I thought it would be helpful to include this photo, so that you could compare the two sketches with the original:
This is the blue collar side of Bloomington, Indiana. Evidence of hard work and sweat, and a simple quality of life that appeals to all of us rises to thought. The monolithic presence of each stone appeals to me in a way that seems representative of those tasked with extracting them from the earth. The giant blocks are timeless and weathered, and exude a steadfast integrity that mirrors the honorable profession of their captors.
Bloomington is divided by “town and gown”, and it is especially evident when you contrast a scene like this with the multitude of limestone buildings on the campus of Indiana University.
I’m back with more. This time I tried a smaller board (maybe 18″ X 12″ at most). Last time I was unable to get the detail I was at least curious about attaining, so I tried a gel pen, purchased at Pygmalion’s once again.
I was immediately pleased with the fluidity of the pen strokes over the gesso/wood surface, and equally so with the level of detail shown.
I found that I was able to draw with almost as much detail as I could on paper, and the whole process became a joy to work on. The gesso is almost soft, and the pen sort of pushes through the surface, and you’re able to build up ink in certain places, and let it thin out when needed. The wood ended up adding a nice level of welcome texture, and the residual strokes from the gesso application provided an underlayer of motion that I was also able to key in on. (see detail)
The end result:
Stay tuned, and thanks for 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!
Finally, the slide cartridge arrived! I didn’t get a chance to test everything until yesterday, but it was worth the wait. I unwrapped it and loaded my slides…
And, drumroll please…
This was the moment I had been waiting for. From the very beginning, all I really wanted was to see one of my photos displayed through the old projector. The smell of the electric fan and the projector bulb was beautiful; that old-time flavor reminiscent of the days when everything was electric.
From here I went out to my garage to sand down one of my boards. I really expected the gesso to sand down a bit smoother, but I knew it wouldn’t be perfectly flat. The result, as you can see, is a surface that allows itself to exist as part of the concept. The texture is as real and timeless as they come, and it lends (at times it commands) a presence to every stroke I drew.
Using black oil pastels, I decided to treat this first one as a litmus test for things to come.
As I began to draw, I began to discover the nature of the materials I was working with, and how each reacted to the other. As the artist, I had originally thought or hoped to capture some of the finer details presented within the photographs.
This photo, taken in the fall of 2006 in Bloomington, Indiana shows a grouping of massive limestone blocks, fresh from a nearby quarry. As you can see from the next picture, the texture of the wood surface coupled with the fine detail a photo can provide presented a challenge in my approach.
This is a challenge that I knew would present itself, and as such fulfills part of a process of discovery. I am not trying to recreate an exact replica of the photos, but rather discover a path inspired by the photos that allows me to convey the meaning or emotion captured within. When adapting an image from one medium to another, you can’t think of it as a mere transfer of surfaces. You must adapt to the materials, and let the piece evolve as it sees fit.
What ends up happening, and what I intend to keep investigating, is that when I turn the lamp off periodically, I see an abstraction of the image taking place. As I was not ready for it at the time, I think I’m more prepared now to embrace that abstraction as it comes along. I was too busy fighting with the materials to notice it right away. After a while, I left the lamp off and decided to give it a life of it’s own, created by me in the moment. That allowed me to get out of the literal mindset that “I must re-create this image” as closely as possible. I’d be kidding myself if I really thought that were possible.
Conclusion: I still would like a finer point to work with. I’m considering gel pens. I’m also considering the use of black gesso, with a fine brush, but I don’t think that would be quite right for what I need. The problem is, I need the macro ability of the oil pastels at times, but then the need for the micro details is also evident. Perhaps I’ll use both. One final note: as you see in the photo below, I think the resulting wood texture is beautiful, where the pastel fails to fill in as I draw. It’s starting to feel more and more like a wood-cut image, which is very very exciting.
Though you can’t really tell it’s a quarry field, it has a unique beauty all its own, and shows strong enough on its own, regardless of the subject matter’s precise existence. With these truths revealed through process, I intend to improve upon my learnings in the next piece.
Stay tuned, and thanks for reading.
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.
