Four on the go

 

I'm doing second versions of a few of my postcard sized watercolour and ink pen paintings. 

As you can see from the photo above I have been progressing the early stages of the four watercolours together. This gives me opportunity to lay down the similar underpainting coats of the watercolours. This of course is done after each is sketched onto the 300gsm watercolour paper; and in most cases I have gone over the sketch with a fine cool grey or sepia ink pen - see below. All paintings are based on photos I have taken on our visits to Scotland; and where I have used an app to remove the background.

A couple more process steps are shown in the flooring images.

I will get back to these four paintings next week; but at that point I will work each of them individually I think.

What works with what?

 

My experiments with inks lead me to ask the question: what pen or pencil would I use to sketch the base image for ink paintings; and would different pens or pencil react differently to a coat of alcohol or a coat of acrylic ink.

So with Fiona's assistance I set up a test for a range of pens and pencils on translucent yupo paper: and then swiped a coating of the two inks across the test sheets. You can see how the alcohol test worked in the opening image; and how the acrylic ink worked in the image below.

You will note I drew lines and wrote the different names of the pens and pencils on both pieces of paper - prepared paper below. I also recorded whatever ink was used on each - ink puddles below.

Some observations include: alcohol ink creates a more dramatic effect; black Copic pens seem to work better under alcohol ink; alcohol ink gives quite a gentle smudged look; graphite pencil seemed to hold up better under acrylic ink; and most black pens tend to turn brown under both alcohol and acrylic ink.

Fiona and I discussed the test pieces a

The experiment with these can be seen below. Observations include: hard graphite pencils work well; black ball point stands up ok; and Sharpies can be useful for smudged effects and don't go brown. I think I will be using hard graphite pencils for my base sketches if I want a clear image or contrast.

I'm quite amazed that, with Fiona and Megan's encouragement, I have spent quite a bit of time experimenting with papers, inks, layers, pens and pencils. The good news is that I think I'm just about ready to redo some of my pieces and apply the knowledge I have gained.

Orchid joy on rainy days

 

We have had so much grey and so much rain it has been difficult to pick times to get out and walk; but on one occasion I walked to G's orchid house and was offered the joy of the blooms in this post.

The orchids seemed to be enjoying the rain and warmer weather - beautiful colours and forms to bring joy and reinforce hope. I love the fresh raindrops on the orchids.

In grey and dark times it is so uplifting to discover fragments of beauty close to home.

Nine test pieces

As a few folk would be aware I have been experimenting with alcohol and acrylic inks to see how they might work together and on different surfaces (papers).

In this blog post I share the outcome of those experiments including the opening image that I have called - Burnt bushes - silhouette after dusk: translucent yupo 'paper'; archival ink and permanent marker sketch; acrylic ink applied over with balsa wood implement (see end of blog); and alcohol over that - again applied with balsa wood.

Moonscape - white yupo paper; alcohol inks dropped directly onto paper; ink lines and acrylic moon added when dry.

Moody Moon - translucent yupo paper; archival ink sketch; acrylic moon; and alcohol ink painted over.

Moody evening - white yupo paper: 2-3 layers of alcohol ink applied with 10mm flat brush.

Fishing poles - dark dawn - 300gsm watercolour paper: archival ink sketch; acrylic ink applied with brush; alcohol ink overlay; acrylic ink touch up; and posca pen sun.

Fishing huts - through mist and grass - white yupo paper: acrylic painting of huts, sky and foreground; alcohol ink overlay; acrylic ink overlay; grass drawn through wet acrylic ink with pencil.

Dandelion shadows -translucent yupo paper: rough archival ink sketch; and alcohol ink applied with balsa wood implement.

Silver moon in winter landscape - translucent yupo paper: archival ink sketch; acrylic ink overlay applied with wide brush; alcohol ink applied with wide brush; posca pen moon and stars.

Moon in dark starry sky - translucent yupo paper: alcohol ink base applied with wide brush; acrylic ink moon; second coat of alcohol ink; posca pen moon and stars.

Balsa wood implement - about 8-9cm wide. Fiona used this when doing huge calligraphic letters. She suggested I give it a go. I think it will become one of my things.

Quite a lot of lessons learnt. I have written notes on each piece. I will now think about which technique and sequence and paper I will adopt.

Molten metal and wood

 

I'm experimenting with inlaying and mounting melted pewter in and on timber. The image above shows what happens when you pour 700 degrees heated pewter into prepared holes and grooves in an offcut of timber. 

As you can see from photo below the process started with crushing and cutting up some pewter goblets; and cutting some rudimentary grooves and holes in a offcut of bunya pine.

When I was ready to do the pour I had Fiona on hand to take photos and quench the timber once I had done the pour.

As you can see below the outcome was not great but has potential. I think if I do another pour into the burnt grooves-holes and only heat the metal to 500 degrees I might have greater success in the pour. The goal is to have the melted metal contrasting with the blackened timber

I have also decided to carve textured squares into a graphite block to see what might be the outcome when iI pour metal into the form. The resulting textured squares of metal could be mounted on timber???

Given what I'm doing with inks and watercolour at the moment it would seem I'm in an experimental frame of mind. To be continued in 2025!!!! 

Visiting Peace in the Trees

 

The Peace in the Trees sculptural walk was launch some 9 years ago - the link takes you to Art 4 Place's blogspot and a scroll through it will give an insight into the background to this work. 

Fiona and I visited the sculptures on a recent walk. Though some get vandalised a bit from time to time it is still good to see the sculptures aging in place and fitting so well into the landscape. My sculpture  (Imagine Peace) pictured above is growing some mould and is surrounded by trees and plants just as it was designed to do.

Some more images of the sculptures follow.

It is good to see that these pieces about peace and the environment can still add to the conversation today.