Dogfish Dreams

My latest acrylic creation, inspired by upward streaming bubbles from scuba divers.  (as seen on TV and at aquariums, since I am not a diver myself)

Non-archival Encaustics

The kids and I had a really good time on Canada Day.  We took a giant bag of crayons that we picked up for free at a garage sale, attacked them with our pencil sharpeners, and then blow dried (melted) them into encaustic paintings, with Mom’s embossing iron (a mini extra-hot bow drier).  Here is my 3″x8″ creation – no masterpiece, but pretty interesting for crayola wax crayons.

Peace Bubbles

Finished my latest cast acrylic monotype the other day.  Happy with the process becoming more predictable as I understand the materials better.  Used a finishing layer of acrylic to stabilize the whole print for transfer to the support this time.  The finishing layer also made it look more like glass.  I printed the layers of acrylic gel to create the image as in prior acrylic monotypes, but on glass, instead of directly on the paper support,  to allow the finishing layer to be poured acrylic.  Cutting and adhering the final printed image to the support was more like collage than printing - I guess you could call the last step “skin collé.” (hehe – baaaaad pun)

Oh, and I cant wait to try my next experiment with acrylic gels.  I’m going to print digital images on transparent acrylic skins using my ink jet.  Does this sound like fun or what?!

Watercolour Workshop

Well, I am very glad that I spent time working on washes and other basic skills, because the workshop I attended in Jasper National Park organized by Gregg Johnson was phenominal.  Had a great time and painted a lot last week.  Here are three quarter sheet water colours done in the studio at Tekarra Lodge.  Hopefully you can see the progression of skill that occurred.

The mountain landscape was on the first day, the apple blossoms on the third, and the lighthouse on the fifth.  I see them as going from muddy, messy, and tight, to less muddy, less messy, and looser (but under control).  Heheh.

At any rate, I really learned to love watercolour, at the same time as I really learned to hate plein air painting!  I hope some day soon to be proficient enough with the tools and the flow of the pigments to feel that the additional challenges of painting outside aren’t completely overwhelming.  It is amazing how much impact wind, fast drying washes, changing light, insects, carrying and setup, and an unstable ground have on a painting.  And I have to include flipped palettes and easels, lost sunglasses, punctured toes, soaked feet, and pencil stabbed windblown paper in the list of distractions.  I have the utmost respect for any watercolourist that can head out of doors and deliver a half-decent painting!

Scriptscape IX

Not quite as dramatic as the last one, but the script is back.  A lot more representational as well.   Hmmm, what do you think?

Scriptscape VIII

This one only uses waveforms as script, but I am really enjoying my washes now.  Starting to feel like I’m in the right groove for a watercolour workshop at the end of the month!

Scriptscape VII

A little alien, but recognizably a landscape. 

Scriptscape VI – Update

Well, this one just didn’t feel done, so I updated it a few times.  I don’t think it is overworked, do you?

Scriptscape VI

Not completely sure what I think of this one or whether it is done, but close.  Same format and support as the others:

Scriptscape V

Lifting out the script is a nice effect that I want to explore further.   Same format as the prior ones on Canson watercolour block: