May 27,2013 move to the barn
It’s that time of year again. The weather in central Virginia has been freaky with frost, 80 degree heat, tons of rain and wind. But, it’s spring and we move into the larger studio. The light is much better because of sky lights and there is more room. Looking forward to a long painting season.
May 24, 2013 using a grid system
Rocky Mountain High
There are several ways I transfer an image to paper or canvas. I can free hand it, use a projector, or use the tried and true method of using a grid. The grid method is the low-tech way to reproduce and/or enlarge an image and it does take a little time to complete depending on how large and detailed my painting will be. This process is not as quick as using a projector or transfer paper, BUT it does have the added benefit of helping to improve or keep my drawing and observational skills sharp.
The method involves drawing a grid over a reference photo, and then drawing a grid of equal ratio on my work surface in pencil or charcoal. After I draw the image on my canvas, focusing on one square at a time, I usually smudge in the values to create a black and white image. I then erase the grid lines where they show. Because water based Acrylics will wash out my lines I usually fix the drawing by spraying with Workable Fixatif put out by Krylon and then start working on the acrylic under painting.
Important note-The thing to remember when drawing the grids is that they must have a 1:1 ratio- otherwise the drawing will be distorted! A 1:1 ratio means that I will have the exact same number of lines on my canvas as I will on my reference photo, and that in both cases, the lines are equally spaced apart – perfect squares.
May 22, 2013- Marblehead, Ma. exhibition I put the finishing touches on the seven paintings for exhibition at the Atomic Cafe in Marblehead this past week. This group is framed and ready to hang. Paintings will be on display for the month of June.
March 16, 2013 Rockfish Wildlife Sanctuary held their annual art auction to raise money to support the work the group does in nursing wild life back to health and subsequent release back into the wild. We donated “Snowbound” a framed work for this worthy event. Over thirty local artists and photographers donated work for the silent auction which was held held in the Piedmont Council for the Arts “City Space” office complex on the downtown mall Charlottesville, Va.
