I have been pulling out old paintings and playing a bit - or working a bit?- on them, to see if I can salvage the canvas, if not the work itself. Yesterday I worked on the Amaryllis painting, which had an incomplete background. I did as much as I could with it. It may be worth the Bargain Bin at an exhibit now. It is oil on canvas, size is 11x14" and the working title is "Grand Opening." (The photo has a wet painting sheen on the right side that isn't really there.)
I also worked on this painting, of my oldest son and his twins (my grandchildren) and Telly, their dog, making home-made ice cream. The problem with this painting is that it is on masonite, and I don't remember prepping (gessoing) the board. It has been very hard to paint on, and I'm not sure it can be salvaged. It is 16" square, and is my first attempt on masonite. Not sure I like masonite, but I wanted to try it. I have another one begun on it as well, and am having the same trouble with it - the paint doesn't sink into masonite, as it does on canvas, so it builds up quickly, and also dries very quickly. It's almost like working with acrylic again (which I hated, in this dry climate.)
I'm also still indexing my knit magazines, and have found a project I want to begin - several, in fact! Yea! I can't stand to sit in the evening with empty hands.
6 comments:
Tuesday 2/24/09 1:11pm
When I paint on Masonite, I gesso several coats and lightly sandpaper between coats....to me it's kind of slippery and of course very different from canvas or canvas paper....your painting of your son and grandchildren is really good, especially all the folds of the clothing.....of course I'm hoping the next tapestry will be another of Good Boy Wooster, up close and personal, without all kinds of extraneous lakeside surroundings...from Janet way over East
Yeah, Janet, I knew I was supposed to gesso and prep the masonite, but I can't remember doing it, and it acts like I didn't - like I just put an acrylic underpainting on. I'll have to try it again, the right way!
The Grand Opening is a perfect title for this lovely work. Bargain Bin? Worthy of more, for sure!!
Kathy,
The painting of your son and grandkids would be a fantastic next "heritage" tapestry beginning!!! Actually, maybe a new series--"legacy"
The composition of this is just wonderful, I think.
I love the large bold shapes, the asymmetrical elements, the movement of the humans--eyes, arms, bodies. And the dog is just wonderfully placed. Reminds me of a Degas approach to composition.
Tommye
I love how the twins are looking into the icecream maker with silent anticipation. Grand Opening is great too. I can never get mine to open. I agree with the previous comment, hardly bargain bin...As for loose ends, I think it is that time of year also.
Tommye, I had not thought of this as a weaving, but now that you mention it, this does look more like my tapestry maquettes than it does my paintings. Interesting thought.
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