This is too chewy, I like mine crispy

So the Bacon show is this week-end only! Saturday is the last day to see the work and make a bid at the silent auction.

 I got the basic colours laid in and the general bacon striped pattern I wanted for Chewy's fur. I did a lighter background in the sky as well.

Then I went in with a thinned Pthalo blue overtop the sky and added a few start. I added some darks and lights around the image and repainted parts that needed it here and there like the fluid coming out of the storm troopers head.

I then re applies some of the reflective metallic paints. I outlined the figures and used topic markers to draw in some grass and ground. I also scrubbed in another tone into the mid ground. All in all I really like how the piece turned out, though these iPhone photos do not do it any sort of justice. It must be seen in person, and that can be done by going to the House Gallery! http://www.housegallery.ca


House Gallery
2607 35 Street SW, Calgary Alberta

November 14-16, 4pm-9pm
November 16 : Closing Night and Silent Auction

A little bit Chewy

My work continues on my Star Wars inspired piece for the upcoming Bacon show at House Gallery (http://www.housegallery.ca)

I clear coated the entire piece to seal in the drawing and protect the ink work before applying colour.

I began filling i the lightest colours. I used metallic paints for C3PO and the shield and Death star. I created an off white cream colour for the light areas of Chewy.

I filled in the decapitated storm trooper helmet sitting in some sort of anti-freeze type fluid. Notice the sides of the canvas are framed in something that resembles strips of bacon.

 I then rubbed in over the entire surface and sides a transparent yellow wash to help give a slightly aged look and give me an off white ground with which to continue working.

I loosely blocked in some of the sky as well as some of the leather and wood items.

I went over the entire surface with a burnt umber rub this time, also to darken the sides where I've painted the bacon strips. I painted the Death star with reflective silver paint, emphasized here by the lighting. I also repainted the power packs on Chewy's shoulder bag with the same paint and blocked in some of the background mountains.

I revisited the death star with Paynes Grey to give it more detail and volume. Then I brought in some foreground greenery and shadows. I painted in "wicket the Nibblet" with Indian red and enhanced the storm trooper helmet with another layer of white with a slightly textured application. I went over the sky. Everything will be layered at least one more time as I go forward before working on the figures to completion.

Once again, come to this awe inspiring group show. I will be auctioning off this one of a kind piece at such a low starting bid I must be crazy about Bacon and Star wars. Well, I am! See it in person.

Opens November 14, Closing Auction November 16 @9pm.

House Gallery

Location: 2607 35 St SW, Calgary, AB T3E 2Y3

Phone:(403) 560-9199

Sagan Wagon on the roll

I continued my work on my ode to Carl.

I took some adds from the recycling and used them as a paper mask to protect the image in order to apply a background.

Peek a boo.

Here is the head on the hood completely covered and protected.

I cut out some shapes out of scrap paper to create galaxy patterns.

Here is the make shift studio set up. There are both positive and negative painting shields made out of scrap paper. I flick the paint at the surface and create a spacey pattern for the background.

I taped the negative shapes in order to protect some areas from receiving more paint.

In this close up, you can see the gold galaxies I added for reflectivity and this nebula stencil I made.

Here more layers of work late into the night.

After I peeled off all the paper I painted in some sparkles on the stars.

Here is an angled shot which shows a bit of the purple metal flake I added to the background space while clear coating.

You can see the sparkles even better from this angle as the clear coat dries in the hot sun. A quick signature is added and now I have to battle with figuring out how to hang and display this large and heavy "canvas". 

Please come out to the Vanegeddon show at House Gallery. July 19th and 20th. Info below.
http://www.housegallery.ca/

Seeing red - prep, sand and prime

I am in an upcoming show titled Vanegeddon, a tribute to van murals.
The show opens July 19th at House Gallery - 2607 - 35th st SW.
facebook event page 

It just so happens I have my old truck hood, I've been saving it for an event just like this.

It is however is pretty rough shape. The clear coat has worn away and chipped off some areas and has to be removed.

Ben lent me his palm sander and some 220 grit pads. With a little spit and sweat I get prepping.

I have to take down all the brittle clear coat to ensure my primer and the following paint layers adhere.

I had to make a quick run to the Home Depot to get some rougher 80 grit disks to help the process. I also picked up some primer and clear coat while there.

This is what the layers reveal. The clear coat turns pastel and pink, then there is the red paint and the two primer coats underneath followed by the shiny metal. I think this pattern looks really cool.

There were lots of dents and nicks but I sanded it down with a higher grit sandpaper then wiped it clear of dust particles with solvent.

I began with the first coat of flat black primer.

The fresh coat is drying.

Just as I predicted, red ruined my clothes.

Stay tuned for the exciting development of my tribute to one of my heroes - Carl Sagan!

The real HORROR....

I lost everything. Every file, everything thats good and holy in the digital realm ;( When I went to get the superdrive replaced in my newest laptop I didn't think it would come to this....

I had my expense repair returned on Friday. Saturday was lines up at the Apple store with people who badly wanted their iPhone 5's. Alas, I don't think Steve jobs is the devil, but his empire seems oddly hypocritical, a "cooler. more sophisticated, hipster" version of 1984. My computer would not boot up, so though repaired, I had to go back to the Genius bar to get my system to start. In order to do this, they had to wipe everything and re-install the OS. This all happened suddenly that I didn't back up my most recent and most important work. SH*T!!!

To make a the story short.....
Lost all my iPhone contacts, tons of images, documents, invoices, reference photos so on and so forth, oh and all my software. Damn. My brain is on a self inflicted soup of PMA (Positive Mental Attitude) SO for me, this is an opportunity for a new start. I have a new uncluttered computer and life, ready to start fresh, like spring ;)

Rather than mourn the loss, I got wet in the studio.

I sprayed my surfaces and allowed a variety of pigments to stain my supports.

The wet surface is highly reflective and really brings up the pigments.

After it dried I gave it a vigorous scrubbing with 80 grit sandpaper.

I think it takes not only blindness. bravery, balls and confidence and commitment.

I revisited the pieces with some black, iridescent silver and the original dark blue.

Outlined in black gesso, enhanced with the deep red in the shadow areas and outlined in black gesso loosely and allows to drip.

Highlights, shadow and drips of raw umber add more layering this studio session.

I did a raw umber drip over the entire surface. This piece gets some gold added to the highlights and a bronze is added to the eyebrows.

More to come.......