Drawing in Charcoal Dust (video)

This is my 1st attempt at a video of artwork in progress. 
Unfortunately, since I was alone in my studio without a tripod, I had to hold the "point and shoot" camera with my left hand while at the same time while drawing with my right hand! 
Not very professional way to go about video documenting.

The saving grace here is accompaniment of two acoustic guitar compositions: "Wooden Kimono" and "Black Tides".
These were written and played by Noah Parsonage

By the way... I have been asked about the covering on my finger.  Although it looks sort of  "questionable", this protective finger covering is actually sold in art supply stores for this specific purpose.

Scholar's Rock II

This charcoal is a second version of a "Scholar's Rock" formation.  Such rocks served as objects of meditation for scholars and were admired for their abstract beauty and unusual convoluted shapes symbolizing mountainous landscapes of Buddhist and Taoist immortals.

I started this one (like the last) by rubbing my fingers in charcoal dust and smudging the paper with it much like finger painting!

Highlighs are then brought back in by what is call "negative drawing"....or ERASING!

(click of any photo to enlarge for better detail)

Although it is messy and does not mix with finger food snacking, this method has the effect of creating soft gradations without the use of harsh lines.


BTW:  I actually documented this one with my little point and shoot set in video mode and hope to post it soon.   Well...as soon as I teach myself how to edit video!

Scholar's Rock

Scholar's Rock

Due to unforeseen circumstances and lack of studio opportunity, my painting has recently been curtailed. 
In the meantime I turned instead to experimenting with drawing media and techniques that are less familiar to me.

This is the first stage of a charcoal...a WIP or work in progress.
(you can click on images to view them larger)

This image is loosely based on a rock formation called a "Scholar's Rock".  

These formations are found mostly in China in areas such as Lake Taihu, and are greatly prized as objects of meditation and contemplation.
They are considered to be objects of great aesthetic value throughout the world.  Many are found here in gardens and in major museums from Boston to San Francisco.

This is not done with charcoal pencils or sticks...but rather with charcoal dust directly drawn with my finger.  Occasionally I use a blending stump or an eraser as a drawing tool.

Rather than producing the darks and lights with instruments or pencils, I prefer sinking in the dark areas with hands and fingers. 

This way, I get more of a feeling of building and molding the nooks and crannies rather than "reproducing" them!  

Northern Lights Exhibition at Northland College

These recently completed canvases finally left the studio to hang out in public!
 

This exhibit, is the 1st of a series of rotating exhibitions being held in the newly remodeled Dexter Library of Northland College. But more importantly, it was mounted to celebrate the Inauguration of Northland College's 13th President Michael Miller.

The reception was celebratory and well attended!

David Saetre (left) President Michael Miller (center) and his wife Mary Trettin

 

(seated center) my hubby, retired 10th president of Northland College.

"Superior Stones"

In keeping with my current interest in shorewashed stones from the inland sea of Lake Superior, I start on two smaller canvases. 
Below are two WIPs (works in progress) ganged up into one snapshot

Both shown here in the early tone washed stage. 

"Superior Stones I"  oil  (30"x30")

"Superior Stones II"  oil (30"x30")



"Fantasy Monument"

I'm a beachcomber and currently interested in shorewashed Lake Superior stones...but this time I decided to try a "no reference fantasy version". 

Here is the pencil sketch for 36"x22" for a canvas I just started.

Finishing up the small fantasy painting in my small studio area off the living room.

Fantasy Monument (oil 36x22)

Studio "House Work"

I opened this blog account many months ago and then failed to follow through!  So many exhibits I've viewed and so much nature I've enjoyed and I never caught up with archiving it with photos.
Time to catch up...  I'm a whole season behind!
Here a bit of the works in progress and happenings in my own studio.

I had some perfect days this summer for taking the studio OUTSIDE! Bob helped by cutting these circles from 3/4in plywood so I can make stretchers for tondos.

I soaked the lath strips overnight in the lake (tied to dock) to make them piable. Then clamped them around the 3/4 in. plywood forms while still wet.

Lotsa drilling and scewing here! ;)

Stretching and sizing with gesso. I hate painting on white canvas...so I color my gesso grey.

Stretching a round canvas requires a lot of "easing in"

Aaarrgh...wrinkles! I did not ease the canvas in, evenly. I will have to go back and restaple to tighten it all around!
Finally ... below, an actual "WIP" or work in progress

Left: stage one.  Drawing it in a composition in keeping with the tondo shape. 
Right: stage two. I began to give some shape to the stones ..

Sadly it is here that I stopped as I'm a bit unsatified with this start. 
I am going to work on some other small painting and return to finish it ...or maybe paint over it!