In preparation to paint indoors, part of the time this winter, I've been stretching my own canvas. A few yards of primed linen canvas, a tack hammer and a box of copper cut tacks.(see tack source below) It's a good feeling and easier than you imagine. Monet and Renoir, both successful, may or may not have stretched their own canvas, but I think this is how it was done, and the corners a so simple, flush and neat.
The magnetized tack hammer is appealing, but I feel copper tacks are a better choice than steel, and not just aesthetically or historically, maybe just intrinsically.
I do prefer primed linen, I have my limits and priming is one. I haven't needed the canvas stretching pliers yet. If there's a pooch in your stretched canvas; just wet the entire back of the canvas with water and a large brush, set aside to dry, et voila! Perfect.
I hope you will consider trying this hands on experience
A cool wind of autumn blew in today. A lovely change from the unrelenting sun.
Mount Airy Arboretum inspired, "Dried Grasses of August" a week or so ago.
Time to concentrate on outdoor themes for indoor painting this winter.
We need fodder in the form of digital images to stir the memory.
Of course we prefer the true colors of outdoors, but cannot get to every location, and paint quickly enough.
I hope to paint some snow scenes this winter, when the scenery is so well defined, so contrasting.
On (1/3//2010) ("Snowed In and Out") there were suggestions about outdoor painting in the cold. I still have enough warmers left, it's a good time to stock up.
I recently read that mail arriving, while online is stressful.
It must be true.
It's like the phone ringing while you're painting.
The pressing urge to respond, and you are thrown off track.
A total distraction from your chosen path.
Pain and pleasure, both at once.
Tough choices, disable mail and phone temporarily, or respond, YOUR CHOICE
What would Monet do?
Our trip to Alsace included a day trip to Strasbourg. (See "Little Venice" 8/1/2010)
There was a boat trip, a visit to the Catherdral, to see the amazing mimes, who held their poses so long they seemed like statues.
The street scene of musicians, was intriguing enough to paint. A blind guitarist and a good looking dude playing accordion. A few feet away was a child completely enchanted by the music; his Mother nearby, impatiently waiting to move along.
On the day trip to Callabrihes, we watched a game of boules, also called petanque.
An old game apparently close to the French heart, played with heavy metal balls. A game similar to lawn bowling and Italian bocce; where players try to land closest to the "jack".
In this game the "jack" was a rock.
The game area was shaded by two rows of Plane trees. Beautiful trees which have colorful, decorative bark in shades of green; relatives of our Sycamore trees.The game had attracted a small group.
This is an apartment building in Mount Adams near our Playhouse in the Park; looking rather ominous until I added fluffy clouds overhead. The spires, inspired the name.
Yesterday morning at home, I was accidentally locked out, while fetching the morning newspaper.
Break a window or call a locksmith?
The locksmith did his magic in about four minutes.
However, while writing the check, I was asked to write August 12th rather than August 13th.
This painting was an experimental challenge. Searching for the oriental aesthetic of figures near one another on a narrow scroll.
We were in the lush, low country of Beaufort, SC, so this type of painting would probably be called Americana. The venue was an Ice Cream Shop at 4:00 PM.
He was doing his homework and she was patiently waiting.
A few years past, I showed my work at our annual Flower Show.
I had down crown pillows fabricated in white silk, cotton prints of my paintings were added to the front of the pillows. The sort of printable cotton used to make family photo quilts.
There are two sizes 8"x11" and 10"x14". I still have some available, my very favorite is the swan pillow
painting, posed by a swan from a local park. The swan preferred the 8"x11" size; everyone needs a swan
pillow, yes.
