Illustration Friday - “Canned”
Watercolour on Bockingford Paper 20cm x 28 cm
I’ve never been a fan of the Can for art purposes, but I have been swayed.
At my recent adventures at ArtEscape, Paul Margocsy demonstrated how great they are as brush cleaners whilst painting. Once filled with water, the ribbed sides provide a great “washerboard” action for the brush bristles.
I’m so excited about Uni Semester starting again next week. This email received from the Prof last night:
By now I suspect that you will have downloaded the Subject Outline and have looked at the program. The first week should be lots of fun as the topic is grinding pigments and making paint. To ensure that time is used effectively, I suggest that you collect a handful (or two) of small pebbles that you imagine will be easy to smash with a hammer and later grind to powder/pigment. I advise that you should avoid very hard rocks like granite or glass-like ones like quartz, feldspar and agate as the powder is not useful for our purposes. If you forget to bring some rocks no worries as there will be plenty outside the room…but mmm they will be boring to use.
For grinding the pigment, Townsville has a selection of mortar and pestles available and (with all fingers crossed) so will Cairns. Nevertheless, if you have your own mortar and pestle to bring to class (particularly for those in Cairns) all the better. Townsville and (again with fingers crossed) Cairns has eye protection/safety goggles for the rock smashing activities but they are very very ugly and if you have your own please bring them for that touch of glamour. I know that both campuses have a good supply of dust masks and gloves so there is no need to bring your own. Two last requests: please bring some small bottles/containers to store your pigment and some material to wrap around the rocks during smashing so that dust and rock fragments are contained.
In your first week Angela and I will be going through the week-to-week exercises and during this chat we can attend to any concerns you may have. Until the first class don’t worry too much just come to the workshop with a smile and be prepared to help make the class truly memorable.”
I have my stash of Peacock ore, purple shells and mortar & pestle packed, raring to go!
Similar Posts:
- Fog and rocks
- Old Smokey
- Illustration Friday -Poof! & Kickarts BIG!
- ArtEscape Exhibition Evening
- Fly away home
11 comments:
Write a comment:
Thanks for taking the time to comment. I appreciate each and every one of them. If this is the first comment you have left, your comment will be held in moderation for approval so you may not see it immediately. Once your first comment is approved, all future comments should appear immediately. You can choose to receive any further comments by email. Simply tick Notify me of followup comments via e-mail.
a belated happy new year to you, my friend! e.
*wow* this IS nice and neat and tidy - chapeau!
that illo is amazing! i admire people who can work with watercolors– always such a challenge for me. great job!
That’s such a lifeline painting Cindy! Dare I ask what Bockingford paper is?
@ cindy: landed here again during lunchbreak - can’t keep my eyes off your brushes
@ tim: bockinford is a very nice watercolour paper made in the uk by st cuthbert’s mill. for more infos you might wish to consult http://www.inveresk.co.uk - they also have an online-shop, but depending on where you live, bockingford paper should be available in art supplies shops.
e.
wonderful watercolour and great tip about the brush cleaning, must give it a go.
Hi everyone,
Ellisillus, thanks for both visits! I must admit that the brushes were getting rather tedious by 5pm this evening (keep forgetting the time diffs we’re on - you on your lunchbreak, me watching late night telly). I am trying to “loosen” up my style, but find myself returning again and again to “fine & detailed”. I really liked your mouse - so expressive with your lines of colour.
Thanks for the explanation to Tim - I have a pad of the Bockingford 300gsm, surprisingly convenient. It’s got a real “tooth” (textured dimples Tim), which I normally wouldn’t use for a fine watercolour, but it was OK. I have discovered the ultra smooth surface of clayboard (like laminex), that will hold watercolour. I’m going to sketch out a 8″ x 10″ slab tomorrow.
Reg, watercolours are a real challenge for me too! Always scary to look at that blank sheet of paper!
Tim, Ellisillus was very kind to answer the paper question. I have hoarded watercolour papers of various weights and textures for years - time to start using them! Check out Ellisillus blog (your wife will like his artwork for sure). Just right click his name (open in another tab option). In fact, check out all the artists here that have commented -such a varied and imaginative interpretation of the theme “Canned”
Janie, thanks for stopping by - your blog has some great images - love the toys, they have such “human” expressions!
Artists workshops are always a great source of inspiration and knowledge for me, can’t get enough of them!
while you’re sound asleep probably and hopefully, i take this opportunity to whisper to your subconscious that the mouse is keith, that i am actually a fan of the pianist keith jarrett - i thought that keith jarred did fit in a way - and that i am a boring old german called elli, which is a much shorter and more energetic version of the long and historically unbalanced name of hrh za kwien *g*
b.t.w.: the reason why keith was put into the jar is that when i was a kid i caught mice exactly the same way as you did - couldnae believe that the same thing is being done on the other side of our blue diamond
have a nice week-end everybody
aaaah: forgot to mention that my favourite watercolour paper is the “extra white artistico satinata” quality made by fabriano in their italian mill with either 300 g/m² or 640 g/m² - it’s just perfect (but dreadfully expensive). just the right thing to pacify my tactile desires with regard to paper *g*
http://www.cartierefabriano.it/
Hi Elli,
I think having mice to play with instead of dolls when I was little was the best thing for me!
Amazing that we have the same “trapping” modus operandi. I had a lot of critters when I was young - wallabies, ferrets, wild ducks, a lamb, and we lived right in the middle of suburbia, although my dad was a farmer originally.
I had a look at the fabriano website - ahhhhhh such beautiful products in their catalogue. The pastel papers are rather lovely as well. So much to add to my WishList….
hi cindy, your painting is lovely:) i can see why you are so excited to go back to uni! the course sounds ace!
Thanks Calico, I’m looking forward to absorbing it all!