The Mushroom Houses





Today has been one of those amazing autumn days in northern Michigan when the sun is shining and the weather is unseasonably warm. The perfect day to go out and take photos and give the new camera a test run. I chose this opportunity to snap some shots of a few Earl Young 'mushroom houses'. Although many of the homes are surrounded by lots of trees and foliage, most are visible enough to get a sense of their unique architecture. Built from local stone and boulders, each house is also unique in it's own way. Mr. Young was often known for using green mortar when constructing his homes. It resembles moss growing between the stones which adds to the natural esthetic.  

Barnyard Gothic ~ faux batik on waxed paper



The CEO is back for an encore. This time he's painted as a faux batik on waxed paper. I replaced the India ink with walnut ink and it toned the waxed paper so well I didn't bother painting a background. I'm not sure where I got the title but it seemed to fit somehow. Maybe because the walnut ink lends an antique affect to the painting.

First Day of Autumn

Okay, so I'm a day late. I was playing with copper leaf and Lumiere metallic acrylics last night and came up with this one so I thought I'd share it.

An 'Ah HA!' Moment



I managed to finish my 'Clowder of Cats' sketch but lost interest before I could start painting. It happens sometimes. I'll probably come back to it eventually but in the meantime I had one of those 'ah HA!' moments that makes me wonder why I didn't think of it long ago. I have solved the dilemma of ink painting on metal leaf.

This past summer I posted a couple of small paintings done on copper Simple Leaf. I loved the effect but the paintings were so delicate and scratched easily. Also the copper leaf did not like blending solution. Painting on the silver Simple Leaf was even more difficult and I never managed to create anything worthy of posting. It scratched just by breathing on it, I swear. Then two days ago the solution suddenly came to me. Why not apply the leafing to clear acetate, then paint on the flip side? The leafing would show through but be completely protected. Today I found time to experiment on an acetate display sleeve. First I had to find out if the alcohol ink would move and flow on acetate. Would it withstand rubbing alcohol and blending solution? Yes to both. Then I applied the Simple Leaf to the acetate, flipped it over and created a quick little painting. I even added a bit of line work with a Micron pen. A side note: the Micron pen went on better after the alcohol ink had been applied. I would like to try Krylon workable fixative next time to see what affect that will create. I love it when I have a rare moment of 'smart'.   

Clowder of Cats ~ composition

I'm currently working on the comp for a new painting. I'm doing it with my usual storyboard technique. Seems there are a few issues to work out such as certain subjects 'kissing'(meaning: barely touching) that don't work for me. I do like the loose, diagonal 'S' flow, though.

A Katydid & a Ladybug

'Ladybug' and we all know one or two.

'Katydid' and she did come to visit me last summer.
 I was fortunate to snap a photo before she went on her way.

It just never came together for me.

My sketch

Not all bright ideas pan out. I worked up a sketch on pad paper that looked like it might work. Alas, it did not. In the process of coming to that conclusion I used up a lot of ink and almost an entire bottle of Ranger blending solution which isn't cheap so I did the next best thing....I cropped it into two separate ink paintings. The original painting was my largest so far being 17" x 12".

I wanted to try out my new Ranger ink colors...Pitch Black and Pesto(green). Pesto behaves much like the rest of the Ranger inks (aside from the mixatives) but Pitch Black is thicker and it takes a lot of blending solution to make it move. From now on it will be used in smaller works until/unless I order more blender. I do love it, though. I works so well to tie the Micron line work into an ink painting, adds wonderful contrast and drama and it truly is pitch black. 

Chorus Line ~ doodle art



What to do when one is temporarily without inspiration...doodle! Last night I doodled these frogs and the title came to me today.

BTW, I snapped this image with my new camera, a Nikon D3200. My oldest son had heard me complain about trying (and failing) to take sharp, clear photos of my larger paintings with my Canon Powershot S5IS which boasted 8 MP so he went out and bought me the Nikon. I can't complain now because my new Nikon offers 24.2 MP! What?! Thanks, James!





Back to School ~ complete

I scanned the completed painting. The colors are still off but better than the photos. There's no green in the painting even though it looks like it on my monitor and the colors are slightly softer.



It took me awhile but I finally finished this. I did a few more pours, then applied liquid masking to some of the fish. The intention was to work on those fish separately after the masking was removed so they wouldn't blend into the background so much. Today I lifted some areas of ink, re-inked various lines, added gold and silver metallic Jacquard Lumiere paint to areas of the fish and also drizzled copper and gold Lumiere throughout the background. I also added a few ink lines with Micron pen to the background to tie it into my COI, the fish. I kept to my original palette of Ranger's Wild Plum, Sunset Orange, Purple Twilight, Watermelon, Peach Bellini and Cool Peri. I like the candy colors!

With masking applied(left) and after removal(right). Sorry for the poor quality images. These colors do not photograph well.

Back to School ~ WIP 3

First pour

My color trial



A quick update on this project. I'm posting my color trial and the first pour. I managed to do a second pour but it doesn't look like much yet so I'm going to hold off until I receive my supplies. I ran out of a few ink colors and blending solution so had to order more. Lucky for me Tim Holtz is having a sale on ink right now.

I really played with my trial sample. After inking a quick sketch and pouring the alcohol ink I added a few touches with Jacquard's Lumiere metallic acrylic paints...some gold to the fish scales and a few other Lumiere colors to the background. The Lumiere line of paint is a light body acrylic product that comes in some luscious colors. They are similar to fluid acrylics. Slightly thicker than fluid acrylics but still pourable. 

  

Back to School ~ WIP 2

I just finished transferring my drawing to Yupo and inking all the lines with Micron pen. I had a ton of fun coming up with patterns for the fish. It made me think of the first day back to school for human students, showing off their latest/hippest new duds. I also just sprayed everything with Krylon workable fixative and snapped a photo while it dries. This one is telling me it needs pinks, purples and oranges for a palette. I'll have to do some trials on Yupo scraps before deciding what will work best.

Back to School (fish) ~ sketch

I've started on yet another ink/Yupo project. This time it's a school of imaginary fish. I thought it would be fun to add some Zentangle patterns on the fish in place of scales. The sketch isn't complete yet but it's coming along nicely.

Something I've discovered about myself...I work better when I have the TV on and it's within view. While I don't have to pay attention to what's on I do love the distraction of the noise and the action. I know many if not most artists prefer no distractions while creating and if not peace and quiet, they at least like to have music playing in the background. Not me. I'm like a teenager that can't concentrate on their homework unless they have the stereo blaring and music videos running. Over the past several months my studio has gradually migrated back to my kitchen table so I'm closer to the TV set and I'm much happier! Go figure.

The Timekeeper's Cottage ~ complete

SOLD

Although it doesn't look like I made any changes, I made a few. I used blending solution to bleed some background color into the lilies and the cat. They looked too stark before, at least to my eye. The image doesn't show it but I also added some Pearl Mixative to the large key and the hour glass to bring them both out of the background. Fighting the urge to fiddle anymore, I put my inks down and called this complete. Some of the ink colors are as difficult to photograph as they are to scan. An example is the 'neon' blue in the upper left corner. That passage isn't anywhere near as 'violent' IRL. The Moon isn't as muddy as it appears here either. I also decided not to re-ink the areas where the Micron pen was washed away by the alcohol inks. I like the lost edges.

Note: The only problem with using rubbing alcohol with Ranger inks is it's tendency to dull the shiny finish. I'm going to apply several coats of Krylon gloss UV protectant varnish to bring back the shine and make the colors appear more vibrant.

The Timekeeper's Cottage ~ WIP 3



Nothing is more scary or knot-in-the-stomach exciting as spending hours drawing, transferring and inking a piece only to turn little tiny bottles of alcohol ink loose on what you painstakingly created with absolutely no idea what will happen. I thought watercolor was unpredictable but this medium trumps it hands down. As I've worked with these inks and have come to know how they can react with each other I went in with a vague idea of what I wanted to happen but knew it may not become a reality. This piece is roughly 10 1/2" x 17" and painted in portrait format (obviously). Alcohol ink dries incredibly fast so the challenge was to keep it moving while I added various colors and 17" is a long run. Anything could and did happen as these inks moved down the Yupo. Some cool textures formed and some very interesting secondary colors appeared.



Right after the pour. The masking is still in place. Yikes!

I had decided at the beginning I would use rubbing alcohol to move the inks because the blending solution tends to dilute the colors and I wanted to keep the dark colors dark. I also knew this would be a one shot deal. I had already masked off the areas I wanted to save and hand paint later like the Moon, the moths, the window openings, the cat and the lilies. I wish now I had masked off the larger key but I may be able to work with it or I may decide to leave it. You can see a shape there and it invites the viewer to come in for a closer look.

 

 



The Timekeeper's Cottage ~ sketch

While I was still working on Thistle Downs I began this sketch and completed it this afternoon. I've dubbed it 'The Timekeeper's Cottage' because I wanted to add an old clock and it kind of went from there. I also liked the idea of the oversized key and keyhole and of course I had to get a cat into the picture somewhere. Not sure how all that ties into a timekeeper but it's my drawing so I can add whatever I choose! Question: Has a pre-painting sketch ever told you what colors it needs (?) because this sketch is telling me it needs blues and purples. I'll have to sort out my palette and see what works best, though.

I was introduced to a new term recently....Zentangles. It's basically doodle art taken to an entirely new level. I discovered that various patterns have names and are typically done with Micron pen. The pattern I added to my crescent moon is a zentangle. It will receive more line work once I start inking my drawing on Yupo. I'll leave a link for anyone interested in experimenting with zentangles. I believe anyone that works with pen and ink could incorporate some of these patterns into their work to create added interest.

 http://tanglepatterns.com/tag/zentangle  

House on Thistle Downs Drive ~ complete (?)

SOLD

I think I'm going to call this complete. Once poured alcohol ink is on the Yupo, the less manipulating it receives the better. I could easily fiddle this to death with a brush. For colors I used Ranger's Terracotta, Willow and Cloudy Blue. I saved the white of the dragonfly wings with masking fluid as well as a few other areas of the composition but the contrast was too great to leave all but the wings. Too many pristine white spots proved distracting. I did remove some ink with blending solution here and there and re-inked several lines which had faded during the inking process.

House on Thistle Downs Drive ~ WIP 3

Sorry to be MIA. After my last post I was hit with acute bronchitis and with my existing lung problems it really took me down. Yesterday was the first day I felt human again so I was able to get back to this project. This is Micron pen and black Sharpie on 144# Yupo. I ran into some major smudging problems which I didn't expect but decided to work with it rather than against it. (see some of the effects on the roofs, etc.). I've sprayed this with a few coats of Krylon workable fixative and it's ready for the alcohol ink. The workable fixative didn't entirely cure the smudge problem so I have no idea what will happen when I turn the ink loose on this. It's either going to be really cool or really awful. Stay tuned....
  

Garlic Harvest

Here's my harvest hanging out on newspaper on my treadmill. Garlic has to cure for 3-4 weeks before getting a clean up and heading to the table or being made into a braid.

I wish I had some artwork to post but I haven't felt very creative the past few days. This heat wave we're experiencing has raised hob with my breathing and yesterday I woke up with laryngitis, probably from spending too much time near the AC. I knew I had to harvest my garlic before the predicted rain arrived so I waited until almost 10pm last night to venture out and get it done. At least the temps were tolerable at that time and unbeknownst to me my Cheap Joe's order had been delivered and was lying on my porch. It would've laid there all night had I not gone out.


Last Fall I planted three varieties of garlic, 2 hard neck and 1 soft neck. All did pretty well and it was a successful harvest. For those that have never grown garlic, the hard neck varieties produce scapes which are the stems and flower buds and these must be removed so all the plants' energy goes into the bulbs. Garlic scapes make delicious pesto. I cut the scapes earlier in the month and made a batch which is almost gone already. Wonderful on pasta (of course) and this pesto is also great on burgers.

House on Thistle Downs ~ color trial 2

Too much? I think so. I could go hog wild with the colors on a smaller, less complicated painting but I estimate the finished piece planned will be approx. 15" x 10" (at least) so all these colors would probably be overwhelming . I had to try, though. I also discovered I need supplies, mostly more Micron pens, so I put in an order last night. I'll have plenty of time to play some more while I wait for them to arrive.

House on Thistle Downs ~ WIP color trial

Last night I did a quick sketch on a scrap of Yupo with Micron pen and Sharpie, then sprayed with a generous coating of Krylon workable fixative. Today I chose a palette of Ranger's Willow and Terracotta alcohol ink and did a pour, letting the colors mingle. Sharpie ink will bleed slightly when alcohol is applied and it creates a grey/blue color which I think works well with this palette. The workable fixative keeps the alcohol ink from spreading out and taking over. In short, it makes it slightly more manageable. I did drop in some rubbing alcohol with my oiler boiler to get the ink moving in the right direction. I noticed a few interesting textures appeared as the ink dried which I really liked. I'm not sure how that happened but suspect the workable fixative may have had something to do with it. I plan to try a few other color options but I really like this one at the moment.

House on Thistle Downs Drive ~ WIP 2

Last night and today I've been tweaking my original sketch. Well, actually I drew an entirely new sketch and played with the angles and textures. I added a few whimsical touches as well. I'm not finished with it yet but I wanted to post an update and see it on the monitor. Mistakes can become glaring on a computer screen that aren't so apparent on the easel. I worked with a lot of charcoal and Micron pen to see what this might look like upon completion. While studying Lumila's work I noted that success with this style depends a lot on the right distribution of small(fine) and large(heavy) textures, variations of mark making and shapes. It's about throwing perspective to the wind and simply putting things where the artist wants to see them. This style suits me on so many levels. I love whimsy, I'm lousy at perspective and it should fit nicely into my goal of creating a consistent body of work. Win, win.