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/

Sagan - facing the challenge head on

After being rained out. I grabbed a tarp from my trunk. I dragged the heavy hood into the basement and set up an area to work. The hood wont fit in my Corolla so I don't have a way to get it to my 5th floor studio anyhow. It had rained and is dusty in town so I had to scrub clean the back surface before beginning.

I taped the image down onto the hood as a guide for the flecking of the One shot white lettering paint. Its fairly big now that I see it in relation to the surface.

I took a sharp matte knife right to the paper on the surface and began cutting. The first shapes will be the most opaque and lightest on the starry background. Black teeth just wont work out.

As I progress forward the patterns begin to reveal the form beneath. It is a really neat way at looking at it.

This method I decided upon for this project is working really well. The design of the shapes allows the form to remain intact.

I'm getting closer to the dark tones of the portrait. I had to use a bit of glue stick to help the left eye stick in place.

This view helps give away my technique and tools. Basically I'm just using toothbrushes and stiff hog hair brushes and straight paint and slightly thinned paints for lighter further stars.

I start working very lightly into the shadows and you can really see the face come together.

I place the hood outside once the rain passes in order to put on a layer of protective clear coat.

I sprinkle holographic silver metal flake onto the clear coat. These sparkles change colour as the light is refracted. Its a bit hard to capture but the twinkling catches your eye as you move and change your view.

The Sagan continues.....

It has been a very busy time, Stampede has just begun, so things are beginning to get a little crazy in my hood. I had to do a lot of tidying in my studio in order to find the mac tac for the next part of the process on the piece I am working on right now.

I altered an image from the internet in photoshop. I simplified the images into a few simplified tonalities. I cut it up and printed it out onto many pieces of paper and reassembled the image on my studio floor.  It is definitely larger than life!

Speaking of larger than life....

I am one lucky Bunny, today I went to the "Greatest Outdoor Show ABOVE Earth" and was extremely lucky to have a chance to meet Canadian Astronaut Col. (Ret) Chris Hadfield today after his talk. He even signed a poster for "Bunny".  He was definitely super cool, this made my Stampede week!
 
A very special thanks to Catherine and Jimmy Hazin from the Canadian Space Society (http://www.css.ca/) for making this possible.

 Here is the video I took with my iphone of the CSS Youth Ambassadorasking the space man about space ships.

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!