My First Tych and a New Class

I've finished my first "tych".  It's a triptych entitled "Blah blah, I don't know....gibber". I used the same drawing with masking fluid technique that I used before.  Until I have any grand ideas, I think I'm finished with this technique for awhile. 



2/3 of Masking Fluid Removed

Painting in progress

Final Product - Blah blah, I don't know...gibber, 2014 

I've started a new class at the Houston Art League.  It's called "Acrylic Painter's Toolbox - An Intro To Acrylics".  Laura Spector is the instructor (check out her websites here and there).  I've only attended one session but I can already tell that I'm going to thoroughly enjoy this class.  Laura is an interesting person, from the little bit of personal history she has shared with us, and as an instructor, she's very thorough when explaining things and is very patient and encouraging.  I'm miffed that I was sick this week and had to miss the second class, but hopefully that won't cause me to fall too far behind.  The first assignment is a basic still life value study.  Hopefully, I'll post it soon...but I have to do it first : )

Paintings from Masking Fluid Drawings

I recently created a work for a friend and thought I'd take pictures to illustrate the process I've been using to create my recent works.

In this case, I first looked up some pictures of prayer flags on the internet to get some ideas for composition, then I made a sketch.  Sometimes I just start drawing with no particular image(s) in mind.

 

Next, I paint the surface of my canvas with black gesso.  For this painting,  I taped off a 2 inch border after the gesso dried.

Next, I "draw" an image with masking fluid and let it dry, then paint over it with a layer of off-white paint:

 

After the paint dries, I begin rubbing off the masking.  I've found that  gum eraser makes the job go a little faster:

Here's what it looks like after all the masking has been removed:

 

Next, I begin painting in the areas of the painting...

 

Here's my finished painting, I scattered lines for a loving kindness prayer throughout:

 

May you be filled with lovingkindness

May you be happy

May you be well

May you be peaceful and at ease

May you feel safe and secure

May you feel loved and cared for

Charcoal Drawing in High Key

The assignment from last's weeks drawing class was to draw a still life in the High, Medium or Low key.  Key being a term which describes the value range (light to dark) of the work.  We were free to setup our own still life and given suggestions as to what items to setup up under what lighting conditions provide conditions which would provide us with the proper items and light conditions to create the setup for our chosen key.  The pumpkin I drew last week was definitely in the medium range, so I wanted to try something difference.  I chose a rabbit figure( (in off-white) a white egg on a white bed of cotton inside a white cup.  I was aiming for high key and my instructor confirmed that I made it.  What do you think?

18" x 24" - "Easter Bunny?" by Cindy Jackson Griffin

T-4 Days

Art Square Open Studios is 4 days away and I'm almost ready.  Lots of little details left to take care of...I'm sure I'll forget something.  I have a bunch of ideas of things I'd like to do and I'm pretty sure some of them will be get done. The rest?  Well, as with the holidays, I usually have more ideas than time...what's important usually gets done, the rest is gravy :)   If I don't get anything else done, then I at least have artwork to show and that I feel good about.  I just finished "Joy" (below) today. I'm feeling a little guilty about working on it instead of the next charcoal drawing assignment due tomorrow evening.  I better get started on that...




JOY - 16" x 20"

Miniature = Fun Size

The Art Squares Open Studio is next Saturday.  It will be my first. I'm not sure what to expect, but I've been having fun preparing for it, tending to little details like starting the blog, updating my biz cards to point to the blog, cleaning up the studio and making it looking generally welcoming (I hope) and creating some works to display.  Up till now, I've only had my 2-D Design classwork on display...a little boring, so I figured I better get something else up on the walls. 

I've hung the framed paintings.  I have a few more that I finished this week that I will be framing and hanging. 

When I was cleaning up the studio, I came across some miniature canvases that I've had a few years.  I pulled them out and today I made a few miniature paintings of motifs that have been appearing in my works lately.  I love mini-things, they're fun size : )

What a difference a frame makes!

I've been a busy little bee preparing for the Open Studio next week.  I was just going to tack my painted canvas boards up on the wall with push pins, but decided to try framing a few.  Wow! What a difference a frame makes.  Masque IV is my favorite so far.  I'm working on others, so I can at least have a few things to display outside my studio, but I'm finding it difficult to find much time to work since I also have assignments to work on for my drawing class.  I'm tempted to be late on an assignment just for this week so I can get more done...not sure what my instructor would think about that :-)





Have masking fluid, will paint

In previous attempts I've made at painting on canvas, I've been extremely cautious.  I made sure every inch of the canvas was covered in paint and that the paint was evenly distributed everywhere, no transparency or brushstrokes could be seen.  The painted areas just looked solid.  On top of that, I outlined the painted areas with a Sharpie paint pen, not trusting myself to paint smooth, solid lines.  These paintings were very "crisp" and may as well have been prints on canvas.

Below are my most recent works. For these paintings, I used black gesso, masking fluid and acrylic paints.  I really enjoyed the process of making these.  I had so much fun drawing with the masking fluid.  My favorite part about it was the lack of control I had with the particular applicator I was using.  The lines came out thick, thin, skippy, blobby.  It was wonderful.  The imperfection of the lines helped me to be more relaxed with my painting and you can see this  in the color distribution.  I love it. These paintings taught me how to be a little less controlling of the outcome. 

My knowledge of paint and painting techniques is minimal and, up till now, the only painting class I've had was a Tole Painting class years and years ago. Since I am giving more of my time to creativity now, I'm letting myself playing with various types of paints, tools and techniques and I'm learning some things, but I definitely see a painting class or 2 on the horizon...but first I must finish my current drawing class : )





Masque III


Masque II - "Where Are We Today?"