The Offering, Graphite and Colored Pencil on Film

The Offering, Graphite and Colored Pencil on Film, 7" x 7"

This work has been submitted for the first juried exhibition, the Spirit of Giving at Everett Artists' Supply and Framing, December 5th through January 3rd, 2010. Acceptance letters will be sent out on November 20. The theme of this show is, of course, the spirit of giving. They will be embracing that spirit of giving by donating 10% of proceeds to the Everett Battered Women’s Shelter and Cocoon House Shelter for homeless youth. I applaud them in this and hope for a successful show and many sales!

Continued - Graphite on Dura-lar Matte Film WIP

Grafix Dura-Lar Matte film is the surface that I love to use with graphite and colored pencil. If you are interested in trying it, you can find it online, at your local art supply or drafting supply store. The add states, "it is the acetate alternative. It combines the best features of Mylar® and acetate". You can see a tablet here at Dick Blick. It's smooth surface is great for getting the details I need in my miniature work. It's easy to erase, although, you do have to be careful when erasing. If you over work a spot, it may become too smooth and no longer accept the graphite or colored pencil. You can also work on both sides of the surface or use different colored papers as backing for different effects. One thing I have found is you have to be careful not to scratch the surface. I have had my fingernails leave small scratches all over the surface but I couldn't see them until I penciled over the area and the white lines and squiggles showed up. You could use that at as advantage by scoring the area for effect. There are so many possibilities and if you love to draw, it's worth trying.

Because of it's translucence it's easy to transfer your drawing. Under the film, you can see the photograph that I am using for a reference for the light source and one of my miniature works which I enlarged to use as a guide for a new image. (I've not posted that miniature work yet). I have done two different drawings of trees with a crow and wanted to explore that subject again. Sometimes I will use a subject or the same work as I have done here, as a starting point to take an idea further. I may do it in a different medium, or perhaps a different size. I don't think I could redo a work exactly the same way! This time the image I had in mind was for a local competition with a theme of "The Spirit of Giving".

Above are two reference photos of the tree and door that I am using.

The work is fairly advanced here, but you can see how I've used a variety of lines and then building up light strokes to create a good range of values. I use different pencils, mechanical 0.5mm and 0.3mm, as well as regular drawing pencils in different ranges of hard and soft, depending on what I'm trying to do.


A close -up of the doors showing where I've lifted up some of the graphite. To do this, I use a sticky putty which used to be called Hold It, but now I think it's under other names. I think it's called Blue Tack in the UK. It a very useful product around the house.

Some work done on the background.

Work on the area under the door.

A close-up of the area under the door.

Grasses in the front.

Darkening of the tree.

The crow has been added and the front tree finished. Here is where I decided that something just didn't look right to me. It was time to take a good look to see what was wrong. I took it downstairs to look at it in a different light and decided it was too dark. I got a second opinion and sure enough, the doors were difficult to distinguish from the surrounding area. It lost the impact that I was looking for! There were also a lot of the white scratches in places that bothered me as well, could it be my nails? So I decided that I wanted to start over! I figured it would be easier the next go since I already had things worked out. It was just the timing that was going to be difficult! I cut my nails, got a fresh sheet of film and got busy!


This is the reworked piece. Unfortunately, this is not a very good photo. It's been raining so there is less light in my studio. I'll be showing the scanned image later, but I think you get the idea. I used colored pencils on the other side of the film at the door and key. I liked the first crow I did better, this one looks too nice or not as mysterious. Maybe because he's happy this is finished? I think it turned out well and I hope the concept is clear. The title is The Offering, matted, it will be 7" x 7" small work. I had my webmaster scan and size it for the email submission last evening, Sunday the deadline, at 9:20pm. So I did make it, I got a conformation! YAY! The acceptance letters go out on the 20th of Nov, so I'll be keeping my fingers crossed! I'll be posting links and show information after that date. Now, on to the next project! Ah, what's next? Could be the silverpoint I've been wanting to do, or I could start playing with some egg tempera? So many choices! Anyway, thanks for taking the time to read this.

Graphite on Dura-lar Matte Film WIP

So sorry I've been absent here.  I am trying to make a deadline tomorrow.  I'm working on a graphite on Dura-lar Matte Film, small work for a local competition.  I started photographing it each morning before I worked on it so I could post some of the steps later.  When it was about three quarters finished, I took a serious look at it and realized it was too dark!  OH NO!!!  I tried to lift some of the dark, which usually works, but there were other problems as well.  Anyway, I ended up starting over!  I'll say and show more later.  As to now, I need to get busy!  I sure hope I can have it ready in time, but if not, there will be other places to show it.

A Surprise Visit

I wanted to share a few photos of a bit of wildlife we were honored to have on our back fence last week. I know I aways complain about the location in which we live... too commercial, noisy, etc. However, this visit caused us to pause in awe and rush to grab the camera. I've not identified it yet for certain, but I think it's a Cooper's Hawk, could be a juvenile.

All our small birds that visit us were gone and stayed away for a few days, in spite of the feeder having food. Cooper's Hawks like to visit bird feeders looking for small birds to feed on! There is a storage lot behind us with a lot of weeds and blackberry bushes growing over our fence. The little birds like to hang out in them and pop through the lattice in the fence to come to the feeder. Notice in the next to the last photo, he's standing on one leg. He stayed there for quite a bit of time, but of course as soon as we got the tripod out to set the camera in a better location, he decided he'd been there long enough. These photos were shot with a zoom from inside, through a window. We heard him for a couple of days, but never saw him again. It was so exciting and his visit came at a good time. He was a messenger of good tidings.

2009 MPSGS Honorable Mention Award!

I've just received my letter from the Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers Society (MPSGS), and I am so excited to have been given an Honorable Mention for my work Hay Bales in the landscape category in their 76th Annual International Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature!! yippie!!

It was selected from the 724 works in the exhibition. I am thrilled! That show opens on November 23rd through January 2, 2010, with an awards ceremony Sunday, November 22. I sure wish I could be there. Sigh...

Congratulations to all my online miniature artist friends who's work has also been awarded!

Final Phase, Bringing it all Together!

Work in Progress, Acrylic on Gessobord, 4" x 4"

#12

I worked on darkening the edge of the large rock, adding the holes, giving them depth. I also needed to pay attention to the rocks on the right side, give them some detail without making them too important. I added shadow areas throughout the holes and rocks.

#13

I further refined the dark forest, adding tree trunks and branches, touching up the sky holes, bringing some trees forward, moving some back. I also added some cliffs on the far right side. Here is a closer view of the rocks in the foreground.

#14

More branches were added here as well as some leaves. I also worked the roots on the upper rock on the right.

#15

The front edge of the large rock has been further defined with the under shadowing and carried over where it meets with the other rocks. I like the shape and curve of this opening. All the details have been added and it's just a matter of looking to see what else needs a bit of tweaking.

#16

In one of my photos of the area, I noticed a seagull. I really didn't see it at first, except when I was trying to see some other detail under magnification, there it was. I thought it would be a great addition. However, the seagull was not easy to paint! At first I just couldn't get it to look real, I did not want the cliché of a "bird". I realized my difficulty was the surface, it wasn't smooth, there was too much drag on the brush. So after letting the area dry, I added a thin layer of soft gel medium diluted with water, like an isolation coat, and let it sit overnight. The next day I was able to work the bird much easier, the brush moved freely on the surface. I was able to create the shape of a bird with some light and dark areas suggesting the body and wings. Whew! it was so tiny to paint! All I have to do now, is put the isolation coat on, and then after it dries, varnish and frame it. Oh, and yes, the fun part...a title!

#17

Above is the final work in the frame I have chosen to put it in. I am pleased with the outcome. I really like the way the seagull breaks up the darkness of the forest and pulls the eye through the work. What struck me was the serenity of this place. There were so many ways for the senses to be stimulated, the feel and look of the different textures of the rocks, the contrast of the dark forest and the overcast sky. Not seen in this painting, but can be imagined, is the water of the sound on the left, the sand and pebbles and tidal pools below. It was chilly, but the air was fresh. I can't wait to go back!!

I'll be posting the final image on my website and here as well when it gets scanned and I give it a title! This work was done for the Miniature Masterpieces and More exhibit coming up at Kaewyn Gallery's holiday show. I'll be talking about that in the near future, so stay in touch.

Thanks for looking and reading about my process. I have done this for myself as well as anyone else who is interested. I think it will be good to have as a history, not only of how I worked at this point in time, but what I thought about it. I do want to make it clear that this wasn't posted in real time. I took a photo every day before I started working. Then I took the best photos in their order and posted the work a few at a time. I take a long time on each work, too long! If I posted them in real time, it would take forever between posts. Therefore I chose to do it this way. I wish I were faster, but I'm not and that's the way it is. Besides, it's the journey that's important! Now, next, graphite on film.

Next Phase: "Work in Progress", Acrylic on Gesobord

The work continues.
* Note, some of the images are under the magnifier for a closer view.

#5

I've given the overcast sky the solid, flat look I was after without it being too stark white or too dark. I'm still adding values and defining shapes, overall.

#6

More tree branches which help break up the sky and texture on the trunk of the tree, are seen here.

#7

Oh no! The color was too dark and started to loose the texture I wanted. I ended up wiping off the paint and letting it completely dry. (see the white spot on the rock)

#8

You can see here where I was able to repaint the color and start to give it form again. It was another of those flat places where I wanted to blend the surface edges but instead, overworked the area. I hate when I do that! But it has been saved and I am moving on.

#9

Next you can see where I've started to lay color on the rock in the foreground. When I paint, I work from the larger area, then gradually add more values and outlines of shapes of objects. I work all over the surface at the same time and try not to add too much detail in the beginning, just enough to see where I am in that space. I've found if you get too caught up in the detail too soon, you often end up changing it anyway.

#10

Above is a closer view of the detail on the surface where I had to redo the basic color. Also, you can see the great textures of the tufoni rock formations.

#11

I'm happy with the trouble spot that I reworked. I can see the work is going in the right direction now and it's time to start sharpening up areas and loosing some edges. Then I get to do the fun stuff. Next, the fine details!

Work in Progress, What I'm Painting Now

Here's a preview of the painting I'm working on and how it came about.

Silverpoint on Multimedia Art Board -4" x 4"
(Rejected by me as being too dark and surface not smooth enough)

I did this image as a silverpoint drawing, it was my first silverpoint. I really like how it came out except as I've stated in an earlier silverpoint post, I was tinting the ground too dark. Also this one was done on multimedia art board and I didn't like it as a support, it seems to be too bumpy for a miniature. I now know it can be gessoed and sanded smooth prior to using the silverpoint ground. (So much to learn and since I still have some of the Mulitmedia Artboard left, I may try that!) Anyway, I really liked this image in silverpoint and I am going to do it as a larger silverpoint work later. I already have some very nice illustration board prepared with silverpoint ground, ready to go. However, that will have to wait because I do have another miniature show to submit work to at Kaewyn Gallery's, Miniature Masterpieces and More* annual exhibit in December. (It's an invitation only for the submissions and I'm always happy to be invited to participate in this group show.) *More on that later.

#1 Image on left is the new painting, right is rejected painting. (4" x 4" Gessobord)

Several months ago, I decided to paint this same image, as a miniature. I ran into trouble with the surface in blending the colors in the sky area. I'm not sure what the problem was, but nothing was turning out the way I wanted! So I put it aside and worked on something else. Now I am back to it and so far it's going really well. (As it should since I am very familar with every curve and shadow in this piece!) Notice the mess I made of the sky in the one on the right! That's after I sanded and reapplied paint, then sanded some more! Definitely time to put this one in the reject file! I do keep rejected work, however, because it's good to have as a reference. A reminder of what worked and what didn't.

#2 A close up view of the beginnings.

In the above image, I laid in the shapes and darks of the forest. The rocks and tree forms have been outlined, with a few values added. The sky area has been covered with the first thin layer.

#3

In the above stage, I've laid more values on the front rocks. The forest has been defined further and another layer added to the sky. I find the areas where I get myself into trouble is when I have to blend a large smooth flat space, as in the sky. The paint starts to pick up and then it becomes uneven. The more I paint, though, the better I am able to get past these annoying mishaps! I become more mindful of using a lighter touch and not to over thin the paint. Oh, and to breathe!

#4

In this one, you can see the full view of the surface under magnification. You can see the rocks are being defined further as well as the tree with the small white branch. Still a lot more work to do, but so far, it's coming along without problems! I'll be back soon with more updates. Thanks for looking at my work in progress, untitled for now.

Elder Street Gallery Photos

I finally got some of the photos resized that my daughter sent me of the show at the Elder Street Gallery in Houston TX. She was there early in the day so the crowds happened later. You can get a good idea how the show was hung and I was happy to see that the method of hanging was very secure.

The gallery and artists' lofts are in a beautiful historic building.

My works on exhibit.

In this photo, notice the tiny miniature to the right of the man. It has a red dot indicating a sale and it is one of Mona Diane Conner's beautiful eye miniatures done in egg tempera. Congratulations Mona! *

My work has been returned promptly from the Elder Street Gallery show in Houston. I was happy to participate and glad that my daughter, Gina got to see a miniature art show in person. Thanks for putting this show on Terrence!

* Mona Diane Conner does beautiful work in egg tempera and has a mini demo on her blog. I have the book she recommends by Robert Vickery, New Techniques in Egg Tempera. It was a very nice surprise from my husband (I had it in one of my wish lists). He found it used at a very reasonable price and in wonderful condition. Now I need to find the time, but it's going to happen some day. Also, my friend Janie Olsen is going to a one day workshop on egg tempera given by Koo Schadler in December. She is also interested in learning more about this beautiful way of working. I can't wait to hear about it Janie! When she does her first work, I'll be sure to link to it!

Work accepted in MPSGS!

I got my acceptance notice in Saturday's mail and I'm excited to say all three of my works were juried in to this year's 76th Annual Miniature Painters, Sculptors, and Gravers Society, (MPSGS) exhibit. I am thrilled!! Here is the blog post (second paragraph) with my three works that will be in this exhibit.

On another note, I just got back from North Seattle Community College where I delivered my work. Brenda and her gallery helper, Wendy were busy hanging the show and from the peek I got, it's going to be a very nice show! I can't wait to see it when all the work is up for viewing. Mark your calendars for the opening reception, Tuesday, from 1 - 3 and 6 - 8. The show will be up until November 6th.