The Failed Artist

Untitled Study

2010-06-14T07:05:00.000-07:00

Metallic pigment ground on 8" x 8" wood panel with watercolor.

Atmospheric

2010-06-08T06:27:00.000-07:00

Untitled

2010-06-04T06:25:00.000-07:00

Collage on approximately 8" x 14" black paper.

Finale

2010-04-21T22:36:00.000-07:00

"Finale" Approximately 6"x8" watercolor on paper, SOLD.

Liminal

2010-03-29T13:24:00.000-07:00

Metal leaf and watercolor on paper, approximately 10" x 10."

"Liminal" 8 5/8" x 5" watercolor on paper. For sale for $100.

2010-03-27T12:45:00.000-07:00

Approximately 10" x 12" watercolor on black paper.

Oil Sketch

2010-03-11T06:20:00.000-08:00

10"x14" oil on canvas.

City Snow, January 2010

2010-01-31T22:07:00.000-08:00

Oil on 11" x 14" canvas. SOLD.

"Blight"

2009-12-22T04:29:00.000-08:00

The unfinished underpainting of a work in progress.

Apocryphon

2009-11-13T15:59:00.000-08:00

"Twilight IV - Apocryphon," oil on 18" x 24" canvas. At The Frame Shop and Gallery in Russellville, Arkansas.

Liminal

2009-11-13T15:55:00.000-08:00

"Twilight III - Liminal," oil on 8" x 16" cradled panel, at The Frame Shop and Gallery in Russellville. SOLD.

New View

2009-11-13T15:52:00.001-08:00

Watercolor on paper, approximately 8" x 16," currently at The Frame Shop and Gallery in Russellville.

Figure Drawing

2009-07-10T06:25:00.000-07:00

Charcoal and gesso on 20" x 30" paper, $200.

"Twilight VI" - Selected for 2010 Small Works on Paper

2009-07-10T06:23:00.000-07:00

Another charcoal and watercolor in the Twilight series, SOLD.

"Twilight V"

2009-07-10T06:22:00.000-07:00

Another in the series. Watercolor and charcoal on paper.

"Twilight IV"

2009-06-30T13:02:00.000-07:00

Another study in the series, charcoal, acrylic, and oil on cardboard.

"Surprise"

2009-06-21T18:45:00.000-07:00

This bass is part of an elaborate gag-gift for my brother-in-law. The actual gift will fit into the void at the base of the bass' head. If you are wondering why a bass, my brother-in-law is an avid fisherman and hunter. Hopefully, it will be a success. In case anyone is wondering, the bass is done in watercolor, graphite and a little acrylic on several layers of foam-core board.

Sketch

2009-06-19T06:43:00.000-07:00

"Creep In A Hat"

2009-06-18T07:07:00.000-07:00

Graphite on paper.

"Twilight III"

2009-06-18T06:41:00.000-07:00

Another study, watercolor and charcoal on paper.

"Twilight II"

2009-06-17T07:04:00.000-07:00

This is study for a series of oil paintings I'm working on at the moment. Graphite, charcoal, and watercolor on paper.

"Twilight"

2009-06-16T01:02:00.000-07:00

Recent sketch, charcoal and graphite on paper. SOLD.

"New View"

2009-06-15T18:37:00.000-07:00

A recent sketch, charcoal and watercolor on paper.

Recent Sketch

2009-06-04T21:56:00.000-07:00

Recent sketch, graphite and acrylic on paper.

Winged Doom of Easter

2009-04-13T22:00:00.000-07:00

I think there may be a tee shirt design in this somewhere.

Coffin Chaser

2009-04-13T21:58:00.000-07:00

For those of you who are interested, a recent tee shirt design.

Clouds

2009-04-13T21:57:00.000-07:00

"Clouds," oil on 18" x 24" canvas. This is another piece for a show later this year.

Cipher (I)

2009-04-12T17:43:00.000-07:00

Cipher (I) - Approximately 15" x 24" watercolor on paper.

Paintings sometimes present themselves to me fully formed. I don't know where they come from, they simply do. This is one of those paintings. I don't know what it is, it is a total cipher. I have never painting anything abstract before, but there it was, so here it is.

The Messenger

2009-04-10T11:17:00.000-07:00

This painting has been extensively re-worked since I originally finished it several years ago. I still have some issues with it, but I think it is much improved overall. It is oil on canvas and it's about 18" x 40."

Tonight's Figure Drawing

2009-04-07T21:10:00.000-07:00

Vanitas

2009-03-17T20:40:00.000-07:00

This is the first printing of a tee shirt that I'm doing for a friend. The next step is to figure out the best way to print a second run of color on the shirt, pink for the flowers.

Another Sketch

2009-03-17T20:38:00.000-07:00

Limited Edition Prints

2009-03-06T22:13:00.000-08:00

I am now offering limited edition prints of this painting. The print image is 16" x 22." The prints are individually signed and number by me and are being sold for $75 a each. If you are interested, please email me here. I hope to have more details on these prints posted next week.

What I'm Reading Now

2009-03-06T22:07:00.000-08:00

I'm currently reading Classical Painting Atelier by Juliette Aristides. Great book. The section on composition alone was well worth the price of the book in my opinion.

Work In Progress

2009-03-01T19:48:00.000-08:00

Untitled, oil on 18" x 24" canvas.

Chaenomeles japonica - Work In Progress

2009-03-01T19:46:00.000-08:00

This drawing is a tee shirt a friend asked me to design for them. The flowers are Japanese Quince (or Japanese Rose as they are called around here), Chaenomeles japonica.

New Drawings

2009-02-26T21:38:00.000-08:00

Artist of the Month

2009-01-23T22:17:00.000-08:00

It's official. I am one of the Artists of the Month in the Arkansas State Treasurer's Office. Click here to see two of the paintings and the write-up. Also, "August Hickory," the landscape painting featured on the Treasurer's website, will be available as a limited-run print in the next couple of weeks. Please contact me if you are intereted. Thanks!

Cloud Bank

2009-01-08T22:54:00.000-08:00

Oil on (approximately) 24" x 24" cradled panel, $300.

Mermaid III - Study

2009-01-08T22:49:00.000-08:00

Here is a somewhat better view of the mermaid study. The glare off the metal leaf makes it especially tricky. I'm still fiddling with the composition on this one. I hope to get it all worked out durning the next week, but I've said that before, no?

Mermaid III - Study

2008-12-15T06:20:00.000-08:00

I've nearly finished my first study for my next mermaid painting. As readers of my other blog will already know, our house was broken into and our digital camera was stolen, so these sadly lacking pictures were taken with my digital camera. This study is a full-scale mock-up of the painting. It's roughly 18" x 48." I'm still not entirely satisfied with the painting and I have some anatomical issue that need to be corrected.

I was origianlly hoping to have the actual painting underway if not finished before the holidays, but after our break-in and the flu, I just don't think this is going to happen.

New Project - Mermaid

2008-11-18T11:44:00.000-08:00

I was laying in bed Sunday morning when the whole image of this as finished painting flashed full-formed into my mind. Whether I can pull it off or not remains to be seen, but I've made some progress on it.

Arkansas Artist Registry

2008-11-10T19:41:00.000-08:00

I'm now on the Arkansas Artist Registry. Click here to see my entry.

Artist of the Month?

2008-11-06T22:26:00.000-08:00

I don't want to get ahead of myself, but I am tentatively scheduled to have my art shown at the Arkansas Treasurer's Office next January and February. Treasurer Martha Shoffner has been showing Arkansas artists' works since she took office in 2007. I'm pretty excited about this, since it will be the first time I've had my work shown in Little Rock for a couple of years. Hopefully, everything will work like a charm. I'll keep you posted on how things go. Wish me luck.

Cold Autumn

2008-11-05T19:12:00.000-08:00

I finished this painting last night. The painting is oil on a 10" x 14" cradled wood panel, and it is for sale for $125 until November 10, 2008.

After November 10th, please contact The Frame Shop and Gallery at (479) 967-1398 or (479) 970-8085 if you are interested in this painting. Or email them at: suzannealford@frameshopgallery.net. Thanks!

[Note: the image is sharper in person than the photos show. The wet paint made it difficult for me to photograph.]

Busy Summer and Fall

2008-10-29T20:21:00.000-07:00

I've been busy with several art related projects, but I do not have much to post at the moment. There are a couple of plein air landscape paintings in the works which might get posted soon. I have also been working on my application for the Arkansas Artist Registry, which should be ready to go into the mail by Thursday or Friday this week. Several of my paintings recently sold, so I'm busy trying get some new work to Suzanne at The Frame Shop and Gallery in Russellville in time for the holidays.

I have also just finished a large run of silk screen tee shirts. I started with two different designs, The Home Improvement Monkey and the Flying Monkey. I'm working on several new tee shirt designs, so those should be ready to go soon. I have launched another blog for my tee shirts too.

And, if that wasn't enough, I have been working on redesigning my "official" art website and building some canvas stretchers for some new paintings. They range in size from just under 2' x 3' up to 6' x 8'. That last one is so big that I'm not even sure where I'll have space enough to work on it, but I'm sure I can figure something out.

In any case, check back soon. Hopefully there will be some new material for you. Thanks!

The Frame Shop and Gallery

2008-10-29T19:00:00.000-07:00

I've been showing and selling my artwork at The Frame Shop and Gallery in Russellville, Arkansas, for several years now. They have a new website: click here to see more.

Suzanne, the owner, does a fabulous job. When I need my work framed or matted, she is the person that I take it to. I don't use her because she is only 15 minutes away from my house, but because she is good.

As an artist, I would highly recommend taking your art to her to be shown. She's been in Russellville for years, and she knows her clientele. She just doesn't hang your work up, she makes sure that people with an interest in it see it. She sold a mermaid I painted in under twelve hours because she steered the right people to it. Also, by art world standards, Suzanne takes a relatively modest commission on the works she sells, and she does not play at the games a lot of galleries do: there are no exclusive contracts, weird fees, double dealing, et cetera.

Sketches

2008-08-20T23:45:00.000-07:00

These sketches are for one of the new paintings that I'm working on now. Hopefully, more to come soon.

A Nightmare on Elm Street - Finished

2008-08-08T06:24:00.000-07:00

I finally finished guys. Sorry it took so long. I nearly finished the painting several months ago, decided that I wasn't happy about how it looked (particularly after this disection of a house portrait), and repainted the whole thing. My wife has the camera in Florida now, so I had to use my cell phone to take this picture. The sky isn't quite this bright in person, but it would be really cool if it did. If you're curious, here is how it looked back when I started.

Untitled Angel - Finished

2008-07-21T11:49:00.000-07:00

Untitled Angel, oil on canvas, 18" x 40," in a private collection.

I recently finished and delivered this commissioned piece last weekend. It was fun to paint, but I'm glad to be finished. I have several other paintings waiting and I'm ready to start.

Derelict

2008-05-09T11:12:00.000-07:00

Oil 12" x 14" on cradled panel. This painting is no longer available for sale. [The painting's colors are bright, but the photo toned the image up some, more so than in life.]

The remains of this house are on the corner of South Louisiana and West 13th Street in Little Rock (see the image below). I think someone may actually be renovating the house, but progress is extremely slow (hardly any progress over the last six years I've been watching them). It's a great house, I hope the succeed in finishing it one day.

View Larger Map

Wipe Out

2008-05-06T22:20:00.000-07:00

I've been painting, but the results have been less than satisfactory. In fact, they have been terrible. I've ended up wiping down all of my recent paintings, so I can reuse the panels. As a kid, I always use to wonder why so many famous artists burned their early works. Now I know.

But, there is hope. The most recent one I started looks promising. Hopefully, it'll make it. If so, it should be posted this week. Wish me luck.

Hog Wild

2008-05-06T21:26:00.000-07:00

I've been using the same basic set-up for my quick, plein air oil paintings since I began this blog. I use a limited palette of about eight colors (mars black, titanium white, alizarin crimson, cadmium yellow light, cerulean blue, ultramarine blue, indian yellow, and maybe burnt umber or yellow ochre), a cradled wood panel (6"x8" up to 10" x 14"), and a fist full of round, hog-hair brushes (rounds, sizes 8-12). I give myself around 30-40 minutes to work based on the size of the panel and the light & weather conditions.

The purpose of these quick paintings is to loosen up my painting style and to get me warmed up for bigger projects. And, this formula has worked pretty well for me. Sure, about a third to half the painting don't make it, but the ones that do have been getting better and better. And, most importantly, I'm painting.

Prior to this, a lot of paintings never got finished. I'd agonize about every brush stroke, and, if the painting was starting to look good, I'd be paralyzed with the fear of ruining it. And, I fretted about wasting my precious, expensive oil paints on bad paintings. For years, I didn't manage to produce much.

I tried to limit myself to as few variables as possible with my plein air exercises. My formal education in oil painting has been pretty erratic, so I figured that would have to learn through experimentation. This gave me the chance to explore what all I could do with a particular set of materials by limiting myself to using only them. It also allowed me to focus more on the painting itself than my material.

Recently, I've become dissatisfied with my round, hog-hair brushes. There isn't anything wrong with them, it's just that I'm tired of only using them. I've been looking at a lot of other artists' works and wondering, "how did they do that?" One of the answers is that they are using different brushes than I am.

I've bought some new brushes. Not too many yet since I'm on a pretty tight budget, but I have scrounged up some filberts and square brushes with synthetic and sable bristles. I've used them on a few of my more recent paintings which may be why some of them are not turning out as well as I like. It takes me a while to get use to new things, but I think that the change has been good. It may be ugly, but progress is being made.

Delays

2008-04-25T05:43:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven't posted more art this week. I've had lots of trouble with my car this week, so that has been keeping me very busy. I hope to have more art up by Monday.

Frühjahr

2008-04-18T21:44:00.000-07:00

Oil on 10" x 14" cradled panel, for sale at The Frame Shop and Gallery in Russellville, Arkansas. SOLD.

Update

2008-04-17T19:37:00.000-07:00

I've been working on some landscape paintings this week. I'm going to neglect working on our house tonight in favor of finishing them. Hopefully, I'll get one or two posted tomorrow.

Granny Smith

2008-04-08T05:52:00.000-07:00

Oil on 9" x 12" cradled panel, $100.00.

Update

2008-04-07T06:32:00.000-07:00

It was a very busy weekend, so I didn't manage to take pictures of my newest paintings. Hopefully, I get them posted later today or tomorrow. Sorry for the delay.

Something From My Sketchbook

2008-04-03T22:19:00.000-07:00

Dream Travellers - Illustrations

2008-04-03T22:05:00.000-07:00

Below are two of the illustrations I did for one of my in-laws. These are my favorites of the whole bunch. Now that they are finished, I can get back to oil painting.

Green Apple

2008-03-20T21:23:00.000-07:00

Oil on 8"x10" cradled panel, $100.00.

This painting almost didn't make it. When I finished it last week, I was convinced that I just needed to wipe the panel down and start over. The only thing that saved it was I went out of town for the weekend. When I came back Tuesday night, it didn't look too awful. I touched it up some and here it is. I've been experimenting with some new (for me) techniques, so the body count has been pretty high lately. Another one was wiped into oblivion last night. I'm sure it won't be the last.

Work in Progress

2008-03-12T22:14:00.000-07:00

Oil on canvas, approximately 20" x 45."

A Quick Update

2008-03-12T05:33:00.000-07:00

Sorry that I don't have any paintings to post today. That isn't to say that I haven't been busy with art. I have a couple big pieces that I am trying to finish that I may post soon. Also, one of my in-laws is going to self-publish a children's book, and he's asked me to do some illustrations as a favor. I tried painting some quick sketches of fruit this week, but they turned out very badly and were wiped down. Hopefully, I'll get into my groove tonight and paint something worth showing.

On a different note, I've been looking at a lot of artists online. I'm amazed by how many really good artists there are out there. And, I am also astounded by how many seem to be making a living with their art. That isn't something I saw much of while growing-up. Most artists that I encountered either did art as a hobby or they were a teacher of one sort or another. No one was just an artist. If I'd know that you could really make a successful career out of art at sixteen, my life may have turned out completely different.

But, as long as you have a pulse, it's never too late to try something new, right?

March, Afternoon Melting Snow

2008-03-04T18:14:00.000-08:00

Oil on canvas, approximately 5" x 12," SOLD.

March, Morning Snow

2008-03-04T18:12:00.000-08:00

10" x 14" oil on cradled panel, $250.

03/12/08 - I recently entered this painting in an art contest. I should know if I won anything in late April. Wish me luck!

Red Apple

2008-02-29T05:53:00.000-08:00

8" x 8' oil on cradled panel, $100.00.

Cross Examined (V)

2008-02-26T05:57:00.000-08:00

9" x 12" oil on cradled maple panel, SOLD.

Cross Examined (IV): Change of Venue

2008-02-26T05:54:00.000-08:00

5" x 7" watercolor and metal leaf (fake gold leaf) on clayboard, SOLD.

Cross Examined (III)

2008-02-26T05:51:00.000-08:00

6" x 8" oil on cradled maple panel, SOLD.

Cross Examined (II): Mug Shot

2008-02-22T05:56:00.000-08:00

Oil over a gold acrylic primed 6" x 8" cradled panel, SOLD.

Cross Examined (I)

2008-02-21T05:31:00.000-08:00

Oil on cradled panel, 8" x 10," SOLD.

This painting is the first in a series. I'm really pleased with how this pear turned out. The first one I painted looked terrible, so I wiped it down and tried again. I just hate the idea of being mastered by pear. The painting's colors are richer in person. I definately need to work on my photographing skills. If you are interested in buying this painting, please leave me a note in the comment section here or email me at thedevilqueen(at)hotmail(dot)com. Thanks!

Free At Last

2007-12-27T19:02:00.000-08:00

So, here it finally is. I've been working on this painting since November 2006. It's 3'x3' oil on canvas. It is one of the monster commissioned pieces that I've been working on lately, so it is not for sale since it already has a home.

To date, this is the largest landscape painting that I've completed. Unlike most of the smaller paintings that I've been posting and selling on this blog, this painting was completed with the use of reference photos, a practice from which I've been trying to minimalize. Working from life is best, but sometimes you just can't manage it. This cypress grove is just off the interstate outside of Conway, and painting from the shoulder of the road just wasn't an option.

Update

2007-09-26T22:35:00.000-07:00

Sorry that I haven't posted any new paintings lately. I've been working on two large, commissioned pieces. Once they are finished, I hope to have some new work to show.

Vintage John

2007-08-30T17:34:00.000-07:00

Writing this blog has been a challenge for me. My other blog is very informal. Every time I sit down to write something for this one, I feel like I'm working on a term paper for an art appreciation class. The stuffiness is choking me. So, no more of that. If I'm lucky, it won't be too awful either.

Several weeks back I received a comment from a reader of the DQ requesting that I post any pictures of old art that I might find while cleaning the house up in preparation for our appraisal. It's been a long time coming, but here it is

This is a portrait I did of one of my friends, Morgan, in 1994 or so. I guess I was about 18 then. It's oil pastel on paper, roughly 18"x24."

This is a self-portrait I did my senior year of college. That would make it Spring 1998. It's pencil on paper, 18"x24."

And here is the King or Emperor. The name has changed back and forth over the years. I can't remember when I painted this one. High school? College? I can't explain where it came from either. Sometimes when I sit down with a blank sheet of paper or canvas, things just come to me. Automatic drawing?

These two drawings were done for an "advanced" figuring drawing class during my senior year of college.

I think the woman is done in graphite. The man is done in charcoal. Both are on 24"x30" (I think) newsprint paper. The paper is a little worn around the edges, but they are in pretty decent shape.

Hot and Dry

2007-08-28T11:35:00.000-07:00

Oil on cradled panel, 9"x12," $100.

August Hickory

2007-08-23T11:14:00.000-07:00

Oil on stretched canvas, 18" x 24," $500.

Setting

2007-08-17T17:23:00.000-07:00

Oil on cradled panel, 8" x 10," $100.00.

Haze and Hickories

2007-08-02T09:45:00.001-07:00

Oil on cradled panel, 8" x 10", SOLD.

Autumn, Three Hickories

2007-07-24T14:41:00.000-07:00

Oil on panel, 8" x 10," SOLD.

Red Oak

2007-07-23T22:20:00.000-07:00

Oil on cradled maple panel, 9" x 12," SOLD.

Green Pears

2007-07-23T21:10:00.000-07:00

Oil on canvas board, 8" x 10," SOLD.

Green Apple

2007-07-23T20:17:00.000-07:00

Oil on cradled maple panel, 6"x 8," SOLD.

Big Ben

2007-07-23T06:09:00.000-07:00

Gouache on illustration board, approximately 10"x10," $275.00.

This painting was a project at SCAD. Using our gouache sets (black, white, primary red, primary blue, and primary yellow only) we were supposed to paint a picture in the style of Chuck Close from a photograph.

I think the measurements are correct, but please check with me if I haven't updated this post and you are interested in the painting.

The Ozarks

2007-07-23T06:07:00.000-07:00

Watercolor on paper, approximately 5"x7," SOLD.

Savaged Orange

2007-07-23T06:04:00.000-07:00

Oil on cradled panel, 9"x12," not for sale (my wife confiscated this one).

Mermaid II (finished at last)

2007-07-23T06:03:00.000-07:00

Vanessa, since you asked, here it is. Sorry, the colors are a bit whited out by the flash. Compositionally, there are several things I'd change if I were to paint this one over again, but I learned a lot from it none the less.

American Elm

2007-07-23T05:39:00.000-07:00

Oil on cradled maple panel, 9"x12," currently unavailable.

Spring Hickories III, Early June

2007-07-23T05:31:00.000-07:00

Oil on cradled maple panel, 9" x12," SOLD.

The color is a little off in these pictures. The clouds are a creamy yellow-white. The first picture comes closest to showing this.

Spring Hickories I, Sunset

2007-07-23T05:17:00.000-07:00

Oil on cradled panel, 9"x12," Sold.

Spring Hickories II, Tree Tops

2007-07-17T17:11:00.000-07:00

Oil on cradled panel, 9"x12," $100.00.

Work in Progress, Red Wings

2007-04-23T05:10:00.000-07:00

Here is a painting that I've been working on for a long time. I'm still not entirely happy with it. The halo is painted with a mixture of linseed oil and "gold" powdered pigment. It's too "flat" in an un-flattering way, so I'm thinking about leafing over it. Also, I think I'm going to repaint the dress in red and seriously modify the background to correct the paintings questionable composition. On the upside, I still really like the red wings.

A $6000 Lesson (Part IV)

2007-02-19T05:21:00.000-08:00

For those of you who would like to do some more reading on canvas stretching, check out the link Tex left in one of the comment sections. Check it out, it's good stuff.

Three Oranges

2007-02-14T05:49:00.000-08:00

Oil on canvas panel, 8" x 10," SOLD.

A $6000 Lesson (Part III)

2007-02-13T05:56:00.000-08:00

Here is the canvas once we've finished streching it. Ideally, the canvas ought to be tight as a drum, but, in this case, mine isn't. This canvas didn't get stored in the best place and became wrinkled. The wrinkles did not stretch all of the way out. In this case, this is good since it gives me an excuse to show you a trick my wife taught me.

Prime the back of the canvas with gesso. Try your best to push the gesso all the way to the edges of the canvas even thought there isn't much room between the stretcher and the canvas back.

Give it a second coat of primer if needed. In this case, only one coat was necissary. This canvas was preprimed, but you can add an extra coat to the front if you feel the need to do so.

Now, the canvas is ready to paint.

A $6000 Lesson (Part II)

2007-02-13T05:50:00.000-08:00

Since our stretcher is finished, it is time to stretch the canvas. In addition to the canvas, you'll need a stapler (unless you're into copper tacks), scissors, and canvas stretching plyers. I have both a manual and electric stapler. Both work. The electric one is easier on my hands, but the staples don't always get driven in all of the way. This leaves me driving them the rest of the way in with a hammer. The manual one is hard on the hands if you're doing a lot stretching. It does, however, do a better job of driving in the staples.

The first step is cutting the canvas down to size. You want roughly 3 to 4 inches of canvas beyond the edge of the stretcher. Center the stretcher in the middle of the canvas.

Start stapling. I usually start on the longest edges of the canvas (unless it is a square of course). Place one staple through the canvas in the center of the stretcher's edge. Stretch the canvas tight from the opposite side (grip edge of canvas with plyers and leverage with the back of the stretcher) and staple it in place. Staple the canvas into the back of the stretcher, not the edge. Repeat on the short edges. Then, working towards the corners from the middle staple, stretch and staple the canvas. Alternate between the short edges and long edges; try to reach the corners at the same time.

When you reach the corner, fold one edge of canvas under the other and tuck it in place (see last photo in sequence). To make a neat corner, some trimming with the scissors may be necissary.

Once you have a neat looking corner, staple it in place. Repeat for each corner. I try to make the corner seam (see picture above) face down or up depending on whether it will be the top or bottom edge of the painting. Then, if it is hung without a frame, it ought to be invisible.

Sorry, this picture ought to have been earlier in the sequence. This is me tucking one edge under the other.

Cedar Grove, Winter Snow

2007-02-05T06:17:00.000-08:00

Oil on cradled maple panel, 9"x12," SOLD.

The first picture's colors are a bit muted in an attempt to show a less glaringly white image of the snow. The color of the trees is much more accurate in the second picture.

Work in Progress - Nightmare on Elm Street

2007-01-29T20:20:00.000-08:00

A $6000 Lesson (Part I)

2007-01-23T23:40:00.000-08:00

As you may know, I spent a term at the Savannah College of Art and Design. I paid (borrowed) $6,000 for that pleasure, and this is one of the best things I learned while there: how to build a good canvas. And, I offer this knowledge to you for free.

Really, the first question is, "Why build your own stretcher?" There is no shortage of places selling them premade, pre-primed, and ready to go. As soon as you get it home, you're ready to paint.

Here are the reasons why I prefer to build my own canvas:

1) It is cheaper than buying a premade one.
2) You can build strange, customs sizes (I'm working on a painting idea which would call for an 18" x 9' canvas).
3) You get a stronger, higher quality canvas on which to work.

As an artist, I don't like painting on a canvas where the stretcher is so close to the painting surface that every brush stroke brings the canvas' back into contact with the stretcher. In particularly bad cases, you can even see the stretcher profile through the painted canvas.

By using at least a half inch piece of quarter-round , the canvas is lifted up and away from the stretcher. The only place that the canvas face is in contact with anything is the edge of the stretcher.

Below is a profile view of a stretcher I recently built. The strecher is made from 1"x 4" pine and a piece of 3/4" quater round.

This is the profile of a student/hobby grade premade stretcher. Note how shallow a profile the outer edge has and how wide of an edge (apx. 1/4") will be in contact with the canvas once stretched.

Here is the final product.

I build all of my stretchers out of pine 1"x 3" or 1"x 4" and pine quater round. Do not buy treated lumber for a canvas stretcher. The chemicals will harm the painting. Instead, us untreated lumber meant for interior wood work, cabinets, and furniture. This lumber is can be found at any of the big-box home improvement stores (Lowe's, Home Depot, et cetera).

Before all of my tools were stollen last year, I could crank out two or three 3' x 4' stretchers in an hour or so. The ideal tools for this are a miter saw, a brad or finish nailing gun with compressor, and a biscuit cutter (this is used to join the corners). However, since I currently have none of these tools, I used a hand saw, a drill, screws, and a right angle square (for checking to see if all corners are square and marking 45 degree cuts). Doing it all by hand takes a lot longer.

The short how-to for building a strecher (sorry, I didn't think to take step by step pictures at the time):

1) Glue and nail (or screw) quarter-round to stretcher boards. If using screws, predrill holes, and sink them below the top edge of the quarter-round. The heads should not come in contact with the canvas.

2) Decide on what size stretcher you want; cut boards to length.

3) Miter cut each corner at a forty-five degree angle. Lay boards out to check the fit, make adjustments as needed.

4) Use biscuit cutter to join each of the corners together, use lots of wood glue. If you don't have a biscuit cutter, glue corners and join with finishing nail or screws (pre-drill screw holes).

5) Using thin panaling or small bits of wood, brace corners from the top side. The braces should be thinner/lower than the top edge of the quarter-round. Glue and nail/screw in place.

6) Let glue dry. Once dry, you are ready to stretch the canvas.

Concept Art - Mermaid Sketch

2007-01-23T22:55:00.000-08:00

Work In Progress - Zesty Browning

2007-01-23T22:54:00.000-08:00

Watercolor on paper, 18" x 18."