October 14, 2011: 100,000 year old paint making workshop

I'll have to try this (maybe not the fat and bone marrow ingredients).

"...These cave artisans had stones for pounding and grinding colorful dirt enriched with a kind of iron oxide to a powder, known as ocher. This was blended with the binding fat of mammal-bone marrow and a dash of charcoal. Traces of ocher were left on the tools, and samples of the reddish compound were collected in large abalone shells, where the paint was liquefied, stirred and scooped out with a bone spatula..." [READ FULL ARTICLE]

October 2011: Group Show, Millerton, New York

Work in the October 2011 14th Colony Artists Show in Millerton, New York.

Over 70 artists from the local area will be exhibiting!

Dates: October 8, 2011 through November 6, 2011
Location: Main Street, Millerton, New York (across from Oblong Books)Shows are open weekends from 11 a.m until 5 p.m.

Opening Reception: Saturday, October 22, 2011

Works in show include (from left to right):

• Into Ravenna [see more information]
• Home to Pleasant Street [see more information]
• Autumn Rising [see more information]
• "Cos my soul is hollow as the sorrowful moon" [see more information] 
• Carved and stained ceramic tiles series 

Collaborative works with ceramic artist Joey Jablonski:

• Trellis Circles (created using rusted page wire fence from the woods behind the house and ceramic disks made by Joey Jablonski in her Canaan, CT studio)

Larger page wire circle sculptures are coming!

September 2011: Hunt Library Exhibition

The following drawings were done for the Hunt Library in Falls Village, Connecticut exhibit "The Natural World". It was a benefit for the library and they were kind enough to let me participate (even though I was a late applicant).

The photos of the drawing process below give you a vivid understanding of how the pigments changed over a very short period of time.

Also you will see some images that have my 12" x 12" cut out window over them so I can see what part of the drawing will be front and what parts wrap around the sides.

The final photo in each series shows the "current" nature of the work when it was delivered to the exhibit.

Wild grapes from around the yard where some of the pigments used.

Night Bloom:

Night Bloom, 12" x 12" x 1.5" D, image circa September 5, 2011

About the materials:
Medium: Acrylic Glazing Liquid (Satin), Golden Mediums
Pigments: Charcoal (Brier Island, Nova Scotia), Wild Grapes, Nasturtiums (Canaan, CT), Black Walnut (Sharon, CT)

Surface: White Cotton

Mounting: Mounted on wood panel 5" x 7" x 1.5" using Neutral pH Adhesive, Lineco, Inc.

Exhibition History:

September 2011 - The Natural World, Hunt Library, Falls Village, Connecticut

Playing in the night garden:

Playing in the Night Garden, 12" x 12" x 1.5" D, image circa September 5, 2011

About the materials:
Medium: Acrylic Glazing Liquid (Satin), Golden Mediums
Pigments: Charcoal (Brier Island, Nova Scotia), Wild Grapes, Nasturtiums (Canaan, CT), Black Walnut (Sharon, CT)

Surface: White Cotton

Mounting: Mounted on wood panel 5" x 7" x 1.5" using Neutral pH Adhesive, Lineco, Inc.

Exhibition History:

September 2011 - The Natural World, Hunt Library, Falls Village, Connecticut

Save Seeds:

Save Seeds, 12" x 12" x 1.5" D, image circa September 5, 2011

About the materials:
Medium: Acrylic Glazing Liquid (Satin), Golden Mediums
Pigments: Charcoal (Brier Island, Nova Scotia), Wild Grapes, Nasturtiums (Canaan, CT), Black Walnut (Sharon, CT)

Surface: White Cotton

Mounting: Mounted on wood panel 5" x 7" x 1.5" using Neutral pH Adhesive, Lineco, Inc.

Exhibition History:

September 2011 - The Natural World, Hunt Library, Falls Village, Connecticut

August 2011: About wrap-mounting drawings on 1.5" D panels

I have been having a hard time being satisfied with the presentation of these drawing with nature works. I have tried stretching  the linen and cotton on canvas stretchers, mounting the material on canvas board (most of the ones done before now are like that) and then fixing small blocks of wood on the back (to attach a hanging wire to) so they will float away from the wall and frames of all sorts (that's expensive).

But I think I have it now...

The wood panel (a thin wood panel glued to frame, the open frame back allows the hanging wire to be easily attached).

It provides a stable firm gluing surface to attach the linen or cotton to on top and when  wrapped around all sides.

Nice.

Here's how it looks while mounting (this will give you an idea of the dimension and look of the drawings that are mounted this way).

The wrapping around the sides extends the image and gives the work a very finished looking presentation.

So what do you think?

September 2011: "We look so much better in the blue light..."

The Counting Crows song Hangin' Around came up on Shuffle and I came up with this.

Image (wet) circ September 2011.

Mounted. Image circ January 13, 2012.

About the materials:

Medium: Acrylic Glazing Liquid (Satin), Golden Mediums
Pigments: Charcoal (Brier Island, Nova Scotia), Wild Grapes, Pokeberries, rotted wood (Canaan, CT), Black Walnut (Sharon, CT)

Surface: Unbleached Linen

Mounting: Mounted on wood panel 5" x 7" x 1.5" using Neutral pH Adhesive, Lineco, Inc.
Framed: Window box under glass

Exhibition History:

September 2011: Autumn Rising

My change of season tribute.

Image taken at time of creation.

 (finished image mounted and wrapped on 5" x 7" x 1.5" panel to come)

About the materials:

Medium: Acrylic Glazing Liquid (Satin), Golden Mediums
Pigments: Charcoal (Brier Island, Nova Scotia), Wild Grapes, Pokeberries, rotted wood (Canaan, CT), Black Walnut (Sharon, CT)

Surface: Unbleached Linen

Mounting: Mounted on wood panel 5" x 7" x 1.5" using Neutral pH Adhesive, Lineco, Inc.

Exhibition History:

September 2011 - 14th Colony Artists Group Show, Millterton, New York, USA

September 2011: Home to Pleasant Street

Inspired by the song "Pleasant Street" by singer/songwriter and Great Barrington native Meg Hutchinson.

Photo at time of creation.

(mounted image wrapped on 5" x 7" x 1.5" panel to come)

About the materials:

Medium: Acrylic Glazing Liquid (Satin), Golden Mediums
Pigments: Charcoal (Brier Island, Nova Scotia), Wild Grapes and Pokeberries (Canaan, CT), Black Walnut (Sharon, CT)

Surface: Unbleached Linen

Mounting: Mounted on wood panel 5" x 7" x 1.5" using Neutral pH Adhesive, Lineco, Inc.

Exhibition History:

September 2011 - 14th Colony Artists Group Show, Millterton, New York, USA