Two More AI Gems!

I decided not to include these two alcohol ink paintings in yesterday's post because the photos were not recent. The one of the leaves is from last year. I loved the graphic nature of the branch on the road.

"Fallen Branch," 8" X 10" $175

In fact, this same branch is part of a paper litho print that I did last year,

("Whispers of Fall," 10" X 10," mounted on cradleboard is currently available at Stifel & Capra for $95.)

"Hollyhock Dreams," 11" X 14" $295

This painting is the second one that I have done using the inspiration photo of grain stalks (sorghum?) in Clovis, NM. The first one that I did sold very quickly and was in a different palette. I love how different days reveal different inspirations.

Do you see the resemblance? Which do you prefer?

If you want to know more about the method I use to paint these, I wrote about it here.

Winter Inspirations

Something about the bleak winter days makes alcohol inks more appealing. The bright colors cheer me.

I also got a FitBit for Christmas, so I've done a little walking (not enough, mind you). When I walk outdoors, I am compelled to photograph everything. Well, not everything, but a lot. This time of year, the photos are interesting in shape, but not color. I thought it would be fun to do colorful interpretations of them. I'll show each with its corresponding photo:

Summer Legacy, 11" X 14" $295

Winged Seeds, 11" X 14" $295

Token Color, 11" X 14" $295

Bristled, 11" X 14" $295

Meadow Wildflower, 11" X 14" $295

Are you surprised? Inspiration can be found everywhere. I remember watercolorist Sue Archer showing a painting of a dumpster. It was beautiful. She told us that it isn't what you paint, but how you paint it.

Ink on Yupo with Masking Layers

I was organizing some stuff in the studio the other day and ran across a pile of 11" X 17" "xerox" copies that I made thinking I would use them for Pronto prints or paper lithography prints. My last attempt at the paper litho didn't go particularly well, so the project had been abandoned.

I decided that these images might be a good basis for some alcohol ink on Yupo artwork.

I knew that I wanted to use a LOT of masking fluid (I use Miskit) in a new abstract way and that I wanted a turquoise background when I was finished. For this new method, I decided that pink would be a nice contrast to the turquoise, so I painted the whole background in pink. I think I added some shadow gray as well...and perhaps some purple.

I let this dry.

I then took a 1/2" brush and applied the masking fluid (Miskit) to my favorite pink areas and added a lot of splatters and dots.

I let this dry.

Then, I held the painting vertically (over paper towels and trash can) and used my spray bottle of 91% alcohol to splotch and rinse the pink from the unmasked areas.

I let this dry.

Then I began painting the actual images inspired by the photocopy. I used both a round brush and a fan brush and the droppers of course. Because the Yupo was more opaque than I thought it would be, I used a light box in a dark room to see the image through the Yupo. I could have drawn the image first, but for this particular piece, I decided that I didn't want pencil lines. Below is the painting with the masking liquid (Misket) still in place, but the main imagery painted.

I let this dry. It takes longer for the ink to dry on top of the masking fluid. (If you are not patient, ink that is still sticky will make a mess in the next step.)

I was very pleased at this point. I almost wished I could ignore the masking fluid and call it done, but I was also very curious what it would look like removed, so I started taking it off. Dried masking fluid sticks to itself, so you just sort of make a ball as you go. Some bits are stubborn and the Yupo tends to release ink if rubbed more than some other surfaces, so try to touch only the masking fluid, unless you like the scrubby look below.

As you can see, the masking fluid also lifted some of the pink ink. I found that using a gentle touch and not re-daubing, I could keep from lifting as much.

Some of my darker areas and some of the yellow flower bits were painted over the masking fluid and were lifted away, so I then went back in and repainted. I also worked in some straight extender and some diluted inks to add some rhythm to the dense area.

Here is the finished piece:

(Scheduled for Cross-posting on AI Art Blog)

Signs, Signs, Everywhere are Signs

I took quite a few pictures of signs in New Mexico...

When you live in the high plains west of Lubbock and Amarillo (as I did 2008-2011), you see big blue sky (unless it is windy) and dramatic sunsets, but you do not have a whole lot of beautiful landscape to see (IMO). New Mexico has some beautiful spots, like Whites Sands, the Lincoln catwalks, Gila Monument, and of course the mountains around Santa Fe, but all of these are far from where we lived.

The brutal heat and ridiculous wind do a number on billboards and signage. As a result, many that are not old or historic appear to be relics of years past. I started taking photos of interesting ones.

We left New Mexico in summer of 2011, but I kept taking pictures of signs, in California and our travels across the country to live in Virginia.

Eventually, some of these photos become artwork:

I love the graphic nature of lettering incorporated into my paintings, particularly if abstracted into shapes. It is an element you can find in many of them, from the beginning (gravemarkers, Chinatown and Ghiradelli Square in San Francisco) to the present (The Boardwalk, Pike Place, and an upcoming painting of Glen Echo). I anticipate more in the years to come.

The Next (Big?) Thing

I look admiringly at people who are able to stick to size or style or medium over an extended period of time. I was unable to make myself stick to the same size for even a few weeks during January's 30 in 30 Challenge. I know that I am not alone in this. My studio partner paints both abstracts and landscapes. He is currently teaching an abstract class and told me that he always wants to do the opposite of what he is teaching.

Since February, I've been painting in watercolor. No acrylics. No printmaking. On March first, I put alcohol inks away too. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE watercolor. It is probably my favorite thing to paint with. But, for me at least, it is a bit like the thought of eating only your favorite meal every day. I still like it, but I have been dreaming of paint abstractly in acrylic, or working on a new printmaking series.

My watercolor show has been painted and all of the new pieces have been framed. I have two commissions to complete and then, I will begin my new series...

I've been taking photos with my phone while driving and occasionally riding in a car or metro. (Don't freak out. Traffic crawls here and I'm not trying to take good pictures. In fact, the worse they come out the better.) Here are images that are inspiring me to paint a series. I haven't decided what size, but not small. I have no idea if I will even be able to match the finished works back to the photos, but it gives me a starting point for expression!