View From Heisler II

"View From Heisler II"

Image size 20" x 16"

Oil

A couple of weeks ago I posted a painting from this same reference photo, but it was on a long, skinny canvas.  It had been done as a palette knife painting using acrylics.  This is also a palette knife painting, but I used oils.  It was much easier to paint since the oils don't dry quickly.  The first one looked a bit more abstracted because I had lots of specks of the black underpainting showing.  Below is a picture of the first one.  Which do you like better?

Also this week, I finished the bisque firing for all of the tile mural pieces.  As long as I don't break any, I can start painting.  I will first paint the 'practice' mural that I made from the first pieces I cut that were too small.  If that turns out well, I can paint the real thing.  If it doesn't turn out well I guess I will just sit down and have a good cry....

In The Reeds

"In The Reeds"

Image size 5" x 6.5"

Monotype using Akua ink and colored pencil

The reference photo for this was taken on a trip to South Carolina years ago.  We visited a beautiful plantation and it was a fresh, sunny day with clouds drifting by.  I have painted this scene before using oil paints.

I like the effect of the black ink as the main color with color added.  It reminds me of a colorized black and white photo.

View From Heisler

"View From Heisler"

Image size 6" x 12"

Acrylic

I painted the canvas black before I started this painting.  It is a palette knife painting.  For me, it's harder to do a palette knife painting with acrylics than it is with oils.  Even though I was using heavy body acrylics, they are still less stiff than most of my oils.  I do really enjoy using the palette knife regardless of the medium though.

I hope you all enjoy the holidays and enthusiastically embrace the new year!!!

Crazy Sunset

"Crazy Sunset"

Image size 11" x 15"

Acrylic

I had a watercolor that I painted many years ago on a 22" x 30" piece of paper.  It was a painting of Lake Powell.  I was never happy with it and tried many times to save it.  Finally, I decided to cut it into fourths and use each piece for a new painting.  For this painting, I added rice paper and gesso, which I swirled around so that there were thin and thick areas.  The thick areas are white and the thin areas let the underpainting show through.

I turned the painting upside down so that the sky of the old painting became the water and the red cliffs became the sky.  I thought that might be a fun beginning.  The texture is a bit wild, but it was fun to paint.

I'm taking a break from my clay project until after Christmas.  There's just too much to do.

Desert Sky

"Desert Sky"

Image size 14" x 14"

Watercolor

This painting was done wet into wet.  That seems to be the best way to get the effect of clouds for me.

This is a very loose painting for me and it was really fun to paint.

Puerto Vallarta Cliffs

"Puerto Vallarta Cliffs"

Image size 14" x 6"

Monoprint with colored pencil

I spent so much time cutting all of those black lines into a piece of matboard and this was the look I was trying to achieve.  I don't have a printing press so I printed this using a baren and the back of a spoon.  I thought it would transfer easily, but to get the black lines to transfer, I had to push the paper into the lines with my fingernail.  I think I cut the lines too deep.  

I am happy with the result, but I think I like the first print I pulled better, which is shown below.  When the ink wasn't going into the grooves as I applied the ink with the brayer, I decided to try this one with white lines instead of black.  I wiped the surface in areas to give a sense of light, but overall, the surface was much darker in this print.  I added colored pencil on this print as well.

Which one do you like better?

I didn't work on the clay mural this week.  I was sick the entire week.  I'm getting tired of this.  Finally, I think I'm getting better, so hopefully, I will begin moving forward again on that project.

Calm Afternoon

"Calm Afternoon"

Image size 4" x 11"

Watercolor

This week was not very productive which is why my painting is so small and simple.  I babysat for 3 days and then was sick for the rest of the week.

I did nothing on my mural....

Private Shore

"Private Shore"

Image size 5" x 8"

Monoprint with colored pencil

I tried another monoprint this week.  I inked the entire surface and then removed the black ink where I wanted it lighter.  Drawing directly into the ink without the ability to erase my mistakes is very scary.  I'm struggling with that and the removal of the ink and haven't really figured out a way to control what I'm doing.  That's why this house looks a bit wonky.  It is a fun process though, and I will continue to experiment with this medium.

I used Derwent Inktense colored pencils to add color to the print.  On this print (above), I didn't add water to the pencils.  Living up to their name, when water is added, the colors become very intense.  I did a second print, which I've posted below.  I lightly spritzed the printing plate with water and used a damp piece of mulberry paper to make the second print.  Then, I used the inktense colored pencils and added water to the paper.  You can see how different the colors are.  Personally, I prefer the softer colors in the first print.

Not much to say about my clay mural except that I'm continuing to work on it.  I'm starting to choose the glass circle that fits best into the holes and grinding the clay to make some of them fit when the circle is too small.

Pear Monoprint

"Pear Monoprint"

Image size 6" x 8"

Monoprint with colored pencil added

I'm playing around with a new medium.  I have done a couple of monoprints in the past but didn't really get into that medium.  Now, I'm very interested in playing around with the inks and adding color using other mediums.  This is my first experiment.  I used mulberry paper, which was wonderful to print on, but it seemed to pill while I was adding the colored pencil.  I think I used the wrong side....

Anyway, this was really fun and I can't wait to try it again.

My clay mural is still chugging along slowly.  Nothing exciting to show at this point.

Italian Cypress

Italian Cypress

Image size 7.5" x 7.5"

Pastels

I used my pastels for this week's painting.  I enjoyed the theme of last week's painting, so I used the same idea but concentrated on the sky as a focal point.  Of course, the cypress trees draw you into the painting, but hopefully, the sky keeps you interested.

I used a dark blue mat board with a coating of pumice gel as my substrate.  None of that color shows through because I have many layers of pastel covering it.  I really enjoy the tooth of the pumice gel as it allows for multiple layers before the surface is slick and won't accept more color.

Well, I'm finally finished cutting the clay pieces for the murals.  That feels really good!!  Of course, I'm still a long way from being able to fire everything and start glazing.  I have about 120 pieces that I need to carve and fit into the mural.  That takes a long time so that will be my focus for this week.