365 sketches

Finally getting up and moving after nursing a throbbing head all day.  I swore that I wasn't going to stay out past 10pm last night and what do I do but stay out till 1 am. I think today should be officially designated "Hangover Day". Luckily I didn't have anything to do today and indulged in a rare activity for myself- doing nothing. I did watch "It Might Get Loud" which was really good. I recommend it. Anyway, I just finished dinner and was perusing my usual websites, one being the Faux Forum. A member, Marge Cameron, posted about something that I've recently been wanting to do. More sketches. She has committed to doing 365 sketches this year. One a day.  Now Im not sure if I could follow that regimen but I've been wanting to get back to my sketching because although I paint every day I don't draw every day. Does that make sense? I loved to draw in my sketchbook growing up.  I did it when I was bored, inspired, whatever.  I was never that good at drawing out of my head. I was always better at observational drawing.

It started this past week when I was bored and decided to dig into a box of radio parts I borrowed from my dad when I was struck with inspiration when Lori was here. I took out a radio tube, sat it on my desk and drew it. It took me about 1 and 1/2 hours to complete it, the layout being the hardest.  I felt really rusty but once I got going it was so much fun. I'm not sure about where this is going but I think for now Ill settle in to doing a pencil drawing of each item and then go from there.

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(the angle makes the tube look lopsided, but its not.)

The next sketch I started was this Acanthus Leaf in one of my Dover books.  I really suck at leaves and frilly things so I figured I would try to tackle it freehand, no tracing or tools like compasses or rulers.  This one has taken two tries and I've worked on it in several short sittings because I get frustrated.  So perhaps instead of doing a sketch per day, Ill resolve to sketch each day and see where that goes. I've also looked at other artists' blogs where they do a painting a day. This one I especially like: Postcards From Detroit. Now that is commitment.

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I may not get any sketching in tonight, still a little woosy from the previous night but maybe tomorrow.

Thanks Marge for the push! Marge Cameron's Blog

Happy New Year!

Update: 1-13-13

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Second Round

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A year ago I worked with the same client who had me complete a plethora of work for them.  This year I'm back for round two.  Previously I had painted columns, applied metallic plaster, and done some artwork for the children's rooms:

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This time, we focused on artwork for the stairwells and some for the master bedroom.  I also was asked to add to the children's room.  My last post I showed you how a painting evolves form a sketch to a final work.  That was for this client. Here are the other pieces for which I was commissioned. Hope you enjoy!

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cloud mural large

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tryptic

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sitting room

And...

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Evolution of a Painting

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A painting starts with a series of sketches.  To get to this point there are several hours of research, designing, discussions with the client, revisions, then final approval.  Sometimes the sketch is done in color. For this piece, we had images of stone that we selected for age, color and patina.

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I usually start with an underpainting of values to help create the depth before adding color. This also helps with getting to the right value without a ton of paint. I don't always do this, but for Trompe L'oeil it helps me see the dimension and establish light and shadow placement.

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Next I add the tones of the stone.  I premix my main colors and tweak them on the palette as I go.  This piece has a lot of warm shadows and cool highlights.  You can also see my reference material.  I spend countless hours searching for the right references.  Without them, I am unable to really replicate the natural qualities of the material.

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Once the main areas are blocked in, I like to go back and tweak areas to make sure its cohesive.  The center will have a very specific image that will look like a bas relief carving.  I shot reference photos, including Mike's hands pouring water.  The water in the carving was the most difficult. I wanted it to look fluid but at the same time it had to be "carved" out of the stone.

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The final piece, varnished before cutting and installation. You can see the pitting and cracking that I added for authenticity.

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Installation was done by Shelly Wilkins of Walls Etc.

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And the final result:

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Tada!

I added shadowing on the wall once it was installed.

A note on canvas installation vs painting on site...

I really prefer to paint on canvas to painting on site for several reasons.  It allows me to paint in the comfort of my studio, and the client doesn't have to put up with me for the weeks it takes to do the work.  It also allows the painting to become transportable.  In the case of a move, it is very easily taken down with some warm soapy water.  The investment is not left behind! Its great for kids rooms too.

The art of painting on canvas and adhering it to the wall is a 3000 year old method referred to as "marouflage." You can learn more about the technique here.

Some public examples of this type of work can be seen at the Library of Congress, The Capitol Building, the Biltmore Estate, and countless others.

Creative Itch

I've got an itch I need to scratch. Well, several actually. I have all of these ideas floating around in my head I feel as though about to explode.  Ideas for furniture painting, artwork, business stuff, things I want to learn to do, like "Verre Eglomise"...as well as projects for my house...there isn't enough hours in the day. I feel like I'm paralyzed by idea overload. Especially when the day is 105' and it takes all of my efforts just to get one foot in front of the other. Anyone else have this problem? Its just a matter of carving out time to do it while honoring my commitments with clients. Easier said than done! I wish I had an army of elves to jump on my ideas and get them made. Actually it'd be nice to have an army of elves to do a lot of things...laundry, cleaning, bills...but I digress.

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I've been thinking a lot about working on my own artwork and I think I finally have an organized direction. A friend of mine...Lori Wilson...was here recently and we had a long chat, er, discussion about life.  I don't think I've had a conversation like that in years.  While staying at my house for the Proceed workshop we put together, she noticed some paintings that I had done a long time ago. She asked who had done them and when I said me, she was surprised.  They're a different style than what I do now (if I have a style at all at this point.)  Earlier we were talking about doing your own art. She has recently completed a body of work and had a successful showing earlier this year. I had mentioned doing something with my dad's radios, an idea that Paula Henry had helped me brainstorm but I really hadn't found a direction.  I had talked about liking American subject matter like old cars, neon signs, architecture, etc and she had said that the paintings reminded her of Edward Hopper.  I was pretty happy about that because that was who I was into when I painted them.  Then she made the connection for me between the radios and those paintings.  It was like the proverbial light bulb went off in my head! Thanks Lori!  There's a lot more floating around in my head than cars and radios that I'm still fleshing out so you'll have to stay tuned.  I'm thinking that I would love to have a body of work by 4th of July next year to show at a gallery.

I've also thought about hiring.  Not sure if I should hire outright or subcontract.  I've lost work because of how far out work is booked. I've talked with a lot of people about that and there are differing opinions and I can't decide what is best for me and what I feel comfortable letting go of.  What is my time best spent on? Would clients be upset if I had and assistant do some of the set up and preliminary stages for me?

I also want to find a real studio.  Perhaps one without snakes or mice or the parents upstairs. (I work on murals in my parents basement. Its my second "studio." The wildlife is in mine.) But everything is way too expensive or doesn't have any personality or in a not so nice area if it is reasonably priced.  If I had my druthers I would build a garage.  Or I would rent a place on main street in Ellicott City.  My dream would be to have a really cool warehouse that has a store front with a showroom where passers by could drop in and clients could come and meet.  The back would have a loading dock for easy loading and drop off, and one long uninterrupted wall with 20' ceilings for mural work. Ok, I'd settle for 12'.  Oh and lots of natural light.  And I could leave my messes without anyone complaining about it. Anyone have a place like that within 5 miles of my house for lets say $500 a month!? Didn't think so.

But a girl can dream!

Signs of Summer

Hope everyone had a good Memorial Day weekend! Just finished this cool sign! I saw something somewhere I think on Pinterest that used flattened spoons as coat hooks.  I thought I could use some of my random spoons that have mysteriously appeared in my kitchen drawer.  I used some scrap wood, ropes, paint, and old letterpress type I had lying around.   Dolled it up with some Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and Voila! I think its purdy neat.  Of course Mikey's first comment was "Will it hold a coat?" Always the left brain of the operation.  I guess I could use some heftier nails and anchored it to the wall better if I were to use it. I think it looks neat!

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This sign was a present for my Mother in Law who has a place at the beach.  I drew up the design and again used some leftover boards from another project.  I also used ASCP but this time waxed it for durability.  It could hang outdoors (under a porch).

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And of course, you can always request one for yourself! The Coat Rack is $75 and the Beach Sign is $150.

Happy Summer!