Not really a tool but I use this stuff to fill nail holes and gaps in wood. It dries fairly quick and is easy to sand smooth. A piece of I’m working on slipped out of my grip and fell to the floor and smashed one of the corners so I’m using some of this stuff to try and rebuild the corner.
Tools: The heavy hunk of metal
I got this old hunk of metal from my father-law. When I’m laminating small pieces of paper I use this bar to as a weight to keep the lamination flat. I also use it as a clamp when I’m gluing small pieces together or needing to straighten slightly bend wood while the glue is setting. I also use it to hold small sheets and pieces of MDF in place when I’m cutting with a hand saw.
Another tall building
I've had the front of this one put together for a couple of years and leaning against various walls. It would have been easier to use 45° angles for the roof but I chose to use what ended up being 72° angles. That made for some challenging cuts with the tools I have at my disposal. I used a hand saw and my mini table saw.
Casting halves of bottles
I made a mold of a small bottle and cut it in half and have been casting these halves of bottles to use in a piece. I am using Durham’s Rock Hard Putty as the casting medium. It sets up very rock hard as the product name implies. To make sure they do hold up I inserted a piece of bamboo skewer into the plaster while still wet and pliable. I’m not sure what else I’m going to do to them. Stay tuned.
Cayucos Coastal 07 in Progress
I came upon this interesting rock formation on one of my beach walks at Cayucos and thought it might make an interesting painting. I need to do some more work on the sky and a little more work on the left of the rock formation.
Another tall Assemblage work
Here is how those six objects were used that I posted about yesterday. This is another of those where the main structure was constructed a few years ago but I could not figure out what to do with it until now. Some things can't be rushed I suppose.
Little Stuff
Making some tiny objects to go in another tall wall piece.
This is Clementine
Or at least it will be a version of Clementine the cat.
Tools: Google Keep-Notes & Lists
Google keep is one of the handiest tools I have in my art tool box. It makes it easy for me to keep track of ideas for art projects, tool settings, things I want to look up and research, idea sketches, art techniques I find in publication and even art supply shopping lists. For example I have running lists of art project and title ideas that I can quickly record as I think of them. I can either key them in or use my S-pen to jot them down or record them by voice.
Finally using the tall building
I've had this tall building structure for a few years now and could not settle on how to use it. A week ago it suddenly came to me what to do with it and here is the result.
The building is made from recycled slats from a pallet. The windows are paint transfers from laser copies. The figure hanging by a string is made from wood, recycled Christmas lights wire, and the head of a broken brush. I suppose he is a carry over from 2020 & 2021 with his black mask.
I have included a couple of detail shots of the figure. Just for fun I added some direction text on the figure.
The title is: It was a tall order. Nevertheless he had high hopes for a soft landing.
Tools: My Best Brush
I use this brush when I want to achieve smooth painting on small objects. I use my other rough brushes when I want to achieve more textured and sloppy work. This brush is also the one brush that is the easiest to clean. I don’t remember where I got this brush from. I think it was given to me.
Central coastal no. 15: progress
I'm trying something with a bit more detail in the foreground. The colors are still abstracted. I need to work with the foam and bubbles on the beach.
Cayucos Coastal No. 7: progress
Beach scene at low tide. Trying something different with some colors and the sky.
The Buckets
Here are the finished buckets I have been post about. Although you can’t see it there is a hole drilled in the bottom of each bucket from which paint will leak out of.
A Tall One
I have had the basic structure of this piece sitting around in a corner of the studio for several years now and it suddenly came to me today what I want to do with it. This will be one that can hang on a wall or be free standing. I haven’t quite worked out what I want to do with the windows. More to come.
Makeshift measuring
This is when scraps of paper come in handy.
The Results
Here is the finished work from yesterday’s post. For more details of this piece go to the new work section of my site.
Where could this one be going?
This one uses parts of a recycled hanging sculpture. Stay tuned to see how it turns out.
Making the bucket handles
I made some handles using some old copper wire that will be attached to three small buckets. I needed to straighten the wire with pliers and my hands. It was fairly easy to do and I wasn't aiming for super straight. I made a simple jig to help bend the ends of the handles so they will be the same length.
Blackie and Bluey in Progress
I saw this little bird outside a delicatessen in Cayucos a couple of years ago. It was perched on a metal post about three feet away from me and took a couple of pictures of it looking around. I thought it would be a good subject for some experimentation with abstract colors and background textures.
Every digital painting is an experiment and learning experience. Sometimes it they are exercises in letting go and breaking out of creative ruts and blocks.