What makes this one more time consuming, and difficult at times is the fact that you can’t put your hand down when you’re drawing. As a result, I’ve smeared the black ink so many times that I’ve ended up fixing (artistically, of course) mistakes more often than not.
I have been through 4 gel pens so far…The size of the board is part of the reason for using so much ink, and the other is the fact that I’m drawing organic figures and shapes this time. This is not architecture that I’m recreating, and my drawing style requires the structure that architectural elements provide. Altogether, I think that very element– the idea that I’m “building” organic shapes through an architecturally rooted technique is what will make this the most powerful piece of the series, so far.
I am making progress. Due date: next week? OK, I’ll firm that up– For you, my loyal readers, I will have the new piece completed and posted by the end of next week.
I better get going then. Cheers.
Note the glove– I know, it’s a good look, isn’t it? Like a cross between Scabs McGuillicutty and Tito Jackson. It helps, trust me. The ink smears, especially with any type of sweat or moisture rubbing over it. This one is taking a while, due in part to my personal schedule, but also due in part because it is a larger board. I’ve already gone through a full pen… Continue reading »
Well, before i went on my little Mexican vacation in July, i promised an entry on the occasion of projector maintenance. It seems that i wore the lamp out in my Grandfather’s projector. This bulb was pretty old, and i should have expected that.
When I cracked it open underneath, the burned out bulb read “300W”!! It was pretty hot in there and now i know why: the halogen bulb requires 120V and 300W to project a powerful light that’s bright enough for display. I went to Lowe’s and the max wattage they have there is ~20 or so. I bought one anyway and placed it in to see what would happen– idiot. The power surge blew it immediately after turning it on.
Yesterday I met with the owners of pictura gallery, located on the north side of the square here in Bloomington, IN. David Moore and Brenda Stern have a beautiful space there, and I’m hoping this project goes well enough to merit a showing there. Continue reading »
Hello again-
I have been working on a smaller board, and that post is coming very soon. I have one more sitting to complete the piece, and then I’ll post photos and commentary. What I will show you is my recent eBay win. I scored a bundle of four, 4.5 ft. sticks from user artnframing123. Thanks artnframing123, although I’m pretty sure that’s an alias.
Anyway, take a look. They came in 2 days after I ordered them, and I paid $18 for the wood, and $16.98 for the shipping. That is a huge discount compared to a retail framing shop’s pricing.
I am excited about my next post so stay tuned, my loyal readers!
eBay auction! I was very excited after getting so much progress done in such a short amount of time. Then, I went home and decided to break out the projector and see how my images looked. Everything was in the box except for the cartridge that holds the photos. Arrrrghgh.
The next day I went to work and found one in an eBay auction for $1.99. And, let me tell you, after 3 days of waiting for no one else to bid, it really does feel better when you win. Today I made the purchase, and I’ll just have to wait until it arrives to begin again. Although, my in-laws are bringing in another one on Tuesday, so maybe I’ll get a sneak peak at my slides then 
FYI, this guy runs a tight ship on eBay: Majik-Treasures
The next step was to get the wood primed. I had an old bed board in my garage that I thought might work perfectly. I originally wanted to cut it into fours, but wielding the large board along with the table saw was a bit difficult, so my cuts were a bit tricky. Plus, I felt the ratio was off, being too wide, so I decided to make a few extra sizes.
Then I spread white gesso that I had previously purchased (www.pygmalions.com) all over the surface of each board. Days before, I went to Pygmalion’s, which is a really cool art supplies shop, over priced, but cool. I’d prefer to go to a place like that over Michaels anytime, because there are artists there who can help you get exactly the right tools for the job. I bought black gesso, white gesso, oil pastels (black and white only). I considered using gel pens, based on a blog I read: (my apologies for not providing the link, next time I’ll make a note of my sources).
Anyway, as I was priming the wood, it became obvious that a brush would be to tedious, so I rolled up my sleeves and used my hands. NOTE: take off your watch before doing this, mine still has little flecks of white all over it.
The first photo here shows the wall (at left) I’d like to project my photos onto. Somehow I’ll fasten the boards to the wall, so that they don’t move between work sessions.
I ordered 7 slides from www.iprintfromhome.com. I hadn’t even pulled the projector out of the box yet. I trust that it works because my Grandfather kept everything in tip-top condition. A few days after placing the order, they arrived!
On November 7th, 2006, my beloved grandfather passed away. This occurrence of course, had a tremendously emotional impact on my family and I. But alas, there seems to be something positive to pull from the experience.
My grandfather was one of the original “home movie” makers while my father was growing up in the 1950’s and 60’s. He had all kinds of equipment needed (“need” is debatable) for creating family memories, and when he passed, I somehow ended up with a great deal of it. I have all of his old film reels, his movie projector, and an old Kodak Carousel 35mm slide projector.
You could say I am the keeper of our family’s memories at the moment. I’m afraid to screw the old reels up if I were to play them, so I’ll leave those in there for now. But I’ve been meaning to find a use for the slide projector, and finally, I think I have.
I plan to create a series of images that evoke a sense of modern nostalgia, simply by virtue of the medium which allowed the possibility. The images won’t be of old family memories, rather, I’m applying a modern twist: By capturing digital photos inspired by architecture, landscape and natural and/or construction materials, I intend to highlight the possibility of timelessness, which is exemplified by their subject matter. This, along with the fact that they will be hand drawn (in either pencil, charcoal, oil pastels, or gesso) on pieces of primed wood, will emphasize the fragile nature of memories, and the delicate existence they assume as we grow older.
I have made seven 35mm slides to begin with. The process is this:
- Find the appropriate surface
- Find art supplies that will work for my needs
- Saw the wood into appropriate sizes
- Prime the wood
- Project the slides onto the primed wood surface
- Draw and/or paint a likeness of the image onto the board
- Consider framing options based on outcome of pieces
Once I have a collection of finished pieces, I plan to display them at a local gallery, along with the photographic prints themselves and a running slideshow projected from the carousel itself. All of which will further enhance the nostalgic experience, with modern imagery creating new memories for the viewer.
Keep an eye on this blog, as I intend to document the process going forward. I believe that the beauty of any artistic endeavor starts with process, which reveals alterations and surprises along the way that enrich the overall final product. Such is life, I suppose.
