxC69UG_dvGGLN7NIVGp1jrYAoibmsgjhbNsFy36Pwkho1Eco1JW2H_jWPMysKDyqa-am4hIMtKV_ORsB9SRt-OXERFovcF3guJFSdQV/s400/IMG_3151.jpg" width="297" /></a></div>
<br />Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935478985802990726noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3290470013027119322.post-13148242620794495922012-06-12T16:56:00.001-04:002012-06-12T17:59:12.435-04:00Back to copy workI've been in a painting slump, some charts and mulling and such but without any real painting. I was recently lucky enough to be called out on this by a couple of dear friends, both who know that discipline leads to accomplishment. In that spirit, I've turned back to Old Master copy/study work.<br />
<br />
I'm working with Meléndez's Still Life with Oranges, Honey Pots and Boxes of Sweets.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMUKntJD60361_nSH_bJtYV0KgKvy8O14wBEEZA3IvkKgeatkiAu1xoJ3hT-FD-BcSrrxkiLFR25uCzZr5Yt3B6EhEylN5qTwpQBVtBVWXmb2tgKKo407xQIwJ_w1YCxBnqI28TgSqdEKK/s1600/MelendezOranges.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMUKntJD60361_nSH_bJtYV0KgKvy8O14wBEEZA3IvkKgeatkiAu1xoJ3hT-FD-BcSrrxkiLFR25uCzZr5Yt3B6EhEylN5qTwpQBVtBVWXmb2tgKKo407xQIwJ_w1YCxBnqI28TgSqdEKK/s320/MelendezOranges.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Still Life with Oranges, Honey Pots and Boxes of Sweets<br />Luis Mel</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">é</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">ndez<br />A scan from the book "Luis Mel</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">é</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">ndez Master of the Spanish Still Life"</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Yesterday I began by trimming a masonite panel. The original painting is 19" tall but I scaled it down slightly to fit an 18" panel. I applied Golden's GAC 100, Gesso and finally Sandable Gesso toned with an umber aqueous dispersion. I like starting with a toned surface and the sandable gesso allows me to work up a reasonably smooth finish.<br />
<br />
Here I've dropped in a background of ultramarine and burnt umber for a rich black and set initial values for the table. Working on a toned surface allowed me to use titanium dioxide Saral. I find it applies much easier than the graphite Saral.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA943QMiHKp_UkhrkmOuj71-gRzPvZhPxQP1p0pTt82-ZEyBZ481CWDQbVCJa3LGDotdS-ZroV4bMUWto2UA5QeAtoTcdhguAqEn0i0vSIWUV68XVpoIbi03k_BLhv_cd49lfI5-h4g2nL/s1600/IMG_3148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA943QMiHKp_UkhrkmOuj71-gRzPvZhPxQP1p0pTt82-ZEyBZ481CWDQbVCJa3LGDotdS-ZroV4bMUWto2UA5QeAtoTcdhguAqEn0i0vSIWUV68XVpoIbi03k_BLhv_cd49lfI5-h4g2nL/s320/IMG_3148.jpg" width="242" /></a></div>
<br />Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935478985802990726noreply@blogger.com4