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!

Painted Elephants

I created these two new pieces for the Inshala festival while on my Cypress Hills residency.

I started with brush drawing with black Gesso on the primed support. I like this method, it's fast!

I added the brightest paint colours to the surface. It killed back all the wrinkles which I will revisit.

I used a plastic bag and really watery paint to texture over the skin surface to take back a bit of the colour and make the piece more homogenous.

I went in with the white and highlights, right out of the tube.

I went in with some line and neutral gray and began with some bright green in the eye.

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I started another on the same size canvas.

I threw down some texture before starting in on the second elephant head.

I drew in the elephant face quickly. I'm a bit attached to the plain black and white drawing, it looks kinda like an ink drawing.

I add the punchy neon acrylic colour as the elephant paint, it sits far on top visually so I will have to take it down like before.

Here is is after I apply a bluish grey and revisit some of the wrinkle lines. I went into the eyes with some sparkles.

 I am really happy with how these two new pieces turned out and how quickly they came together.

Cypress Hills Artist in Residency - final week

My time here is nearly up and after the week long of pissing down rain great weather has broken thru.

Here is a shot from the cabin porch from any given day this week.

In contrast with a view from the Butte on a sunny day.

I spotted this skull while out hiking. I'm sure ray would have liked me to pick it up and take it home to add to the collection. However, The only thing I'm taking from nature is pictures.

Some pretties.

Everyday I sit in this chair outside the cabin and read "the Believing Brain" by Micheal Shermer. It was a fantastic read and helped me get into the groove to make art. While sitting here the other day a huge moose turned the corner and was trotting toward me. I put down my book in shock and we made eye contact, the kind where I knew we both felt like shitting out britches. It recognized I was a people and gave a grunt as it bound past me. If I had stuck out my arm I would have brushed its enormoose face. Now that is close!!!!!

I was a bit stunned but went inside the cabin to grab my camera for some proof and snap a shot of the moose's behind as it walked away.

Here is an action shot of the stunt flying swallows that have become accustomed to me and swoop at me at the front door now. I think they are protecting their nest.

The internet signal is very weak and unstable, it has taken over 2 hours to make this blog post so I'm going to get back to the cabin and post again when I am back in town =:D

The camping continues....

I had a stretch of a few gorgeous days for some discovery. I've been starting some new work inspired by my camp and some of the surroundings.

Here is my Henessey hammock amongst the trees.

and a later version where I re-applied the trunk paint over the greenery.

I also started a piece where the camper is amongst the trees.

I used bronze and copper paint for the reflective pine leaves covering the ground and the trim on the camper.

On hottest day of the week-end, I cracked and I treated myself to some of Dar's ice cream goodness.

Nom. Nom.

I took myself on a bike ride but quickly found out it was a walking only trail so I parked my dreamy trusty steed against a big tree and went the rest on foot.





Bird, Butterfly and this little fungi - It is pouring rain now so I have plenty of time to sit down and crank out another painting inspired by my camp.

I sketched it out quickly on a Grumbacher artist panel.

I blocked in the background and base colours.

I worked in more depth on the forest floor.

I then used the a fan brush to block in the background and some of the mist.
 
I applied more textured lights and darks and painted in the hammock fly.

I still have more work to do on each one of the paintings and some of the other stuff I am working on while in the Artists Cabin.

Art in the Park - Mission refuel

Mission refuel.

I need both food and gasoline. I left the Cypress Hills Inter-Provincial park this afternoon to restock my camping kitchen. Having all this quiet time to reflect and relax has really helped make a concise list for the kitchen. I have had a lot of time to think what you really want to eat and drink.  I finished a book already and started another.

When I drove into Maple Creek and saw the high gas price,  I couldn't have felt more like I've been living in a bubble. I can see why disconnecting is nice, but it feels strange revisiting. Like Mad Max. I feel like I'm at end of the world coming back to discover its been obliterated. Mind you this is pretty close to the middle of nowhere. As I drove into the nearest town, my engine light has come on, I hope I can figure that out before I have to head back into the woods.

The weather has taken a turn for the wilder and windier. My camper door blew open waking me up super early this morning. I have been biking and getting inspired on interpretive trails before putting in some time at the studio. It's nice to have a place to go and work while camping, I am making the best use of it I can.

 Look up! These are the Lodgepole pine surrounding all the campsites and hiking paths.

 They whisper and sway in the breeze.

Down by the lagoon there are lots of entertaining birds. I love my new telephoto lens, it allows me to get nature shots without disturbing the critters.

And now for something completely different........ unnaturally bold in colour and man made, I copper coated my backgrounds then used the ammonia to blue them back up and began putting in some more time on the letter characters. I also made some more test boards and began some new pieces.

Here is a the wild flower that is beginning to pop up everywhere. The light is really beautiful here.

I think I've removed the last huge spider from my sleeping area so the next person to use the camper wont wake in horror to giant spiders in the face. I look forward to having another go at instructing some groups this week-end if the weather brings in a new slew of campers. Now off to pick up supplies and get back to camping.