Paint Stir Sticks

I've been wanting to use some of the paint stir sticks I have been collecting over the years and I finally decided to use some of them for a background.

The rounded ends of each stick have been cut off to achieve a 5.25 inch length.

Laser Copy Transfer

Here is a picture of a laser print transfer in process. The pieces have been fixed to the ground by painting the image side with acrylic paint and placing the paint side down on the ground. After everything is dry and set water is brushed over the paper to soften it then it is rubbed away revealing the image. All that is left is the toner from the laser copy adhered to the paint.

The paper is in the process of being rubbed away after softening with water.

Progress: Building a chair

I resumed work on another assemblage piece that I thought up just before going on vacation by building a small chair with 1/4 inch square dowel.

Gluing the side parts of the chair.

Gluing the sides together.

The finished build ready for paint.

Using junky recycled material

We recently got new HVAC units installed in our condo complex and I was able to get a hold of one of the pallets the condenser units were shipped with. I’m using the wood to make some art works. It’s warped and rough and junky and dented and with nail holes which should add some interest and character to the pieces.

Lots of wood left to take apart.

Lots of wood left to take apart.

An assemblage box frame made from some of the pallet wood. Some of the smaller less interesting voids have been filled with wood filler and is waiting to dry before sanding smooth.

An assemblage box frame made from some of the pallet wood. Some of the smaller less interesting voids have been filled with wood filler and is waiting to dry before sanding smooth.

A few of the nail holes and dents.

A few of the nail holes and dents.

Mold Making

Yesterday I started making a mold of half a tin can by brushing and spreading liquid latex rubber on a tin can I saved from going in the trash bin. I’m not sure yet what I'm going to make with the mold.

The second coat of liquid latex rubber was a little too thick hence the drippy appearance. Three or four more coats ought to do it.

Another Tissue Paper Painting

I started another small tissue paper tile painting yesterday setting up a couple of preliminary drawings with measurements. Today I started painting. Here are a few progress images.

I cut the shapes from some tissue paper that has already been painted.

Beginning colors.

Some preliminary colors.

Color changes with some new colors added.

Working Small

This small painting is 4.5 x 4.5 inches. I used a combination of painting directly on the panel and painted tissue paper. I used paint as glue to adhere the painted paper to the panel instead of glue. It is based on Small Studies drawing No. 92.

Acrylic paint and tissue paper on panel, Dimensions: 4.5 x 4.5 x 1.75 inches (11.4 x 11.4 x 4.5 cm), Completed: August 2020.

Tissue Painting From Small Study No. 92

Here is another tissue painting based on one of the Small Studies drawings number 92. I cut shapes from tissue paper that has been painted base colors of various hues then I begin to paint more colors. After the shaped have been painted I glue them to the panel. In this case the panel is made of MDF. This is also one of the rare times I use varnish so it will help protect the tissue paper.

The finished painting.

The finished painting.

What the finished painting was based on. Small Study No. 92 created on 5 x 7 inch Bristol board with Lyra water-soluble crayon.

What the finished painting was based on. Small Study No. 92 created on 5 x 7 inch Bristol board with Lyra water-soluble crayon.

Technique

I take course sandpaper and paint it with several coats of acrylic paint. When it completely dry I sand it so some of the grit appears adding to the look and texture.

Lower left: course sandpaper just painted. Upper right: unpainted sandpaper.

After sanding the sandpaper. This little piece will be used as the ground or floor in an assemblage I'm working on.

Using Scrap

I came up with the idea for this one a couple nights ago when I was trying to get to sleep. I'm using scrap wood left over or recycled from other projects. I used my new Dremel tool to rough cut the window.

Face

Back

Drippy

I made some orange paint so it would be quite watery and poured it on the top of the box and let it run and drip down the sides.

Before

After

How It's Done

It's early this morning and I'm out on the balcony. I've just finished adding the fifth coat of paint to a larger panel so now I'll start preparing one of my smaller panels.

I start with texture right off the bat by laying down a rough white ground. I use random overlapping brush strokes instead of smooth and even brush strokes. After this first coat dries I will sand off any high spots and add another one or two coats using a plastic card to spread the paint.

Starting to lay down the first coat of white ground using random rough brush strokes.

Detail of the first coat of white paint.

The finished first coat.

Finished panel ready for a painting. After three coats of paint.

Detail of the finished panel showing scratches and brush strokes. It has been lightly sanded.

Trying to go larger

This is about as large a painting panel as I can build in my limited work space. This one just fits on my work surface on the balcony. I get most of my materials from DIY stores like Home Depot and Ace Hardware. This year I started using nice plywood for the panels instead of just MDF for the panels. I need to patch some holes then I will be ready to add a white base coat of paint.

30 x 19 inches. The wood for the frame came from the Home Depot and the wood for the panel came from McBeath Hardwood.

Working With Tissue Tiles

I wanted to try something new on a repurposed panel. After sanding the old work off the surface of the panel I coated it with some paint to fill in some of the low spots then drew the irregular tile shapes on the panel with a pencil. I painted some tissue paper with paint using some plastic cards to spread the paint. After the tissue paper was dry I cut the shapes to fit the areas on the panel. I then more color and texture to each tissue tile. Finally the tissue paper tiles were glued to the panel.

Tissue tile painting in progress.

Starting to glue the tiles in place. This image shows the pencil grid on the panel that was used as a guide to position the tiles.

Finished work.

Gallery Show: February 2021

Got a call today from Meri at the Phillips Gallery and we have a show scheduled to go up in the main gallery starting February 2021. I will be sharing the space with another artist. More new work to come.

Getting out of town

I went with my brother on a camping trip to Bryce Canyon National Park. A chance to get away for a change of pace. We saw some beautiful scenery and geological formations. I thought I might do some sketches but ended up being thoroughly lazy and settled for just taking pictures.

Natural Bridge at Bryce Canyon National Park.

Waterfall near Mossy Cave.